Turn Back Time

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Paxton, MA
Turn Back Time

Turn Back Time’s mission is to help people recognize nature’s ability to teach and heal. Turn Back Time operates on a 58 acre homestead in Paxton, MA.

This property boasts a Turn Back Time (TBT) is a non-profit nature-based education center located on 58 acres in Paxton, Massachusetts. Our mission at Turn Back Time is to help people recognize nature’s ability to heal and teach with a commitment to offering programs to under-served populations.. We align with this mission through educational programs, nature play, and farm education. We connect p

articipants with nature through thoughtful and engaging programs, blending structured and unstructured exploration of the outdoor world within a welcoming and harmonizing environment. The property has expanded from humble beginnings to now include an active beaver pond, an extensive forested trail system, and a fully functional working farm. The farm includes a barn with classroom space, stables, green house, commercial garden beds, and a milieu of farm animals to interact with. Our in-resident animal friends include a whole clan of chickens (most uniquely named by children!), a horse, pony, goats, and a miniature donkey named MoMo, who all adore attention and care from our students and guests. Together, within our varying programs, we have the opportunity to witness nature’s splendor as it changes throughout the seasons; engaging our imaginations, activating our senses, and deepening our inquiry and knowledge of the natural world through active investigation. Our programs create resiliency as we build a relationship between the learner and the natural world; providing opportunities to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to ourselves. These opportunities in nature give individuals of all ages the time, space, and permission to learn, gain new experience, and grow in confidence and love for themselves, for others, and for this earth we call home.

06/24/2026

In the early weeks of Spring, we had the pleasure of hosting a team of WPI students as they worked alongside us on a project that will benefit our farming program and community for years to come! 🦊

Their work focused on helping us protect our poultry while also helping children build understanding and appreciation for the wild predators that share our landscape. Through this collaboration, they created a beautiful fox den play space for children to explore and imagine, along with an educational predator board along our trail system that highlights the importance of animals like foxes, bears, bobcats, raccoons, hawks, snakes and weasels! 🐻

We are so grateful for their creativity, hard work, and commitment to project-based learning that reaches beyond the classroom and into the community. The impact of this project will continue to ripple outward as children learn to view these animals not as villains, but as valuable members of our local environment.

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A special thank you to our director, Miss Katie, for the time, care and guidance she puts into these collaborations. From helping the WPI students identify projects that truly benefit our farm to supporting them throughout the process, her dedication helps create important learning!

Thank you to the WPI team for this meaningful synergy and for leaving a lasting legacy here at Turn Back Time!

06/15/2026

A Kinderkamp tradition -
✏️ The evolution of the self portrait ✏️

From the first day to the last day, so much growth!

The self awareness and confidence building are a natural progression within the creative storytelling through art! 🖼️

This is such a fun reflection of our year and so incredible to see this visual record of how they perceive themselves in the world! ☀️

06/12/2026

💐Congratulations to our graduating students!

𖦹 Preschool
𖦹 Kinderkamp
𖦹 Afternoon Explorers
𖦹 Homeschool
We are so proud!

Thinking back to the beautiful crisp fall season, to the deep still winter, to this warm blooming spring- we journeyed through it all together. Learning, growing and bonding, with our friends, teachers and all the farm animals! 🐈

The last day of school was so bittersweet, filled with excitement, hugs and our last time together on the farm and in the forest! 🌲

The community that is Turn Back Time has deep roots. We are grateful every day for that!

🌞 Thank you to all of our hardworking teachers and farmers! We appreciate your daily efforts and nurturing minds!

✨And lastly a very special thank you to our Director, Miss Katie, who is the backbone of Turn Back Time. Her dedication and passion is felt throughout! She is always looking for ways to evolve the farm, guiding all staff, making sure wild play & safety are top priority for all students, all while staying completely immersed in her teaching, leading and creation of Kinderkamp. That is what makes her our North Star! We appreciate you & love you Miss Katie!

Closing the chapter on this year and moving into a fantastic fun summer! ☀️

06/09/2026

🌲Our last Tuesday of the school year was filled with loose parts play. Objects such as moss, pinecones, pebbles, clay, and planks of wood quickly transformed into tree faces, an ice cream stand, and a castle (complete with colored glass pebbles for “treasure”)! With loose parts, there are limitless opportunities for play!

