Explorations Online
2025-2026
Deepen your understanding of the life of spirit through study, exercises in self-development, and the practice of the arts.
Program introduction
Step into a Transformative Journey with Waldorf Explorations Online
Ready to deepen your connection to the spiritual, artistic, and human dimensions of Waldorf education and Anthroposophy? Explorations is a convenient online experience designed for parents, educators, and seekers alike. Over the course of this dynamic program, you will explore meditative practices, child development, artistic renewal, and focus on personal as well as community-oriented development through live weekend sessions led by master teachers. From speech and singing to eurythmy and pastel drawing, this is more than a course—it’s a gateway to personal growth and community. Whether you are brand new or deepening a long-standing path, your next step begins here.
With its convenient online format, this course in anthroposophical foundational studies is open and available to all interested people from around the world. It is wonderful that so many are finding it to be a meaningful and practical way to deepen their understanding of basic anthroposophy and related arts, while also having the opportunity to consider the contemporary issues facing us in our schools and society at large.
To earn a certificate of completion and to fulfill the entrance requirements for further Waldorf teacher education programs, you must attend at least 80% of the live sessions with your camera on. If that is not possible, please contact the program director before registering.
What you'll experience
The fall session starts on August 23, 2025, and will end on May 17, 2026. All 30 sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing.
The spring session will begin March 7, 2026 and will end on February 20, with a three-month summer break.
Classes meet on weekends twice a month – Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT.
Each class begins with 30 minutes of artistic work (speech/storytelling, eurythmy, music, or pastel drawing), followed by contemplative studies on current themes, using anthroposophy as a method of inquiry.
To earn a certificate of completion, you must attend at least 80% of the live sessions with your camera on. If that is not possible, please contact the program director before registering.
Who should attend
This course is designed for parents, teachers, administrators, or anyone who wants to learn more about Waldorf (Steiner) education and its anthroposophical foundations. Participating in Explorations meets the requirement for further teacher training. Explorations may be taken simultaneously with Building Bridges, Waldorf Leadership Development as well as the other teacher training programs at Center for Anthroposophy.
Deborah Dornemann
Director
Have Questions?
What you'll explore
Click the toggle below for the schedule and session topics we’ll cover.
Program Schedule
March 15 and March 22-23 Meditative Practices and Self-Development, with Deborah Dornemann and guest Torin Finser, speech with Debbie Spitulnik
April 5-6 and April 12-13 Practical Thinking, with Douglas Gerwin, eurythmy with Leonore Russell
May 31 – June 1 Parents and Community in a Waldorf School, with David Barham, pastel drawing with Nikki Shoneman
SUMMER RECESS
September 13-14 and September 20-21 Meeting the Social and Emotional Needs of Children Today, with Kim John Payne, eurythmy with Leonore Russell
October 11-12 and October 25 Phenomenology: Learning to See with Beginner’s Eyes, study and visual arts with Colleen O’Connors
November 8-9 and November 15 Healing the Hurt: Learning to Support Each Other as Advocates for Social Justice, with Heather Scott, singing with Meg O’Dell
December 6-7 and December 13-14 Temperaments and Learning Styles, with Carla Beebe Comey, speech with Debbie Spitulnik
January 10-11 and January 24-25 Overview of the Waldorf Grades Curriculum: A Renewed Pedagogy for Our Time, with Alison Henry, singing with Meg O’Dell
February 7-8 and February 21 Innovation Through Anthroposophical Initiatives, with Karen Atkinson and Deborah Dornemann, pastel drawing with Nikki Shoneman (Feb. 7-8), speech with Debbie Spitulnik (Feb.21)
You may cancel your registration up to 15 days prior to the beginning of the program and receive a full refund.
To withdraw from the program while in session, please email deborah@centerforanthroposophy.org
Once your request is granted your payment plan will be cancelled and the remaining tuition balance credited to your account. A $75 cancellation fee will apply.
A limited financial aid is available upon request. Anyone in need of such tuition assistance, please fill out and submit the Financial Aid Application form on the Registration page.
What former students have said...
Reading and Materials List
- A pack of chalk pastels (not oil pastels), A rainbow of colors is preferred. (Nupastel by prismacolor are good quality.)
- Pastel paper 9”x12” or bigger – can use watercolor paper – 3 sheets.
- Colored pencils or Lyra pencils – whatever colors you already have will work.
