Refresh Your Homeschool ~ and Yourself ~ at Taproot Online 2026

✨hands-on workshops + personal renewal + community✨

After 20+ years of in-person retreats, Taproot is going online!

Now you can experience the heart of Taproot ~ creativity, connection, and renewal ~ right from home.

Feeling a little burned out or stuck in a rut?

Taproot Online 2026 is your midyear reset ~ designed to help you reconnect with your purpose, creativity, and joy as a homeschooler.

Join us for The Compass of the Seasons ~ January 30 & 31.

You’ll participate in real, hands-on workshops like:

🎨 Painting & drawing
🧵 Handwork
📚 Main lessons
🎶 Singing, storytelling, and more

It’s your chance to refresh your rhythm, renew your spirit, and reignite your love for homeschooling in a supportive, like-minded community.

🌱 No right or wrong.

🌱 No shoulds. 

🌱 No shame. 

Just a beautiful space to grow, create, and be inspired.

Reserve your place today and step into a more joyful homeschooling journey.


Buy Your Ticket Now ⬇️
 

Sign Me Up for Taproot 2026 Online

EARLY BIRD PRICE

$67

Regular Price: $97

Includes all LIVE Workshops + replays

Goodies & Giveaways

Library of pre-recorded Workshops

Early Bird Price through Nov 23rd

A Special Note for Our International Friends

We’re so grateful for this worldwide community of homeschoolers! And we know exchange rates can make online events a bit tricky for our international friends. To help balance things out, we’re offering a discount. Use code GLOBALFRIEND25 at checkout to save 25%. 🌍


TAPROOT ONLINE 2026
Finding Your Seasonal Compass


WHEN: 
January 30th & 31st, 2026

WHERE: Online on Zoom

WHO: Homeschooling Parents & Teachers

WHY: Experience hands-on homeschooling activities and the lively arts. Renew and reorient yourself. And know that you're not alone!

EARLY BIRD PRICE: $67 (Regularly $97)

Our Theme

🧭FOLLOWING THE COMPASS OF THE SEASONS🧭

Homeschooling isn’t a straight line ~ it’s a journey made up of seasons, recalibrations, and returning to what matters most.

In the swirl of midyear, The Compass of the Seasons invites you to pause, reflect, and reorient yourself ~ to check your bearings and align with your inner true north.

Each season offers its own wisdom, its own passageways and waypoints. 

At Taproot Online 2026, you’ll explore how the rhythms of the year can guide your homeschool ~ not just practically, but purposefully.

Through engaging workshops and heartfelt connection, you’ll:
✨ Recalibrate your inner compass
✨ Realign with what truly matters
✨ Rediscover your light, your rhythm, and your direction

We'll spend time reflecting, sharing in small groups, listening to stories, and engaging in learning activities together. 

Whether you’re feeling a little lost or simply ready to re-center, this weekend is a chance to chart your course with intention and move forward with clarity and heart.

Join us as we Return to Center ~ guided by The Compass of the Seasons.

You Deserve This Experience!

Personal Retreat

Personal Retreat

Come relax and spend time in reflection. Reconnect with yourself along with your hopes and dreams for your family.

Homeschooling Guidance

Homeschooling Guidance

Taproot is the place to experience the Waldorf approach to homeschooling through story and the lively arts.

Community

Community

Gather online for engaging workshops, small group chats, and hands-on activities. Meet new friends along the way.

What Taproot Online Feels Like

We hosted Taproot virtually in 2020 & 2021, and the impact was powerful.

LOVED by +100s of homeschoolers

“Taproot reminded me that I really can teach beautifully using the Waldorf way. And I’m not alone ~ there’s a whole, marvelous community of families living and learning this way. It’s possible!"

~ Rachel

"I left Taproot feeling inspired for the year ~ full of fresh ideas, block inspiration, and a deeper understanding of how to bring lessons to life."

Blake

"After a year of near solitude, Taproot reminded me just how deeply we need community ~ however it comes. I felt it through the screen, in every session. It was the missing piece I didn’t know I was craving. And alongside that, a gentle call to inner work that met me exactly where I was."

Alison

"I joined Taproot Online hoping to learn and meet like-minded homeschoolers. I left with something even more powerful ~ confidence that I’m doing the right thing for my family."

Jenn

"My biggest takeaways from Taproot Online? Reassurance, nourishment, and inspiration. The breakout sessions felt surprisingly intimate ~ like sitting with a small group in person.”

