The Barn at Smith Acres

Homeschooling continues to rise in Lee County, with recent Florida Department of Education data showing strong, sustained growth in home education participation. Families are increasingly seeking hands-on, real-world learning opportunities that support both academic progress and practical skill development. Smith Acres Homestead is committed to meeting this demand through agriculture, animal science, and outdoor education.

“Our goal is to provide meaningful, experience-based education for children of all ages,” said Lindsay Smith, owner of Smith Acres Homestead. “Families want learning that connects science, agriculture and nature with everyday life. Our farm school programs are designed to provide that connection in a fun, safe, structured, and engaging environment.”

Class Offerings:

• JR Ag-Venture Science & Nature (Ages 3–7) Hands-on early science, sensory learning, and animal experiences. Parents remain on site and participate with their children.
• Ag-Venture Into Science (Ages 6–15) Agriculture-themed science lessons, experiments, and collaborative projects designed for students to learn alongside a parent or guardian.
• Ag Science Drop-Off (Ages 6–15) STEM-focused agricultural science, animal studies, and practical experiments in a structured drop-off format.
• Mini Horse Mentorship (Ages 7–13) Six-week mentorship pairing each student with a miniature horse, emphasizing care, handling, and horsemanship responsibilities.
• Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons (Ages 4+) Foundational riding and horsemanship skills taught privately, with an emphasis on safety and confidence-building.
• Junior Vet Workshop (Ages 6+) Introduction to veterinary concepts, including vital signs, nutrition, anatomy, and basic animal health assessments.
• First Fridays Farm Fun (All Ages) Monthly family-focused program featuring a short agricultural lesson, open farm play, and gentle animal encounters.
• Farm to Table: Pig Dissection and Butchering Workshop (Ages 10+) Guided exploration of anatomy, humane livestock handling, and ethical food-production practices.
• Farm Camp Week (Ages 5–12) Seasonal farm camp with chores, crafts, science activities, water play, and supervised interaction with farm animals.

Smith Acres Homestead serves a growing homeschool population in Lee County by providing programs that complement home education with practical, real-world learning. With expanded offerings across multiple age groups, the 2026 Farm School schedule is designed to support both new and experienced homeschool families and is a direct pay provider with Step Up for Students PEP and UA Scholarship students.

Classes have historically reached capacity quickly, with many sessions filling within days of registration opening. Families are encouraged to register early to secure placement.

Registration is required prior to submitting any payments. Each class listing on the website includes a brief description, schedule details, and a Google Form to complete enrollment. Smith Acres Homestead is a private farm, closed to the public unless registered for classes or a private event.

The full Spring & Summer 2026 class schedule, program descriptions, offerings, listing of animals and registration links are available at:

www.TheBarnAtSmithAcres.com