Because these materials can be endlessly combined, moved, and transformed, they offer unique developmental benefits for young learners. Loose parts play transforms children into active creators, critical thinkers, problem solvers and it strengthens their social-emotional development. 💛

06/08/2026

A huge shoutout & THANK YOU to our incredible board member, Megan! 🌟
Thank you for organizing such a successful PTO work weekend, and to everyone who came out to volunteer. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to our school community!

06/04/2026

✨ Wait! A KinderKamp opening?!?

This almost never happens, but we have one opening available in our KinderKamp program for Fall 2026!

KinderKamp is designed for kindergarten-aged children who thrive in a nature-based, child-led learning environment. Through an emergent curriculum inspired by children’s interests, questions, and experiences, students learn alongside a community of peers. Developing social, emotional, academic, and life skills at their own pace.

Days are filled with outdoor exploration, meaningful play, hands-on learning, so many opportunities to build confidence, independence, and most importantly, a deep connection to the natural world. We believe children learn best when they are engaged, curious, and supported as individuals.

Our KinderKamp program runs Monday–Thursday from 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and is led by the wonderful Katie Baker and her Co-Teacher Katrina Lampson.

If you’ve been hoping for a spot, now is your chance! Please reach out to Lisa Burris for more information. 👉🏼 [email protected]

06/03/2026

🌿Our founder, Lisa Burris, recently joined the Outdoor Classrooms Podcast to talk about the power of outdoor learning, nature connection, and unstructured play.

In this thoughtful conversation, Lisa shares why children need more time outdoors, how relationship-centered learning supports healthy development, and the many ways nature helps children build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

It’s an inspiring discussion for parents, educators, and anyone who believes childhood is meant to be filled with wonder, exploration, and connection to the natural world.

🎧 Be sure to check out Episode 201 and let us know your favorite takeaway in the comments!

Link to listen 👇🏼

https://pod.link/1669914286/episode/NmU4MjhhOGYtNGUzMC00NTg1LThmYTgtMGM1YmM2NjZlMmRh?fbclid=PAVERFWASNUTBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadWG_8HMGf8wsM0DyvECPbYPdAK31G1k-XCZEoB7EOgDebeTKXov_N1Y203Yg_aem_z1Zz29XwoIWUbg39hRzcwA

06/01/2026

🦋🐝The Salamander Crew is exploring the wonderful world of pollinators!

Over the past few weeks, our preschoolers have been learning about the important role that bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects play in our ecosystem. To support these helpful creatures, the children worked together to create a butterfly puddler for our Welcome Garden.
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The project began with the crew loading a large stump into a wagon and working together to transport it down to the garden, they then created and installed the butterfly puddler, which will provide a safe place for thirsty pollinators to rest and drink.
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The exploration continued as the children read A Seed Grows and created seed balls using native wildflower seeds that help attract and nourish pollinators. The children mixed soil and clay, squeezed and rolled the materials together, and gently pressed seeds into each ball. They will be bringing their seed balls home to plant with their families, extending their learning beyond the classroom and helping create more pollinator-friendly habitats in our community!
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These hands-on experiences help children make meaningful connections between seeds, soil, flowers, and the pollinators that depend on them. Along the way, they are also developing collaborative problem-solving skills, fine and gross motor skills, sensory awareness, and a growing sense of environmental stewardship!

05/30/2026

BBQ cancelled?
Baseball game rained out?

Join us on the farm for a muddy obstacle course that guarantees to be a blast! Work together with your team to complete over 25 outdoor mental and physical challenges. Start times at noon and 1:30.

Day of registration-$40

Not up for the race, but still want to come hang out? $10/family gets you access to the inflatable bounce/obstacle course, fox den, DJ dance party, arts and craft station, touch-a-tractor and time with horses, goats, and new baby ducks 🦆

Food and ice cream available for purchase. Come check it out!

05/28/2026

In our Preschool class, Butterfly Grove, an emergent curriculum on rocks has been unfolding! 🪨

Through hands-on exploration in the garden and forest floor, to storytelling, science, and play, their natural formed interest in rocks has grown into something worth diving into!

Over the past few weeks, children have examined rocks of all shapes and sizes, read books about geology and the natural world, experimented with a rock tumbler to observe how grit and motion slowly smooth stone, and explored how rocks break down over time into sand and soil.

Through curiosity led learning, children are building incredible observation skills, scientific thinking, patience, and a deeper connection to the earth beneath their feet! 🪨

Address

250 Marshall Street
Paxton, MA
01612

Telephone

+19787603707

Website

http://www.tbtinc.org/

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