OP you need to visit Acorn Hill Waldorf Nursery or Potomac Crescent Waldorf School! They have a lovely parent and infant/ parent toddler class that would really suit you. The founders of the forest kindergarten that meets in Rock Creek Park are involved at Acorn Hill. There is also a heavy German and Nordic presence at the school. Beautiful materials, natural light, organic snacks, and outdoor time in all weather. They have a spring fair coming up. http://acornhill.org/
I don't have first hand experience with Potomac Crescent but would check it out as well. http://www.potomaccrescentschool.org/

PP. Im definitely interested. My kid is not presechool age yet but I would love for her to get more German influence. The hard part would be the transportation aspects, getting her too and from a school.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Germanophiles (Teutophiles) and Francophiles could band together and ask DCPS to open some language immersion classes. Or band together and form a charter school.

Would anyone be interested in forming a DPR aftercare that provided German and French immersion? This is not a charter school, of course, but it could be the beginnings if there was a lot of interest and the aftercare was successful. In my community there's a great community center, which could provide space. We could outreach to anyone interested in French and German who could not get into an immersion program for their regular school day and those in such programs who would like to reinforce their skills (i.e. Stokes kids in French already) or add another language (kids in Mandarin and Spanish who would do well with a third immersion). We could also have a strong outdoor component and maybe music instruction. Anyways, I've been researching this and looking for others with interest. I think the biggest barrier right now for many is transportation (I'd like there to be a bus service to pick up kids at school and drive them to the location) and costs. Aftercare for many of the schools is several hundred per month. I'd like to find a way to make this quality, doable and affordable within reason. Anyways, who's interested? Merci/Danke!!!

OP here.
This is what I want for my kid (with German language instruction thrown in)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_kindergarten
I have read several books on this well. I love the idea of getting little kids out, in all kinds of weather. This idea of "forest" schools seems to have originated in Germany. I know there is a play group with this focus in Upper NW but my kid isnt quite old enough. I have no idea how to start a charter school but I wish we had this. Im so sick of the forced academics, testing etc...for small kids.

Maybe Germanophiles (Teutophiles) and Francophiles could band together and ask DCPS to open some language immersion classes. Or band together and form a charter school.

My young sons are bilingual German/English, but we also want them to be biliterate We would love a German immersion school in DC.

I am also very interested in this. We seriously considered the German School in Potomac for next year, but in the end decided that the commute for a preschool child was just too much for our family. If you ladies want to get together some time I'd be happy to meet up for coffee. I don't speak any German but my husband is of German ancestry and has a name to match! We are committed to a private/independent school right now, but a free German charter would be very tempting!

San Diego has a very successful German-language charter school called Albert Einstein Academies:
http://aeaces.org/

I would be happy to have a similar school in DC.

OP here. I realize German isn't the most practical language but its the language of half my kids relatives. FWIW we are IB for a Spanish immersion which is great. But it is u fortunate that there are fewer language options even
As electives for kids these days. I grew up in mid size town down south and our high school offered Spanish, French, Italian, German and Latin! I would love a German charter that also focused on lots of unstructured outdoor te
For little kids...a very German thing. Lots and lots of walks. It's aweome. Maybe it isn't a practical language but so what. And a PP is probably right, the Goethe institute would prpbay throw money at a charter! We will look into the Hill Center and other options. Thanks!

Outside of DC - FCPS has a german immersion program.

Like for sure!

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately you only need German to integrate into Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. The people you meet for business or tourism will all speak English.

Agreed. According to Wikipedia (I know, I know), German is only the 11th most spoken language. Despite being the 4th largest economy. But in that vein, if we took it GDP seriously, California would be like the 5th or 6th biggest economy if it were independent. Valley Girl anyone?

Anonymous wrote:Spargel schule

+1

Jawohl!

Anonymous wrote:Spargel schule

You know, to go with the green beans.