Our School
Out of reverence for all that childhood develops in each person, we offer a place for children to explore nature, play imaginatively, and begin to experience the full possibility of their young lives.
The Woodland School is an early childhood program for children ages 2 to 5, where education is an art and nature is our classroom. Based in Waldorf education, most of the day is spent outdoors in our playground, vegetable and flower gardens, and the nearby forest. Our teachers care for your children out of a profound understanding of the ways young children learn and of their needs for healthy development. Click here to learn more about the Waldorf educational philosophy.
The Woodland School is a Virginia nonprofit organization seeking recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is rooted in our local community. The Woodland School is a grassroots effort founded by local parents, experienced educators, and area healthcare providers. To learn more about how to get involved in this effort, visit our Support page.
Our Location
The Woodland School is located on the campus of Sweet Briar College, just outside of Amherst, VA and convenient to the Route 29 corridor from Lovingston to Lynchburg.
The Sweet Briar preschool building and playground are located an easy walk to a woodland, so we will have ample space to spend in nature.
Our Staff
Suzanne Ryan, Director and Lead Teacher
Suzanne brings more than 20 years of experience as a Waldorf educator to her role as Director. She holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Columbia University and has spent two decades teaching in Waldorf schools, where her work has been grounded in a deep respect for childhood, nature, and experiential learning.
Suzanne’s lifelong love of the natural world led her to study Biology at Oberlin College and later earn a second master’s degree in Forestry from Virginia Tech.
Suzanne is excited to offer an early childhood program in Amherst that guides children to inhabit their environment, “lovingly, knowingly, skillfully, and reverently.”1
1 Wendell Berry, poet, farmer, and environmentalist