Victoria

"I left Taproot with one powerful truth: I can trust myself because my intuition will never lead me astray!"

Megan

"I came to Taproot Online looking for inspiration, a simpler way to homeschool, and a like-minded community. I found all of that ~ and something more. I realized I’m not alone! Homeschooling isn’t easy, but it gives me the gift of growing and truly connecting with my family."

Indira

The Taproot Experience, Trusted for 20+ Years

Whether online or in person, Taproot is known for its warm, creative energy and transformative learning.

LOVED by +100s of homeschoolers

"Before Taproot, I was feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how to move forward. This training really helped me build confidence to continue this journey."

Moriah

"Taproot has become a learning haven and a communal family where I add tools and resources every year to sharpen my skills to become a better parent, teacher, husband, and person."

Joe

"There aren't any Waldorf homeschoolers near me, so I loved gathering with like-minded people at Taproot, knowing that there is a support network out there. The singing & self-reflection made it feel like a retreat for me, as well as inspiration for our homeschool year."

Kylie

"The best part of Taproot was developing a community & renewing my spirit. So much more than I expected! I miss everyone & can't wait to go back to Taproot!"

Sarah

"Before Taproot, I was stressed and feeling like I couldn't do this. I read so many books and curricula but the way I was educated growing up was stuck in me, creating a barrier to feeling the magic that I want to bring to my child. Now I get it, like it's alive inside of me. What a blessing!"

Tara

"I learned more at Taproot than I expected, and not just about my homeschool journey. This was a retreat just as much as homeschool teacher training!"

Katie

"I left Taproot feeling relieved and empowered, full of inspiration but in a completely non-overwhelming way. I have doable advice as well as a sense of peace and excitement about these subject areas. Thank you!"

Leah

"My first experience of Taproot was filled with such nuggets of wisdom. Taproot was a magical experience that continues to inspire my day-to-day struggles as a homeschooling parent. I’m already making plans to go back again next year."

Iola

"The people at Taproot are some of the best humans on the planet. You can have a lovely, kind, deep conversation with anyone because love is just the essence. At the same time, you also get all these amazingly practical real-life ideas for improving yourself and your thoughts, and for bringing more beauty to your kids, your home, and your home school days."

Megan

What You'll Experience DuringTaproot Online 2026

Over our two days together, you’ll experience the warmth, support, and inspiration that make our Taproot events so beloved ~ now brought to life online.

From your own home, you’ll join immersive hands-on workshops, led by our wonderful Taproot Team ~ experienced Waldorf homeschoolers who teach from lived experience, not just theory.

Whether you’re painting, storytelling, crafting, or exploring main lessons, you’ll be learning right alongside other heart-centered homeschoolers.

✨ You’ll leave with fresh ideas, renewed energy, and real tools you can bring into your rhythm right away.

Taproot Online is more than a weekend of workshops ~ it’s a place to connect deeply with a like-minded community. 

Through live sessions, breakout circles, and shared reflections, you’ll rediscover that you’re not walking this path alone.

With unparalleled access to the Taproot Team ~ get the guidance, encouragement, and inspiration you need to enliven your lessons from the heart.

💻 What’s Included in Your Registration:

  • Access to live workshops on Friday and Saturday (and lifetime access to replays in case you can’t make it live)

  • A simple materials list sent ahead of time ~ no fancy supplies required

  • Breakout Circles for connection and sharing with other homeschoolers

  • Downloadable resources for lessons and creative sessions

  • Opportunities to interact with presenters and fellow homeschoolers

All you need is a stable internet connection, a quiet corner, and a bit of space to create.

No packing. No travel. Just a sacred weekend set aside for you to return to center.

Sign Me Up for Taproot 2026 Online

🧭 THE COMPASS OF THE SEASONS 🧭

EARLY BIRD PRICE

$67

Regular Price: $97

Includes all LIVE Workshops + replays

Goodies & Giveaways

Library of pre-recorded Workshops

Early Bird Price through Nov 23rd

A Special Note for Our International Friends

We’re so grateful for this worldwide community of homeschoolers! And we know exchange rates can make online events a bit tricky for our international friends. To help balance things out, we’re offering a discount. Use code GLOBALFRIEND25 at checkout to save 25%. 🌍

OUR SCHEDULE

Friday, January 30th & Saturday, January 31st

Our weekend together begins on Friday afternoon. And then we have a full day on Saturday. 

