Jennifer had the pleasure of attending a felted fairytale tapestry workshop at Davis Waldorf School, taught by the wonderful Suzanne Down of Juniper Tree Puppets. Jennifer decided to choose a scene that represents elements of a new pentatonic song that Rick wrote for his first graders. Song words, below (and an audio clip coming, soon!).
Inspiration from Suzanne included looking at felted scenes and also postcards of felted scenes.
After many layers and some extra work at home, the scene is finally finished!
We are very fortunate to coordinate and teach at the Davis Waldorf School Summergarden Camp in Davis, California. This summer was our 4th year. Children entering grades 2-6 attended for one-week sessions. Older students could attend as Jr. Counselors. We have highly qualified teachers for handwork, gardening and cooking, and a host of amazing high school and college volunteers who help the program run smoothly. Children come to us from the Davis Waldorf Schools, and also from the local public schools, Waldorf schools from other cities and states, and homeschooling families. Some families travel from afar and stay in Davis for a week or more on vacation while their children attend camp.
Children rotate each day through the kitchen, garden and handwork room/woodworking area. The calendar provides breathing in (learning) and breathing out (playing) times throughout the day. Gardening includes planting, harvesting, weeding, composting, learning about herbs, and garden crafts.
Week 3 - Wood Toy Boxes, Flower Essences, Herbal Cheese
Children help prepare their own snack and lunch made mostly from local and organic ingredients. This summer, we were fortunate to have produce from Good Hummus Farm in nearby Capay Valley. Live musicians perform for the children during lunch once per week (harp, guitar, fiddlers, flute, clarinet). A beautiful aftercare program is available for children who want to stay longer than 1pm each day.
Each morning starts with circle time: Good morning song, gardening song, yoga stretches, summer song. Each learning session includes an opening and closing verse. Eating times begin with a meal verse. By the end of the week, children learn 8 verses and 3-5 songs. Children watercolor paint a cover for their journals which includes the week's recipes, songs, verses, and drawings.
Summergarden 2015 information will be on the website around February, 2015!
So fortunate to have incredible teachers -- Jennifer Tan, Par Duncan, Bill Critchfield, Robyn Wolfe, Jan Plotkin, Dahlia Haberman, Hue Thao, and Aftercare providers Karen Hansen-Downey and Misty DeGennaro
Below is a photo album that we created featuring our 5 weeks of summer camp adventures!
"Little Ones" are small Waldorf dolls, made for all children in Grade K at Davis Waldorf School. The classroom angel lets children know that the Little Ones will arrive, and when they do...it's magic!
Our son Wilson, along with other children who did not attend Grade K at the school, had the opportunity to receive a Little One in Grade 1 or 2. The amazing K teacher made the cloth body out of tea-dyed cotton with a blessing flower petal inside. Parents secretively met each week late at night to sew the clothes, felt the hair and make the hats out of cloth, felt or yarn. The Little Ones look similar to the child, and the colors and designs are chosen to match or balance the temperament. They come from "Little Land", and children hold them often while at school and home.
Wilson's "Little One" appeared this morning in his room. His name is "Elf Star", and Wilson wants to call him "Elfie". We are going to make a sleeping bag out of naturally-dyed felt for Elfie so that he may sleep close to Wilson at night.
