About
Welcome! I’m Anna Wardwell, owner and teacher at Little Learners Homestead. Our family based child care program opened in 2021 at my husband, Justin’s, and my home. My vision in starting Little Learners, or “farm school” as some of our families have nicknamed us, was to create a place that nurtures the whole child, and teaches a way of life that is rooted in the earth, food, and community. Growing and sharing food has brought meaning to my life in many ways and I am excited about sharing that with little ones who are so open and curious. My aim is to help foster in them a sense of joy around living in a simple and grounded way. Often, our activities are uncomplicated and with found materials, or happen spontaneously by following the children’s lead. Letting the children guide their learning results in some of our most inspired times together. I’m also guided by the seasons, and enjoy using stories, art, and cooking activities to explore our monthly themes.
I’m grateful to have found a path that is deeply fulfilling and allows me to draw upon my various experiences and interests. I have a Bachelors in Environmental Science and Spanish, have worked in horticulture on various gardens and farms, and more recently trained in Special Education and childcare. I enjoy travelling, cooking with friends and family, and exploring Maine with my pup, Gia.
The child care occupies the walk-out basement of our home, and we spend much of our time outside on the 7 acre property. Our homestead is located in Hampden, along the Souadabscook Stream, which offers endless opportunities for exploration, learning, and play. The children are involved in caring for the dairy goats, laying hens, pigs, and meat rabbits and are able to witness the full circle of life in a safe and nurturing environment. While I’ve always been interested in raising animals for food in a humane way, sharing this process with children has inspired a new level of honoring the animals and learning new skills to utilize every part. I’m honored to be discovering these crafts alongside young learners.
Hello, my name is Kathleen Vickery, and I’m from Hampden, Maine. In my early childhood, I had an incredible nanny to whom I attribute my love of caregiving. I like to think of my role as a co-learner, guide, and facilitator alongside the children. I am always in awe of the kindness and joy of children and I find my work very fulfilling.
I want children to experience childhood at a joyful, unhurried pace and have meaningful connections with nature and animals. Inquiry-based learning is important to me, where-in children are encouraged to use critical thinking and creativity to solve problems. I look to the children for inspiration for projects and enjoy creating documentation of their work and words. Creating and building community and celebrating the sacredness of childhood are driving forces of my work. I am so grateful to be doing just that at Little Learners Homestead with Anna.
I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Child Development. At the University of Maine I spent three semesters working in the Katherine Miles Durst Learning Center where my love of teaching grew and I learned with peers about play, literacy, and nature-based learning, as well as conflict-resolution and the magic of childhood. In the Fall of 2023 I had the opportunity to study abroad and complete a global internship in Reggio Emilia, Italy where I learned first-hand about the Reggio Emilia approach, in which the child is beheld as beautiful, powerful, capable and creative. There I found inspiration for ways to adapt parts of the approach to fit in my own practice and philosophy of education.