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LifeWays Fundamentals
Portland Oregon
Held at Juniperberry Playgarden
Join us for a five-day in-person retreat to fill your tool kit with:
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The basics of early childhood and how to support this critical phase of development
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An introduction to the Living Arts
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How to create sustainable and nourishing rhythms with attention to transitions
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An understanding of the importance of play and how to support it
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How to build effective relationships with partners, parents, colleagues
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Basics in storytelling, as well as an experience of songs and games for children
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Basic skills in handwork, festival craft, watercolor painting, nature table creation
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**PLUS enjoy a week of nourishing self-care with delicious, organic meals, time in nature, movement classes, and the camaraderie of an established community to support and inspire you in the future!**
After the in-person retreat:
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You have the FREE option of joining a LifeWays lead pedagogue and their cohorts in a five-session (Zoom) book study of Life is the Curriculum as well as time for open Q&A and sharing with your cohort peers. Each session will last 1.5 hours, one hour of discussing the book and 30 minutes of Q&A.
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You also have the option of purchasing one-on-one mentoring sessions with a lead pedagogue to further support your unique needs. A one-hour telephone session is available for $100, or three one-hour sessions for $250.
**For early childhood teachers and caregivers, this course qualifies for 35 hours of Continuing Education credits after the retreat, and an additional 10 hours if you participate in and complete the Book Study!
Meet the Lead Pedagogues
Acacia Moore
Acacia is the Executive Director of LifeWays and serves as Director for In-Person and Online Programs. She has been devoted to the mission of LifeWays for many years as an educator and mother of three sons. Alongside her role with LifeWays, she is co-founder and teacher at the City of Fountains School, established 2011 as Kansas City’s first school inspired by Waldorf education. She completed her Curative Educators training with the Mulberry Center for Curative Education in 2024, her own LifeWays Certificate training in 2016, and her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education with a focus on Early Childhood in 2003.
Acacia is passionate about partnering with families and educators to build support systems for children that honor their natural, individual development as spiritual human beings. She is tremendously grateful to be serving the LifeWays community with this very mission.
Reach out to the Student Services Coordinator of your location to let them know you have enrolled, or are in the process of enrolling, and they can assist you with any questions that arise.
Student Services Coordinator
Victoria Baker
victoriarbaker@hotmail.com
Victoria Baker is a long-time grades and early childhood Waldorf educator, and parent, who lives in the Pacific Northwest, on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people, in Edmonds, Washington. She is a graduate of Sound Circle Center Teacher training, Lifeways, North Vancouver 2013 cohort, and The Evergreen State College. Placed-based education, doll making, and puppetry are passions threading through her life and teaching. Victoria currently works with Hawthorn Hearth: former Thimbleberry KIndergarten families who continue to gather seasonally, to honor the wheel of the year and celebrate community festival life at the Orcahouse Studio in Everett, Washington
This event has been partially underwritten by Anne Kollender and Peter Bennett. For more information about donating to Lifeways or helping to underwrite Lifeways programs or events, please contact Acacia Moore acacia@lifewaysnorthamerica.net
Lifeways is a 503c3 organization, donations are tax deductible.