Our Approach

Little Fern Forest was founded by Emily Bryce, OTR/L, a licensed and registered occupational therapist with extensive experience in sensory integration and neurodiversity-affirming care. As the owner, founder, and lead OT at our flagship Indianola location, Emily has designed a nature-based early learning program enriched by occupational therapy consulting, sensory consulting, and coaching services, as well as professional training for parents, educators, and therapists, equipping everyone with the tools to help each child thrive.

Our Eastside educational programming is led by Kimberlee Kelly, Ma.Ed, a credentialed educator committed to neurodiversity-affirming, early childhood education and enrichment. Eastside offers a nature-immersed, inquiry-based, child-led learning environment in an outdoor space inspired by occupational therapy principles. (This location is actively seeking a new OT, formal services to resume shortly! Join our wait list)

Little Fern Forest blends occupational therapy frameworks—such as sensory integration—with immersive, child-led learning in nature, creating experiences where children explore, play, and grow at their own pace. Grounded in the Cedarsong Way our programs emphasize place-based exploration, authentic play, and respect for each child’s developmental rhythms. This philosophy is consistent across both locations and supports children of all neurotypes, fostering inclusive environments where neurotypical and neurodivergent learners benefit from one another’s unique strengths.

As active members of the American Forest Kindergarten Association. and the Washington Nature Preschool Association, Little Fern Forest engages in national and state conversations shaping forest-based education. Directors Emily Bryce and Kimberlee Kelly currently serve on AFKA’s Executive Board, contributing to leadership, standards, and advocacy in the field.

Our work is community-centered and relationship-driven, and we strive to create spaces where children, families, and staff all feel safe, respected, and supported. We explicitly welcome and celebrate LGBTQ+ families and gender-expansive children, ensuring our forest is a sanctuary where all family structures and identities are honored without question. We embrace the power of mixed-age and mixed-neuro classrooms where children develop empathy, communication skills, and resilience as they learn from one another. These spaces build connection and collaboration that prepare children for a diverse and inclusive world.

Our programs are designed as developmental enrichment and educational experiences, not custodial child care, with no child enrolled for more than four hours per day on a regular basis.

Our Model

Little Fern Forest provides a holistic experience for neurodiverse kids 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.

After seeing families thriving and kids meeting goals so much faster, we've launched more service locations under the Little Fern Forest umbrella. Now Little Fern Forest is in more communities, changing lives for more families — one outdoor adventure at a time.

Why Mixed Neuro Environments Matter

We know that when neurotypical and neurodivergent children learn alongside each other, both groups benefit in profound ways. Here’s how:

Promotes Empathy & Understanding: By interacting daily with peers who may experience the world differently, children develop empathy, tolerance, and a deeper understanding of one another’s strengths and challenges. They learn that differences don’t mean deficits, but rather unique ways of thinking and being in the world.

Fosters Social-Emotional Growth: Neurodiverse classrooms encourage a range of social interactions and problem-solving skills. Children learn to adapt, communicate, and collaborate in more inclusive ways, gaining valuable life skills for a diverse world.

Encourages Flexibility in Thinking: When children are exposed to different ways of thinking and learning, it challenges them to think outside the box and develop flexibility in their own problem-solving approaches. Both neurotypical and neurodivergent children benefit from adapting to different learning styles and strategies.

Enhances Communication Skills: With diverse ways of thinking and communicating, children develop a wider range of language and social skills. Neurodivergent children learn to express themselves in different ways, while neurotypical children develop a greater understanding of non-verbal cues and alternative communication methods.

Builds a Sense of Community: In a mixed-neuro class, children learn to support and care for one another. This sense of community fosters inclusion and reduces stigma, creating a nurturing space where every child feels valued and celebrated for who they are.

At Little Fern Forest, we’re committed to providing a space where neurotypical and neurodivergent children can thrive together, growing their social-emotional skills, creativity, and understanding of the world around them. By learning side by side, they help one another develop the crucial skills needed to thrive in an increasingly diverse world.

Our Commitment to Community Health

Like the ecosystems we learn within, children are interconnected and impacted by their environment. In our dynamic outdoor setting, we are committed to protecting community health so that all children can explore, grow, and participate safely. Our commitment to health ensures that every child has the best opportunity to explore, engage, and connect with the environment and their peers.

While we’re deeply committed to the healing and transformative power of nature, our team consists of licensed occupational therapists and experienced educators who apply evidence-based, research-informed practices to support child health, development, and safety. In alignment with our commitment to disability justice and protecting our most vulnerable community members, we follow state immunization guidelines/recommendations to ensure our forest remains a safe space for all.

We recognize that even in our outdoor classrooms—where children spend time at tables, under tents, on play structures, or gathered together for nature observations—the close contact required for meaningful interactions can present opportunities for illness to spread. In alignment with our commitment to disability justice and protecting our most vulnerable community members, we follow state immunization guidelines/recommendations to ensure our forest remains a safe space for all.

