The main campus was buzzing with grade school day campers. From a distance, I sat in the grass with W and observed the activity. Children were eating lunch under a tree, while others helped each other climb its limbs....a girl stood by herself and swung a large stick...two surly boys has a sword fight with large sticks while standing on a wooden balance beam. Younger children rolled down a grassy hill while a teacher sang songs...older children played rugby in a field...
Steiner-esque, indeed!
I was only able to snap a mere few photos of the main campus...we will undoubtedly return for a full tour and open house in the fall. Also, slated to speak at the school: KIM JOHN PAYNE, author of the fantastic book, Simplicity Parenting...a wildly worthwhile read, to say the least. We will surely be attending; posts to follow, of course!
We attended an open house for the nursery program in the afternoon...the nursery is housed in a refurbished barn about a half a mile down the country road.
To me, this is quintessential Waldorf....a home setting for young children is calming and protective. I felt soothed instantly by the warmth when I walked through the kitchen door....
We spent the afternoon chatting with 2 teachers and another family. The children played, giggled, and explored the play space.
The breeze blew through the cascading curtains all afternoon....a cow in a pasture across the street made himself known every few minutes....voices were quiet...the floor was soft...
This is among one of my most favorite pieces in the house....a smooth wooden handmade gnome house, complete with jeweled rocks, ladders, and footbridges. W was enthralled with it all afternoon!
The kitchen had a cork floor and wonderfully soft natural lighting...
dainty teacups in a row...
The photos speak for themselves, but do no justice to the serene and thoughtful beauty...
...a beautiful day, indeed....
Kingdoms of nature below me,
Kingdoms of angels above.
Between the two, here stand I,
Uniting these worlds with love.
Paul King
Oh, how beautiful!!! I'm so jealous!
ReplyDeletewow. How stunning. I want to go there!!!!
ReplyDeletesuch gentle, peaceful beauty!
ReplyDeletei appreciate our waldorf school too and always enjoy seeing other schools!
wow!! so very serene.
ReplyDeleteWow!! I want to go there too!!
ReplyDeletehow serene!
xo maureen
It looks like such a peaceful "home"! How great would it be to know your child would get to spend his days there!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, so home like, so non-institutional (if that is even a word)! Thank you for sharing the pictures - I always love looking inside other learning environments.
ReplyDeleteWhen can I move in? This is my dream home!! Oh the beauty and simplicity of cream!! Lovely!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting a comment on my blog so I can find you! I Look forward to more sharing!! May I link back to you as I would love to share your photos of this nursery school with those in Australia?
amber, please do!!!! so nice to meet you!!!!
ReplyDeleteBending Birches, thank you so much for visiting Kimberton Waldorf School. Try to imagine how wonderful it is to WORK in this environment, especially knowing how nurturing it is for the children. I LOVE KIMBERTON WALDORF SCHOOL, where there are 420 acres of rolling hills, farm, gardens, creek. The community life is so rich and wonderful, too. Everyone pulls for each other. I wanted to say that you photographs are amazing! Do you think that we could use them?
ReplyDeleteI hope that you can sign up with your little one!
Best,
Mary
mary- of course! I would be more than honored!!!!! ::hugs::
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Rebecca! Is this entry something you would be interested in having us re-post as a 'guest post' on the Kimberton Waldorf School blog? We are currently developing the site, and would love to share your experience once it's up and running! Let me know! As an employee (and mom) at KWS, I can assure you that the school community is just as wonderful as you might imagine!
ReplyDeletehi lauren--- that would be fantastic!!! the school and the community left quite an impression on us....it was such a beautiful experience!! let me know if you need anything!!
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading and looking at the photos in this post. I wish this wonderful place was closer to our new home - I'd love to be apart of something so calm, enveloping and joyful.
ReplyDeleteWhat age group do you plan to teach?
Namaste, Nicole
BTW - I am enjoying your blog very much.
Wonderful, natural bliss. cheers Marie
ReplyDeleteHello Bending Birches, I'm sorry I don't know your real name, but that sounds pretty anyway. You have an adorable little boy and I love all your beautiful pictures. Bethlehem sounds like a really nice place. I love shops like that too. I wish I know how to knit! Maybe I will attempt to learn someday. I'm with you on the plastic, it seems like there is way too much of it anymore. Oh and thank you so much for stopping in to see me, and for leaving a nice comment. Your picture is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful weekend coming up :)
oh, I was thinking of going with this blogger theme as well ! I love the soft colors :)
These images are so calm, natural and relaxing...this school is just so beautiful (you can just feel how nurturing and loving it would be) enjoy your weekend with your boys...
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place to go to school!
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful! I want to send my kids there. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over. I love these pics...I dont have any Steiner schools near me so this was interesting xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that I linked to your post so hopefully some Aussie (and worldwide) friends will be heading over to visit you soon! Lovely comments you have from this post. Well done!
Oh my goodness, you made me teary eyed with this! We toured this school a few years ago in hopes of moving to PA and having K attend. (My husband is from PA) Our plans fell through but Kimberton is one of my fav Waldorf schools.
ReplyDeleteDo you guys ever go to Kimberton Whole Foods store there (not the chain of whole foods but a little ma and pa store)? Love it!
Simply perfect! Thank you for sharing the pictures.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Hi Rebecca...
ReplyDeleteI have to find out when Kim John Payne is speaking at the school...I am reading his book now and love it!...Maybe we will see each other there :-)
This place looks like pure childhood magic. And your Blog! Beautiful. I am so glad you commented on mine so I could find yours!
ReplyDelete--katie
Kimberton really is a great school, I can attest to it! (I'm going to be a senior there this year....in shock!)
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I'm seeing these photos...they are so, so beautiful. I can't wait to visit one day.
ReplyDeleteI keep returning to these photos as you can just see the care that has been taken.
ReplyDeleteI grew up literally seven minutes from here and am still sad that my parents sent me to public school instead. Now I WISH that I still lived in my old hometown so that I could send my children to Kimberton Waldorf! We visit their little shop frequently when seeing my parents. It really is as beautiful as the pictures seem!
ReplyDeleteI remember Making That treehouse...glad to see That Its still in good use! Happy to make Childrens lives magical through beautiful toys.Its truely an honor.
ReplyDeletestubborndad@gmail.com is my new email for referance.
Thank you!
Stephen