Into the Woods Playschool

Into The Woods Playschool

Who we are

We are Tallahassee’s first forest school. We believe that children, especially those between the ages of 3 and 5, learn best through direct experience with the natural world. We give children the time and space to do their work which is PLAY! In return, nature will work on your children physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Our curriculum is child-led and hands on. Children will explore, take risks, build, make observations….and along the way they will build strong relationships which each other and the earth, develop a passion for learning and gain skills necessary to get them ready for the years of schooling ahead of them.

Guiding Principles

Unstructured play for long, uninterrupted periods of time
Safe environment which welcomes appropriate risk-taking
Seasonally based, thematic learning units
Place-based emphasis
Reflective opportunities for children and teachers to inspire wonder and awe
Communal emphasis with respect and compassion for all earth’s inhabitants at the center
All weather immersion
Sensorial, exploratory learning
Child-directed, play-based environment
Knowledgeable staff in the areas of child development, naturalist studies, and wellness
Low student to teacher ratio

All children ages 3-5 are welcome

Our preschool takes a holistic approach that supports children mentally, emotionally, and physically. Children will have opportunities for hands-on experiences that are sure to help them develop confidence, self-esteem, and environmental stewardship.

The School

Into the Woods Playschool is located on the property of Unity Eastside church. There are 24 acres of natural Florida landscape. There are 4 designated outdoor areas for us to explore, along with miles of trail and other habitats. Behind the school is a fenced area with a sandbox, play equipment and our children’s garden. There is a larger playground under a beautiful oak tree. The outdoor classrooms in the woods include mud kitchens, a mound and lots of loose parts for creating and exploring. The property also includes pecan trees, blueberry bushes, a pear tree and lots of native plants. If you are lucky you may even see deer, turkeys, rabbits and many other bird species.

Gabrielle Johnston

Director/Founder/Lead Teacher

Gabrielle is the founder and director of Into the Woods Playschool. She opened the school because she wanted to build a community where children loved to come and they can build their skills as lifelong learners and nature lovers. She is a Tallahassee native who loves to be outside exploring nature with her family. She has a BS in Environmental Science, a MAT in Teaching, is a Certified Forest School Teacher and Child-Led practitioner. She continues to learn and research, and the more she has found that playing outside is where it’s at. She wants to help spread awareness that children learn best through play. She is passionate about education and feels every child deserves a childhood full of exploration and muddy toes.

Sadie Ragans

Lead Teacher

Sadie Ragans is a passionate Early Childhood Educator, Certified Forest School Teacher, Certified Sylvotherapy Practitioner, Florida Master Naturalist, Conscious Discipline Practitioner, Early Childhood Yoga Instructor, and Certified Medicinal Plants Practitioner. She is also the proud mom of two incredible humans and many farm animals. She feels her life's purpose is to advocate for play, protect childhood, support children and their families, and connect others to the nature of which we are all dependent and apart. Teaching at Into the Woods Playschool has made many of her wildest dreams a reality and it is her profound honor to be a part of your family's journey.

Jennifer Gibson

Assitant Teacher

Jennifer is a Tallahassee native and mother of two rambunctious boys. She has an AA from TSC and studied microbiology at FSC. Jennifer has nannied for numerous Tallahassee families for years and is excited to dive into forest school teaching as it combines her passion for the outdoors with her love of children. In her free time she can be found exploring one of our surrounding waterways or state parks with her family, inventing new recipes in her kitchen, and crafting decorations for the next upcoming holiday.