named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Dogwood Nursery Program
Drop-off nursery program for children 18 months and older, offering full-week and three-day options with a focus on sensory exploration, practical life skills, and social-emotional development in a nature-inspired setting.
Juneberry & Willow Classes
Program for children ages 2–3 years centered on creative play, imitation-based learning of practical life skills, music, and artistic activities, with a daily rhythm that includes outdoor play and nap time.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 3 activities
- Caregiver-child enrichment classesOffers weekly interactive classes for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers featuring games, songs, finger-plays, puppet shows, baking, and parenting support. Includes seasonal programming and promotes physical, social, and emotional development through play-based learning.
- Curriculum-based artistic and sensory activitiesIntegrates music, painting, sensory exploration, textile work, storytelling, and puppetry into the daily curriculum for children ages 2–6 to support language development, artistic engagement, and sensory integration.
- Waldorf early childhood education for children ages 2–6Provides Waldorf-inspired early childhood education through mixed-age programs integrating social-emotional learning, outdoor activities, artistic expression, and practical life skills for children ages 2 to 6. Programs include nursery, kindergarten, and aftercare, with small class sizes (up to 12 students) and daily schedules running morning to afternoon sessions.
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Before and After School Childcare 1 activity
- Aftercare and extended-day programmingProvides aftercare services for children ages 2–6 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday, and offers early morning drop-off starting at 8:00am to support working families.
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School and School-Community Events 1 activity
- Community engagement and cultural eventsHosts parent education evenings, seasonal festivals such as the Spiral of Light and Spring Festival, and weekly interactive puppet shows to build community and enrich the educational experience.
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Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
- DEI and professional development initiativesSupports equity, inclusion, and belonging through a faculty- and parent-led DEI committee and participation in anti-bias, anti-racism, and culturally responsive teaching workshops, including the WECAN conference on Black Lives Matter in early childhood education.
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
- Outdoor and nature-based learning programsOperates daily "Waldorf in the Garden" and Forest Seedlings programs at El Jardin del Paraiso, a half-acre community garden in NYC, where children engage in nature-based play, gardening, and creative exploration with caregivers and teachers. Includes seasonal sessions and weekly outdoor classes for toddlers and caregivers.
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Montessori Education Programs 1 activity
- Practical life and self-care skills instructionTeaches children practical life and self-care skills through imitation-based learning, including food preparation, cleaning, household tasks, dressing, hygiene, and toileting, to foster independence and daily living competence.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Summer programs for young childrenRuns summer programs for children ages 2–6, including a 4-week Summer Seedlings session and a full-day summer program featuring nature-based arts and crafts, gardening, outdoor picnics, park visits, and daily organic vegetarian meals and snacks.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.27M
Contributions & grants$364K29%
Program service revenue$905K71%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.19M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$559K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$419K
Cash$172K
Investments$0
Liabilities$544K
Net assets$-125K
Liquid reserves1.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +30.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 4
- AISHA WILLIAMS — Secretary
- ALI MOSHREF — Director
- CYNTHIA LANG — Director
- NATALIE GALAZKA — CHAIR/TREASURER
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Britt Hawthorne Partner — Workshop facilitator for DEI professional training attended by faculty and staff.
- Champlain College Partner — Aspen Dobbins received a Bachelor's degree in writing from this college.
- DEI educators Partner — Faculty and staff collaborate with DEI educators for professional training in anti-racism and equity practices.
- El Jardin del Paradiso Partner — Partner community garden where students work and play daily as part of the "Waldorf in the Garden" program.
- El Jardin del Paraiso Partner — Hosts Forest Seedlings classes at its garden space; New Amsterdam has maintained a relationship with the garden for 12 years.
- Inclusive Arts Vermont Partner — Aspen Dobbins worked as a teaching artist with this organization to integrate arts and movement into childcare programs for children with disabilities.
- Inclusive Arts Vermont Partner — Faculty member worked as a teaching artist with Inclusive Arts Vermont to support inclusion and social-emotional learning in early childhood programs.
- Indeed Partner — Partners with Indeed to post job opportunities and receive applications for teaching positions.
- Lake Champlain Waldorf School Partner — Aspen Dobbins served as a Kindergarten teacher at this school.
- Laleña Garcia Partner — Keynote speaker at the WECAN 2021 conference attended by the school.
- Puppetsburg Partner — Partner organization providing weekly interactive puppet shows for young children at The New Amsterdam School.
- Sophia’s Hearth Partner — School Director and faculty have received Waldorf early childhood teaching certification and training from Sophia’s Hearth.
- Sunbridge College Partner — Faculty members have received Waldorf early childhood education training from Sunbridge College.
- Sunbridge Institute Partner — Provides Waldorf teacher training for faculty members, such as Jane Higgins.
- Sunbridge University Partner — Aspen Dobbins received a diploma in Early Waldorf Education from this institution.
- Susquehanna Waldorf School Partner — Aspen Dobbins attended a parent-child class at this school, which influenced their path into Waldorf education.
- The New School Partner — Leah Morgan studied psychology, including developmental psychology, at this university.
- Tompkins Square Park Partner — Site for summer program outings, including use of sprinklers.
- Upper Valley Waldorf School Partner — Aspen Dobbins worked as a kindergarten assistant and later became a lead teacher in the Nursery and Morning Garden at this school.
- WECAN Partner — Host of the 2021 conference on Black Lives Matter in Waldorf early childhood education attended by the school.
- Waldorf Network — Member of the Waldorf education network, implementing its philosophical approach.
- Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America Network — Member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), part of the global Waldorf education movement.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism in Waldorf Educationmethodology: anti_bias_anti_racismBy actively confronting racism embedded in traditional Waldorf pedagogy through anti-bias and anti-racism frameworks, the school creates more equitable, accountable institutions because critical reflection and DEI training transform cultural norms and teaching practices.
- Art-Integrated, Developmentally Appropriate Waldorf Educationmethodology: waldorf_educationBy integrating the arts into all academic disciplines and aligning teaching with children's developmental stages, the school fosters holistic cognitive, emotional, and social growth because experiential and artistic engagement supports deeper learning and lifelong curiosity.
- Learning Through Imitation and Sensory Experiencemethodology: learning_through_imitationBy leveraging young children’s natural tendency to learn through imitation and sensory-based exploration, the school builds independence and self-awareness because observing adult behaviors and engaging directly with materials reinforces practical life skills and embodied understanding.
- Nature-Based and Outdoor Learning Modelmethodology: nature_based_learningBy grounding education in nature-based experiences—such as outdoor play, gardening, and Forest Kindergarten immersion—the school supports child thriving because direct sensory engagement with the natural world fosters environmental connection, self-awareness, and social-emotional development.