Sweetwater Farms, 14412 Beatties Ford Road, in Huntersville, is just outside of Charlotte, but can feel like it’s miles away, with plenty of open space, gardens and a menagerie of rescued farm animals, including chickens, horses (including miniature horses), donkeys, goats and pigs.
It’s a natural oasis with a mission to empower and educate children.
Sweetwater Farms has developed a curriculum that teaches empathy for animals, including kind and humane ways to care for them, social confidence, relationship building, gross motor skills and more.
They offer inexpensive field trips ($10 per child), special occasions like birthday parties, farm experiences for seniors, and team building.
You can also bring your child for a farm visit on:
- Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Fridays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You no longer need to buy tickets for a two-hour time slot, and you don’t need to purchase tickets in advance (although that’s one way to make sure they’re not sold out.)
You can bring the whole family, have a picnic, enjoy the peace and quiet, meet the animals and take a stroll on the paths.
Maybe best of all, kids have the opportunity for truly free play in a natural setting. There are toys like a tire swing, a see-saw, some musical instruments, and much more. There are also some no-contact features, like an obstacle course and a stump walk.
The cost is $5 a person, with children under age 2 free, if you purchase in advance. Tickets are $6 a person at the gate.
In addition, they just announced that they’re offering season passes. Season passes will be $99 for a family of four, starting on May 31st, 2021. Until then, season passes for a family of four are $89.
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