Nature as Teacher

A considerable amount has been written recently about the important role that nature plays in healthy human development, and as an important aspect of education. The Waldorf curriculum seeks to help students develop a healthy connection to the natural world and to develop a sense of awe and wonder that later can develop into a sense of responsibility for the natural world. Kimberton Waldorf School is uniquely situated to provide a natural education because of our beautiful 425 acre campus that includes French Creek, woods, pastures, an organic school garden, and an organic dairy farm. We offer a nature-based Kindergarten class that we call the Forest, Field, and Farm Kindergarten. In Third grade our students learn about farming, which includes taking care of animals in a small “farm” on campus. Students learn to understand what it takes to grow good, healthful food in our organic gardening program, and they will literally eat the fruits of the labor in our organic hot lunch program. In High School, we have an experiential/outdoor program that includes backpacking and canoeing trips, and study of marine biology on the coast of Maine.