Happy Acres Ranch

"DO NOT SEND YOUR KINDERGARTENER HERE. THIS IS NOT A MONTESSORI PROGRAM AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. Sent my daughter to summer camp and found out about their new kindergarten program. When it first started it seemed to be decent but it did not last long. In October they had two teachers walk out and one get fired. They never told anyone there would be any changes. They never hired another kindergarten teacher. They advertise as a Montessori school when they are just a dangerously understaffed daycare. The director says she is also the kindergarten teacher but I ask my daughter every day if Kendall taught her and she says no. Kendall even told me one day she has so much paperwork to do she will be teaching starting next week. That week never came and we're going on almost 3 months now. I feel like we have been scammed, lied to and cheated and now my daughter has half a year to make up. They blend the classes of pre k and kindergarten and say the older kids teach the younger kids, my daughter has regressed since being here. I don't know what else to do besides take my daughter out which is really sad because if they actually hired enough staff and spent a little money to remove the rotting deck and unsafe play ground equipment and had enough people watching the kids when they visit the barn or playing outside, it might be decent. They are in no way a kindergarten and its not okay to lie to people and cheat their kids out of an education just because Florida's standards for kindergarten have changed and they want to scam people. I was looking forward to sending her to camp again but we will never be back."

"Stay far away from this place! My granddaughter was there this past summer and had a terrible experience. The young counselors they have are inexperienced and don’t watch the children closely. My granddaughter came home every day with bug bites everywhere even though we sent plenty of bug spray with her, she experienced bullying from the counselors and other children and the list goes on!"

"My daughter has just finished her 4th summer of camp at Happy Acres! She made such a special group of friends this year, and just didn’t want to leave each day! We absolutely love it there, and always so good to know I’m leaving her someplace safe and wholesome like a good ol’ unplugged 80s camp ;) And Ms Kendal had done a fantastic job in getting all the processes streamlined. It’s just a great place with fantastic people."

"A paradise ...family owned since 1953 under new director who was Conservation Teacher of the Year for Duval County. 10 acres, horses, swimming, fishing. Preschool curriculum Reggio/Montessori based. Accreditation just renewed."

"My kids had a wonderful experience last weekend getting to know the animals at Happy Acres. Mr. Ron was very helpful. I'm also excited to see Kendal as the new director. I have known her for 13 years. Two of my children had her as a teacher. She continues to be an inspiration for us all."