Resources & FAQ

Helpful tools, tips, and resources to support your child’s learning journey.

This space is designed for busy families who want simple, trustworthy support. Here you’ll find learning tips, homeschool guidance, free printables, answers to common questions, and helpful insights from our team. Whether you’re new to homeschooling, navigating enrichment options, or just looking for fresh ideas, these resources are here to make learning feel easier and more joyful.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What ages do you serve at Hidden Bee Learning?

A: We currently serve children ages 3 through 11.

Students are grouped by age and developmental readiness:

• Little Explorers (ages 3–5) – Preschool age
• Pathfinders (early elementary) – Kinder and early grades
• Trailblazers Club (ages 8–11) – One day a week enrichment and social club

Younger students focus more on early literacy, early math, and school readiness. Older students dive into project based enrichment, science, history, and club style activities.

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Q2. Do I have to homeschool to attend Hidden Bee Learning?

A: No. You do not have to be a homeschool family to attend, especially in the younger age groups.

Hidden Bee Learning works well for:

• Homeschool families who want structured, small group learning
• Families who want a part time, classroom based program instead of a full day school
• Parents who want strong early academics in a small, nurturing setting

For homeschoolers, parents remain the primary educators. We partner with you through hands on experiences, project based lessons, and structured enrichment that complements your home curriculum.

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Q3. What is your teaching approach?

A: We are a structured, classroom based micro school with daily outdoor time.

Most of our lessons happen in and around the classroom with:

• Hands on projects
• Small group and one on one support
• Clear routines and expectations
• Time for creativity, movement, and individual needs

We also take learning outside for nature play, exploration, and movement. Children are always supervised, indoors and outdoors.

We use a mix of high quality early childhood and elementary resources, including programs such as Blossom & Root and Moving Beyond the Page. These pair well with many homeschool and private school curricula and give us clear developmental goals so we can meet each child where they are.

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Q4. Are you a farm / nature program?

A: Hidden Bee Learning is a classroom based program located on a working farm animal rescue and sanctuary.

• Our core is structured classroom learning in small groups.
• The farm and outdoor space are used for nature play, science, and occasional animal visits.
• We are not a free range “wild school” where children roam animals or property without structure.

The animals and farm environment are an important part of our setting, but they are not the focus of every lesson.

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Q5. Are you a faith based program?

A: No. Hidden Bee Learning is not a faith based program.

We welcome families from a variety of backgrounds and focus on kindness, responsibility, and respect for others. We do not include formal religious instruction in our day. Families are free to practice their own beliefs at home and in their communities.

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Q6. Where are you located?

A: We are located at the historic Hidden Bee Farm at:

753 Carters Creek Pike
Columbia, Tennessee 38401

Hidden Bee Farm is a working farm animal rescue and sanctuary. Children see the animals daily, but our educational program happens in dedicated classroom spaces with supervised, planned outdoor time.

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Q7. How big are your classes and what are your ratios?

A: Morning groups for Little Explorers and Pathfinders share a large classroom that is divided into age appropriate areas.

• We keep combined enrollment at about 18–20 children with 3 adults in the room.
• That works out to roughly 1 adult for every 6–7 children, which is smaller than many traditional programs.

Trailblazers Club, our older enrichment group, is also kept intentionally small so students can work closely with staff on projects and group activities.

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Q8. How do you handle animals and safety?

A: Hidden Bee Farm is a rescue and sanctuary, and many of our animals are special needs or have been abused in the past. Safety and respect are non negotiable.

• Children are never allowed in barns or animal pens without staff present.
• Animal time is planned, in small groups, with clear rules about how to move, touch, and behave around animals.
• We teach children to move slowly, be gentle, read animal body language, and respect the animals’ space.

The animals are part of our environment, not playground equipment.

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Q9. What is your bathroom policy?

A: For safety and privacy:

• Children must be potty trained and able to use the bathroom independently to attend.
• Staff do not go into the bathroom with children.
• When children use the outdoor bathroom, staff visually supervise from outside. We watch to make sure they go, finish, and come back promptly.
• We give reminders for bathroom breaks and handwashing, especially for younger children, and build these into our daily rhythm.