We strive to provide a collaborative, neurodiversity-affirming, trauma informed team culture centered on mutual respect, consent based interactions, an child-led practice. As part of our inclusive approach to early education, we strongly encourage vaccination as a crucial step in safeguarding your child’s health and ensuring the well-being of our entire community. Vaccines protect not only your child but also others—particularly participants who are at increased risk due to immune system challenges and may be unable to receive certain vaccinations themselves. Maintaining high vaccination rates within our community helps create herd immunity, reducing the risk of vaccine-preventable illnesses spreading to those who are most vulnerable. By keeping children up-to-date on recommended vaccinations, we create a safer environment where every child can explore, learn, and grow without the risk of preventable illnesses.

Our Land Acknowledgement & Commitment to Stewardship

Little Fern Forest operates on the traditional, unceded lands and waters of the Coast Salish peoples. We acknowledge that our Eastside school in Monroe sits on the ancestral home of the Skykomish, Snohomish (Tulalip Tribes), and Snoqualmie (sdukʷalbixʷ) peoples. Our Jefferson Beach school in Kingston sits on the ancestral home of the Suquamish (dxʷsəq̓ʷəbš) Tribe. We also honor the historical presence and enduring ties of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla to these regions.

We recognize that these Indigenous communities have lived in deep, reciprocal relationship with these forests and shorelines since time immemorial. We honor the enduring and thriving presence of Indigenous communities and acknowledge the ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and the forced displacement of these nations.

As a school, we are dedicated to evolving our understanding and actions. Through our commitment to place-based learning and environmental stewardship, we teach our students to be humble guests on this land, fostering a deep respect for the plants and animals that have been cared for by Coast Salish stewards for generations.

This is a living acknowledgment, and we will continue to learn and deepen our relationships with Indigenous communities in the places where we teach and learn.

Our Parent's Thoughts

"Emily has a remarkable ability to connect with my child on a deeper level, building a rapport based on trust and mutual respect. Her strong connection with my child has resulted in meaningful progress. The incorporation of outdoor activities not only provides a refreshing change of scenery but also fosters a sense of freedom and exploration that is truly empowering. I am immensely grateful for the positive impact and the invaluable support Emily has provided."

"Emily Bryce (of Little Fern Forest) holds a wealth of knowledge in neurodiversity and she welcomes it with open arms. I had never seen my child connect so quickly to a therapy provider, it truly warmed my heart and gave me hope for acceptance and growth together."

"One of my favorite things about Emily and her team is their inclusivity of siblings and family members to be present for therapy sessions and forest school sessions. As a parent of multiples this really eased the burden of coordinating so many appointments for my kiddos, also allowing me to be present and share the amazing moments of the outdoors with her and my child."

"I was enlightened to all nature has to offer in the way of Occupational Therapy, it really fulfills all the senses!

So many bright colors to See -

Animals and water to Hear -

Textures to Feel in plants, mud, or water -

Smells of fresh air, blooms, and farm animals -

Even berries to pick and Taste!

These are just a few examples but there are so many progress opportunities in nature!"

"I talk about Emily all the time. She is magic with children. She is incredibly skilled and knowledgeable especially with providing guidance on how to navigate the day to day challenges of parenting a neurodivergent child. And she delivers that guidance with a profound appreciation for the struggles -from both the parent and child’s point of view. She is our family’s best resource and guide in a deep sea of therapists and doctors."

"Emily has been one of the best things to happen to our family! As a parent of a neurodivergent kid, I had felt confused, overwhelmed, and lonely for many years. My daughter has now been enjoying one-on-one OT sessions, playgroups, and summer camps with Emily. I love tagging along because I learn lots of great tools every time I’m there. Emily is easy to be around and her sunny demeanor rubs off on us. It’s like our nervous systems take a deep breathe and long exhale being in her presence. She loves kids just as they are without any effort to “change” them. Trying to navigate the waters of raising up an ND kid is no easy task. Emily is a wealth of knowledge and has been there for me in countless ways. My daughter adores her and looks forward to any time she gets to spend with her. I think it’s easy to say she’s one of our favorite people!"

"Emily is great! Her knowledge from science based information plus hands on experience working with diverse kids gives her a wealth of tools to pull from. She’s helped my kiddo with sensory integration issues, as well as helped determine school accommodations and support. I learn something new every visit even just by sitting and observing, as she works with my teen. I can’t say enough good things about her work and the positive impact Emilys’s had on my child."

"Emily’s strategies for providing support and love for our neurodivergent sons have made a big difference for our family. The kids love visiting the sensory wonderland she’s created in her forest; as parents, we rely on her advice and parenting strategies."