Forest Friends OT Group
Forest Friends is a nature-based occupational therapy group where children build social and emotional skills through play, connection, and movement in an outdoor setting.
What is Forest Friends?
Forest Friends is a small, OT-led group held outdoors in Stratham, New Hampshire.
It provides children with opportunities to build regulation, flexibility, and social-emotional skills through child-led play, movement, and connection in nature.
Led by Gayle Vardakis, MS, OTR/L.
What to Expect
Forest Friends takes place entirely outdoors in a nuturing, supportive woodland setting.
Each session includes child-led play, movement-based activities, and guided opportunities for connection with peers. Children are supported at their own pace as they explore, interact, and engage in developmentally meaningful play experiences.
Forest Friends is intentionally limited to a small group of up to 6 children to support connection, regulation, and individualized attention.
Led by Gayle Vardakis, MS, OTR/L, this is a small OT-led group held in Stratham, NH.
Why This Approach Works
Children learn best when their bodies feel regulated, supported, and safe.
In natural environments, the nervous system has space to settle, which supports attention, emotional regulation, flexibility, and social engagement.
In Forest Friends, children build skills through real-time experiences—moving, exploring, problem-solving, and connecting with peers.
This approach supports sensory regulation, motor development, and social-emotional growth in a way that feels natural and accessible.
Is Forest Friends A Good Fit For My Child?
Forest Friends may be a good fit for children who benefit from support with regulation, social connection, and flexible, movement-based play in a natural outdoor setting.
This group may be especially helpful if your child:
benefits from movement, play, and outdoor environments
is building social-emotional skills, problem-solving, initiation, flexibility, or regulation
needs support building confidence and skills with peer interactions
enjoys or is curious about group play in a supported setting
Details + Schedule
Location
Outdoor setting in Stratham, New Hampshire. Exact location shared upon registration.
Schedule
Select Saturdays
9:15–10:45 AM
Seasonal 4-week sessions with occasional drop-in availability
Age Range
Designed for children approximately 4–7 years old.
Future nature-based OT group offerings for children and adolescents up to age 16 are planned as the program expands.
Investment
$65 per drop-in session
$260 per 4-week session
Caregiver Participation
Caregivers remain on site during sessions. Children are supported in gradually engaging with the group as they feel comfortable.
Parents are invited to help with transitions at the beginning of sessions and step back as children become more comfortable in the group setting.
What Families Are Saying About Forest Friends
“This nature-based group was exactly what we were hoping to find for our 4 year old son! We are so grateful for this beautiful play experience. Thank you!”
Interested in Joining Forest Friends?
If you’re unsure whether Forest Friends is the right fit for your child, I’m happy to connect and talk it through with you.
The next step is a brief consultation to explore your child’s needs and determine if the group is a good fit.