If you had a choice of transportation, would you rather take a school bus or a ferry to school? Some students from the Lake Champlain Waldorf high school and grade school take the ferry every day between Charlotte, VT and Essex, New York. Their parents explain why they have made the decision to go to such lengths so that their children can attend the Waldorf schools two locations in Shelburne, Vermont.
Various school mergers and a desire for a more holistic education have spurred some parents to seek alternatives. Jen Zahorchak has two children in the LCWS grade school and one in the high school. She said that the ferry is just like taking a school bus but the daily experience is “more beautiful”. “We find ourselves leaving the house about the same time we have when we attended closer (local NY) schools. Getting home after school takes a bit longer, but it is a tiny sacrifice compared to the overall experience.”
It may seem like quite an excursion to manage the ferry schedule just to go to school but many parents believe it is worth it.
Another Waldorf parent, Kenneth Hughes, says they have been commuting by ferry to school for almost seven years. “We want the best education for our kids. We only have one shot to provide them with the best education we deem possible and we have chosen LCWS as that place”. One 10th grader, Ruby F., says she “survived” her experience at the local school in Essex just fine but feels she is “thriving” now.
Hughes says that they’ve known many of their fellow commuters for years. If they are ever forced to drive around, they take the Champlain Bridge in Addison and that takes a minimum 90-minute drive. LCWS parent Steve Feinbloom parent says: “the commute has its drawbacks. Sometimes the ferry is closed due to weather or other factors and it is an added expense as well. Thankfully there is an active carpool (for rides back to the dock). The commute would be very much more taxing without sharing these responsibilities.”
Zohorchak: “We are very fortunate to have friends and neighbors who also commute across the lake who are very helpful with logistics and shared understanding. The Waldorf school’s parent community in Vermont is understanding and accommodating as well.” Sometimes circumstances arise that require a student from New York to spend the night at a classmate’s house in Vermont. Those experiences often strengthen classmates’ camaraderie.
Zahorchak explained that The Lakeside Waldorf School in Essex, NY, ages out at third grade. The transition to the Waldorf School in Vermont was a natural progression. “The challenges (which are absolutely worth it for us) are that we have limited resources, so investing our time and money in LCWS limits what we have available for other things. Our kids will only be this age once, and Waldorf celebrates that in every way. I would 100% encourage everyone to explore this option. We whole-heartedly believe that this investment will pay dividends in the future for our family, the kids’ future, our community and beyond.”
Sue, the Charlotte dock master, says that over the years there have been many Waldorf school kids who have ridden the ferry. She said that frequent commuters are offered ticket packets for a 30% discount off the regular rate.
Some parents feel the ferry trip breeds independence and resourcefulness. Some of the high schoolers say that they have often used the time to start their homework early. Other children have practiced their musical instruments to pass the time on their ½-hour commute. Ferry staff are always ready with a friendly wave and have been known to watch over students’ lost items.
Noted adventures include a sudden change in weather, watching the birds and observing the beaver family at their lodge near the Charlotte dock.
There are plenty of other children seeking the educational experience found at LCWS and they commute as far away as Montpelier, Cabot and Swanton daily. Students commuting over the mountains during the winter likely experience their own special adventures. For now, just a small percentage of students take the ferry. The educational philosophy and the uncommon transportation make attending the Lake Champlain Waldorf School a unique experience all around.
