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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.
At Little Fern Forest, we believe every child deserves a space to grow, explore, and learn at their own pace. Our programs blend occupational therapy frameworks, like sensory integration, with nature-immersion and radically child-led learning. This holistic model supports children of all neurotypes while fostering an environment where neurotypical and neurodivergent children can learn side by side, benefiting from each other’s strengths and perspectives.
We understand that each child is unique, and we embrace the power of mixed-neuro classrooms, where children develop empathy, communication skills, and resilience as they learn from one another. These spaces help build connection and collaboration, preparing children for a diverse and inclusive world.
Our forest school, camps, outdoor therapy services (OT, PT, Speech), and sensory consulting are grounded in the Cedarsong Way, a pedagogy focused on place-based nature immersion, authentic play, and child-driven learning. This approach encourages curiosity, creativity, and a strong sense of community. We provide training and coaching for parents, teachers, and other therapists, ensuring everyone has the tools to help each child thrive.
Our Approach
Our Team
Emily Bryce, OTR/L (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, her toddler, 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 joined Little Fern Forest in 2023, first opening our Bellevue location, which later relocated and became the Woodinville community forest playschool, run from the forest behind her home. She is a credentialed educator with Director-level certification in Early Care and Education and holds a Master’s degree in Social Justice-centered Education (Ma.Ed).
Throughout her career, Kimberlee has been dedicated to creating engaging, inclusive, and equity-centered learning experiences for individuals of all ages, from early childhood through adult education. Her passion for building relationships and expanding accessible learning opportunities led her to partner with Emily to offer nature-based early learning and parent education at Little Fern Forest.
As a member of the queer community and a 2E individual (Autistic and gifted), Kimberlee is deeply invested in the principles of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion). She has launched mindfulness programs in schools across Southern California and trained professionals nationwide, helping to shift mindsets, transform curricula, and enhance school culture. Additionally, she teaches Environmentalism and Green Cleaning to King County workers through the Service Employees International Union.
Kimberlee currently resides in the Cottage Lake community of Woodinville with her partner, their toddler, their dog and cat, and the local wildlife that frequent the creek near their home.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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
Lenny
They/Them
OTR
Indianola & Woodinville
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.
Lenny started their Masters of Occupational Therapy at UW in 2022, worked at the Bellevue (now Woodinville) location over the summer and completed their clinical fieldwork with Emily at LFF Indianola in the fall of 2024.
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.
Jayden
She/Her
COTA/L
Indianola & Woodinville
Jayden was born and raised in Washington State and is a recent graduate from the Green River College Occupational Therapy Assistant program. As a part of her fieldwork requirements, Jayden was assigned to 10-weeks at Little Fern Forest where she was introduced to the lovely LFF family.
She has continued her OT journey at LFF working at both the Indianola and Woodinville locations.
Before attending OT school, Jayden was a forest preschool teacher during COVID and quickly became invested in the benefits of child-led play. She is the oldest of 3 siblings and grew up with an autistic brother, resulting in her being involved with the neurodivergent community at a young age. She is excited to continue growing her knowledge and passion for inclusive education and creating neurodivergent affirming environments for children to grow.
In Jayden's free time, she loves to camp, get coffee, thrift shop, and look for shells on the beach. She is looking forward to her journey at Little Fern Forest and to making so many little new friends!
Alyssa
She/Her
Forest School Teacher
Indianola
Little Fern Forest has been a sanctuary for Alyssa and her three kids. The neuroaffirming practices are a breath of fresh air from a too-busy world. Alyssa is thrilled to become staff at this very special place.
Bringing in degrees of sociology, psychology, and functional nutrition she's a bit of a jack of all trades.
Perhaps most importantly, she has a special interest in neurodiversity- especially how autism presents in women and girls. She's been on a journey of getting her oldest child diagnosed while simultaneously putting together all the "aha" moments and realizing she's autistic herself.
Alyssa thrives in nature and loves seeing how much little ones do too. She's committed to meeting kids where they're at and loving all their unique gifts and differences.
Quibs
They/Them
Forest School Teacher
Indianola
Quibs is a passionate educator and community organizer with a love for nature and child development. Originally from Houston, TX, Quibs moved to PNW to pursue a Master's of Education in Montessori Studies. After completing their studies, they worked in various Montessori schools in Washington, tutored many neurodivergent students, and taught swim lessons.
Beyond their teaching career, Quibs is actively involved in community projects, from opening a coop micro-community center to starting a Mask Bloc to provide Kitsap with high-filtration masks. They are a strong advocate for social justice and equality, supporting unions and marginalized communities.
Susan
She/Her
Forest School Substitute
Indianola
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.
Isaiah
He/Him
Lead Camp Staff
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.
Maia
She/her
OTR/L
Indianola
Maia is a licensed and registered occupational therapist who has worked in many settings over the years but most recently in Skilled Nursing Facilities. She owns Dusk to Dawn farm and hopes to bring her love of farming and OT together in a nature-based practice. She is a mom of two wildlings, part of the queer community, and is neurodivergent.
Tiff
She/her
Lead Forest School Teacher
Indianola
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.