Field and Forest Club at Sundial Classical Farmstead

K-6th Grade | Ages 5 to 12 | Monday through Friday | 3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

Welcome to the Field and Forest Club, an after-school club that launched in August 2025 at Sundial Classical Farmstead! Located along the road that serves as a dividing line for Haslett and Bath School districts, our club allows for convenient drop-off of students each afternoon by bus.

About the Field and Forest Club

The Field and Forest Club embraces the concept of schole—the relaxed and attentive study of the world for true mastery. In a society where children are often rushed, our program offers a peaceful and joyful atmosphere of meaningful engagement with the natural world.

Daily Structure

Each day begins with a complimentary snack followed by 30-45 minutes of organized recreation to help students unwind after a long day in school. We then reconvene for activity such as a seasonally-relevant nature lesson that incorporates art or literature, fostering close, unhurried observation of the living world. And children will regularly spend a little time each day singing folk songs together outdoors by the wetland or around a campfire.

Students will be given the option to enroll for a small fee into the Sundial 4-H Club. This will enable students to display their projects at the annual county fair.

Daily Activities

We will rotate between a variety of activities according to the season. These activities include:

• Snack Break - a complimentary healthy snack
• Play in our natural playground - hammocks, water pump and play station, and lots of open spaces
• Nature Walk through the woods and wetlands - observe the changes each season brings and identify animals by their calls and signs
• Storytime & Drama - an adult read-aloud classic work of children’s literature, and opportunities for the children to re-enact the stories
• Outdoor Recreation - such as wiffle ball, soccer, 4-square, tug-of-war, badminton, and pickleball
• Indoor Games - classic strategic games such as chess, checkers, go, mancala, and backgammon, as well as other board, card, and parlor games
• Livestock Chores - feeding and watering farm animals, collecting eggs, or milking goats
• Farmstead Tasks - seasonal work such as preparing garden beds, caring for seedlings, planting, and harvesting
• Handcrafts - students will learn real handcraft skills such as hand sewing, quilting, and carpentry
• Outdoor Survival Skills - foraging, starting a campfire, tracking animals, weather signs and safety rules
• 4H Club Projects - all students have the option to join our 4-H club and work on projects together

Program Schedule

• Fall Semester: August 24 to December 18
  • Days Off: Labor Day Weekend (September 4 & 7); Thanksgiving Break (November 25-27)
• Spring Semester: January 4 to June 4
  • Days Off: Spring Break (March 26, March 29 - April 2)

• Fall Semester: September 8 to November 20 and November 30 to December 18
  • Days Off: Thanksgiving Break (November 23-27)
• Spring Semester: January 11 - March 25 and April 5 - May 28
  • Days Off: Good Friday/Easter/Spring Break (March 26, March 29 - April 2)

Enrollment Options

Children can be registered for the full five-day program or select specific days each week. Note that the schedule for the year is slightly shorter for children enrolled 1-4 days per week. The schedule for children enrolled all five days per week is meant to align with Haslett and Bath public school calendars. Families are billed in roughly 8 monthly payments: Aug17, Sep28, Oct26, Dec3, Jan25, Feb22, Mar29, and Apr26. Enrollment is open and ongoing throughout the school year.

If you have any questions or need further information about the Field and Forest Club, please don't hesitate to reach out!

• Email: matthew.romans@sundialclassical.com
• Phone: (517) 290-0167