FRIDAY 1/30 ~ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm ET

  • Welcome
  • Warm Up with Songs & Verses
  • Keynote Talk: The Taproot Manifesto
  • Reflective Journaling
  • Breakout Rooms for Sharing
  • Puppet Show

SATURDAY 1/31 ~ 10:00 am - 3:30 pm ET

  • Welcome
  • Warm Up with Songs & Verses
  • Recorder Lesson
  • Main Lesson
  • Compass Drawing & Writing Activity
  • Lunch Break
  • Homeschooling with Waldorf Panel Discussion + Q & A
  • Handwork + Tea
  • Reflecting Ahead
  • Breakout Rooms for Sharing
  • Final Group Sharing
  • Closing Verse, Song, + Good-byes

Meet the Taproot Team

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Jean Miller Jean Miller

Jean Miller

As the homeschooling mother of three grown children ~ one grandchild and another on the way ~ Jean has loved sharing stories through the years ~ reading, telling, and dramatizing stories. Over almost 25 years of homeschooling, she’s savored the stories as the vehicle for teaching new content and all of the creative ways of combining stories with the lively arts. Plus of course time outdoors and circles of song and movement. Jean spends her time these days mentoring parents at Art of Homeschooling, along with hiking, singing, cooking, gardening, and reading with a cup of tea nearby.
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Barbara Barbara

Barbara

Barbara of Waldorf Without Walls has consulted with homeschooling families throughout the world, written many guides and publications, and provided training workshops for Waldorf homeschoolers. She spends her spare time enjoying her unique solar home, and developing her farmland. Barbara, a Master Gardener, and her husband Quimby, a Forest Entomologist, lead workshops and field days on the environment and backyard food production. She is the mother of four, grandmother to six, and great-grandmother to two. Barbara holds an M.S. in Waldorf education from the Waldorf Institute of Sunbridge College in Spring Valley, NY. She's been teaching in various settings since 1960.
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Sarah Jean Etheridge Sarah Jean Etheridge

Sarah Jean Etheridge

Sarah is a homeschooling mother of four with a degree in Elementary Education with Reading Endorsement. She has many years of teaching experience in early childhood, cooperative, and home education settings. Sarah has been a Waldorf-inspired homeschooler for eighteen years. And she finds inspiration in sustainable living, fresh air, homegrown food, creative work and play, so many books, and her dear sweet pets.
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Rebecca Christie Rebecca Christie

Rebecca Christie

Rebecca has always had a passion for numbers, patterns, sequences, and art. A former Industrial Engineer turned homeschooling mom of four, she found the one course she never had the opportunity to take in school, “The Art of Math, the Math of Art," inside the Waldorf curriculum! She will integrate the lively arts into math and science and also give you lots of tips on combining lessons for multiple grade levels.

When not homeschooling, Rebecca volunteers at the local food pantry and coordinates the pantry’s holiday program. She also hosts a parent discussion group at her church and teaches faith formation classes, both influenced by Waldorf ideas. She enjoys yoga and traveling with her family.
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Jodie Mesler Jodie Mesler

Jodie Mesler

Jodie Mesler is a multi-instrumentalist, a private music teacher for over 20 years, and founder of livingmusic.net where she has created music books, courses, and music for Waldorf homeschool families. She has been on the Taproot team for 10 years, weaving music throughout many of the magical camp moments.

Her musical journey has included: being part of a blues rock band with her husband, director of the South Metro Flute Choir, a bass player/keyboardist for Harvest Point, a guitarist and singer in her family band with her daughter and brother, Colorful Bones. Her current project, Memories and Dreams, is her 9th album which includes 2 songs written at Taproot.

