Explore to Learn Programming Coming Up This Fall!
Don't miss out on an incredible collection of FREE Explore to Learn workshops this Fall! Our youth and family 'Explore to Learn' programs offer the chance for kids and their adults to build connection to the natural world and their food through the bounty of our living classroom. Our partners at the Ndakinna Education Center will engage learners of all ages in the Indigenous lifeways of the original peoples of our lands.
Our farm is part of a wide area whose lands and waters were cared for by the Algonkian people known as the Mahican for over ten thousand years. About fifteen hundred years ago, a group of Iroquoian-speaking people, the Kanien-ke-haka (Mohawk) migrated to the area. Both nations regarded the area surrounding Saratoga Springs sacred. Because of the mineral springs with healing waters, it was considered an area of peace to be shared by all.
September 18th + October 2nd | Art of Remembering with Jesse Bowman Bruchac | 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Discover the Art of Remembering with Jesse Bruchac with this incredible FREE workshop series! For the most enriching experience, sign up for both workshops in this series, but if you cannot make one, no worries, you are still welcome to come to just one!
September 18th sign up | October 2nd sign up
Ready to take an adventure through language, nature, and music? This hands-on, fun-filled workshop series is your chance to dive into the world of the Eastern Algonquian languages, while learning how they connect us to the land, plants, and animals around us. This series invites everyone to jump in and explore the beauty of the still-spoken languages, while learning creative ways to keep them alive for future generations.
Picture yourself wandering through the fields, learning to spot and name native trees and plants in a language that’s been spoken for generations. But that’s just the start! In each workshop, we’ll also bring these words to life with songs and music that make you feel like you’re part of the natural world. Whether you’re singing, naming a tree, or sharing stories, each session is about rediscovering a connection with nature that’s always been there, waiting for you to tap into it.
We’ll be using fun techniques like gamification and songification to make sure what you learn sticks, because preserving these endangered languages means finding new ways to remember and share them. We’ll sing, play, and discover together, using the tools of remembrance like storytelling, music, and activities that make language learning feel natural and fun.
And it’s not just about words - it’s about stories! These languages are more than just how we speak - they’re how we listen, how we remember history, and how we understand the world around us. Think of the languages as a vehicle, taking us on a journey through time, connecting us to the land and to each other.
This workshop is for everyone, no matter your age or experience. Bring your kids, your grandparents, or just yourself - everyone will find something to love in this hands-on, story-filled adventure. Together, we’ll use music, games, and nature as our guide to not only learn, but remember how important these languages are in shaping our world.
So come along, have some fun, and be part of something bigger. Help us keep these beautiful languages thriving, all while connecting with nature and each other. You’ll leave with new skills, cool songs to share, and a deeper understanding of how language, culture, and nature are all part of the same beautiful circle
About Jesse Bruchac: For three decades Jesse has been immersed in Algonquian language reclamation efforts. He is the founder and director of the School of Abenaki at Middlebury College and the Assistant Director of the Ndakinna Education Center. He first gained fluency in the Eastern Algonquian Abenaki language – learning it directly from the last generation of first language speakers in the 1990s. He has since worked in language reclamation efforts with several other Eastern Algonquian languages, including Penobscot, Lenni Lenape, Delaware (Munsee and Unami), Mohican (Mahican), Mohegan-Pequot, and Quiripi-Unquachog. He is currently involved in the reawakening of previously dormant Virginia Algonquian languages. http://jbruchac.com
Saratoga Springs' first poet laureate, Joseph Bruchac, will immerse participants in the inspiring natural environment of Pitney Meadows. This 12 years old + workshop is tailored to accommodate varying levels of literary experience. FREE with a suggested donation!
We encourage people to come to the whole four-part series to get the most enriching experience.
September 27th: Trees of Peace | 5:00-6:00pm
This gathering focuses on the profound symbolism of trees, particularly the concept of the Tree of Peace. Joseph Bruchac will share the rich history and cultural significance of this enduring symbol, rooted in the earth that sustains us all. Participants will reflect on the strength, unity, and interconnectedness represented by trees, crafting poems that explore our relationship with the natural world and the deep wisdom it holds.
October 4th: Free Verse + Nature | 5:00-6:00pm
Join us as we embrace the freedom of expression through Free Verse, a form that allows poets to break away from traditional structures and explore the natural world with unbound creativity. In this session, participants will wander the trails of Pitney Meadows, using the sights, sounds, and sensations of nature to inform their writing. We'll discuss how to capture the wildness of the land in words, creating poetry that flows as freely as the landscapes it describes.
October 11th: Nature, Healing + the Power of Poetry | 5:00-6:00pm
In this workshop, we’ll explore the therapeutic power of poetry and its ability to connect us to the healing forces of nature. Joseph Bruchac will guide participants in writing poetry that not only reflects the beauty of the land but also serves as a source of personal and communal healing. Through our shared love of words and the natural world, we'll discover how poetry can be a powerful tool for emotional and spiritual renewal.
October 18th: Haiku + Gardens | 5:00-6:00pm
Surrounded by the vibrant gardens of Pitney Meadows, participants will learn how to observe and distill moments of beauty and tranquility into powerful, concise verses. We’ll explore the significance of each season in Haiku and how the garden's changing colors, scents, and textures can inspire deeply evocative poetry.