The Woodland School is an early childhood program for children ages 2 to 5, where education is an art and nature is our classroom.
Anticipated Opening Summer 2026. 2-, 3- and 5-day options available.
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.
“Play is brain building, a central part of healthy child development, a key to executive function skills, and a buffer against the negative impacts of stress.”
—AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
Program Levels
Morning Early Learning Program: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Optional Early Drop-Off: 7:00 to 8:00 a.m.
Optional Nap and Lunch: 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Optional Extended Afternoon Care: 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.
A Typical Day at The Woodland School
8:00 a.m. Parents may drop children off any time between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. Children help their parents put away their belongings, then join the class, where they may choose to help the teacher prepare the morning snack with such tasks as chopping vegetables or kneading bread dough. They may also choose to join in the artistic project of the day, whether watercolor painting, coloring, sewing, or working on a seasonal craft. They also may choose to play with their classmates in the playground.
9:45 a.m. Teachers gather children for games and songs, followed by a brief rest.
10:00 a.m. The children come to the table for morning snack. As they are able, they help clear the table and wash the dishes.
10:30 a.m. Playtime
11:45 a.m. Storytime
12:00 p.m. Noon dismissal. Children who stay for lunch will eat the lunches they bring from home after washing their hands and waiting for all to come to the table.
12:30 to 1:00 p.m. There is time for play before nap.
1:00 to 2:45 p.m. Nap, parents may pick up their children any time from 2:45 until 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. Aftercare begins at 3:00 with another snack followed by outdoor play that includes an adventure walk.
We have recently learned that the owners of the site we had originally planned for The Woodland School are unable to make the necessary renovations for our purposes, so we are in search of a new home.
The ideal site would:
- Have a building suitable for licensure as a child care center with at least two restrooms and between 560 and 630 sq. ft. of indoor play space
- Have easy access to a wooded area
- Have an open area for a playground and gardens
- Be within a mile of the Route 29 corridor in Amherst County
If you have any suggestions for such a site, please contact Suzanne Ryan at 410-463-2506 or [email protected].
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Meet the Director and Lead Teacher
Suzanne Ryan 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 Wendall Berry, former U.S. Poet Laureate
Will You Join Us?
Take our five-minute Community Interest Survey and be the first to hear about our progress as we work to open the school. Your input will be vital to our planning process. For more information, call Suzanne Ryan at 410-463-2506.