Jodie homeschooled her three children, now grown, during their early years while continuing to live the Waldorf lifestyle even after her kids transitioned to public school. She and her husband, Brian, have been married for 30 years.
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Amber Adams Amber Adams

Amber Adams

Amber is the mother of five and has been Waldorf homeschooling for the past 15 years. She understands the challenges of homeschooling with a large family and working with multiple grades. Amber has degrees in history and art, and appreciates the way that Waldorf-inspired curriculum and philosophy bring such beauty to learning in the home and to family culture. She and her children currently own and operate a nonprofit studio for the arts in Columbus Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys sketching, hiking, handwork, and being with her children. And Amber created our beautiful Taproot logo!
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Joe Maxwell Joe Maxwell

Joe Maxwell

Joe is not just a Taproot Presenter, he is a proud alumni! This father of four has been homeschooling for over 10 years. Joe loves sharing his passion for being a steward of the Earth and its beauty through his workshops at the Wonder Homeschooling Center and the Deep Roots Homeschool Cooperative. Joe’s favorite place to be is walking in the woods with a gang of inquisitive minds or wading in the tidal pool with the next generation of Jacque Cousteaus! He is excited to join the talented crew at Taproot once again and embrace the teachings shared by all.
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Eshanne Anderson Eshanne Anderson

Eshanne Anderson

Eshanne is a homeschooling mother of two. Many years ago before falling in love with Waldorf education, she taught as a second-grade teacher in a small private school and also taught acting at night for fun at the local college.

Her academic background in religious studies has helped pave the ground for her love of exploring inner work. Her true love and passion is deeply investing in tremendous humans and helping them along their own inner growth path.

She equally enjoys traveling to the mountains or big cities and is always ready to lead the way into frivolity or general anarchy. When not dreaming of long adventures or doodling with words and pictures...she is adoring her hilarious husband and beautiful children and making a home that welcomes her friends and family to stay and laugh and sing awhile.

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Karen Whitescarver Karen Whitescarver

Karen Whitescarver

Karen calls herself an educator and sewing/fiber artist. She started her career working in early childhood, first as a nanny, and then working in the pre-school and daycare industry. She has studied and practiced many educational philosophies from Waldorf, to Reggio Emilia, to Montessori, and more. She Waldorf inspired unschooled with her son from birth to age seven. In 2004, she accepted a position at a democratic school, where she staffed (and her son attended) for 18 years. Since retiring in from the school, she enjoys being a grandmother to the kids of international students she hosted from 1997-2019. She and her husband of 33 years enjoy puttering in their farmhouse. Karen sews, knits, crochets, and reads a little bit every day. She is a stage 4 breast cancer "thriver" who is grateful for every day of quality living she can get.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

    Questions About the Weekend

  • Taproot Online is a virtual weekend retreat designed for Waldorf-inspired homeschoolers. It’s a mix of hands-on workshops, community connection, and personal renewal—all from the comfort of your home.

  • YES! Every summer, the first weekend in August, we host an in-person weekend for homeschoolers. We'll keep doing that! We wanted to add an online reset weekend midyear to help us all reconnect with our vision for homeschooling.

  • Not at all! Taproot Online welcomes both new and experienced homeschoolers. Whether you're looking to refresh your rhythm, deepen your skills, or reconnect with your why ~ you’ll find something here for you.

  • All main workshops will be recorded and available for replay, so you can watch (or rewatch) at your own pace. While we’d love to see you live, we understand life happens.

  • We’ll send you a simple materials list in advance for any hands-on sessions (like handwork or drawing). Most items are basic and easy to gather.

  • Yes! You don’t have to be “all-in” on Waldorf. If you’re drawn to rhythm, creativity, and heart-centered homeschooling, you’ll fit right in. All are welcome here.

  • Taproot Online is interactive! You’ll have the chance to participate in live workshops, small breakout groups, and community conversations. Many attendees say the connection surprised them ~  it feels real.

  • Registration Questions

  • [Insert pricing here] covers the full weekend of live workshops, recordings, downloadable resources, and access to the Taproot Online community space.

  • Each ticket is for one household. If you know someone who would love Taproot, we encourage them to register separately so we can support each attendee fully.

  • You can cancel for a full refund up to January 15th, 2026, or a 50% refund through January 23, 2026. After that, tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred to another family if needed. Just email us at [email protected].

  • More Questions?

  • If your questions have not been answered, please email [email protected] .

Sign Me Up for Taproot 2026 Online

🧭 THE COMPASS OF THE SEASONS 🧭

EARLY BIRD PRICE

$67

Regular Price: $97

Includes all LIVE Workshops + replays

Goodies & Giveaways

Library of pre-recorded Workshops

Early Bird Price through Nov 23rd

A Special Note for Our International Friends

We’re so grateful for this worldwide community of homeschoolers! And we know exchange rates can make online events a bit tricky for our international friends. To help balance things out, we’re offering a discount. Use code GLOBALFRIEND25 at checkout to save 25%. 🌍