Farm School / Kids' Club
What is Southlands Farm Outdoor School?
Southlands Farm Outdoor School is an independent program operating out of Southlands Heritage Farm at 3208 West 51st Ave in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood. In addition to regular school-work, our students care for farm animals, learn about planting crops, go on regular field trips, have horseback riding lessons, and learn about a variety of topics that interest them.
Our mission is to engage children in an inquiry-based learning program that will encourage the development of independent, well-rounded, passionate, engaged, curious, self-motivated, responsible adults.
Our school is unique, but has components taken from the Reggio Emlia approach, Waldorf, Montessori, democratic schools, and Agile Learning Centres. If you are interested in learning more about our school, we encourage you to make an appointment and come down to visit us in person.
Southlands Heritage Farm is a 2.5-Acre property with goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, honey bees, and many horses & ponies. We also operate a weekly farmers market where we sell our own fruits and vegetables. During after-school hours, we offer on-site horseback riding lessons geared to beginners. On weekends we host pony rides and birthday parties, and are open to the public to visit by donation. In the summer and during spring break we offer day camps, and in October we have a Pumpkin Patch.
Southlands Farm Outdoor School (SFOS)
Kindergarten–Grade 6 • Outdoor learning in the heart of Southlands
- Program size capped at 35 students
- Child-to-educator ratio: max 7:1
- Follows the VSB calendar (we do not close for Pro-D days)
Note: Kids’ Farm Club has been merged into SFOS and no longer runs as a separate program.
Who We Serve
Students in Kindergarten through Grade 6.
Schedule & Attendance
- Days & hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Flex days: Choose 1 to 5 set days per week, selected each semester (Fall, Winter, Spring).
- Commitment: Families confirm their days/week before each semester; changes are not available mid-semester (to ensure stable staffing).
- Missed days: A make-up day may be possible on another day, subject to availability.
Curriculum & Leadership
Head of School: Jason Bickle — your main contact for school and curriculum. Jason is authoring a comprehensive outdoor-school curriculum that blends academic skill-building with seasonal, place-based projects.
Contact: jason@southlandsfarm.ca
Our educators are well-qualified — and almost all are certified teachers. Learning integrates literacy, numeracy, science, social studies, art, and applied skills through authentic farm and nature work, field studies, and project-based learning.
Riding & Farm Life
- Riding lessons are part of SFOS.
- All students participate in horsemanship, animal care, gardens, and seasonal farm work.
- Riding time is proportional to attendance: 5-day students ride weekly; fewer-day schedules include meaningful horse time on a pro-rated basis.
Compatible DL Programs (Choose Any)
We suggest families register with PIE (Partners in Education, SD47), but children are welcome to attend SFOS regardless of which BC DL (online learning) program they register with. Common options include:
After-School Care
- Available until 5:00 p.m.
- Pre-registration required
- For SFOS students only
Tuition (2025–2026)
Billed per semester (three semesters per year). Monthly payment plans are available.
| Days/Week | Annual Tuition | Per Semester |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,680 | $1,560 |
| 2 | $8,970 | $2,990 |
| 3 | $12,870 | $4,290 |
| 4 | $16,380 | $5,460 |
| 5 | $19,500 | $6,500 |
Spring Break FARM Camp is included in Semester 2 for students attending 2 or more days per week.
Payment Options
- First payment is due upon registration.
- Monthly plans (if desired) must be by credit card.
- Other methods (e-transfer, cheque) are welcome but must be pre-paid by semester (no monthly billing via these methods).
How to Enroll
Complete our registration form: https://forms.gle/f3uEFrajjBW8KmKn9
Questions? Email admin@southlandsfarm.ca and we’ll help you choose the schedule that fits your family.
As we only have a few spots available, please email us for more information. We will invite you for a visit to see the school in operation, and answer any questions you have.
For more information, please email admin@southlandsfarm.ca