Our Services
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.
The holistic model of Little Fern Forest combines occupational therapy frameworks, like sensory integration, with nature-immersion and the latest research to support neurodivergent children and their families. Our programs are staffed by occupational therapists and seasoned educators and open to all children, regardless of neurotype. We meet kids and families where they are at and customize their support based on their needs and goals.
Our forest school, camps, outdoor therapy (OT, PT, Speech) and sensory consulting are grounded in the Cedarsong Way- a pedagogy invested in place-based nature immersion, authentic play, child-driven flow learning, compassion scaffolding, and inquiry-based teaching style and documentation of learning. We provide training and coaching in this model for parents, teachers, and other therapists.
Our Approach
Our Team
Emily Bryce, OTL/R (she/her)
Founder & Indianola Site Director
Registered & Licensed Occupational Therapist
Emily is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist, certified in Ayres Sensory Integration and Therapeutic Listening.
Emily's expertise is in connecting the dots between brain differences, behaviors, learning, and daily life for neurodivergent kids and their families. Emily's quest for high-impact services led her out of the constraints of a pediatric clinic into the vast opportunities of outdoor sessions and services, social opportunities for learning, professional mentorship, and full-service parent support.
Self-identifying as a gifted ADHD-er, Emily is no stranger to the joys and challenges that come with navigating the world with a brain that thinks, learns, and understands people differently. Also as part of the queer community, she enjoys helping navigate this complicated intersection of identities neurodivergent children and teens often face.
Emily currently lives in Indianola with her husband, new baby, and two cats. and runs the original forest school and outdoor OT on her property.
Kimberlee Kelly, MaED. (she/her)
Woodinville Site Director & Lead Teacher
Credentialed Educator
Kimberlee is new to Little Fern Forest and was brought on to lead the Woodinville community forest playschool. She is a credentialed educator, certified at the Director level for Early Care and Education, and earned an Ma.Ed in Social Justice centered Education.
Engaging, inclusive, and equity -centered learning experiences for learners of all ages - from early care through adult, have been a through line in Kimberlee's work. Her deep love for building relationships and maximizing accessible learning opportunities inspired her to go beyond the traditional classroom, partnering with Emily to offer nature-based early learning and parent education.
As a member of the queer community, who also identifies as ADHD and gifted, Kimberlee is deeply invested in the ways of JEDI (Justice, Equity Diversity, and Inclusion). She has launched school-based mindfulness programs in Southern California and trained professionals across the nation, transforming adult mindsets, curriculum development, and school culture.
Kimberlee currently lives in the Cottage Lake community of Woodinville, with her partner, new baby, their dog and cat, and the wild animals who peruse their yard.
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."
Little Fern Forest is interested in hiring more exceptional therapists (occupational, speech, physical, etc.) to support our clients in multiple locations. If you are an outdoor enthusiast with a love for play-based learning and therapy who is devoted to neuro-affirming and inclusive practices, we'd love to hear from you! Email us your resume and your interest in outdoor therapy at admin@littlefernforest.com
Jobs
Our Therapists & Staff
Intern
Indianola
Lenny
They/Them
Lenny grew up in Oakland CA and first made their way to Washington to attend Whitman College, where they graduated with a BA in environmental humanities in 2016. After graduating, they worked on a farm, ran a school-based garden education program, and traveled the Southwest and Europe, before moving to Seattle in 2018. Since then, Lenny has worked as an assistant teacher in a K-5 inclusion-based special education program as well as nannying and consulting with families around neurodivergence and gender-affirming home practices. Lenny is trained in Positive Discipline and love working with kids on social emotional skills and self-regulation. They started their Masters of Occupational Therapy at UW in 2022 and will be doing their clinical fieldwork with Emily at LFF Indianola this fall. Outside of school and work Lenny loves riding bikes, reading outside, and spending time with my rabbit, Shark. Lenny identifies as queer, trans non-binary, and neurodivergent. Hablan español también.
