Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm offers birth –3rd grade education and Farm and Forest Summer Camp based on the Waldorf philosophy on a working farm in Essex, NY.
Lakeside School: Mt. Tots (Parent-Child Program)
“In our first year here on the farm in Westport, Lakeside School saved our sanity with its weekly Mountain Tots 
program. The program provided Finn with playmates, exploration in a beautiful setting, and really delicious oatmeal. Each week Finn looked forward to digging in the school sandbox, climbing a natural jungle-gym of small trees, stepping carefully across a tiny babbling creek, and mimicking the older school children in the play yard as they ran and jumped. With even more need, I looked forward to my conversations and growing friendships with the other parents. Lakeside provided me with a connection to other parents who soon became friends. The connections formed in that year, for myself and Finn, are still our strongest friendships.” Maeve Taylor is a mom of Finn, dairy farmer, and new Lakeside School Administrator.
Mountain Tots meets Friday morning throughout the course of the school year. This program, for children from birth to age 3 and their parents or caregivers, provides an opportunity for families to experience nature and farm based education inspired by the Waldorf philosophy and the unique educational experience Lakeside offers first-hand. Many of the same elements of the nursery and kindergarten programs are present: free play, time on the farm, circle, and a healthy, whole-food snack. Mt. Tots offers movement and social experiences for the young children but that it also provides a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment for parents during children’s early years, a time of great transition for families.
For more information or to register for the fall contact Maeve at 518.963.7385
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