Exploration Day Program
Starting Fall 2025
10am - 2pm
Tuesday & Thursday
Ages 6-10 years old
12852 Ojai Rd., Santa Paula, CA 93060
🗓️ Exploration Day - 30 Class Breakdown
Tuesdays & Thursdays — 15 weeks Fall Semester
Each day includes:
- Core Nature Activity (e.g., Science experiment, Archery, Animal care)
- Financial Literacy Game Element
- Farm Bucks Economy Engagement
- Reflection, music exposure, peer sharing
Some activities may vary depending on weather and group progress, or interest.
🧭 Weeks 1–2: Foundation & Currency
Day 1 – Welcome to the Farm Economy
- Icebreakers, intro to Farm Bucks & rules
- Nature scavenger hunt
- Financial concept: Earning and Saving
Day 2 – Wood & Water
- Simple woodworking project
- Discuss needs vs. wants
- Science: capillary action in plants
Day 3 – Bank Setup Day
- Students create wallets + name their banks
- Science experiment: pH levels of soil
- Financial: Deposits, withdrawals, interest intro
Day 4 – Marketplace Opens
- First Market Day (they can buy real/fun items)
- Gardening project
- Discuss: Spending wisely vs impulsively
🧱 Weeks 3–4: Credit, Budgeting, and Business
Day 5 – Credit & Trust
- Trust + Team Building Game
- Nature walk + journaling
- Concept: Credit scores, borrowing Farm Bucks
Day 6 – Small Business Launch I
- Teams invent a small farm-based biz
- Sell a good/service next week
- Concept: Startup costs, marketing
Day 7 – Small Business Launch II
- Finalize business idea
- Science: solar ovens / energy transfer
- Biz prep: budgets, product prep
Day 8 – Business Market Day
- Sell items to classmates
- Reflect on profit/loss
- Talk: Revenue vs. Expenses
📈 Weeks 5–6: Investing & Markets
Day 9 – Intro to Investing
- Set up pretend stocks (farm themes: ChickCo, CarrotCorp)
- Build a pretend portfolio
- Hike or animal care
Day 10 – Market Moves I: Random Event Day
- Announce random "news" (drought, bumper crop)
- Stocks rise/fall
- Concept: Risk, diversification
Day 11 – Composting Cash Flow
- Build compost bins
- Talk: Compound interest – things grow over time
Day 12 – Dividends & Passive Income
- Investors get payouts
- Science: evaporation & condensation
- Concept: Making money while doing nothing
🏡 Weeks 7–8: Housing & Mortgages
Day 13 – Buying a Tiny Farmhouse
- Learn about mortgages
- Apply for pretend loans
- Woodworking: design cardboard "homes"
Day 14 – Repayment & Equity
- Pay a little each week
- Gardening: plant a "mortgage tree"
- Concept: Equity & long-term investing
Day 15 – Weather Emergency (Disaster Fund)
- Random event: tornado hits farm!
- Discuss: Emergency savings
- Reflect: who has insurance?
Day 16 – Neighborhood Zoning
- Teams redesign farm layout
- Talk: Community planning & property value
💼 Weeks 9–10: Advanced Biz & Philanthropy
Day 17 – Biz Round 2 – Expansion
- Expand their business (add services)
- Archery challenge
- Concept: Reinvestment
Day 18 – Investors Wanted
- Students pitch biz to investors
- Gain Farm Bucks in return for % of profit
- Discuss: Venture capital, partnerships
Day 19 – Charity & Impact
- Design a farm charity (e.g., eggs for elders)
- Talk: Social impact of money
Day 20 – Bargaining & Trade Day
- No money allowed — only bartering
- Concept: Trade economies
🧮 Weeks 11–12: Reflection & Mastery
Day 21 – Music & Math of Money
- Rhythm exercises with coins
- Science of sound
- Add up all transactions so far
Day 22 – Auction Day
- Auction off big experiences
- Strategy game: bidding, value, timing
Day 23 – End-of-Year Business Fair
- Final team projects
- Visitors shop with real/fake bucks
- Concept: Legacy & brand building
Day 24 – Reflective Journals + Vision Boards
- Art + writing on what they've learned
- Peer shout-outs
- Build vision boards for life goals
Day 25 – Investing Simulation Finale
- Final market event
- Cash-out stocks
- Who had diversified portfolios?
Day 26 – Mortgage Paid-Off Party
- Celebrate students who paid off loans
- Game: who would refinance?
Day 27 – Game Show Review
- Teams compete in Farm Bucks trivia
- Categories: biz, budgeting, gardening, science
Day 28 – Teacher Store + Treat Day
- Final cash-out day
- Spend Bucks, donate, save
Day 29 – Hike & Sound Bath
- Full day outdoor reflection
- Quiet stations, music lesson
Day 30 – Graduation & Awards Ceremony
- Awards for creativity, saving, teamwork
- Parent invites optional
Ready to Enroll Your Child?
Give your child the gift of practical financial literacy combined with engaging nature-based activities.