COTA/L
Various Locations
Makaylah
She/her
Makaylah is a proud member of Little Fern Forest. Her journey began with Emily during her fieldwork placement in nature-based OT. Since experiencing the joys of nature-based therapy, Makaylah has become passionate about all things sensory, neuro-affirming practice, and the neurodiversity experience. Since graduating PIMA Medical Institute in 2022, she has been continuing her education on play-based therapy and is excited to utilize her skills when working with kiddos from all backgrounds. In the meantime, you will catch her in the kitchen making homemade goodies or with friends and family. Her favorite outdoor activity is swimming.
Forest School Teacher
Indianola
Tiff
She/her
Tiff is a nature enthusiast that loves working with young kids to foster their love of learning and the outdoors. She has over 15 years of experience as a nanny and has spent most of that time with newborn-5 year olds. Tiff is also a homeschooling mom of two that has spent the last year learning from Emily at Little Fern Forest School. She has a very gentle teaching approach which focuses on building safe and caring relationships with a foundation of trust so that she can guide children into confident, caring and independent young people. She loves taking groups exploring, sharing cool facts about bugs and wildlife, and coming up with engaging activities. Outside of her work with kids she is an avid reader and a coffee lover that enjoys camping with her family.
Camp Staff
Indianola
Maddie
She/her
Maddie grew up on Bainbridge Island, and is currently studying biology at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. She hopes to pursue pediatrics in the future. After working at various camps, she became interested in the therapeutic benefits of nature, and making camp accessible and fun for everyone. Outside of Little Fern Forest, she enjoys volunteering at Priceless Pets animal shelter, making jewelry, advocacy work, and farming.
Forest School Teacher
Indianola
Iris
They/Them
Iris is a transplant from the rural Midwest living on Suquamish land. They’re an experienced gardener who spends time in community supporting families and children. They value intergenerational connection through curiosity, play, storytelling and trust. Personal interests are in herbalism, Disability Justice, and building a liberated, accessible, just world for future generations.
Camp Staff
Indianola
Mirabel
She/her
Mirabel has grown up in Indianola exploring the woods and wildlife there with her older siblings. She’s glad to have the opportunity to share similar adventures with young campers. She recently graduated high school and is excited to begin her gap year in the fall during which she’ll be traveling and working as an Au Pair in France.
Forest School Teacher
Indianola
Emily
She/her
Bio Coming!
Lead Camp Staff
Indianola
Isaiah
He/Him
Isaiah was born in Louisiana, where he lived until his family moved to New Zealand when he was 8. He and his family moved back to the states four years later, and they settled in Indianola. Isaiah recently graduated from Olympic College with an Associate's in Science, and he will be attending the University of Washington as a Computer Science major. He is a tutor at Olympic College, where he works to make math and physics accessible for everyone. Isaiah also loves teaching and learning from kids, and he is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an inclusive learning environment at Little Fern Forest School. When he isn't working or studying, he enjoys programming, playing piano, and spending time with friends.
Camp Staff
Indianola
Kyla
She/her
Kyla grew up on the Kitsap Peninsula, camping and hiking with her family. She just graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a BS in Exercise Science. She is pursuing her Masters in Occupational Therapy this fall at Pacific Northwest University where she will work to create more opportunities for underserved communities. Kyla has worked with Special Olympics swimming and as an Adaptive Inclusion Leader with Metro Parks Tacoma. Kyla enjoys sharing her love and appreciation of nature with others and hopes to pass this on to younger generations. In her free time she enjoys to swim and hike in the outdoors!
Forest School Substitute
Indianola
Susan
She/her
Susan is a retired educator and Emily's mom. She moved to Poulsbo two years ago to live near Emily and her family. She has been a part of the day to day operations of helping Emily begin Little Fern Forest and caregiving for Cerulean so she can do what she loves to do!
Her background is 35 years of teaching preschool-high school, working closely with neuro-divergent children and has a MA in Special Education. She started the co-op preschool Emily attended CA in the 1990's and started and directed a Charter homeschool program 2010-2016 in CA. She also trained in The Cedarsong Way with Emily and often runs Cedarsong Conversations for the online community. She’s at the Indianola Forest School almost daily or around Emily's home playing outside with her little grandson, working in Emily's garden, or subbing/helping in LFF for Emily, as needed.
Forest School Teacher
Bellevue
Amy
She/her
Bio Coming!
Indianola
New Staff
Bio Coming!