The Other Hearth
Heartland Charter students are able to attend no more than 12hrs/week
2025/26 Schedule
Wonder Pod
Where curious minds sprout.
Like peas in a pod, kids gather here to question, test, tinker, and discover.
From seed pod dissections to petri dish experiments, we explore the hows and whys of the world together. Through playful science, real-life wonders, and real tools, students develop critical thinking and creativity in equal measure.
This is hands-on learning with heart—where small groups of young learners are encouraged to get messy, follow their curiosity, and cultivate a lifelong love of discovery. Whether building a solar oven, weaving birds’ nests, or investigating candy chemistry, every session is rooted in joy, wonder, and meaningful exploration.
optional early arrivals 10:30 - 11:00
group activity 11 - 12:30
optional stay-&-play lunch hr. 12:30-1:30
geared to ages 7 - 11
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Designed with the
whole family in mind
Parents attend alongside children under 5 years.
Parents of children 7+ years are welcome to register for the drop-off co-op (occasional parent participation days)
3 week continuing series (with a break weekon 1st Mondays)
$50/series
4 student min. | 10 student max.
series returns September 2025
Open Door Day
Our weekly drop-in time—a warm, come-as-you-are space for creativity, connection, and community contribution. Whether you're starting a mural, joining a game, tending the garden, or just finding your rhythm, there's room to explore at your own pace.
10:30 - 4
Designed with the whole family in mind. Parents attend alongside their children, and siblings or other family members are welcome to join.
adult chaperone required at all times
Barn door is open!
Must be registered in a class and/or received an introduction of the space with Nicol.
Free.
Begins August 2025
Nature Rangers
A boots-on-the-ground adventure through the wild edges of our local landscape. Explore earth science, flora and fauna, and naturalist skills while earning Ranger Pins and making lifelong friends.
9:30 - 2:30
ages 4 - 12
drop-off program
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mixed-age cohort rotates around local open spaces and preserves., learning immersed in nature.
Breakout sessions, independent study, and tiered learning opportunities engage this wide age range for a holistic approach to outdoor learning.
Learn more and register at naturerangers.org/syv
Wild Kin
Where hands meet heritage and earth meets imagination.
Wild Kin is a hands-on journey through the skills, stories, and seasonal rhythms that connect us to land and lineage. Each week offers immersive opportunities for children to explore ancestral practices like drum-making, hide tanning, foraging, earthen building, and storytelling traditions from around the world—alongside practical homesteading skills like woodworking, fermenting, gardening, and setting up a farm stand.
Children engage in meaningful, tactile learning through rotating "classroom" spaces—fields, workshops, kitchens, and fire circles—each offering a different way to grow their senses of capability, creativity, and community. Visits from local elders, craftspeople, and storytellers deepen our connection to the past, while the playful spirit of the group keeps us rooted in the joy of the present.
Here, we honor the spirit of place, cultivate stewardship, and celebrate the wild, kindred thread that weaves us together.
10:00 - 2:00
Geared to ages 7 - 12
All Ages Welcome
(hover for details)
Solnido
A playful immersion into Spanish language through song, games, garden tending, and animal care. A sunny, joyful space for young learners to explore, move, and grow together.
2:45 - 3:45
Ages 4 - 9
drop-off program
Designed with the whole family in mind.
Parents attend alongside children under 5 years. Parents of children 5+ years are welcome to register for the drop-off co-op (occasional parent participation days)
Theme and location rotate every 4 - 5 weeks with the opportunity to continue on longer-term projects throughout the journey.
The ask is to consider commitment to 3 sequential series (3 months) to gain the most out of the rhythms developed in this program. Of course, if it is not a fit at any time, that will be honored.
September 2025
Thursdays 10 - 2 | $120
min. 4 families
max. 8 families
priority registration intrest form
Solnido
priority registration intrest form
Local field trips & Unit Studies
Join us on a planned field trip or Unit Study Workshop (suggestions and inspirations welcome!)
Join the Newsletter for announcements.
register for the newsletter to receive updates
or email info@theotherhearth.com to coordinate a field trip
GatherRound
Our series of seasonal festivals where we come together to celebrate the changing rhythms of the year. From beach picnics to harvest feasts, storytelling by the fire to spring dances, each event brings families together with music, food, craft, and fun—welcoming old friends and new faces alike.
Join the Newsletter for announcements.
Designed with the whole family in mind and to offer a welcoming space to all.
Keeping the rhythm of the year and marking it by repeating events.
Calendar coming soon.
Highlights from last year will be returning.
Clay Days:
A Kids Pottery Series w/ Cindy
Roll, pinch, press, and spin with a seasoned artist —this four-week pottery series invites kids (ages 5+) to dive into the grounding, playful world of clay. We’ll focus on hand-building techniques (like pinch pots and coil creations) and slab construction, with chances to explore the wheel too.
Each session offers a mix of creativity and skill-building in a welcoming space—sometimes indoors at the Barn (Santa Ynez), sometimes under the open sky. All materials, glaze, and firing included. Finished pieces will be kiln-fired and ready for pickup after the final class.
Capped at 6 students
$200/4wk series
Stay Tuned for Dates
HEARTLAND CHARTER
students, inquire for more details or check your ordering platform
Heartland Charter students are able to attend up to 12hrs/week
Questions? e-mail info@theotherhearth.com
More learning opportunities
Game School :
Private tutoring incorporating hands-on (screen-free) games curated for each student's learning style
Music and Foreign Language tutor
(piano, recorder, and Spanish)
