Located in rural upstate New York, Camphill Village comprises 600 acres of wooded hills, gardens and pastures. We are 240 people of different backgrounds, ages and abilities: 103 adults with developmental disabilities, known as villagers, 97 long- and short-term volunteer co-workers and 43 children of co-workers.

We live together as extended families in homes throughout the Village. A typical household has four to six villagers, two experienced co-workers, their children, and one or two younger co-workers. Together they create a loving and stable home, enjoy celebrations and leisure time, and share necessary homemaking tasks, each person helping according to ability.

Daily life in Camphill Village is based on active affirmation of the dignity, spiritual integrity and valued contribution of each and every individual.

Meaningful relationships arise through a common commitment to living, working and learning together. We strive to support each person’s growth toward independence while recognizing and honoring our mutual interdependence. The Village community extends its embrace to parents and families of villagers, friends in the local area and visitors from around the world.

We enjoy a lively and varied social life: small gatherings in our houses with games, stories or music; shopping trips and outings; picnics, hikes, plays and, on occasion, concerts at the Tanglewood summer music festival in nearby Massachusetts. Camphill Village contributes to local civic and charitable causes.

Traditional and extended alternative health care is provided in our medical care center by qualified nurses and a physician. They work closely with co-workers to monitor the well-being of every villager. The medical care center coordinates visits to a full range of specialists in the area. Emergency care is available at two local hospitals.

Care and treatment in Camphill Village are based on the principles of anthroposophical medicine, which is an extension of conventional medical practice. All health practitioners are fully licensed. Medical care and therapies are personalized and comprehensive, with an emphasis on prevention. Nurses, therapists and the doctor bring to each situation the human capacities of the insightful diagnostic eye, the compassionate listening heart, and dedication to serve the healing process.

Special therapies can be prescribed in support of the healing process. For example, curative eurythmy is a movement therapy in which the formative power of speech or music is made visible as gesture. The separate elements of speech and music—words, intervals or tones—find their essential expression in movements which are prescribed according to the illness being treated.

Therapeutic painting and music, bath therapy, rhythmical massage therapy, horseback riding therapy and conventional physical therapy are also prescribed according to individual needs.