About WECAN

The Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) was founded in 1983, originally under the name of the Waldorf Kindergarten Association of North America. Our administrative office is in Spring Valley, New York. WECAN works very closely in collaboration with its sister organization, the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). WECAN is also a Full Member Association in the International Association for Steiner/ Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE), based in Järna, Sweden.

WECAN’s mission is to foster a new cultural impulse for the work with the young child from pre-birth to age seven. Based on an anthroposophical understanding of human development, WECAN is committed to protecting and nurturing childhood as a foundation for renewing human culture.

Membership in WECAN is open to early childhood programs, birth to three programs, kindergartens, child care centers, home programs, and teacher training centers committed to the ideals and practices of Waldorf early childhood education, and to individuals who wish to support and contribute to Waldorf early childhood education in North America.

WECAN is a tax-exempt non-profit organization.

Registered Trademarks
The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America is the steward of the trademarks, also referred to as service marks, WALDORF, RUDOLF STEINER, STEINER, and WALDORF INSPIRED, registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office. To download the service mark document, click here.

Alliance for Childhood (North America)

Anthroposophical Society in America

Association for Waldorf Music Education (AWME)

Association of Waldorf Schools in North America (AWSNA)

European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE)

Freunde der Erziehungskunst/Friends of Waldorf Education

International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE)

Pedagogical Section of the School of Spiritual Science