Heart of Joy Learning
Coeur de Joie Learning
About Us
Our farm and forest program cultivates an open, free-flowing space where children engage with nature, care for animals, nurture plants, and delve into outdoor exploration. Through hands-on garden activities and Thoreau-inspired wilderness adventures, we foster a profound connection to the environment, instilling resilience and a love of freedom while empowering children to chase their dreams. Join us on this journey to nurture a lifelong bond with the natural world!
Brenda M. Diaz
Our Director
Brenda's path as an educator is definitely a unique one. From an elementary school Spanish teacher and Curriculum Coordinator at a private school in Washington, D.C., to a preschool teacher at a cooperative nursery school in Rockville, MD, and then as a high school Social Studies teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools, her experience in such a diversity of settings has brought her to this moment in promoting grounded freedom in children’s learning– farm and forest educational enrichment.
Brenda’s goal is to engage students in such dynamic, open-minded, open-hearted activity that it inspires their own freedom of thought and expression, activating greater awareness of self and others. Her shift to starting a farm and forest program in Montgomery County, MD is deeply rooted in her belief that children learn best in a sensory rich, immersive environment and that play, exploration, and discovery is essential to the enlightenment of the individual and, ultimately, the whole. She welcomes your child to join us on the farm and in the forest!
Farm & Forest
On our vibrant farm, children participate in hands-on activities like composting, planting, and harvesting, learning about the origins of their food.
Inspired by Thoreau's wisdom that "All good things are wild and free," our outdoor education program includes hikes in Seneca Creek State Park. During these adventures, children spend a significant chunk of time exploring, building forts, and discovering local wildlife, fostering a deep appreciation for the environment and a lifelong connection with the natural world.
Teaching resilience equips children to pursue their dreams, achieve their goals, and fortify their resolve, echoing Thoreau's call to establish solid foundations beneath lofty aspirations. We invite your family to join us on the farm and in the forest!
Learn
Permaculture farming & local wildlife at Seneca Creek
Hands-on experience outdoors motivates our children to write in their nature journals, participate in creative arts play & outdoor games, and engage in arts & crafts. Our activities are intended to mark the discoveries and curiosities found on the farm and in the forest.
In the Forest
Freedom & wonder at play
Immersive contact with nature promotes a child’s creativity and imagination, intellectual and cognitive development and boosts social relationships. From building forts with friends to creating mandalas from items found by the creek, these dynamic natural playscapes instill confidence and joy.