Seedlings Academy – Nature-Based Preschool on Long Island (Ages 3–5)
Where little learners grow wild, free & full of wonder. Opening September 2026!
Seedlings Academy is Long Island Farm School’s nature-based preschool designed for curious children ages 3–5. Located in Wading River, NY, learning sprouts from the ground up—literally. From digging in the soil to feeding friendly farm animals, every day is filled with hands-on experiences that nurture confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Because at Seedlings Academy, kids don’t just grow… they blossom.
Seedlings Academy | Wading River, NY
Our Mission: Growing Kind, Curious, Confident Kids
At Seedlings Academy, our mission is to cultivate young learners through play-based, nature-rich, farm-centered experiences.
We believe children thrive when they:
Explore the natural world with all their senses
Engage in open-ended, child-led play
Build relationships with animals, plants, and peers
Develop independence through hands-on farm tasks
Feel safe, nurtured, and encouraged to take healthy risks
Our goal is simple:
Help every child grow roots of confidence and wings of curiosity.
Who We Are
Seedlings Academy is part of Long Island Farm School, a family-run, education-focused farm dedicated to experiential learning.
Our preschool team includes:
Certified early childhood educators, passionate about outdoor learning
Experienced farm educators who bring everyday agriculture to life
Caregivers who value nurturing relationships, calm guidance, and joyful exploration
Community members, passionate about their expertise and looking to educate future generations.
We blend high-quality early childhood education with the magic of farm life and community.
Think: teachers who can read a story, tie a shoe, soothe big emotions, and confidently handle a goat—all before snack time.
Play-Based Learning, the Farm School Way
We use a play-based, child-centered approach supported by research and rooted in nature.
Children engage in meaningful play that builds foundational skills in:
🌱 Early Literacy & Language
Storytelling, songs, barn story time, and conversations that sprout new vocabulary.
🌱 Math & Science
Measuring soil, counting eggs, observing plant life cycles, predicting animal behaviors.
🌱 Social & Emotional Learning
Cooperation during chores, gentle animal interactions, problem-solving during play.
🌱 Sensory & Motor Development
Climbing hay bales, pouring feed, scooping dirt, balancing on logs—no plastic playground needed.
At Seedlings Academy, kids learn by doing.
And yes—sometimes they learn while wearing muddy boots. We consider that an accessory.
Why Families Love Seedlings Academy
Nature-rich environment
5 acre farm
Small class sizes
Daily outdoor immersion
Real farm experiences
Warm, nurturing educators
Community-focused values
A childhood filled with wonder—not worksheets
If you’re looking for a preschool where your child is encouraged to climb, touch, explore, wander, wonder, and get a little muddy, you’ve found the right place.
Our herd:
Goats
Chickens
Pigs
Ponies
Dogs
Barn cats
Where We Grow:
Garden beds
Bee boxes
Worm boxes
Compost bins
The Days We Grow Together
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:30am-12:30pm
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30am-3:15pm
Each class has a maximum capacity of 12 students. We maintain a 12:3 ratio with a lead teacher, assistant teacher and 1 floater.
Registration will open February 1st.
How to register:
Fill out the attached Seedlings Academy Application (to be available on February 1st).
Email it directly to Jess at LiFarmSchool@gmail.com
A Note About Registration
Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Due to limited space, submitting an application does not guarantee placement. Families will receive an email once their application has been reviewed with details regarding enrollment or waitlist status.
Preschool Registered Families
Please see the below Welcome Packet for your child’s first day! Here, you’ll find everything you’ll need to know for your child’s first day, supplies list, etc. The required documents will be needed for your child’s first day with us.