Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. ~ Rudolf Steiner

In‑Person Enrichment Program for the 2025/26 School Year

Classes begin September 2!

A heart‑centered Waldorf experience for children ages early childhood through the teen years — guided by rhythm, wonder, and creativity. Threefold Central Florida, under Auriel’s Light and Waldorf Essentials, brings the Waldorf vision to life: nurturing the head, heart, and hands. Our co‑op community of families and educators collaborates to cultivate reverence, love, and freedom in each child.

Our program is firmly grounded in Waldorf educational principles and offers age-appropriate content tailored to the developmental needs of each child. We serve children from early childhood through the teen years.

Please note: this is not a drop-off program. A parent or guardian is expected to remain on site and actively participate as part of our community model.

Email Us

Course Snapshot for Aspens, ages 7+:

Exploring the Animal World & Wool Fiber Arts

The child must be age 7 or older by March 31, 2026
When: Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 am, September–May (2025–26 school year)
Where: Warm, welcoming church space in Winter Garden (exact address provided upon enrollment)
10 Spaces available
Tuition: $100/month, first payment due upon registration. Each payment will come monthly after that for a total of 8 months.
Cost Includes: All supplies and field trips.
Goals: Our goals are to help this age group exercise their observation skills through artistic activity, build critical thinking skills through discussion and curiosity, as well as research skills. We will also be strengthening writing skills, from the first formations of summaries for the younger Aspens to lengthier group pieces for the older ones. This approach is well rounded and engaging.

Course Snapshot for Toadstools, Early Childhood- 6yrs:

Exploring a true Waldorf kindergarten experience, with stories, songs and free play.

When: Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 am, September–May (2025–26 school year)
Where: Warm, welcoming church space in Winter Garden (exact address provided upon enrollment)
5 Spaces available
Tuition: $75/month, first payment due when registering. Each payment will come monthly after that for a total of 8 months.

Course Outline

Exploring the Animal World & Wool Fiber Arts

Each Session Offers:

Our rich, rhythmic sessions are designed to meet children where they are, developmentally and imaginatively.

Gathering: The Aspens and Toadstools will begin their day with circle songs and gentle movement to begin the day. The Might Oaks will have older, more age appropriate gathering to start their day.
Wool Fiber Arts: Yarn‑dyeing, handcrafted knitting needles and guided knitting for the Aspens and Mighty Oaks children with projects to complete through the year, finger knitting and tower knitting for the Toadstool group. All children will participate in these activities.
Animal Studies: Aspens will have weekly lessons filled with curiosity about the animal kingdom—its inhabitants, habitats, and rhythms. Mighty Oaks will also follow this zoology theme in a deeper way aimed at reporting on the animals studied.
Zine Creation: The Mighty Oaks group will be working weekly on the creation of an original magazine written and produced entirely by them. The aim will be to print it quarterly and each child will have the opportunity to have a copy of their creation.
Art & Drawing: For the Aspens and Mighty Oaks, age appropriate skill‑building drawing activities that nurture perception and line.
Age‑Appropriate Writing: For the Aspens group, fostering literacy in a natural, joyful way, supporting all skill levels with opportunities to work in groups on writing projects. The intensity of the writing will grow based on the skills of the child and their development. The Mighty Oaks will focus on reporting and how this type of writing for publication differs from the summary writing of earlier years. They will collaborate together on stories for the zine and make decisions as a group.
Monthly Field Trips: Live encounters with animals, deepening connection and wonder.

For Waldorf homeschoolers, this co‑op fulfills the block: Human Beings & Animal World. This content also fulfills natural science and writing objectives. The content will be tailored dynamically for each age group.

Due to the preparations and supplies provided by our team, only children who have paid may participate. Children participating will be placed in their appropriate age group.

Payments are only accepted here through our website. Your bank statement will say "Waldorf Essentials." Itemized receipts can be given for scholarship reimbursements, just let us know during registration.

Is This Right for Your Family?

Yes, if you long for:

A hands‑on, deeply artistic enrichment rooted in Waldorf pedagogy
A nurturing community for parents and children.
A class that honors developmental stages, fosters wonder, and builds real‑world connections.

The leaders have over twenty years of experience in leading multi aged groups.

Content will be tailored to meet the needs of the ages of the children attending. No one will be bored!

Meet the Teachers

Ms. Melisa

Melisa Nielsen has been a Waldorf educator for more than twenty years, teaching her own five children, currently ages 14 to 28. She has taught children in a classroom as well as children in co-op settings. Melisa is also the Director of Waldorf Essentials, the Pedagogical Leader for Seasons of Seven Virtual School and on the founders team of Auriel's Light parent ministry. Melisa will be leading the Aspens group.

Ms. Desy

Desy Sutikno has been homeschooling since 2020, in which she has tried a few different educational approaches. She learned about the Waldorf education approach and soon found it to be very enlivening, with contents that speak to the child’s developmental stages. Not only that she has been practicing Waldorf approach in her homeschool journey, but she has also brought it to almost every homeschool enrichment event that she has led/co-led, from a 4-H club to a mixed-age nature study club. Her direct experiences in a few group settings have convinced her of the beauty of this experiential learning with a balance of physical, intellectual, and emotional quality. Desy will be leading the Aspens group.

Ms. Kathy

Kathy Lyons studied Early Childhood Education at James Madison University and has spent most of her adult life working with young children. After the birth of her first son, she realized that a traditional classroom could never contain his vibrant, neurodivergent spirit, and that his education should be just as unique and joyful as he is. Through years of exploration, she discovered Waldorf education and instantly recognized it as the child’s curriculum—gentle, rhythmic, and deeply connected to the whole child. For the first time, her son was interested in learning. Kathy is excited to continue learning alongside Melisa and Desy, and to bring warmth and creativity to the youngest children in the co-op. Kathy will be leading the Toadstools group.

Mr. Erik

Erik Nielsen has been homeschooling with Melisa since 2006. He has an associate's degree in journalism and a degree in media arts with a minor in communications. When Erik worked as a newspaper reporter, he received awards for this journalism excellency. Erik is the Chief Marketing Officer for Auriel's Light. Erik will be teaching the Mighty Oaks and leading their reporting and zine creation.

Why are we called Threefold?

Rudolf Steiner, the father of Waldorf education, believed that if all three spheres of society – the political, economic, and cultural could work together, then there would be harmony. As a community of parents, working together to bring this whole education to our children, we can model this for them.

Receive the child in reverence, educate him in love, and let him go in freedom. ~ Rudolf Steiner

Threefold Central Florida is under the direction of Auriel's Light parent ministry and Waldorf Essentials.

New to Waldorf? Check out this podcast!

Reimbursement information:

The Florida scholarships may reimburse your costs for our enrichment program. We recommend choosing Instructional Material - Elective Courses - Enrichment Classes. You can use our bio to include with your reimbursement.

Download bio for reimbursements