Tranquil Waters
Forest School
Welcome
to Our Site
Waldorf Early Childhood Education
Waldorf
Waldorf educations offers a unique experience in that it allows children to indulge in childhood. Academics are typically introduced around age 7 after the “changing of teeth” that signal a child’s brain is nearing the completion of the development needed to grasp guided lessons with healthy receptors.
Delayed Reading
"Just as a normal, healthy child will learn to walk without our teaching her, and just as a child miraculously learns to speak her native language by the age of three without lessons, worksheets or a dictionary, so will a child naturally learn to read when she has a positive relationship with the spoken and written word.”
-Bella Luna
Screens
Waldorf education encourages a low tech approach in the early years. Children are encouraged to engage in imaginative play, hands-on work, and outdoor and artistic activities. The goal is to cultivate a strong academic and developmental foundation, social skills, and a connection to the natural world before introducing digital devices.
What is Waldorf?
Waldorf education -an international movement named after the first school in Stuttgart, Germany that was based upon Steiner’s insights- is founded upon an understanding of each child as a unique individual who seeks to learn and grow by experiencing the path of earthly life.
In the early childhood years, our focus is on fostering a sense of wonder and imagination. We introduce children to the world through storytelling, music, and creative play. Our curriculum includes activities that promote fine and gross motor skills, language development, social interaction, and nature exploration.
At the heart of Waldorf education lies a commitment to nurturing the development of the whole child—academically, artistically, socially, and emotionally. Waldorf education is a holistic approach that nurtures the development of each child. Our curriculum, teaching methods, and assessment approach are designed to cultivate a love for learning, foster creativity, and support the growth of well-rounded individuals. We invite you to explore to learn more about how Waldorf education can benefit your child's educational journey.
Our Story.
July 2023, Tranquil Waters Forest School began as a free, Waldorf-inspired outdoor gathering for families with young children. What started as a simple offering (meeting in nature, finding a shared rhythm, and listening to what the land and community needed) quickly grew into a steady weekly practice.
In 2024, the community came together for its first fundraiser to support the practical needs of gathering outdoors in all seasons. Through shared effort, we were able to add shelter, a wood-burning stove, patio heaters, tarps, and seasonal supplies, strengthening both the physical space and the relationships that hold it.
In 2025, a women’s group was added, creating space for mothers and caregivers to connect more deeply with one another. This group has since grown into a festival committee, reflecting a natural expansion of shared leadership, creativity, and community care.
While connecting children with nature remains at the heart of the forest school, this space also exists to support the mothers and caregivers who walk alongside them. Tranquil Waters Forest School is sustained through shared stewardship, volunteer participation, and ongoing financial support from the community. Contributions help cover land use, materials, seasonal supplies, and the infrastructure needed to hold this work with care.
As a free program, the forest school relies on the generosity of families and community members who value accessible, nature-based early childhood spaces. Through this community-supported model, Tranquil Waters Forest School fosters connection not only between children and the natural world, but among mothers, families, and the wider community.
Leaders and Festival Commitee Members
Tesha | Founder
Tesha has been working with children for over twenty years and has spent the last decade deepening her understanding of Waldorf early childhood principles. She holds an Early Years certificate from Lifeways North America and brings a background in biology to her work, nurturing children’s curiosity and connection to the natural world through direct, hands-on experience.
When not tending the forest school or helping to shape seasonal festivals, Tesha can often be found knitting, crocheting, or sewing toys, garments, and costumes. She finds deep meaning in handwork and the quiet gifts it offers—patience, care, and creativity—and enjoys supporting others as they develop confidence in crafts that call to them.
Laurynn | Helper
Laurynn has been a steady and loving presence at the forest school since the fall of 2023. She brings grace, heart, and a genuine willingness to serve at each gathering. Through ongoing Waldorf workshops and hands-on experience, Laurynn continues to deepen her understanding of early childhood work, offering a calm steadiness to our rhythm and a deep reverence for the children and the land.