Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm

Lakeside School is a farm- and forest-based Waldorf school in Essex County, New York that serves families with young children up to third grade. Situated amidst the Adirondack mountains and the fertile farmland of the Boquet River Valley, our school provides an enriching natural setting for our many programs, including year-round Childcare, a farm- and field-based Kindergarten, and mixed-grade Early Elementary instruction.

Our Vision

At Lakeside School, we strive to meet the needs of the community we serve: our children and their families, our faculty, and our neighbors in the surrounding Adirondack Park.

Our Children. By encouraging independent exploration in both farmland and wild forest we seek to expand our students’ understanding of themselves and the world around them. By fostering compassion and flexible thinking, our students will carry with them confidence and courage as they join the global community. We accomplish this through:

• exploring the relationships between humans and nature through sustainable farming;

• emboldening our students to participate in forest exploration;

• building developmentally appropriate foundations of science, mathematics, language, and arts through Waldorf philosophy; and

• providing families with opportunities to nurture their children with a better knowledge of developmentally appropriate expectations.

Our Faculty

Lakeside School is committed to supporting the professional growth and creativity of our faculty by endowing them with the freedom of self-direction in developing curricula and facilitating a collaborative interaction between teacher, child, and parent.

Our Community

As a school, we strive to create an accepting environment that fosters a love of learning and a sense of hope for the future. Throughout the year, Lakeside School invites our surrounding neighbors to join us for seasonal celebrations, community discussions, and family activities. By practicing responsible stewardship, we model a commitment to duty and service to our community and land.

We are a ferry ride away from the vibrant city of Burlington, VT and a short drive to the Adirondack High Peaks and Lake Placid. There are ample opportunities for outdoor activities year round and a growing cultural scene. There is a burgeoning local agriculture community with ample opportunities for local and organic food.