Life in Camphill Village Copake
Camphill Village is an integrated community where we connect with one another through meaningful work, enriching spiritual life, and supportive relationships. We are unfolding our potential together through the practice of social therapy, in which we nurture the gifts of our peers while meeting their needs through life’s different stages.
There are more than 20 lifesharing households in Camphill Village. These are shared by individuals with and without developmental differences, including house leaders and their families, volunteers, and students of the Camphill Academy. These housemates of all ages and abilities live as extended families—experiencing milestones and challenges together, enjoying wholesome meals, and sharing responsibilities within the household.
We spend our mornings and afternoons working in our therapeutic craft studios, houses, and practicing biodynamic agriculture. Evenings and weekends are dedicated to creative pursuits and visiting with friends; we might enjoy a week baking cookies and sourdough breads in our Bakery before relaxing on a Saturday afternoon in our busy Coffee Shop. Some will spend evenings practicing a new piece of music before performing alongside fellow musicians in our Village Bell Ensemble concert.
Our weekly activities provide structure and balance, but life in Camphill Village follows the natural rhythms of the seasons. Chilly winter mornings spent cradling mugs of hot mint tea from our gardens melt away into long sunsets by the swim pond. And through these seasonal shifts, we gather for our many holidays and spiritual festivals.
Many of our celebrations are held outdoors, as our scenic valley landscape provides us with space to grow food, as well as gather. Our land enables us to stroll and chat with friends, ride our bicycles in a safe environment, and to decompress peacefully at the end of a fulfilling day.
Camphill Village Copake is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, and we thank our donors and other generous supporters for helping us to make Camphill Village the special place that it is. Learn about the different ways you can support the adults with developmental differences who make their home at Camphill Village here.
Medical and Therapeutic Care
In addition to off-site care, the Medical Office here in Camphill Village is staffed with nurses and doctors. Our caring medical staff practice integrated medicine—combining homeopathic and mainstream medical care and remedies.
We offer on-site dental care, vision care, physical therapy, and mental health counseling, as well as a wide array of supportive therapies including massage, eurythmy, painting, music, and movement—all of which are utilized enthusiastically by our community members of all abilities.
Camphill has reminded me that life is a gift to be shared. The staff in the medical office, the house leaders, and the villagers give testimony to the power of community; and it is clear that Camphill cares.
👏Did you know that your donations to Camphill Village support so many of our therapies and health care that aren’t funded by insurance? Many of our residents require special prescriptions, and we’re able to provide them, thanks to you. 🤓
If you’d like to donate to Camphill Village, you can use the link in our bio or visit camphillvillage.org/DONATE.
Our fiscal years ends on March 31, which means we have from now until then to make sure our operating budget is funded for April 1. Thank you for giving!
We have an opening for a great DSP position in Camphill Village. Direct Support Professionals need no certification, but we do hope you`ll have prior experience working with elders. This position comes with excellent insurance: all copays, deductibles, and prescriptions are paid by Camphill Village. Plus, you`ll spend your work day in one of our beautiful light-filled care houses, working alongside our live-in houseleaders and care house elders. Apply at the link in our bio or visit camphillvillage.org/careers
Tom and Sylvan have been growing lettuces in a deep raised bed they built in January to solve a moisture issue in the greenhouse. The lettuce will be enjoyed in our households and prepared by our awesome Cafe crew for Cafe lunches in the coming weeks! 🥬 If you’re curious about volunteering Camphill Village, visit the link in our bio!
On Monday, our community continued our long-held tradition of celebrating the Christian holiday Candlemas with sparkling ice luminaries that we made in our households, which really dazzled on their cushions of snow under the full moon! Many of our followers are already aware that Biodynamic agriculture considers the moon`s journey through the constellations of the zodiac, which influences Earthly agricultural rhythms. So it was such a nice surprise when our celebration this year integrated a very cool lesson—prepared by our gardeners—about the journey of the planets in our galaxy and their connection to constellations. 🌕🌱
Join our team at the Camphill Village Green! While working Tuesday through Friday, you`ll be a part of our bustling crew, making specialty coffees, preparing soups and lunches for our coffee shop customers, and baking sweet treats for our coffee shop counter. Apply on our website at camphillvillage.org/careers (link in bio)
Today is Three Kings Day! Also known as the Epiphany, the last of the Holy Nights is an excellent day to reflect and take stock of the year ahead. In the Village—and in many Camphill communities—we do this by creating a Biodynamic preparation for our pastures and woodland perimeters using water, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which we apply using sprigs of fragrant rosemary from our greenhouse. Today`s mild weather was perfect for snowy hikes through our valley, woodlands, and pastures. We hope our Biodynamic farmer and gardener friends around the world enjoyed a fun day appreciating the land together ahead of of the 2026 growing season!
Our New Year’s Eve spectacular was the best kind of mayhem! Our neighborhoods all joined forces to represent each of the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” and three sets of royals traveled from afar to behold our holiday fashion show. The McFly family made it just in time to introduce the latest in futuristic reflective fashions, and we were transported to a dreamy winter scene with Aillinn and Orchard houses’ beautiful rendition of “Snowman” by Sia. We ended with a neon disco finale performed by the young coworkers from our Orientation Group, followed by a dance party and our evening New Year’s Eve service. Many thanks to all—including the Fountain Hall costume closet—for making this, no doubt, the greatest celebration in the region.
On the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we were delighted to welcome David Anderson of Walking the Dog Theater for an incredible one-man performance of "A Christmas Carol," followed by a cozy bonfire to celebrate the winter solstice! We hope all of our families and friends have a wonderful week as we head into Christmas and the Holy Nights🎄
