The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm
Overview | Sandhill Family Farms | The Learning Farm | Farm Market | Email Newsletter Archive
Welcome to the Learning Farm
ABOUT US
The Learning Farm leads a variety of outdoor farm-based education programs on a working organic farm. The mission of the Learning Farm is to educate and inspire people to value healthy food, land and community through experiences on our farm. We utilize three acres of land, several greenhouses, a children's garden, and a hen house as outdoor classrooms. Learning Farm programs rely on staff with expertise in agriculture and teaching.
The Learning Farm is a program of the Liberty Prairie Foundation, a 503(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the integration of healthy ecosystems and the vibrant human communities they support. The Learning Farm is located on the Foundation’s certified organic farm within the Prairie Crossing conservation community in Grayslake, Illinois -- widely recognized for combining the preservation of open land with sustainable agriculture.
PROGRAMS
Learning Farm programs are held rain or shine and are scheduled primarily in the spring, summer, and fall to coincide with our growing season. Participants should come prepared with the following:
- Comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the weather.
- Closed toe shoes.
- Sunscreen, even when overcast.
- Insect repellant, especially when mosquitoes are bad.
- Water bottle filled with water.
- Hat for protection from the sun.
- Rain gear, if needed.
Farm Camp
Has your child hugged a chicken today? Do you wish he/she was more enthusiastic about vegetables? Register
for Farm Camp! Campers engage in hands-on experiences to learn about growing food, handling chickens, and more. Campers also harvest and
prepare farm-fresh healthy snacks! Early Bird discounts available – see Farm Camp Frequently Asked Questions.
Summer Camps:
Little Sprouts – Ages 3-4 years with adult caregiver - Sweet Peas – Ages 4-6 years
- Don’t Be Chicken to Learn About Chickens – Ages 5-7 years
- Gifted Growers – Ages 6-8 years
- Don’t Be Chicken to Learn Even MORE About Chickens – Ages 7-10 years
- Green Thumbs – Ages 8-10 years
- Chickens: There’s Always More to Learn – Ages 10-12 years
- Chicken Chore Crew – Ages 8-12 years
After School Camps:
- Great Garden Gang: Exploring Spring - Ages 6-10 years
- Chicken Chore Crew: Spring – Ages 8-12 years
- Chicken Chore Crew: Fall – Ages 8-12 years
- Great Garden Gang: Exploring Fall - Ages 6-10 years
Prairie Farm Corps
Interested in healthy eating, youth development, sustainable agriculture? The Prairie Farm Corps is a paid job training program for racially and economically diverse teens from central Lake County, Illinois. Participants are involved in all aspects of a sustainable agriculture business from seed to market, with education built-in to the program.
- Prairie Farm Corps Featured on NBC 5 Chicago
- Crew Member Brochure - employment information for teens ages 16-18
- Crew Member Application - application for teens ages 16-18
- Crew Leader Application - application for youth ages 19-22
Farm Events
Enjoy visiting the farm? This season, the Learning Farm will offer a variety of new on-farm programs and events at the Prairie Crossing Farm. Come purchase organic plant starts, meet the farmers, and learn about a variety of fun & educational topics. Suburban Homesteading Workshop Series events require advance registration, which will be available online this summer.
- Farm Connections … Plant Sale, CSA Shares & Open House – May 18 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Edible Flower and “Hardening Off” Information
- Suburban Homesteading Series: Preserving the Harvest – August 24 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Suburban Homesteading Series: Growing and Using World Grains – September 14 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Suburban Homesteading Series: Small-Scale Composting – October 5 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Suburban Homesteading Series: Backyard Chickens – October 26 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Suburban Homesteading Series: Homemade Yogurt & Granola – November 16 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Pastured Poultry Programs
Ever eaten an egg straight from the farm, or held an egg - still warm from the nest? The Learning Farm is committed to raising chickens for educational opportunities, local eggs, and meaningful volunteer experiences. You can support the Learning Farm's chickens by purchasing delicious eggs, participating in our educational programs, or volunteering as a Hen House Helper!
- Additional Chicken Information
- Egg Purchasing Information
- Chicken blog
- Hen House Helper Volunteer Program
- Hen House Helpers featured in Lake County Journal
Tours & Off Farm Programs
Interested in bringing a group to the farm? The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm offers a variety of farm-based educational tours to complement classroom curriculum and demonstrate organic principles in action. Interested in bringing our chickens to your classroom? The Learning Farm offers a chicken-based off-farm program too, for groups located within 10 miles of the farm!
Community Garden
Want to grow your own vegetables? Rent a community garden plot at the Learning Farm! Gardeners are strongly encouraged to follow organic gardening practices and minimize the use of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. Limited community garden plots are available for the upcoming season. Please contact Linda Wiens at lwiens@prairiecrossing.com for availability and rental agreement.
Farm-based education
The Learning Farm works very closely with students from the Montessori School of Lake Forest (grades 7 - 9). Students are engaged in on-farm lessons and work experiences that integrate agriculture with science, math, language, nutrition, social studies, and economics.
INTERNSHIPS
Interested in an internship at the Learning Farm? The Learning Farm offers several seasonal internship opportunities.
STAFF
- Eric Carlberg, Farm Manager
- Sharon Gaughan, Education Program Director
- Anya O’Halloran, Hen House Helper Coordinator
LOCATION
The Learning Farm is part of the overall Prairie Crossing Organic Farm. We are located at 32400 N. Harris Road in the Prairie Crossing community in Grayslake, Illinois - just west of Route 45, south of Route 120 and east of Route 137.
Despite what internet maps indicate, Harris Road does not connect to the farm from Route 120. Enter Prairie Crossing via Route 45 at Jones Point Road and follow the signs to the Farm. Parking is along the side of Harris Road between the first and second farm driveways, or in the small parking lot just past the Yellow Farm House.
Taking public transit? The Prairie Crossing Learning Farm is within walking distance of two Libertyville/Prairie Crossing Metra train stations.