About Us
A team of highly trained educators striving for a healthy work - life balance.
Blue Ridge Outdoor School is an entirely outdoor learning experience, all-weather program for children. It's a safe place for children to play, discover, dance, climb, take healthy risks, rest, write, build, and learn all through extended time in nature. Inspired by the Scandinavian model established in the 1950s, the outdoor school focuses on whole-child development; socio-emotional, cognitive, and physical development are all equally important.
Our Story
Blue Ridge Outdoor School was established in 2023 when director Rhianna Schlief returned from teaching internationally with her two young daughters and husband. She saw a need for children to have extended time in nature while learning. She started with the Adventure Summer Camp in 2023 which quickly grew in popularity. After extensive research, planning, dreaming, and brainstorming, the Forest Preschool started in fall 2024 and is growing again to include Forest Kindergarten in fall 2025. After visiting other forest schools in Virginia, we knew Lexington had the perfect backdrop for this type of learning for children.
Meet the Team
Our staff and teachers boast diverse backgrounds, extensive training and experience, and unrivalled passion for outdoor education.
Director & After School Adventure Lead
Rhianna Schlief
Rhianna has been teaching in both the public and private education worlds as a licensed elementary and middle school teacher for eleven years. After completing her student teaching abroad at the British School of the Netherlands, she achieved her Bachelor's and Master's in Education from James Madison University....keep reading
Preschool Teacher
Kristina Janjic
Born and raised on a farm in Zimbabwe, with roots tracing back to Denmark, nature has always been her sanctuary. Meet Kristina, a passionate educator with a diverse background in teaching and a deep-seated love for the great outdoors...keep reading
Preschool Teacher
Amy Newhall
Amy is an environmentalist with a deep passion for connecting children with nature and helping them to develop a sincere love for the Earth. Growing up in Rhode Island, Amy spent her childhood immersed in outdoor adventures, from making mud cakes and climbing trees, to exploring life in ponds and playing in the snow. These formative experiences ignited her fascination with plants and animals, and instilled in her a profound connection to the natural world.
A long time advocate of nature-based learning, Amy received her Nature-Based Teacher Certification from the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools. She has spent the last 10 years as a Montessori preschool teacher, where she guided her students in developing an appreciation for the Earth's gifts and the importance of environmental stewardship. Amy is trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid and adult/child CPR. With over 20 years of experience working with small and large animals as a Veterinary Technician, Amy brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding about animals and the relationships that we need to form with them for a happy, harmonious existence.
Amy moved to the area 22 years ago after visiting some friends who had moved here and fell in love with the area. In her free time, Amy enjoys hiking, gardening, foraging wild edibles, practicing yoga, raising chickens, and adventuring with her friends and family. She resides on the Maury River in Rockbridge Baths with her husband, two children ages 17 and 14, a dog, and three cats.
Amy is dedicated to providing enriching experiences that inspire children to connect with nature and thrive in the outdoor environment. She firmly believes in the importance of nature-based education for fostering a lifelong love and appreciation for the environment in young learners.
Join the Team
Whether you are a wilderness guide, master gardener, or licensed teacher, there is an opportunity for you to share your passion with children. Professional development opportunities are available as well as competitive pay, and a positive, forward thinking work environment where new ideas are welcomed.
Complete the form below to be contacted by the director to learn more about opportunities to work at Blue Ridge Outdoor School.
FAQs
We often get questions from people curious about outdoor or forest schools. Below are some answers to questions we receive the most.
Bad Weather?
We follow Rockbridge County Public schools for inclement weather. More detailed protocals are in our Family Guidebook. We also have a required uniform found in our gear guide, for cold and wet weather.
Schedule
We roughly follow the public school calendar from August to May. We do offer seperate Summer Camp programs.
Teacher Certifications
All teachers are CPR and First Aid certified and complete all background checks and requirements from the Department of Education. The teachers also have a background in outdoor education or given training opportunites to further their learning.
Ages
Students are ages 3 years to 6 years. All children must be potty trained.
Class Sizes
Each class has two teachers and a maximum of 10 students. This ratio is more conservative than the state regulations stipulate, as we want to be extra vigilant about the safety of our classes in the outdoor environment.
Gear
