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Doing things differently so we can better serve kids who think differently.
Little Fern Forest provides a holistic experience for kids of all neurotypes and their families through forest school, camps, therapy services, as well as parent and teacher coaching. Our team of therapy practitioners (OT, PT, SLP), teachers, and support staff host our programming at outdoor locations across Western Washington.
Summer Forest Camps
Little Fern Forest's magical Summer Forest Camps are designed for children ages 27 months to tweens on our private forests in Jefferson Beach and the Eastside. Guided by child-led curiosity and OT-informed support, campers play, explore, and discover through sensory-rich activities and weekly themes.
Camps run June through August, with day-by-day registration available in advance at a day-rate, no full-week commitment required. Each camp is staffed by outdoor OTs, seasoned forest school teachers, and/or parent volunteers.
Our programs are developmentally informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and inclusive, helping children of all abilities grow confidence, resilience, social-emotional skills, and a love of nature. *We do not require potty training. Older or younger children are welcome with permission from the site director.
Book your child’s summer adventure!
Forest Schools
Nature-immersed, child-led, and neurodiversity-affirming, our Forest School programs welcome little adventurers ages 30 months to 6 years. On private forests at Jefferson Beach and the Eastside, children explore, climb, imagine, and discover together in mixed-age outdoor classrooms where play and curiosity lead the way.
Forest school runs September through May, with flexible enrollment from one to five days per week. Guided by licensed Occupational Therapists and experienced forest school teachers, children move through the seasons at their own pace, building confidence, resilience, social-emotional skills, sensory awareness, and lifelong friendships along the way.
Rooted in occupational therapy philosophies and the Cedarsong Way, our Forest School blends the joy of outdoor exploration with developmentally-informed, child-led learning, helping children grow curious, confident, and connected.
Outdoor Occupational Therapy
Our licensed Occupational Therapists (OTR/L) and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA) offer child-led, nature-immersed occupational therapy for Washington families.
Through environmental exploration, children navigate uneven surfaces, climb trees, and move over natural obstacles, building balance, strength, and coordination. Adaptive Thinking grows as they respond to the outdoors’ unpredictability, while rich sensory Input of the natural environment supports regulation and engagement. Opportunities for controlled risk-taking boosts confidence and body awareness, while our Freedom-to-Play inspires creativity and self-directed exploration.
Children develop regulation, independence, confidence, and a love of movement while having fun in the great outdoors. Services are available:
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One-on-one or in small groups
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During forest school, in the community, or at home
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Through private pay or insurance, depending on eligibility
Spaces are limited, so join our waitlist to receive updates and openings.
Sensory Consulting
Sensory consulting is offered to families anywhere in the world. Through the lens of a nature-immersed occupational therapist, we help parents understand and support their child’s unique sensory needs. Families share what’s happening at home or in the community, and we provide playful, practical strategies that help children engage, regulate, and thrive. Sessions are flexible and supportive, rooted in child-led, nature-inspired learning, so parents can bring these strategies into everyday routines with confidence and ease.
Parent & Teacher Coaching
Led by pediatric occupational therapist Emily Bryce and veteran teacher Kimberlee Kelly, both mothers of toddlers and late-diagnosed AuDHD, our coaching draws on their combined experience supporting children of all neurotypes. We partner with parents and educators to support each child’s unique strengths and needs. Sessions focus on fostering confidence, self-regulation, sensory awareness, and engagement in everyday routines or classroom settings. Whether virtual or in person, our coaching blends child-led, evidence-based, and nature-inspired principles with practical tools, helping adults create environments where children can explore, learn, and thrive.
What we're up to
Why Families Love Us
"We love Little Fern Forest School! My son has gone for a year and a half and has grown tremendously during that time. His coordination, speech and socialization skills have all improved and he has made good friends. Being outside has been great for him, and he is practicing independence. I also love that the bonus teachers are all OT students! I highly recommend!"
"Emily Bryce and Little Fern Forest have helped our child so much! When school and life are just getting to be too much, playing and rediscovering joy in a place where people understand and affirm neurodiversity can be exactly what is needed. Our child usually comes back from LFF tired but happy, and better regulated than at drop off. Little Fern Forest is one place that is always on our child’s "yes" list."
"Emily and Little Fern Forest have been the best thing to come into my life since I had my son. I have a 2.5yo HIGHLY active toddler and I was watching him full time until he was 2. I knew I wasn’t able to give him the energy he needed during the day and he just isn’t happy if he’s unable to be outside. Weather doesn’t matter to him! I have never seen him happier than when I pick him up from forest school and he is with his friends covered in mud and smiling. I feel incredibly lucky that he is able to experience his first years of “school” in nature and with like minded toddlers and teachers. Couldn’t ask for anything more."
"Emily and her team provide children and families a special opportunity to learn about themselves in nature, progress in self discovery and celebrate what makes each of us unique in the process - I couldn’t recommend their services more!"
"Emily’s environment to work with kids is set apart from the rest. Not only does she have her preschool in a forest where my kids can ground themselves in nature but she also provides all her students with the physical breaks they need to stay in a state of learning. She excels in leading the students to make good choices gently. Working with Emily has been a blessing for my family. When my boys (2 and 5) have big feelings or breakdowns when she’s teaching she calmly guides them to the next thing and has an intrinsic ability to figure out what needs she needs to meet in order for them to keep learning. She is so knowledgable and full of ideas for me when I need help with either homeschooling or understanding and supporting my kids with their behavior and big feelings. Emily has such strong skills in communication with both kids and parents that makes working with her smooth and you leave with a plan and in a wonderful mood. I have seen such a huge improvement with my kids in just the last 6 months. My family is truly grateful we found her and have gotten the chance to work with her."
"For over four years we have been seeing Emily for OT for our kids. The journey for us started all those years ago with our oldest son, and has since grown with our family to include many of our kids. She has helped us through tough times, when I struggled as a parent and through the process of more than one diagnosis. Helped me to understand and navigate a whole new world in a sense so that I could better understand my neurodivergent kiddos and honestly learn a lot about myself in the process. We have come a long way since our journey began. Goals have been changed as skills have been mastered and my kids have grown. I don't know where I would be without all the support she has offered us over the years. She has a wonderful way of connecting with the kids that has since led to all of my children loving going to see her very much. It is often the highlight of our week getting to go up to see her. And as far as I am concerned she has become a part of our family, my kids think so and I agree."
"As a parent of a neurodiverse child, having a safe and inclusive environment for them to grow and thrive is important. At Little Fern Forest, the staff are patient and understanding, and embrace the unique strengths of each child. They create an inclusive environment where every child is welcomed and celebrated for their unique gifts and abilities. The outdoor space is full of sensory experiences that allow my child to explore, be creative, and learn. Through hands-on activities, my child has strengthened their connection to nature, improved social and motor skills, and gained confidence in their abilities. At Little Fern Forest my child feels at home and valued, and this has had a huge impact on their overall wellbeing. I am forever grateful to the team at Little Fern Forest for providing a safe environment for my child to grow, learn, and thrive.”
"Emily Bryce has crafted an extraordinary educational environment where children are encouraged to embrace and develop their true, innate selves, deeply intertwined with the wonders of nature. My daughters leave forest school each day believing in themselves, knowing their own strengths, and with great respect for the unique contributions of their friends. Emily and her teachers embrace neurodiversity, empowering children to navigate their own path in this world with confidence and curiosity."