Roots and Reins Homestead

07/20/2026

🌿 Help Us Build Our Nature Kids Zone at Anna’s Acres Farm! 🐐🐄

We’re so excited to be creating a hands-on Nature Kids Zone and petting zoo at Anna’s Acres Farm! Kids will be able to explore, imagine, and learn alongside our Highland cows, multiple breeds of goats, chickens, ducks, peacocks, and soon to be adding rabbits.

Our Nature Kids Zone will be used during field trips, farmers market days, family farm events, parties, and other special events, giving children a place to create, discover, and connect with nature.

One of the projects I’m most excited about is our outdoor mud kitchen (even if the husband Michael the visionary doesn’t know he’s coming out of retirement to build it yet! 😂).

We’re hoping to give new life to items that might otherwise be headed for the trash. Please don’t go out and buy anything. We’re simply looking for gently used items you’re replacing or no longer need.

🌿 We’re looking for:

🍳 Old pots and pans
🥄 Cooking utensils
🥣 Metal mixing bowls
🥄 Measuring cups and spoons
🫖 Metal tea kettles or teapots
🍪 Cookie sheets or muffin tins
☕ Cups and mugs (no glass, please)
🥫 Metal colanders, strainers, or pie tins
🪣 Buckets, watering cans, funnels, and scoops
🧁 Muffin tins, ice cube trays, or old baking pans
🪵 Wooden spoons, rolling pins, cutting boards, or wooden bowls
Non-working microwave
Non-working toaster oven
Small wooden shelves, crates, baskets, or stools
🌿 Anything else that would make a fun addition to an outdoor mud kitchen!

🚜 We’re also looking for:

🐄 Little plastic farm animals
🚜 Toy barns, tractors, and farm playsets
👨‍🌾 people or farm figurines
📚 Children’s books about real farms and farm animals
🪵 Wooden toys, wooden figurines, tree cookies, blocks, bowls, or loose parts
🌲 large seed pods, or other safe nature treasures
🧺 Baskets, buckets, and containers for collecting nature finds

Honestly, if it’s something a child can safely use to pretend, build, sort, stack, collect, create, or imagine with, we’d love it! It doesn’t have to be an actual toy. Children have incredible imaginations, and some of their favorite play materials are everyday items with a second life. The only thing we ask is no glass, for safety.

If you have any of these items sitting around and would like to donate them, I would be so grateful! I can gladly do a porch pickup, or you’re welcome to drop items off at Caterpillar Clubhouse Nature Preschool.

Thank you for helping us create a magical place where children can explore, imagine, and connect with nature. Every donated item will be loved by many little hands for years to come. ❤️

07/20/2026

07/20/2026

🐐 September Farm Study: Meet the Goats!

This month, we’ll spend time getting to know some of our favorite farm friends—the goats! Through hands-on experiences, observation, and caring for the herd, children will discover that not all goats are the same.

We’ll learn about several different breeds, including the gentle Nubian, the playful Nigerian Dwarf, and the sturdy Pygmy goat. We’ll compare their sizes, ears, coats, personalities, and the important roles they play on farms. We will learn why some goats are raised for milk, some for companionship, and others for their versatility on a homestead.

During our farm time, we’ll practice safe and respectful animal handling, help feed and care for the goats, brushing them, and observe how they communicate with one another. We’ll also discuss what goats eat, how their unique stomachs help them digest food, and why they are such incredible climbers.

To wrap up our goat study, each child will make no bake goat treat we which will involve measuring, and sequencing… And complete a simple breed comparison activity to help reinforce what they’ve learned.

September, our young homesteaders will have a greater appreciation for these curious, intelligent animals and understand the important role goats play in farm life.

07/12/2026

I can’t wait to explore the beautiful woods and trails at Anna’s Acres with our new monthly homeschool co-op! There’s something special about learning where kids can slow down, discover nature, and make lasting memories together.

07/10/2026

https://forms.gle/qVwz2iJPqRHounFq8

Roots and Reins Homestead Handbook. I only need the last signed page return and the registration form.

We're so excited your family is joining us for a season of learning, exploring, and growing together. Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming, hands-on environment where children develop confidence, curiosity, stewardship, and a lifelong love for nature.

