First Discoveries Academy

First Discoveries Academy is a nature-inspired early learning program where children spend time caring for goats on site. Daily activities include digging for worms and exploring the playground every day as a major part of the curriculum. The program includes a kindergarten and primary class that learns about how worms help the earth.

• Ages: 3–10 years old
• Schedule: School-year and summer options Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–5:00 pm

First Discoveries Academy was established in 2015. The program follows the Eco-Healthy guidelines published by the Children's Environmental Health Network to keep the school healthy and clean. It is nationally accredited by NAEYC. The program offers a Summer Camp for children ages 3 to 10, a free Summer VPK program for children entering kindergarten, afterschool programs serving children up to 10 years old, and part-time PEP and PEP Hybrid programs for kindergarten and primary ages. It offers half-day, school day, and extended day schedules. First Discoveries Academy serves families in Brandon, Valrico, Lithia, and Fishhawk. The stated goal of First Discoveries is to support and nurture children’s development through high quality early learning programs that focus on creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, in a caring, supportive environment with chances to make choices and interact with teachers, other children, and materials, with the belief that the early years create a lasting foundation for future learning.

Last updated February 14, 2026.