Ruby Ranch - A Farm and Nature Learning Center
Building a Dream
We opened Ruby Ranch in 2018 for Summer Camps, then we launched Little Rubies Preschool in 2021 for an opportunity for our youngest learners to connect with animals & nature and learn through play. We are now hoping to grow our programming to Kindergarten in the Fall of 2024! But our dream doesn’t stop there. We have our barn in the center of Ruby Ranch and we would love to renovate it to be a large Farm and Nature Learning Center for multiple grades. If this something you’re interested in or want to give feed back on, we are here to listen! Please fill out the Kindergarten waitlist if you’re interested in your child attending Kindergarten here in 2024/2025. Or fill out the interest form if you’re interested in our long term goals! If you’re interested in applying to join our team, please stay tuned or email Ashley at rubyranchbarn@gmail.com! We will be hiring several positions for this summer and Preschool/Kindergarten/Support Staff!
experiential & PLAY-BASED LEARNING
Children are given opportunities to learn by doing. We create authentic and meaningful learning, through real-world experiences and questioning, play, relationship building, academics, life skills, mindfulness and stewardship. Children learn best through play and discovery, and the outdoors provides endless opportunities to do so.
Staff & Sizing
Kindergarten Staff will be 15:1. The lead kindergarten teachers will be licensed in elementary education and have a strong understanding of the values and missions at Ruby Ranch.
Is this a good fit for your child?
At Ruby Ranch, our lessons are mostly conducted outside through all seasons. We utilize all 10 acres of our property - this includes having students near bodies of water (pond and creek), our small and large animals, open fields and our woods.
In addition to group instruction, we provide daily opportunities for children to participate in reasonable risky play like playing with rocks, climbing trees, sitting near fires and playing with sticks.
We provide experienced and licensed educators, low class sizes, and discuss safety practices help ensure that our students have a safe and developmentally supportive educational experience.
Despite the many benefits of our program, the outdoor setting and absence of specialty staff present unique limitations that may not meet the needs of all children. Therefore we feel your child will feel successful with our programming if:
They are able to follow critical rules and boundaries.
Can tolerate a variety of clothing and materials.
Can handle exposure to different climates - wind, rain, snow, heat, etc.
Has skills needed to work in a group safely and respectfully.
Get Outside
We try to spend as much of our days outdoors,
so that means we take learning materials outdoors too.
Animal Interaction
We have over 50 different animals to care for at Ruby Ranch. We have our students build a relationship with animals as early as preschool. This helps them build responsibility and helps them learn to care for something other than themselves and they take a lot of pride in this relationship.