Summer School 2025 & Registration
Don’t let that hard-earned education slip away in front of a screen this summer. Come learn at Fountainbleau Cottage School this summer! Enjoy an academic day camp in an old-fashioned, one-room schoolhouse with plenty of time outside.
REGISTER HERE
Modeled after Rory Feek’s Hardison Mill School in Columbia, Tennessee.
Fountianbleau Cottage School Summer School is an academic-themed day camp. The heart of the program is to give students a place to explore and learn outside the four walls of a classroom while building confidence and character. Summer School will start just after public school is dismissed for the summer, providing enriched learning opportunities for local students.
Due to Missouri regulations, we cannot accept a student under the age of 5 as we are not a licensed daycare. Ideally, we would like students entering 1st - 4th grade. However, we are open as we launch this dream. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions about eligibility.
We are also not an accredited day camp by the American Camp Association. This is a hands-on program with inherent risks to kids playing outside, being in nature, or learning to prepare snacks. The schoolhouse sits on a working farm with electric fences and live animals.
Camp tuition is $150 per week - all snacks, curriculum, and supplies are provided. Students will pack a lunch most days.
Students are able to register for one week or all summer.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Daily nature walks on mowed trails: we have mowed walking trails into the wooded area of our property. These make a great place to explore nature and see it change throughout the season. There are always new flowers to discover or animals that scurry. We have a campsite where we tent or hammock camp when the weather is cool but not cold. Our hope is that the students can use that area with our Forest School curriculum to build confidence and familiarity with nature. We may cook a lunch, build structures, or learn to start a campfire.
Farm time with chicks and lambs: Something is always happening on our farm. We can't wait to share our farm babies with you! Our jersey heifer calf, Tilly, was born on St. Patrick's Day, and we expect lambs near Memorial Day. Students will engage with small, gentle animals. We plan to bring our incubator into the classroom to hatch chicks and learn about embryology.
Art instruction through nature journaling: Art is Ms. Breesa's passion! She is a phenomenal artist and dreams of teaching kids art. We have chosen The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws to watercolor nature journals. Each student will learn about plants and animals while illustrating their nature journal.
Read-aloud with rich literature: If art is her first love, reading is a close second. Ms. Breesa can't wait to share her favorite literature selections with you. She grew up reading Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, and more. Some selections we might read this summer include both her favorite childhood picture books like Ain't Gonna Paint and The Kissing Hand and short juvenile fiction like Secret Garden, Velvetine Rabbit, and Charlotte's Web. Stories will focus on virtuous characters and works widely recognized for their enduring quality and are characterized by timeless themes. Ms. Breesa will also share a love of poetry from her favorite children's poetry books.
Gardens for the children to plant and harvest: Gardening and harvesting will be part of our day at Fountainbleau Cottage School. Each student will have a garden or be paired with a friend. Students will build confidence and character by tending to a small garden in the schoolyard.
Cooking & Nutrition: The cooking and nutrition part of our curriculum is still being developed. We hope the students will have the opportunity to cook at the campsite and prepare snacks in the classroom. Again, this builds confidence and character as they learn life skills!
Access to a curated classroom library: Our hope is to move our curated library to the schoolhouse. Over the years of education, we have collected many award-winning books. We have a small collection of picture books and juvenile literature for students