Summer Intensive Conferences
The Micha-el Institute summer intensives offer current and new teachers refreshing courses in grade specific curriculum and the anthroposophy behind it. Classes are taught by reputable Waldorf teachers from Portland and the Northwest area. The Micha-el Institute prides itself on its commitment to anthroposophy. This commitment shows itself not just in curriculum-specific classes, but also in larger, group studies held throughout some of the conferences.
2025 Early Childhood Summer Intensive Conference
Two full weeks 8/3-8/13: $1400
First week only 8/3-8/9: $950
Last 3 days only 8/11-8/13: $550
PLEASE NOTE: A supplies fee of about $50 will be collected at the conference.
The Micha-el Institute's annual Early Childhood Summer Intensive Conference will be held from August 3rd - August 13th, 2025.
The theme for the Early Childhood Summer Intensive Conference this year is “Establishing a Rhythmical Life for a Young Child.” It will be held at the Cedarwood Waldorf School.
Everyone interested in learning about Early Childhood, whether as a beginner or in-depth, is welcome.
Week 1: The conference begins with the Opening Evening at 6:30pm on Sunday, August 3rd, and ends at 12 noon on Saturday, August 9th. Every day begins with eurythmy to awaken your body, mind, and soul, followed by morning lectures that help you understand the correlation between human rhythms and universal rhythms. These lectures are accompanied by explanations and presentations of circle times, as well as transitioning songs and finger games that you can actually practice. In the afternoon, you will make your own movable toy, guided by a master of woodwork.
Week 2: Week Two begins at 8:30am on Monday, August 11th and ends at 4:30pm on Wednesday, August 13th. Each day begins with eurythmy to awaken your body, mind, and soul, followed by morning lectures and presentations that help you understand rhythmical life in the Early Childhood setting in depth. In the afternoon, you can develop your singing abilities, focusing on pentatonic and mood of the fifth music, and you will learn wet felting, which has been a traditional fiber art for thousands of years, and make things that are useful in a child's daily life.
2025 Grades 1-8 Summer Intensive Conferences
The Micha-el Institute offers teachers of Grades 1 through 8 opportunities to prepare for the upcoming school year. They will be held at the Cedarwood Waldorf School. These conferences will help teachers cultivate inspiration for discovery within the classroom. Through demonstrations and explanations of practical applications, artistic renderings, lectures, and discussions, participants will be shown and will discover how to create enlivened curricula (for each individual grade) that will meet the needs of the growing and developing children in their care. Taught by master teachers with many years of grades teaching experience, the various subjects will be brought to life from many different vantage points, each one contributing to the whole experience.
Grades 1, 2, and 3
5 Days, July 7-11: $575
Individual tracks offered for each grade
Grades 4, 5, and 6
5 Days, July 14-18: $575
Individual tracks offered for each grade
Grades 7-8
Language Arts & History
4 Days, July 11-14: $350
Grades 7-8
Math & Science
4 Days, July 18-21: $350
Foundation Summer Conference
4 days 8/14-8/17: $500
Early Bird Price Until 7/24: $450
Dates: August 14-17, 2025
Thursday 8/14 @ 6:30pm - Sunday, 8/17 @ 4:30pm. Friday - Monday class times from 8:30am to 4pm.
The Foundation Conference will be held at the Cedarwood Waldorf School in Portland, Oregon. After the opening evening lecture, the next three days will start with eurhythmy in the morning, followed by morning lectures and discussion. The afternoons will begin with singing to help us connect with the spiritual world and create bonds among us. Then there will be artistic workshops to help us to understand what we receive through our intellect and to free our soul.