07/10/2026

https://forms.gle/GJFkZjBrDQuNYis37

Roots and Reins Homestead Registration Form!!! Spots are filling up. Thank you all for your support

Friday, September 25 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Ages 3–12 $30 per child Children ages 5 and older may be dropped off or a parent may stay. Children ages 3–4 require a parent or guardian to remain on-site.

07/09/2026

Roots and Reins Homestead is officially open for September Sign ups!!! Message me for registration and details

07/09/2026

Sign up for September Roots and Reins is officially open!! Message me I will get the registration and handbook sent to you. Once payment is made I will send you confirmation I received and confirm your child’s name and age. September 1st I will then send you 3 lesson plans (1 a week) you can do at home to help make this a full learning experience. When we meet at the end of the month we will bring it all together hands on. Each month will be a different focus, each month we will do a nature journal, and a take home project.
I truly feel this is going to be an amazing year!!!
I can’t wait for everyone to meet sweet Roo our little Nigerian dwarf goat 

07/08/2026

Sign up for September!!! Address 5282 W 250 S Russiaville IN

*Sorry the other Flyer said Thursday the 25th it is Friday the 25th!!!

07/08/2026

About Roots & Reins Homestead Co-op

Growing Roots. Building Character. Learning Together.

Founded and Led by Stephanie Hunter McKinstry
Founder & Director of Caterpillar Clubhouse Nature Preschool
Farm Activity Director at Anna’s Acres

Welcome to Roots & Reins

Roots & Reins is a unique homeschool homestead co-op designed to reconnect children with nature through meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. Meeting once each month from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the beautiful Anna’s Acres, our program combines agriculture, environmental education, life skills, and outdoor adventure in a way that inspires curiosity and builds confidence.

Each month, families will gather for an immersive learning experience centered around the changing seasons, life on the farm, and the wonders of the natural world. Every lesson is intentionally designed to encourage children to explore, create, discover, and develop practical skills while building friendships with other homeschool families.

What We’ll Explore

Every monthly session may include a variety of hands-on experiences such as:

• Caring for mini horses, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and other farm animals

• Gardening, planting, harvesting, composting, and learning where food comes from

• Creek exploration while discovering crayfish, minnows, frogs, aquatic insects, and healthy ecosystems

• Nature hikes, wildlife tracking, tree identification, and seasonal observations

• Homesteading skills including herbal learning, seed saving, gardening techniques, natural crafts, and traditional life skills

• Nature-based STEM activities, environmental science, and agricultural education

• Outdoor adventure including hiking, climbing, balancing, and exploring the woods and creek

• Nature art, woodworking, walking sticks, loose parts play, and creative outdoor projects

• Pollinator education, butterflies, wildflowers, gardening, and conservation

More Than a Homeschool Class

Roots & Reins is more than a monthly enrichment program.

It is a place where children develop:

• Confidence

• Independence

• Leadership

• Responsibility

• Curiosity

• Compassion

• Problem-solving skills

• Friendships

Our Learning Philosophy

Learning through real-life experiences.

They’ll care for farm animals, investigate wildlife, ask questions, solve problems, build with natural materials, explore the woods and creek, create nature-inspired art, and discover the rhythms of homestead life.

Every activity supports whole-child development through science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, creativity, movement, and meaningful outdoor play.

Program Details
Location: Anna’s Acres 5282 W 250 S Russiaville IN
Schedule: Once each month
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Each gathering includes hands-on instruction, outdoor exploration, farm experiences, nature-based learning, and a take-home activity connected to the monthly theme.

About the Program Leader

Roots & Reins is led by Stephanie Hunter McKinstry, Founder and Director of Caterpillar Clubhouse Nature Preschool and Farm Activity Director at Anna’s Acres. With more than 16 years of experience in early childhood education, Stephanie has maintained Indiana’s highest Paths to QUALITY Level 4 rating for over nine years, earned National Accreditation through the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), and has led a Certified Nature Explore Classroom for the past four years. She is CPR and First Aid certified and served as President of the Indiana Home Child Care Advisory Board for ten years. Stephanie is passionate about helping children build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning through authentic outdoor experiences.