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 at Black Kettle Farm is now accepting applications for this summer’s Sprouts Day Care Program as well as all of our programs for the 2017-18 School Year. We strive to provide an extraordinary farm and forest early childhood education accessible to all. This year’s programs include:

Farm and Forest Summer Camp: For ages 4 to 9. Children explore the garden, farm, and forest through hands on projects and creative play time. Join us for weekly sessions, July 10 to Aug 4.

Sprouts: For ages (walking) 1 to 4. Now offered year-round, 5 days a week, from 8am until 5pm, the Sprouts program offers full NY certified day care services in a “home on a farm” environment. Families can enroll for part or all of the summer session, in addition to the school year program.

Farm and Forest Pre-K/ Kindergarten: For ages 3.5 to 6. Every day is adventure day as our Kindergartners explore the forest, garden, orchard, and farm yard. Our program combines purposeful work on the farm, creative play, rich storytelling, and nature observation to create an ideal early childhood experience.

Elementary School: Lakeside offers an enriching multi-age elementary classroom for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. During these early academic years, children will form good work habits as they explore language arts, mathematics, history and science. They expand their abilities in the practical, visual and performing arts while continuing to engage with our farm and forest at Black Kettle. Subject classes in all grades explore foreign languages, music, eurythmy, watercolor painting, form drawing, beeswax modeling, knitting, movement games, nature walks and farming.

Mountain Tots: Lakeside facilitates a Friday morning, two-hour, play group session for parents and their toddlers, including free-play outside, a hearty snack, and group singing. This session is perfect for parents to meet other parents to discuss their children’s development and as an introduction to Lakeside School.

Lakeside School offers a self-chosen tiered tuition system to meet the needs of local families. New and returning families are also invited to apply for further Tuition Assistance as needed.

For more information about Lakeside School programs please call School Administrator Maeve Taylor at (518) 963-7385, email admin@lakesideschoolinessex.org, or visit our website www.lakesideschoolinessex.org.