The Birth & Growth of a School 1971 - 1991: Summer Camp

In 1979, the Council of Teachers agreed on more fully utilizing the school building and grounds in the summer months. We wished to open our doors to the community, to welcome chilldren otherwise unable to experience our beautiful school. Thus, Torin Finser and Chris Belski took on the project of a summer camp with Mary Berryhill as the stalwart counselor.

The season in those days was just four weeks and involved swimming at the Jacobsen's or the Coons', art, crafts, games and weekly field trips.

Each season the enrollment grew, with many loyal campers returning year after year - some of whom, such as Tara Peters eventually returning as assistant counselors! Our summer weeks expanded and the school gained in enrollment, found new ways to interact with the community and helped support its teachers in the summer. Torin Finser remained for ten years and points out how a healthy surplus to the scholarship fund was reached (over $50,000 in all those years). "But most of all," in Torin's words, "the school gained a circle of new friends, many of whom have become a vital part of Waldorf education in the Berkshires."

Next: Resource Program