Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions About ARKTIK Education, MicroFarms, and Community Programs
Truth. Transparency. Transformation.
Getting Clear Answers for Your Family's Educational and Agricultural Journey
ARKTIK believes in complete transparency and truth in all our communications. This comprehensive FAQ addresses the most common questions families ask about our educational programs, MicroFarms products, therapeutic applications, and community services. We're committed to providing clear, honest answers that help you make the best decisions for your family's unique needs and circumstances.
If you don't find your question answered here, please contact us directly. We're always available to provide personalized guidance and support for your family's educational and agricultural journey.
General ARKTIK Questions
What is ARKTIK?
ARKTIK is a comprehensive faith-based educational organization providing homeschool education, agricultural therapy, and community resilience services. We serve families through three main divisions: ARKTIK Academy (general homeschool education), ARKTIK Institute (gifted and talented education), and ARKTIK in Action (restoration-focused education). We also provide MicroFarms agricultural products and community support through LHEA-HEAL.
What does ARKTIK stand for?
ARKTIK represents our commitment to truth, transparency, and transformation in education. While the letters don't form a traditional acronym, ARKTIK symbolizes our role as educational pioneers exploring new frontiers in faith-based learning, much like Arctic explorers discovering new territories.
Is ARKTIK a religious organization?
ARKTIK is faith-based and integrates biblical principles throughout our educational programs while respecting diverse religious backgrounds. Our approach strengthens family values and biblical worldview while serving families from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and other faith traditions. We believe faith integration enhances rather than limits educational excellence.
Where is ARKTIK located?
ARKTIK is headquartered in Texas and primarily serves Texas families, with expanding service areas throughout the South and Southwest. Our MicroFarms Grow to Order service currently serves Texas with plans for national expansion. Our educational programs are available to families nationwide through our online platforms.
How is ARKTIK different from other homeschool programs?
ARKTIK uniquely combines academic excellence with agricultural therapy, character formation, and community resilience. Our programs integrate hands-on agricultural learning with rigorous academics, creating educational experiences that develop both intellectual and practical skills while strengthening family relationships and community connections.
Educational Programs Questions
ARKTIK Academy Questions
Who is ARKTIK Academy designed for? ARKTIK Academy serves general homeschool students K-12 seeking parent-led, mastery-based education with comprehensive support. Our program is perfect for families wanting rigorous academics combined with agricultural therapy and character development, regardless of their children's academic level or learning style.
What curriculum does ARKTIK Academy use? ARKTIK Academy provides comprehensive curriculum covering all core subjects (math, science, English, history, Bible/faith studies) plus electives and agricultural education. Our mastery-based approach allows students to progress at their own pace while ensuring complete understanding before advancing to new concepts.
Do I need teaching experience to use ARKTIK Academy? No teaching experience is required. ARKTIK Academy is designed for parent-led education with comprehensive support including AI Professors, Master Learning Assistants (MLAs), and detailed parent guides. We provide everything parents need to successfully educate their children at home.
How much time does ARKTIK Academy require daily? Most families spend 3-5 hours daily on academics, plus additional time for agricultural activities and character development. Our flexible scheduling allows families to adapt the program to their unique circumstances and priorities while maintaining academic rigor.
Is ARKTIK Academy accredited and do credits transfer? ARKTIK Academy meets Texas TEA standards and provides complete documentation supporting college admission and credit transfer. Our rigorous academic standards and comprehensive portfolio documentation ensure students are well-prepared for college and career success.
ARKTIK Institute Questions
What qualifies a student for ARKTIK Institute? ARKTIK Institute serves academically gifted and talented (GT/TAG) students demonstrating advanced academic ability, creative thinking, or exceptional talent in specific areas. We welcome students identified as gifted by schools as well as those whose gifts haven't been formally recognized.
How does ARKTIK Institute differ from ARKTIK Academy? ARKTIK Institute provides accelerated learning with early college integration, advanced research opportunities, and specialized mentorship for gifted students. While maintaining the same agricultural therapy and character development focus, Institute students engage in more advanced projects and leadership opportunities.
Can ARKTIK Institute students earn college credit? Yes, ARKTIK Institute students can earn college credit through dual enrollment, advanced placement, and early college programs. Our college partnerships and credit tracking system ensure optimal college preparation and potential early graduation.
What if my child is gifted but struggling academically? ARKTIK Institute specializes in twice-exceptional (2e) students who are gifted but may have learning differences or challenges. Our individualized approach addresses both giftedness and learning needs while providing therapeutic agricultural activities that support overall development.
ARKTIK in Action Questions
Who should consider ARKTIK in Action? ARKTIK in Action serves students and families pursuing academic and personal restoration. This includes families experiencing crisis, students struggling in traditional settings, families seeking healing and restoration, and those wanting to rebuild strong family relationships through purposeful education.
