Welcome to the Outdoor Classrooms Project at DWS!

To achieve our goal of resuming full-time, in-person learning in the fall, we knew we had to think outside the box. So we looked to our nearly four acres of verdant green space for inspiration, and the DWS Outdoor Classroom Project was born. At our school we’ve always valued time spent outdoors, and now that belief is worth even more: being outside will keep us safer, healthier, happier, and together.

Over the past weeks, an enthusiastic body of parent and teacher volunteers have planned, designed, and begun construction on 14 outdoor learning spaces. Working in conjunction with our Health and Safety Committee, all of the plans are being developed out of an abundance of caution and with the intention of honoring the well-being of the most vulnerable members of our community while still providing a rich learning environment for the children. We believe the outdoor classrooms help us to navigate that balance.

Outdoor education has always been at the heart of our philosophy, and now it will be the heart of our safe return to school. Join us as we work to raise $50,000 to set the foundation for outdoor learning at Detroit Waldorf School.

Donate today or email kellybaldwinheid@detroitwaldorf.org to get involved.

*All donations are fully tax-deductible and will go towards erecting outdoor learning spaces and COVID-19-related health and safety initiatives at DWS.

Gratitude

The Outdoor Classroom Project is entirely volunteer-driven and would not be possible without our incredible community of parents and teachers who have given hours of their time and energy to realize this project. A special thank you to Garrick Landsberg (who is spearheading this project and is Board Liaison for the committee), Brian Rebain (who designed the structures), Ignacio Morano-Elst (who designed the landscaping and play structures), Phil Cooley (who knows how to do everything and is very generous with his network and resources), Mark Ormerod (Space Planning Committee Chair), Steven Schroeder (who is leading fencing research), Rachel White (Rainbow kindergarten teacher and de-facto project manager), Justin Trombly (rising 5th grade teacher and liaison to Building & Grounds Committee) and many, many others who have really shown up for our community. We are humbled by your generosity and deeply grateful.

Mission

The mission of the Detroit Waldorf School is to provide a rich and dynamic pre-K-8th grade Waldorf education to a geographically, racially, and socio-economically diverse student body in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. The Detroit Waldorf School is a community dedicated to helping each child develop his or her full human potential: clear, creative thought and expression, balance and compassion in feeling, and conscience and initiative in action. Waldorf education fosters the development of free-thinking, moral, and self-confident individuals who lead successful and inspired lives.

Detroit Waldorf School Outdoor Classrooms

Donate today to help us expand our learning space by 5,000 square feet so we can safely welcome our students back in the fall.