Name: Fall Open House
Start: 2026-09-26T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-09-26T16:00:00-04:00

July 2026
Wayfinder Adventures Week 1

July 20 - July 24

Wayfinder Adventures Week 1 See Summer page for more info and to register
Wayfinder Adventures Week 2

July 27 - July 31

Wayfinder Adventures Week 2 See Summer page for more info and to register
August 2026
Wayfinder Adventures Week 3

August 3 - August 7

Wayfinder Adventures Week 3 See Summer page for more info and to register
ZDS Summer

August 24 @ 9:00 am - August 28 @ 3:00 pm

Join us for a week of ZDS-style fun: time to bask in the freedom of the summer sun, to be with friends, to read, to draw, to play, to catch up with staff and to remember what it feels like to be at “school.” See Summer Camp for more detail and to register
September 2026
Welcome Back Picnic

September 3 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

A potluck picnic at Forsyth Nature Center to kick off the new year
First Day of School

September 9 @ 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

First Day of School!
Ice Cream Social

September 18 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

ZDS Families and alumni are welcome to join us for ice cream and friends!
No School – Yom Kippur

September 21

No School - Yom Kippur
Parent Coffee House

September 25 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

The Parent Squad invites parents and ZDS caregivers to come together to talk about their experience as ZDS parents and to support each other on their parenting journey. Event will take place in the Box.
Fall Open House

September 26 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

ZDS Open Houses are the best way to learn more about the school. Students, parents, alumni, and staff members will be in attendance to give tours of the campus, discuss the school, and answer questions. Panel discussion at 2:00pm.

July 2026

Wayfinder Adventures Week 1

Wayfinder Adventures Week 2

August 2026

Wayfinder Adventures Week 3

ZDS Summer

September 2026

Welcome Back Picnic

First Day of School

Ice Cream Social

No School – Yom Kippur

Parent Coffee House

Fall Open House

Parents’ experience of the school is a crucial factor in determining their childrens’ experience of the school. Children of parents who work hard to understand our philosophy, communicate with staff, attend events, and connect with the community usually get the most out of our program.

Students may receive a diploma if they elect to undergo our internal diploma process.

Every student and staff at Zena Democratic School is assigned a cleaning job by the Physical Plant Clerk.

At Zena Democratic School, the jobs of administration and maintenance are divided into roles called Clerkships;

At Zena Democratic School, a Cooperative (coop) is a group of like-minded students and staff who organize around a common interest, like music, art, or sports.

Screens are allowed at school, with restrictions.

Each student aged 13+ is automatically enrolled in our High School Advisor Program;

Age-mixing is one of the most potent developmental experiences at Zena Democratic School.

At Zena Democratic School, rule infractions and interpersonal conflicts are resolved using sophisticated restorative justice tools.

Zena Democratic School is located on a parcel of 67 wooded acres in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley region of New York State.

Zena Democratic School is a direct democracy; each student and member of the staff has an equal vote in managing all aspects of the school’s operation.