Is ARKTIK in Action only for families in crisis? While ARKTIK in Action specializes in restoration, many families choose this program for its strong family focus, agricultural therapy emphasis, and community support even without being in crisis. The program strengthens all families through intentional character development and healing activities.
How does agricultural therapy work in education? Agricultural therapy integrates growing activities with academic learning, using hands-on agricultural work to teach responsibility, patience, and life skills while providing therapeutic benefits. Students learn science through plant biology, math through garden planning, and character through caring for living things.
What support is available for families in crisis? ARKTIK in Action provides comprehensive family support including educational assistance, agricultural therapy resources, community connections, and specialized curriculum designed for families experiencing trauma or significant challenges. We meet families where they are and provide hope through purposeful work and learning.
MicroFarms Product Questions
Product and Construction Questions
What makes ARKTIK MicroFarms products different? ARKTIK MicroFarms products are constructed with furniture-grade Spanish and Red Cedar, copper irrigation systems, and USDA Organic food-grade HPE components. Every system includes integrated IoT sensors and is designed for both therapeutic benefits and superior growing results. We spare no expense in materials and construction quality.
Why are ARKTIK MicroFarms products more expensive than garden products? Our systems are heirloom-quality investments built with premium materials (furniture-grade cedar, copper irrigation, smart technology) and designed to last generations. The construction quality rivals fine furniture while providing therapeutic benefits and superior growing results unavailable with standard garden products.
What is the five-year warranty and what does it cover? Our comprehensive five-year warranty covers all cedar construction, copper irrigation, HPE components, and smart technology. This includes material defects, construction quality, and performance assurance. We're confident in our premium materials and construction quality.
What is the annual maintenance service? Our annual maintenance service preserves your investment through professional cedar care, copper system maintenance, sensor calibration, and system optimization. This service ensures your growing systems improve with age and become treasured family heirlooms while maintaining optimal performance.
Smart Technology Questions
How do the IoT sensors work? Our integrated sensors monitor soil moisture, temperature, pH, nutrients, and light levels in real-time. Data is accessible through a smartphone app providing alerts, automated irrigation control, and educational information. The technology enhances rather than replaces the therapeutic benefits of hands-on gardening.
Do I need technical skills to use the smart systems? No technical skills are required. Our systems are designed for user-friendly operation with simple smartphone app interfaces. We provide comprehensive training and ongoing technical support to ensure your success with smart growing technology.
What happens if the technology fails? All systems function perfectly as manual growing systems even without technology. Smart features enhance the experience but aren't required for successful growing. Our five-year warranty includes complete technology support and replacement.
Can the smart systems work without internet? Yes, systems include local data storage and can operate independently. Internet connectivity enhances features like weather integration and remote monitoring but isn't required for basic smart functionality and automated irrigation.
Growing and Soil Questions
What is cedar-infused signature soil? Our proprietary soil blend combines coco-coir, Spanish Cedar particles, coffee grounds, cleaned play sand, 10-10-10 granular fertilizer, and optional clay pebbles. This creates optimal growing conditions while providing natural pest resistance and therapeutic aromatherapy benefits.
What is the VIP Black Humus soil line? Our VIP Black Humus collection includes premium black humus for maximum nutrition density and therapeutic benefits. This ultra-premium soil line provides superior plant nutrition and enhanced therapeutic benefits for serious therapeutic applications and optimal growing results.
Why don't you use traditional potting soil? Traditional potting soil often contains chemicals, treated materials, and synthetic components that compromise both plant health and human cellular health. Our custom blends ensure complete purity while optimizing both growing results and therapeutic benefits.
How long does the cedar-infused soil last? With proper care, our soil maintains optimal properties for 2-3 growing seasons. The cedar provides ongoing pest resistance and aromatherapy benefits throughout this period. We recommend soil refreshing annually for optimal results.
Grow to Order Service Questions
How does the Grow to Order service work? Order plants by Wednesday for next Wednesday delivery. We grow plants to optimal transplant stage ensuring immediate success when they arrive. This eliminates guesswork and provides guaranteed growing success with vibrant, ready-to-produce plants.
What is the $30 minimum order requirement? The $30 minimum ensures cost-effective delivery for multiple plants. This covers delivery costs while encouraging orders that provide complete growing experiences rather than single plants. Special terms apply for EBT users.
What are the special EBT terms? EBT users have reduced minimum orders ($15), special plant collections focused on high-nutrition varieties, additional growing education, and extended support ensuring growing success for families facing food insecurity.
