LifeWays® Early Childhood Certificate Program

Florida, July 2024 - June 2025

This class is now fully enrolled for 2024-25
Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL
Contact: Hunter Davis, Student Services Coordinator
Phone : 904-304-6364
Email: hdavis@theplaygarden.org

For full information about this Training contact the Student Services Coordinator

LifeWays Florida – Schedule for 2024-25 The LifeWays Florida Training is a full-year course, meeting four weeks during 2024-25 as follows. 
  • July 20-27
  • January 16-20, 2025
  • March 15-21
  • May 31-June 7
Applications are now being accepted and the class size will be limited.  Scholarships and financial aid are available. Completing the LifeWays Training can open NEW Opportunities for you:
  • Childcare providers in homes and centers
  • Early childhood assistants, teachers and nannies
  • Parents and grandparents
  •  Parent-child teachers
  • Early Childhood Aftercare teachers
  • Homeschool parents.
  • Become the parent or early childhood professional you long to be.
LifeWays students learn from master teachers in 200+ in-class hours over a year’s time. Additionally, mentor-supported independent study enriches learning between sessions. The LifeWays curriculum is divided into four categories:
  • Human Growth and Development – based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner and others
  • Child, Family and Community – home health care practices, unique and beautiful handwork, gardening and meal planning, meaningful celebrations and festivals, self-care and more
  • Program Curriculum – deepening your classroom and in-home practices (artistic and practical, nature and nurture); fundamentals of establishing child care, parent-child, after-school and daily homeschool rhythms; and more
  • Living Arts – learn the Living Arts as developed by LifeWays and the keys to joyful, purposeful living through Practical Activity, Nurturing Care, Creative Exploration and Social Awareness
LifeWays students graduate with a renewed sense of joie de vivre in their daily lives. Strengthened by an amazing view of the developing human being, a lifted experience of personal growth, guidance in establishing successful programs and a sense of being grounded in the practical, artistic and nurturing skills, they tell us over and over again that this training was a life-changing experience for them.
“Today, as we went from painting to snack to working in the garden, I felt so grateful to have had my Lifeways training so I can support my child during these uncertain times. I’m so grateful for this network and the love and care we show for each other.” Amy Jo, LifeWays 2013-14

Housing and Childcare: While LifeWays does not directly provide housing or childcare, we are happy to provide applicants with contact information for local resources.

Meals: Snacks and daily organic hot lunches are included in tuition. Students provide their own breakfast and dinner

Your journey toward joy-filled and purpose-full living begins in July, 2024, won’t you join us in Jacksonville Beach?

Contact the Student Services Coordinator to learn about the application process.

Core Teaching Staff

Acacia Moore is Director of Online Courses and apprenticing Executive Director. She has been devoted to the mission of LifeWays for many years as an educator and mother of three sons. Alongside her role with LifeWays, she is co-founder and faculty member at the City of Fountains School, established 2011 as Kansas City’s first school inspired by Waldorf education. She has been an instructor in the Fundamentals Course and Full Certificate training in Oklahoma, as well as a mentor for trainees. She is in her third year of Curative Training with the Mulberry Center for Curative Education. She completed her own Certificate training in 2016, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education with a focus on Early Childhood in 2003.

Jerilyn Cole Burke is an avid traveler and has worked with children and families from all over the world. In addition to her LifeWays training, Jerilyn holds certification from Hand in Hand Parenting, Community Supported Postpartum, and received her Waldorf teacher training in Toronto. She earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities – focusing on Art History, Communication Arts, and Music. She was a lead kindergarten and nursery teacher for many years and served as department chair and new teacher mentor. She was a group facilitator and co-presenter for The Anthroposophical Society in America’s Applied Anthroposophy course and has served as an Early Childhood Advisor for a NYC nonprofit that focuses on mental and physical fitness. Her writing has been published in outlets such as Being Human, Whole Family Rhythms, Kindling, and the LifeWays newsletter. Jerilyn enjoys finding the golden threads between anthroposophy and other philosophical and spiritual paths – past and present. She lives with her husband and three children near the Delaware River in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Learn to create magical puppet shows for young children using silks, hand-made puppets and natural materials.
Learn songs and lullabies playing the lyre.
Learn watercolor painting for young children.

Join us!

Join us in sunny Florida! Jacksonville Beach is the home to The Playgarden by the Sea and Outside Kids, both LifeWays Representative programs. In this unique location, you’ll enjoy learning from experienced teachers and inspiring colleagues in the field, while walking on the beach during your lunch break! Jacksonville Beach is a choice vacation destination. Make a family holiday of your training time!

Financial Aid is Available

We have funds available for students with financial need.  To apply, students should first apply to the training and then fill out the Financial Assistance Form on the website.

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What They Say…

  • Sonja Howard

    “It truly is a wonderful, grounded, and spiritual approach to children and families.”  Sonja Howard

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