Schedule

Monday to Friday: 3:00 - 5:30pm
Program begins September 9th, 2025

Early Childhood (EC): Your child will play with their friends under the gentle care of Ms. Liz. They will be offered a wholesome snack, time to play in and outdoors, and special projects. The day ends with a story.

Grades 1 - 8: Elementary-aged children enjoy a healthy snack, time to decompress, and a craft, cooking, or farm project. Children spend as much time outdoors as possible, and should dress for the weather!

Liz Jesch is happy to be leading the EC After School Program. Her professional background is in early childhood nature education, and she is passionate about connecting children with the natural world and looks forward to bringing that love of the outdoors into our afternoons together.

Liz’s intention for this school year with the EC AfterCare Program is to create a gentle, nurturing rhythm that follows the changing of the seasons. During warmer months, we will spend our entire program outside, centering our afternoons exploring the wonders of the natural world around us. We will engage in imaginative play, build cozy fairy and bug houses, and create art with natural materials.

During colder months, we will spend also time inside our classroom. We will paint with watercolor, mold with clay, and spend time with wet felting. The children’s imaginations will also take center stage as they collaborate to create magical puppet shows, bringing seasonal tales to life. Woven throughout all our creative work will be ample, unhurried time for free play, which is the most important work of early childhood.

Sassa Ocampo has been a mentor, educator, and teacher for over a decade. She has worked in a variety of schools from outdoor education to homeschool programs and now IWS! Sassa has a deep understanding, love, and curiosity for nature. She envisions The Ithaca Waldorf Afterschool Program to be a place of decompression after a full day of school. Children can expect to explore the beautiful IWS campus, cook delicious (and nutritious) snacks over the fire, and express themselves through a variety of crafts like botanical dyeing, sculpting, and fiber projects.