Wayfinders
at Meadowstone Farm
“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.”
~ Joseph Campbell
Wayfinders is a unique homeschooling support group run by a society of enthusiastic and warm-hearted parents on Salt Spring Island.
Together we form the Meadowstone Farm Community Society, of which we are all members. The purpose of this non-profit society is to create learning experiences for our own school-aged children. We rely on experienced Waldorf and Forest School educators to provide mentorship to the community.
We gather 3 days a week from September to June. The children learn and play in the fields, forest, hedgerows, and seashore of Meadowstone Farm.
Wayfinders is not a substitute for school, but a compliment to a home-based education. All children must be registered homeschoolers to attend.
The Wayfinders Community is committed to nurturing and guiding the whole child, while creating a learning environment which honours each individual. We uphold a holistic approach to education, one that integrates academics, arts, and practical skills, all while being surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Children are encouraged to engage in hands-on-learning, exploration, and imaginative play, fostering a deep connection to the earth and all its inhabitants. Outside of our regular weekly session, families gather for seasonal celebrations, fundraising activities, and visioning meetings, which facilitates a positive community culture for children and adults alike. All families share a deep reverence for the natural world and a commitment to building a village model with children at the heart.
We group our children into two cohorts, a kindergarten group for ages 5-6 and a primary group for ages 7-11. Each group has activities and environments curated to their particular need and stage of development, while also spending together as a big mixed age community.
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Our Land and Facilities
Wayfinders takes place at Meadowstone Farm; 50 acres of forest and meadow, stretching from Fernwood Hill to Fernwood Point Beach.
The Meadowstone Farm Community Society, of which all Wayfinders parents are members, gratefully leases the land and structures from the landowners for a minimal yearly fee. This expense is shared equally amongst all parents and is one of the costs outlined under “Your Contribution” below.
Our children experience forest trails, wild open fields, heritage orchards, and bird filled hedgerows. Along the seashore, they encounter eel grass beds, tide pools, mudflats filled with sand-dollars, and the ever changing vista of the Salish Sea.
We respectfully acknowledge that the forests, fields, and waters of Meadowstone Farm are within the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.
“Receive the children in reverence, educate them in love, and send them forth in freedom”
Schedule
Primary Group (ages 7-11)
Gathers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am - 3pm
For more information on the program offerings and daily activities, please see the attached document
Kindergarten Group (ages 5-6)
Gathers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9am -3pm
Parent and Tot group (ages 0-7)
Monday or Friday from10am - 12pm (new sessions to be announced)
Meet the mentors who facilitate Wayfinders
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I am an experienced and passionate educator who is dedicated to providing children with a holistic and nature based education. I have certification in Waldorf kindergarten, and have completed training in the Waldorf primary grades with the West Coast Institute of Anthroposophy. I have been running programs abroad, and mentoring and teaching children on Salt Spring island for over 35 years.
I have a deep understanding of child development, fostering creativity, imagination, and exploration, and have a strong commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for the children at Wayfinders. I enjoy facilitating activities that promote social, emotional and cognitive growth, such as storytelling, music, arts and handwork.
I am also deeply committed to building strong relationships while providing individualized support and guidance to help our community's children reach their full potential. It is always my aim to work collaboratively with parents and other teachers to create a responsive and inclusive community that values diversity, creativity, and a love of learning.
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I am joining the Wayfinders community as the primary class teacher alongside Reed. As a certified teacher, I am excited to bring my experience to this beautiful community.
I have lived on the west coast my whole life – between Vancouver, Victoria, Salt Spring, and Tofino. I have a bachelor of fine arts in studio arts and have spent many years teaching kids’ art programs with a passion for using natural materials. I also hold a bachelor of education with experience teaching the primary grades. When living in Tofino, I ran an outdoor education program with students in kindergarten to grade seven where I led science-based field schools out on the land. Through this experience, I fell in love with experiential learning and the possibilities of learning outside the four walls of a classroom.
I strongly believe in creating a community of learners that is full of trust and kindness. I prioritize building a relationship with each student so I can understand their individual needs and dreams. My lessons are thoughtfully differentiated to support various learning needs and styles. Through clear expectations and daily rituals, the class community can become a vibrant place full of experimenting and exploring.
My own interests lie in the arts and nature and ways to connect them. I love experimenting with new materials, often making a mess, and slowly learning through the process. My down time is spent with my husband and 15-month-old daughter, gardening, swimming, and exploring new hikes. I am looking forward to connecting with the parents and children and nurturing a love of learning.
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I joined the Wayfinders program as teacher of the primary class in 2023 and bring a passion for sharing my appreciation for nature with children and adults of all ages, as well as extensive experience in developing and delivering hands-on, place based, environmental education programs. For over 23 years I have worked in parks, nature reserves, and other natural spaces leading outdoor environmental education programs. My programs focus on experiential learning through immersive activities in nature that span many disciplines including science, physical education, permaculture, the arts, outdoor skills, team-building and more. I infuse my programs with joy and play and also bring a knowledge and appreciation of plant medicine and making herbal preparations to my teaching. I live on the unceded territory of the Quw’utsun Tribes (Cowichan), Spune’luxutth (Penelakut), BOḰEĆEN (Paquachin), MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum), Tsawwassen and Stz'uminus Nations on Salt Spring Island with my partner and young daughter where we enjoy exploring the outdoors and connecting with community. I am enjoying working with Wayfinders families at Meadowstone farm.
Community Festivals at Wayfinders
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Spring Faire
In Mid June we host Spring Faire, which is a public event and fundraiser for Wayfinders. There is live music, a cafe, puppet shows, storytelling, old fashioned games, and farm-themed activities.
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Lantern Festival
In early November we bring reverence and wonder to the darkening days with a bright lantern walk and a community ancestor’s altar.
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Advent Festival
Near the Winter Solstice we host an meditative walk around an evergreen spiral inside the yurt, entering the quiet and sacred time of togetherness and winter magic.
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Candelmas Festival
At the half-way point between winter and spring, in mid-February, we celebrate the end of the darkness by dipping candles and planting the first seeds.
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Easter Festival
At the spring equinox we gather for an Easter Egg Hunt and usually have the pleasure of a few spring farm animals visiting us!
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May Faire
Our biggest event of the year, the May Faire is a colourful, flower-filled, musical extravaganza. A highlight is dancing around the May Pole
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June Camping Trip
On the last day of school we reserve a campsite at Ruckle Park and enjoy a couple days of campfires, group meals, and outdoor play
Your Contribution
By joining Wayfinders, parents automatically gain membership in our non-profit society. The purpose of the society is to organize and run all aspects of the learning experiences, so being a member means required participation in governance and administration. Membership also means supporting the mentors financially, leasing the land and facilities, helping to build the learning spaces, providing supplies, and participating with your child.
For children joining from 9am - 3pm, $550 per month covers the mentors, facilities rental, and insurance. Each families also contributes $300 per year, per child, to cover supplies.
Enjoy a look at the Wayfinders vision
that has come to life over the last 4 years
Interested in joining?
We set up a personal phone call and program visit for all interested families. Share you information below and we will be in touch to book our time together!