- A journal to write and sketch in – blank and unlined is best.
- Masking tape.
All reading assignments will be taken from a single text – Guided Self-Study by Torin M. Finser. This book is a compilation from Steiner’s basic books, including How to Higher Worlds, Theosophy, and Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path: A Philosophy of Freedom.
Guided Self-Study is readily available from Amazon as well as from Steiner Books. There is a reading assignment for each workshop theme throughout the course as listed below. Note that assignments are given using both page references and chapter titles. Please bring your copy of Guided Self-Study to each class.
The readings are meant to serve as both a preparation for the weekend sessions and a reference point for discussions. Instructors will assume some familiarity with the material and will welcome questions and lively engagement during the weekend sessions.
Workshop One: Meditative Practices and Self-Development
Prior to the first class, please read pages 191-202 (Appendix 1) and pages 3-21 (chapters 1 – 2 in section of the book called the “The Book of Peace”)
Prior to the second weekend, please read Pages 69-79 (Chapter 1 from the section of the book called “The Book of Knowledge”)
Workshop Two: Practical Thinking and the Rightful Place of Technology
Prior to the first weekend, please read pages 103-116 (Chapters 1-3 from “The Book of Freedom”)
Prior to the second weekend, please read pages 141-161 (“Practical Training in
Thought”)
Workshop Three: Parents and Community in a Waldorf School
Please read pages 80-88 (Chapter 2 from “The Book of Knowledge”)
Workshop Four: Meeting the Social and Emotional Needs of Children Today
Please read pages 22-31 (Chapters 3 and 4 from “The Book of Peace”)
Workshop Five: Temperaments and Learning Styles
Please read pages 89-102 (“The Four Temperaments”)
Workshop Six: Healing the Hurt
Please read pages 32-48 (Chapters 5-8 from “The Book of Peace”)
Workshop Seven: Phenomenology: Learning to See with Beginner’s Eyes
Please read pages 117-132 (Chapters 4-8 from “The Book of Freedom”)
Workshop Eight: Overview of the Waldorf Grades Curriculum
Please read pages 139-140 (Chapter 12 from “The Book of Freedom”)
Workshop Nine: Innovation Through Anthroposophical Initiatives
Please read pages 203-215 (Appendices 2 -3)
Program introduction
With its convenient online format this course in anthroposophical foundational studies is open and available to all interested people from around the world. We are gratified that so many are finding it to be a meaningful and practical way to deepening of their understanding of basic anthroposophy and related arts – while also having the opportunity to consider the contemporary issues facing us in our schools and society at large.
Completion of this program fulfills entrance requirements for further Waldorf teacher education programs.
What you'll experience
Next year’s course will begin mid-March 2025 and will run through early February 2026 with a three-month summer break. Classes meet on weekends twice a month – Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. PT.
Each class begins with 30 minutes of artistic work (speech/storytelling, movement, music, or pastel drawing), followed by contemplative studies on current themes, using anthroposophy as a method of inquiry.
To view the schedule and workshop themes of the current cycle, see the Program Schedule section below.
Who should attend
The course is intended primarily for parents, administrators, and new teachers in public and independent Waldorf schools as well as those teaching children at home.
Tuition
The tuition for the 10-month course is $875.
Although you may register with deposit only, and pay the balance over the following nine months, please remember that you are signing up for the entire course of classes and that your monthly installments are not to be thought of as payments for classes taken each month. Please note that falling behind in payments might jeopardize your continuation in the course.
Payment options:
$87.50 deposit at registration followed by nine monthly payments of the same amount
$875 at registration
Forms of payment:
- You may either use your credit card, which would enable us to automate your payment plan, but carries a 3% bank fee
- Or you may select to pay by check, in which case the responsibility for mailing your checks in a timely manner would be entirely up to you. (Sending predated checks for all installments works best. We would deposit one by one on selected dates.)
Attention international students:
To ensure a successful funds transfer, please choose only the PayPal or WISE options. (Our US credit card processors often reject cards from other countries.)
Cancellations and Refunds
You may cancel your registration up to 15 days prior to the beginning of the program and receive a full refund.
To withdraw from the program while in session, please email bev@centerforanthroposophy.org.
Once your request is granted your payment plan will be cancelled and the remaining tuition balance credited to your account. A $75 cancellation fee will apply.
Beverly Boyer
Director of Explorations
