Waldorf School of Baltimore

10/17/2026

All dressed up for an occasion most school calendars don’t include 🍂✨

On Wednesday, our Children’s Garden children donned golden capes dyed with marigolds they’d picked, strung, and dried by hand, and followed the Autumn Fairy along a pumpkin-lined path through the woods.

And there she was. Mother Nature herself.

Waiting with two gifts for each child: a shiny apple, a gift of the autumn harvest, and a bulb to plant, a promise of spring.

For little ones still learning the days of the week and months of the year, seasonal traditions like these make the passage of time something they can feel, celebrate, and carry home 🍁

10/14/2026

Fifth Grade is studying mycology; The fairies understood the assignment. 🍄✨

A spectacular fairy ring of bright orange jack-o’-lantern mushrooms popped up seemingly overnight! Sometimes the most magical lessons are growing right outside the classroom.

And for curious minds, no students were whisked away to the fairy realm (though several were very open to the idea).

10/12/2026

"As fall settles in and the holiday season comes into view, I suspect many of us are feeling worn thin. The world feels heavy right now: in the headlines, here in Baltimore, and for plenty of us, closer to home. When life feels overwhelming, I lean on a handful of practices I picked up at my children’s school, the Waldorf School of Baltimore..."

A Baltimore parent shares simple, screen-free practices from her children’s school that any family can try this season.

10/10/2026

Young Minds, Old Growth 🪾

While those of us in Baltimore enjoyed some of the loveliest autumn weather imaginable this week, our Fifth Graders were getting a rather different taste of the season in the mountains of Western Maryland. With overnight temperatures dipping into the upper 30s, sleeping bags were pulled tight and tents became very cozy indeed!

With two hikes daily, the children explored the waterfalls and old-growth forest of Swallow Falls State Park and navigated the natural rock maze in Garrett State Forest, which everyone agreed was absolutely aMAZEing!

Between adventures came plenty of observation, sketching, and nature journaling as part of their Botany block. After all, if you’re going to study plants, shouldn’t you spend some time where they actually grow?

Fifth Grade is a bittersweet threshold. Not quite middle schoolers, but no longer feeling like the younger children, they’re beginning to find their footing in the wider world, curious about who they are and where they belong.

In some ways, they’re like the seeds they’re studying. After years of being nurtured and sheltered, they’re beginning to send out roots of their own.

And that’s exactly when botany arrives.

It isn’t a coincidence. In a Waldorf school, subjects are thoughtfully timed to meet children at different stages of development, and botany meets Fifth Graders right at the edge of this growing up. What does a plant need to flourish? How does it depend on its surroundings? What happens when those needs aren’t met? What does it give back to the living world around it?

The children ask these questions of a fern or a hemlock. Without quite realizing it, they’re asking them of themselves, too.

Camping works much the same way. Overnight trips begin in Fourth Grade and continue through Middle School, each planned around the children’s development and what they’re studying in class. The right challenge at the right time.

What does a child need to flourish? Sometimes it’s a cold night, a long hike, and a good friend in the next tent ✨

10/06/2026

A Hidden Harvest ✨

Forest Kindergarten set out this week with a simple plan: a picnic and a bowl of popcorn.

At the edge of the woods, they found an unexpected treat. Long after most of its neighbors had been picked clean, a single autumn olive bush was still heavy with fruit.

The newly emptied popcorn bags went right back to work. The children filled them with berries, working their way along the branches until they were nearly bare. The fruit was sweet and sour, and the delight was difficult to contain.

“This is the best day of my life!” one announced.

“How is this here?” another wanted to know. A fair question!

Then came a suggestion that settled the matter: “Let’s call this the candy tree!”

Fun fact, the candy tree has something to offer beyond a delicious afternoon. Ounce for ounce, autumn olives can contain many times more of the antioxident lycopene (that gives teir distinctive color) than a fresh tomato...our very own seasonal superfood.

There is a catch, though. Autumn olive is invasive. Originally from East Asia, it spreads quickly and can crowd out native plants. A single shrub can produce tens of thousands of seeds each year, with birds carrying them far into the forest. So the children’s enthusiasm does the woods a small favor: every berry they pick is one fewer for the birds to scatter.

By now, many of these children who were with us last school year have tasted their way through much of the growing season. Serviceberries came in late spring, mulberries as summer arrived, and figs as it faded. Just as the fig trees slowed down, the autumn olives appeared in, well, autumn.

Being a Waldorf kid has its rewards.

Getting to know the seasons by what’s ripe, what’s delicious, and what leaves your fingers purple is surely one of them.

P.S. To spot an autumn olive, look for small berries growing in clusters along the branches. They ripen from green to yellow to deep red, with distinctive silvery speckles. Turn a leaf over and you’ll usually find a silvery shimmer underneath, too. As with any wild food, only eat what you can identify with certainty.

10/06/2026

Curious about Waldorf Education? Forest K? Or how our Middle School has won the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University STEM challenge for the past five years in a row?

This event is for you!

Register today for a link to Waldorf 101, a 30 min virtual introduction to Waldorf School of Baltimore, on Friday, October 9th at 2pm.

Link: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/waldorfschoolofbaltimore/waldorf-101-virtual-admission-tour-2026-27

10/05/2026

Being a Waldorf kid has its rewards. Getting to know the seasons by what’s ripe, what’s delicious, and what leaves your fingers purple is surely one of them.

Head over to our website to read about last week's sweet discovery!

Forest Kindergarten set out this week with a simple plan: a picnic and a bowl of popcorn. At the edge of the woods, they found an unexpected treat. Long after most of its neighbors had been picked clean, a single autumn olive bush was still heavy with fruit. The newly emptied popcorn bags went right...

10/02/2026

All the wonder of Halloween, without the spooky stuff.

Looking for a delightfully different way to celebrate the season? Join us next Saturday, October 10, for the Magical Moonstroll, a must-do fall adventure for families with young children.

Follow a whimsical living story through Waldorf’s outdoor classrooms, meeting magical and kind-spirited characters and collecting natural and handcrafted treasures along the way. Finish with warm apple c***r and a small sweet treat.

Designed to be heartwarming and engaging to all, but especially for children 8 and under, this guided outdoor experience lasts about 45 minutes. Children and caregivers are encouraged to wear imaginative, media-free costumes, preferably homemade or simple. Dress for the weather and bring a small bag or basket for your treasures.

Some time slots are nearly sold out. Reserve your tickets and make a little autumn magic with us! Link: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/waldorfschoolofbaltimore/magical-moonstroll-2026

10/01/2026

After more than two decades leading and teaching in Waldorf schools, Kim Richardson has joined the Waldorf School of Baltimore as its new Head of School. She shares what drew her to education and more in this Leadership Profile, part of our 2026-2027 Guide to Baltimore Independent Schools.