Waldorf Academy Toronto: Killbear Weekend Now Open For Registration

Waldorf Academy’s start-of-summer camping trip is now open for registration, a gathering that many students, families, and even alumni have come to consider an annual Waldorf Academy tradition. This trip, held at the Killbear Provincial Park, is scheduled for the weekend after the last day of classes to celebrate the end of the year, the start of summer, and serves as a chance for families to recognize their children moving up another grade level.

While this camping trip is not mandatory, it is a great opportunity for children to interact with their classmates outside of class, for Waldorf families to mingle and relax with each other, and for alumni to reunite and reminisce about their school years.

The Waldorf Academy Killbear camping trip will be held from Friday, June 14th through Sunday, June 16th. Families may arrive and depart on any date and time of their choosing, but most Waldorf families tend to arrive on Friday, shortly after school is let out for summer, and stay until Sunday afternoon. Although the camping trip is an unofficial Waldorf Academy celebration, the school does organize events and activities for students and their families over the course of the weekend. On Saturday evening, families can enjoy a potluck on the Big Rock (details to follow), as well as various other activities offered throughout the weekend. In the past, students and families have been able to choose from a plethora of activities, such as fishing, yoga, beach games, and campfires.

As the annual camping weekend is only five months away, registration to reserve campsites is now open. Campers may visit www.ontarioparks.com to view and select the site they would like. Traditionally, families with students currently enrolled in Waldorf Academy camp at the Beaver Dams campground from site #296 through #327, though older family of past students or alumni may feel free to make their reservation anywhere. The Georgian campsites nearby are typically where the latter group prefers to camp.

For students at the Waldorf Academy in Toronto, Canada, going camping for a weekend with their classmates isn’t an unusual experience. The Waldorf Academy Toronto prides itself on their hands-on curriculum. The academy knows that a child’s curiosity needs to be fed, their creativity fueled, and their hands kept busy in order to stay focused and develop a true love for learning. This is why most classes offered at the Waldorf Academy incorporate art, movement, crafts, woodworking, and gardening.

The use of art, such as painting, sketching, theater, and music, helps develop a child’s creativity which, in turn, helps develop problem-solving skills that are necessary in other, non-related fields. Movement is also an essential part of the Waldorf Academy curriculum that gives their students an edge academically. By enabling students to constantly be on the move, their curiosity is satisfied through hands-on learning and doing various outdoor activities. Constant movement also serves to burn off the excess energy that young children have, as well as help keeping them both focused and motivated.

For those interested in enrolling their children in the Waldorf Academy, the institution offers a variety of educational programs for both parents and children aged 18 months to 13 years old. The earliest program they offer is a Parent and Tot program for toddlers 18 months to 3.5 years. This program gives children lessons that are age-appropriate, as well as developmentally enriching for their sensory, emotional, and social development. The academy also has childcare and preschool programs for children aged 18 months to 4 years old. These programs have 2, 3, or 5-day options, and the preschool program has full day and half-day courses that parents can choose from.

Once a child is old enough, they can be enrolled in the Lower School program (grades 1-5). This program takes an artistic approach to academics, and lets children explore the world around them. The program focuses on and encourages a child’s creativity, problem solving skills, and individuality. The academy further offers a Middle School program (grades 6-8) that prepares students for high school through an age-appropriate and challenging curriculum. This program encourages students to think about the world around them and become more independent.

Those who wish to learn more about the Waldorf Academy may visit their main website. Visitors to the site can read more about the programs offered or fill out a contact form with any questions or inquiries. The school is always happy to talk to potential students and families over the phone, through email, or on location in Toronto.