What plants are available through Grow to Order? We offer culinary herbs, leafy greens, fruiting vegetables, therapeutic plants, heritage varieties, fruit tree saplings, and rare specialty plants. Selection varies seasonally for optimal growing success. Custom collections are available for educational and therapeutic applications.
What if my plants don't survive? We provide a 30-day success guarantee with plant replacement for failures. Our optimal transplant timing and growing support ensure high success rates. We're committed to your growing success and provide ongoing support for any challenges.
Pricing and Payment Questions
Program Pricing Questions
Why does ARKTIK Academy cost more than other homeschool programs? ARKTIK Academy provides comprehensive education including AI Professors, human mentoring, agricultural therapy integration, community support, and complete family resources. Our pricing reflects the full-service nature of our programs and the quality of support provided.
Are there scholarships or financial assistance available? Yes, we offer scholarships for all programs based on need and circumstances. ARKTIK in Action includes sliding scale options, and we work with families to ensure financial barriers don't prevent access to transformative education.
Can I pay monthly or do you require annual payment? All programs offer monthly payment options. We also provide annual payment discounts for families preferring yearly billing. Payment plans are available for MicroFarms products to make heirloom quality accessible to all families.
What is included in each pricing tier? Each program offers Economic, Commercial Grade, and White Glove tiers with increasing levels of support and resources. Higher tiers include more human mentoring, additional resources, and enhanced family support while maintaining the same core educational excellence.
Are there family discounts for multiple students? Yes, we offer family discounts for multiple students in the same program. Families with students in different programs may also qualify for bundle discounts. Contact us for personalized pricing based on your family's specific needs.
MicroFarms Pricing Questions
Why are MicroFarms products so expensive? Our products are heirloom-quality investments built with furniture-grade materials, smart technology, and designed to last generations. The construction quality, materials, and comprehensive support justify the investment in your family's health and agricultural legacy.
Are there payment plans available for MicroFarms products? Yes, we offer 12-18 month interest-free financing for growing systems over $200. This makes heirloom quality accessible to families while protecting your investment through comprehensive warranty and maintenance services.
What is included in the MicroFarms product prices? System prices include premium construction, smart technology, initial soil, seeds, educational materials, installation support, five-year warranty, and access to growing support. Everything needed for immediate success is included.
Do you offer discounts for ARKTIK program families? Yes, families enrolled in ARKTIK educational programs receive 15% discounts on MicroFarms products. This reflects our commitment to supporting complete family education and agricultural therapy integration.
Getting Started Questions
Enrollment and Setup Questions
How do I get started with ARKTIK programs? Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your family's needs and determine the best program fit. We'll help you select the appropriate tier and provide complete setup support for immediate success.
When can I start ARKTIK programs? You can start ARKTIK programs any time throughout the year. Our flexible scheduling and mastery-based approach accommodate families beginning at any point while ensuring complete educational coverage.
What do I need to get started? Most families need basic computer access and internet connectivity. We provide all curriculum, educational materials, and support resources. For agricultural therapy integration, we can help you select appropriate MicroFarms products based on your space and goals.
How much support do you provide during setup? We provide comprehensive setup support including program orientation, curriculum introduction, technology training, and ongoing support ensuring your family's success from day one.
Can I try ARKTIK programs before committing? We offer consultation and program previews to help families make informed decisions. While we don't offer free trials, our comprehensive support and satisfaction focus ensure families achieve success with our programs.
Technical and Practical Questions
What technology do I need for ARKTIK programs? Basic computer access and reliable internet connectivity are required for most program features. We support various devices and provide technical assistance ensuring technology doesn't become a barrier to educational success.
Do you provide curriculum or do I need to purchase separately? ARKTIK provides complete curriculum and educational materials as part of program enrollment. You don't need to purchase additional curriculum, though we support families wanting to supplement with additional resources.
How do you handle special learning needs? ARKTIK's mastery-based approach naturally accommodates diverse learning styles and needs. We provide individualized support and can adapt our programs for students with special learning requirements while maintaining academic rigor.
What if my family needs to relocate during the program year? Our programs are designed to accommodate family mobility. Educational progress and records transfer seamlessly, and we provide support ensuring continuity regardless of location changes.
Support and Community Questions
Ongoing Support Questions
What ongoing support do you provide? ARKTIK provides comprehensive ongoing support including AI Professor access, human mentoring (tier-dependent), parent resources, community networks, technical support, and educational guidance throughout your family's journey with us.
How do I contact support when I need help? We provide multiple support channels including email, phone, online chat, and community forums. Response times vary by support tier, with White Glove families receiving priority support access.
Do you have a community of other families? Yes, ARKTIK families connect through online communities, local meetups, and shared activities. Our community support extends to your local area helping families build real-world relationships and support networks.
