A Winter Walk in Hopewell Along the Bedens Brook

The last two storms have presented lovely opportunities to cross country ski behind our home in the Gazebo Park which is preserved open space. As we have walked through the fields and outer woods of this space, we have noticed that the winter song birds have really stripped the berries from the flowering trees and shrubs.

We are able to walk to Beden Brook and share some time with the blue heron that resides there. This beautiful, cherished parcel of 50 acres that abuts the Johnson property of 400 acres is a wonderful gift for Hopewellians to enjoy. It allows those of us that reside here in Hopewell Borough to live in a walkable village and have access to preserved open space shared by all.

Sustainable Education at The Waldorf School of Princeton

Today I am visiting my daughter's school, the Waldorf School of Princeton, and I wanted to share their new blog with you. Perhaps you are moving to the area, or are considering a Waldorf school for your child, and would like an insider's perspective on it. I got to thinking more deeply about the school after I read a recent article in the New York Times on February 1, 2010. I found that the Op-Ed piece's thoughts on overhauling our country's curriculum to focus more on how children learn and develop, vs. what we think they should know, harkened to many of the tenets of a Waldorf education.

I am really grateful that my daughter is immersed in an education that develops such a love of learning and appreciation of the natural world. The school is set on 22 acres and surrounded by even more open space which is really such a gem of a spot in and around Princeton.

My daughter's studies this year include an immersion in India, Persia, and Egypt, which provide inspiring links to more traditional studies. For example, a study of the Egyptian pyramids, including a field trip to the Met, lead to their focus on Geometry this year. The children work in a biodynamic garden as an outside classroom. Movement is incorporated in so much of the learning that occurs during the day, and along with intricate handwork, helps develop the brain through knitting, cross stitch, woodworking and sculptural arts. Having been at The Waldorf School since she was two years old, I believe my daughter's education has helped facilitate her care for the environment and her knowledge that she is a steward to the earth, as all of our children are. If you are in the area and considering Waldorf, please get in touch as I would be happy to show you the campus.

Watching "Earth", Princeton Environmental Film Festival

I am really inspired to share my experience watching the documentary film "Earth" with my daughter, which was originally released on Earth Day 2009. It harkens to an earlier time in my own childhood. I remember watching "Omaha's Wild Kingdom" on Sunday nights as a young person, usually at my grandparents' house. Instead of the sensationalism typical of today's tv experience, we get to feel like we are one with our planet. We can quietly reflect on the beauty of our world through the insightful lense of filmmakers Alistair Fothergill and Mark Linfield. Experiencing the daily life of polar bears, elephants, humpback whales and many other diverse species are reminders of our connectivity to all living things.

I highly recommend sharing this stunning visual and sound experience with your children, the stewards of this earth. "Earth" will be shown at the Princeton Public Library this Saturday January 2nd at 1:00pm.