When her SCORE Bucks County mentor, Carl Rubin, told Ashleigh Hill, owner of The Barn Yard, that she was “one of the most passionate, organized people,” the entrepreneur strived to live up to the sentiment.

Hill, of Hatfield, had already opened The Barn Yard, a 13,000-square-foot “imagination-based” Collegeville play area for kids ranging from crawling infants up to 10 years old.

In addition to serving as a meetup for local parents to unwind with a cup of coffee while their children play freely and a destination for families as far away as New York and Delaware, Hill dreamed up ways that the center could foster community.

In 2023, The Barn Yard became a partner of the Adalyn Rose Foundation, a nonprofit that supports families grieving the loss of a child during pregnancy, infancy, or early childhood.

“Part of growing a family is the loss of children that nobody gets to see,” said Hill, who had a miscarriage before her second daughter was born. She decided to collaborate with the Foundation “so that nobody feels alone in those dark moments.”

The Barn Yard raised approximately $4,000 for the nonprofit and partnered with them to have a rose garden play structure included.

“They can play in the rose garden,” Hill said of children who visit. “This is a memorial to all the kids that don’t get to play here.”

The center hosts monthly sibling support groups for children who have lost siblings. A Remembrance Ball in winter featured a visit from Santa Claus, as well as a white balloon drop with the names of children who had died.

The Barn Yard itself continues to expand its offerings with the addition of an indoor basketball court and a makeshift construction play site highlighting the names of community builders “who inspired the spirit of The Barn Yard,” Hill said.

“We are building a community at every facet,” she said. “We’re a community.”

The center offers a summer camp and various classes, including gymnastics, dance, yoga, and pre-K readiness. The Barn Yard hosts school field trips for youth in pre-K through first grade, featuring lessons on community, farm life, and STEM topics.

Throughout the month of August, The Barn Yard offers half-price admission as it hosts kindergarten and Pre-K meet and greets for all local school districts, with $2 from each ticket sale being donated to the school hosted.

Weekend play sessions often sell out, but Hill is also happy to have moms come in to pick up or donate baby wipes, baby formula, and breast pumps. Recently, The Barn Yard donated more than $700 worth of specialty formula to a child in the foster system.

Since opening in March 2022, Hill no longer meets regularly with Rubin and her other SCORE mentor, Nina De Rosa.

However, her mentors helped to build the foundation for her center’s success through idea brainstorming and “giving me the confidence to go forward,” Hill said.

She also knows they are available to her anytime she needs help. SCORE mentors build relationships with clients. Mentoring has no expiration date.

Hill appreciates De Rosa keeping tabs on her business and relishes her mentor’s ringing endorsements via social media.

Next to her SCORE mentors, Hill’s sister, Sarah Schiele, who co-owns The Barn Yard with her, acts as her “general.”

“After two years being in business with your sibling, you really realize how strong your bond is,” Hill said. “She keeps all my ducks in a row as I throw new ducks at her.”

Schiele, in addition to coordinating birthday parties, formalizes her sister’s various ideas.

Those ideas have included a partnership with Greyson’s Gang and the Eagles Autism Foundation for a spring fundraiser that featured Eagles cheerleaders, Swoop, and local businesses; a collaboration with CHOP to bring health-safe nights of play to kids who are immunocompromised; and a partnership with C.A.R.I.E. to help connect families with elderly support as their parents age.

“We founded the Barn Yard on the idea that it takes a village to raise our kids … and we were that village,” Hill said. “However, since we opened the idea of community and giving back has taken on something so much bigger than we ever imagined. Our facility is about caring for the entire family from conception to elderly care and everything in between.”

About SCORE 
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million aspiring entrepreneurs.

Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. 

With more than 70 members across Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties, SCORE Bucks County provides over 4,300 free mentoring services annually to local small business owners through one-on-one counseling and small business seminars. 

To stay up to date on news and happenings, join SCORE Bucks County’s email list. Text SCOREBUCKS to 22828.