HEADWATERS COMMUNITY FARM & ACADEMY
Rooted in Nature. Growing for the World.
A nonprofit community farm and Montessori-inspired academy cultivating curiosity, stewardship, and connection through hands-on, nature-based learning in Kane County, Illinois.
Our Mission
Learning begins with the land.
At Headwaters Community Farm and Academy, we prepare learners of all ages for a lifetime of discovery through nature and place-based education. Our mission is to cultivate curiosity, empathy, and resilience — while nurturing a deep connection to the natural world and to one another.
Two Branches, One Living Vision
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The Nonprofit: Headwaters Community Farm & Academy
The roots of our work.
Our nonprofit stewards the mission, land, and partnerships that make Headwaters thrive. Through community programming, food-systems initiatives, and environmental education, we connect families, educators, and neighbors in shared purpose and stewardship.
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The School: Headwaters Academy
The heart of our learning ecosystem.
Headwaters Academy is our Montessori and nature-inspired K–8 program where classrooms extend into forests, gardens, and creeks. Students learn through curiosity, creativity, and care — preparing them to lead with compassion and courage.
Rooted in Kane County, Growing Toward the Future
Founded by local families, Headwaters exists to reconnect education to the land. After navigating zoning challenges at our original site, we are pursuing a long-term home with prairies, ponds, and woodlands — a place to put down roots. We envision classrooms alive with exploration, gardens growing with purpose, and a community grounded in belonging.
Our Programs
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Community Farm & Education
Workshops, volunteer programs, and partnerships that connect families and neighbors through food, ecology, and service.
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Headwaters Academy
A Montessori and nature-based K–8 school that grows lifelong learners through project-based, outdoor education.
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Digital Learning
Expanding our reach through online courses, homeschool curricula, and family learning kits that bring Headwaters into homes worldwide.
Our Guiding Values
Curiosity. We follow wonder wherever it leads.
Stewardship. We care for the land — and for one another.
Community. We grow stronger together.
Courage. We build what the world needs, even when it’s new.
Let’s grow what matters.
Your involvement — as a family, volunteer, or donor — helps us plant roots for the future and grow a thriving community of learners.