🌾 Sunday Farm School at Sunnyridge: Where Nature Nurtures the Heart

If you drive along Hwy 214 off exit 8 on the Hwy 102, you will come upon Sunnyridge Equestrian in Belnan, Nova Scotia. The air is crisp, the ducks chatter, and small boots crunch across gravel as a new group of eager young farmers arrive for Sunday Farm School — a nature-based program that’s quickly becoming a beloved weekend tradition for families of the Halifax Regional municipality.

A Morning on the Farm

Sunday Farm School is designed for children aged 5 to 12, offering a mix of outdoor learning, animal care, and hands-on creativity. Each week, kids might collect eggs from the chicken coop, help tidy the bunny pens, or spend time exploring horses and learning about nature. They’ll play outdoor games that build teamwork, take part in nature-inspired crafts, and end the morning in a quiet reflection circle (often with Peter the bunny)— learning how to slow down, share gratitude, and feel proud of their efforts.

What’s beautiful about this setting is that learning happens almost effortlessly. Sunnyridge Equestrian in Belnan becomes the classroom, and nature becomes the teacher.

Why It Matters

In a world that moves fast, children need places to pause — to connect, breathe, and discover what it means to care for something outside themselves. The Sunnyridge team, led by registered counsellor and educator Meaghan Douglas, infuses each class with principles of nature-based therapy and social-emotional learning.

Through gentle animal interaction, sensory exploration, and guided reflection, children practice emotional regulation and empathy in real time. Feeding a bunny or observing a horse requires patience; building a twig house or crafting gratitude rocks inspires creativity and calm. It’s learning that lasts long after the morning is over.

A Growing Community in East Hants

What began as a small experiment in farm-based education has blossomed into a vibrant community hub. Families from Belnan, Elmsdale, Enfield, and across East Hants are discovering that Sunday Farm School is more than a program — it’s a weekly highlight for so many children. Parents share that their kids can’t wait to come each Sunday and never want to leave, forming new friendships and learning about farm life in a way that feels joyful, natural, and real.

The program’s success shows just how much local families value hands-on, heart-centered learning. In every muddy bootprint and every proud smile, there’s a story of connection — to nature, to animals, and to one another.

Join Us This Season

If you’re looking for a meaningful way for your child to grow confidence, kindness, and curiosity, Sunday Farm School at Sunnyridge in Belnan might be the perfect fit.Sessions run Sundays from 9–11 a.m., and spaces are limited to keep groups small and supportive.

🌿 To register or learn more, email sunnyridgewellness@gmail.com. Come see why families are calling Sunnyridge “the heart of farm life learning” in East Hants.