What if ARKTIK programs don't work for my family? We work closely with families to address challenges and ensure success. Our comprehensive support and program flexibility accommodate most family needs. If programs truly aren't a good fit, we help families transition appropriately.
Community and Integration Questions
Do ARKTIK students socialize with other children? ARKTIK families participate in community activities, local co-ops, sports, arts, and religious activities. Our programs support rather than replace community involvement, encouraging families to build strong local connections.
How do you handle high school transcripts and college preparation? ARKTIK provides complete transcript services and college preparation support. Our rigorous academics and comprehensive documentation ensure students are well-prepared for college admission and success.
Do you work with local homeschool groups? Yes, we encourage and support participation in local homeschool communities. ARKTIK families often become leaders in local groups, sharing agricultural therapy and character development approaches with other families.
Can ARKTIK students participate in public school activities? This varies by state and local district policies. We support families navigating these opportunities and provide documentation needed for participation in appropriate activities.
Specialized Program Questions
Agricultural Therapy Questions
What exactly is agricultural therapy? Agricultural therapy uses hands-on agricultural activities to support healing, learning, and character development. Students learn responsibility through plant care, patience through growing cycles, and life skills through practical agricultural work while receiving therapeutic benefits.
Do I need agricultural experience for these programs? No agricultural experience is required. ARKTIK provides complete agricultural education and support, including MicroFarms products designed for success regardless of experience level. We teach agricultural skills as part of our comprehensive educational approach.
How does agricultural therapy help children? Agricultural therapy provides stress relief, builds confidence through success with living things, teaches responsibility and patience, connects children with natural cycles, and provides purposeful physical activity while supporting academic learning through hands-on application.
Can agricultural therapy help children with special needs? Yes, agricultural therapy benefits children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other challenges. The sensory experience, routine, responsibility, and success with living things provide therapeutic benefits while supporting educational goals.
Character Development Questions
How do you integrate character development? Character development is woven throughout all ARKTIK programs through agricultural responsibility, family service projects, community involvement, biblical principles integration, and practical life skills development. Character formation happens through purposeful activities rather than separate lessons.
Is character development religious indoctrination? ARKTIK's character development focuses on universal virtues like responsibility, honesty, perseverance, and service while strengthening family values. Our approach respects diverse religious backgrounds while building strong moral character.
How do you measure character development? Character development is measured through practical demonstrations of responsibility, family relationship improvement, community service engagement, academic perseverance, and leadership development rather than tests or grades.
Can secular families benefit from ARKTIK's character focus? Yes, families from diverse backgrounds benefit from our character development approach focused on practical virtues and life skills. While faith-integrated, our character development builds qualities valuable to all families regardless of religious background.
Contact Information and Next Steps
Getting More Information
How can I learn more about ARKTIK programs? Contact us for a free consultation where we'll discuss your family's specific needs, answer detailed questions, and help you determine the best program fit. We're available by phone, email, or online chat.
Can I speak with other ARKTIK families? Yes, we can connect you with current ARKTIK families who've given permission to share their experiences. Hearing from other families helps you understand how our programs work in real family situations.
Do you offer information sessions or open houses? We regularly host online information sessions and, in some areas, local meetups where you can learn more about ARKTIK programs and meet other families. Check our website for upcoming events.
What's the best way to determine if ARKTIK is right for my family? Schedule a free consultation where we'll discuss your family's educational goals, challenges, and circumstances. We'll help you understand how ARKTIK programs address your specific needs and support your family's success.
Contact ARKTIK
General Information and Consultation: info@arktik-education.org Educational Program Questions: education@arktik-education.org MicroFarms Product Information: products@arktik-microfarms.com Technical Support: support@arktik-education.org Community and Local Connections: community@arktik-education.org
Phone Support: 1-888-ARKTIK-1 (1-888-275-8451)
Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Central Time)
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Central Time)
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Central Time)
Online Chat: Available on our website during business hours Community Forums: Available 24/7 for enrolled families Emergency Support: Available for enrolled families through dedicated support channels
Our FAQ Promise
ARKTIK is committed to truth, transparency, and transformation in all our communications. This FAQ represents our honest answers to real questions from families considering and using our programs. We believe informed families make the best decisions for their children's education and development.
If your question isn't answered here, please contact us directly. We're always available to provide personalized guidance, detailed explanations, and honest assessments of how ARKTIK programs can best serve your family's unique needs and circumstances.
Every question asked helps us better serve families seeking transformative education. Every honest answer builds trust and understanding. Every family served strengthens our community and mission.
Thank you for considering ARKTIK for your family's educational and agricultural journey. We look forward to serving you and supporting your family's success, growth, and transformation.