If a child needs extra support, we talk with parents about what is appropriate and safe for that child.

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Q10. Do you provide snack or lunch?

A: No. Families provide snack and lunch due to allergies and dietary needs.

We handle:

• Handwashing and table routines
• Making sure food rules are followed
• Teaching manners and independence during snack and lunch

We work with families on allergy and health needs and take those into account when planning our day.

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Q11. Why don’t I see many photos of children on your website or social media?

A: We are careful with children’s privacy and safety.

Every family has the option to opt in or opt out of having their child’s photo shared publicly. Many families choose to keep their children’s images off public pages, so you will see:

• Occasional photos that do not show faces
• Some stock photos that represent the feel of our program

Enrolled families receive more detailed updates and photos privately through Brightwheel, rather than on public social media.

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Q12. How do I enroll or book a tour?

A: You can:

• Book a tour using the “Book a Tour” link on our homepage or Contact page
• Review our programs on the Programs page and pricing on the Tuition & Enrollment page

When you are ready, you can complete enrollment using the forms linked on our Tuition & Enrollment page or the individual program pages for Little Explorers, Pathfinders, and Trailblazers Club.

If you are unsure which program is the best fit, we are happy to talk it through with you.

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Questions to Ask Any Program With Animals or Regular Outdoor Time

Whether you are looking at Hidden Bee Learning or another preschool or enrichment program, it helps to ask clear questions about safety and structure, especially if animals and regular outdoor time are part of the day.

Here are some good questions to ask anywhere:

• Class size and ratios
  • How many children are in a group at one time?
  • How many adults are with them?
• Staff screening and training
  • Are staff background checked?
  • Is there always a CPR and First Aid trained adult on site?
• Animal supervision
  • Are children ever in barns or animal pens without an adult present?
  • How do you teach kids to move and act around animals?
  • Are any animals rescues or special needs, and how is that handled?
• Supervision outdoors
  • Are children always within sight of an adult when they are outside?
  • What are the rules for exploring, climbing, and using outdoor materials?
• Emergency plans
  • Do you have written plans for injuries, severe weather, fire, or intruders?
  • How are families notified in an emergency?
• Health, allergies, and bathrooms
  • How are allergies handled?
  • What is the bathroom policy and level of independence expected?
  • How are handwashing and hygiene built into the day?
• Check in and check out
  • How do you verify who is allowed to pick up a child?
  • Is there a system for tracking attendance and absences?

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How We Answer These at Hidden Bee Learning

At Hidden Bee Learning, we are happy to walk parents through all of these questions in detail.

• Class size and ratios
  • Morning groups for Little Explorers and Pathfinders share a large classroom divided into age appropriate areas.
  • We keep combined enrollment at about 18–20 children with 3 adults in the room, which works out to roughly 1 adult for every 6–7 children.
• Staff screening and training
  • All staff are background checked.
  • There is always at least one CPR and First Aid trained adult on site.
• Animal supervision
  • Hidden Bee Farm is a rescue and sanctuary, and many of our animals are special needs or have been abused in the past.
  • Children are never allowed in barns or animal pens without staff present.
  • Animal time is planned, in small groups, with clear rules about how to move, touch, and behave around animals. The animals are part of our environment, not a playground.
• Supervision outdoors
  • Children are always supervised both indoors and outdoors.
  • Outdoor play and nature exploration happen within set boundaries and with clear expectations.
• Emergency plans
  • We have written plans for fire, severe weather, injuries, and intruders.
  • Families are informed of closures or emergencies through our regular communication channels.
• Health, allergies, and bathrooms
  • We work closely with families on allergy and health needs and take those into account when planning our day.
  • Children must be potty trained and able to use the bathroom independently. Staff do not go into the bathroom with children.
  • When children use the outdoor bathroom, staff visually supervise from outside and watch to be sure they go, finish, and come back promptly.
  • We build bathroom breaks and handwashing into our daily rhythm and give reminders, especially for younger children.
• Check in and check out
  • We use Brightwheel for secure check in and check out, messaging, and absence reporting.
  • Only approved adults may pick up a child, and we verify identity when needed.

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