Understanding Our Social Groups for Bay Area Kids
In our outdoor OT groups, kids are supported by a skilled occupational therapist to explore their emotions, learn valuable regulation skills, and connect with peers. Through fun and therapeutic outdoor nature activities with other kids, your child will enhance their social-emotional learning by engaging in creative problem-solving and sensory-rich experiences.
Small Group Sizes
With groups capped at 6 kids and at LEAST 2 adults (1 therapy provider plus additional volunteers/grad students), every child receives focused support. Our small group model allows us to adapt activities and plans to match the unique dynamics, needs, and progress of the group each session.
Carry Over to Home
Therapy shouldn’t happen in a black box that feels disconnected from real life. That’s why our therapeutic approach is rooted in parent involvement and between-session support so you are connected to what’s happening in group each week.
Professional Group Leaders
Our training and experience enable us to support a wide range of kids. All groups are led by a skilled pediatric occupational therapist who supports the development of social skills, motor skills, and sensory processing.
Positive & Inclusive
We aim to be a supportive place where kids can feel good about themselves while learning how to be in community with others. Whether they’re highly active or super reserved, we’ve got them covered with our affirming approach and philosophy.
Magic of the Outdoors
Beyond being a fun place kids naturally want to explore, nature provides a multi-sensory environment that helps kids experiment, learn, and apply new skills.
Celebrating Individuality While Building Skills for Connection.
Not every kid will sit still, make friends easily, or have the flexibility and self-control to easily fit into any classroom, team, or extracurricular activity.
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At Bearfoot OT, we envisioned a space where kids could not only show up as they are but also be supported in discovering new ways to be with others.
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Finding the right fit for your child is so important. Schedule a free call to talk to our team about whether our outdoor occupational therapy groups are right for you.
​With small group sizes and our specially trained staff of occupational therapists, we have the capacity to:
Give kids the opportunity to engage at their own pace
Support kids while they make and learn from mistakes
Accept various forms of communication, preferences, and ways of being together as a community
Investigate the root cause of challenging behaviors
Adapt to meet the group’s needs in the moment
Allow kids to learn from each other without feeling overwhelmed by group size
Facilitate problem-solving and emotional regulation in real-life social situations
Check out what other families had to say…
My 4 year old has/is benefitting greatly from the social groups. He loves the fact that they are outdoors, and he gets to jump in muddy puddles to his heart's content. The OT/student ratio is small and the activities and pace are catered to the specific students and their interests. Highly recommend Ashlyn and all of the others!
Thanks Bearfoot!
“I am so glad that we discovered Bearfoot OT. The nature-based social group was an ideal fit for my kiddo. In the eight weeks he participated, I think he made so much progress. The weekly individualized video reports shed so much light on the intense sensory needs of my son, along with critical aspects of his social skill development. And he absolutely loved it! I can't recommend Bearfoot enough--it's really amazing!”
A Social Emotional Group might be a good fit if your child is struggling to:
Regulate their emotions and sensory responses.
Your child often feels overwhelmed or unable to self-regulate in group settings.​​​
Play cooperatively with peers.
They prefer to play alone, only want to play their own game, or struggle to collaborate with others.
Control impulses and respect personal space.
It’s hard for them to wait their turn, stay in control of their bodies, or give others the physical space they need.
Navigate conflicts.
Your child gets very upset if things don’t go their way or when another child behaves in a way they dislike.​​​
Share and express ideas comfortably.
They struggle to voice their thoughts or accept others’ ideas during play.
Try new activities confidently.
They show significant shyness or anxiety in group settings or when facing unfamiliar tasks.​​​​​
While our groups focus on building social-emotional skills, we also work on a range of important skills like sensory processing, executive functioning, and motor skills.
Interested in signing up for one of our groups? Please look at our Group Behavior Approach & Policy for additional criteria in determining if Bearfoot’s supportive, engaging groups are right for your child.
Not Your Typical Social Skills Group:
Here’s Why We Focus On Social-Emotional Growth
At Bearfoot OT, we’re different from “social skills” programs that often focus on fitting all kids into one neurotypical mold — make eye contact, follow these steps, and say the right thing at the right time. But for so many neurodivergent children, that mold doesn’t feel authentic or correlate to long-term success or well-being.
Instead of focusing on "performing" social interactions, we focus on helping kids learn how to be part of a community in a way that honors their own needs and the needs of others.
For this reason, you’ll see us working on…
Play skills for authentically connecting with peers
Problem-solving and advocating for their needs and preferences in a group setting
Learning emotional
regulation skills to manage emotions while in a group setting
Positive Change For Your Child Means Thinking Beyond a Weekly Session
Here’s the level of support you can look forward to when you sign your child up for a social group with us.
Group Sessions
Don’t let all the fun we’re having distract you from the enormous therapeutic impact of our sessions. Each week’s curriculum is custom-designed based on the unique interests, needs, and goals of that specific group of kids
Weekly Group Debrief
Using a Google Classroom for your child’s group, you get weekly therapy updates about what we worked on in the group and resources for applying concepts at home.
Consult Calls
You’ll have our undivided attention during consult calls, where we share practical advice and answer your questions. Consult calls can be used to collaborate with others involved in your child’s care, including parents, teachers, and therapists.
Individual Updates
We keep you in the loop through weekly individual video updates from your therapist. These provide you with insight and resources specific to your child and their progress.
Positive Change For Your Child Means Thinking Beyond a Weekly Session
spring 2025 group dates below!
registration will open on March 1st at 7:00 am
For TK & Kindergarteners
Tinkers
Everyone is set up for success in this therapeutic playgroup for TK & Kindergartners. Kids are invited to participate in sensory play alongside other kids. Guided by an occupational therapist, your child will get the opportunity to explore social, sensory, and play situations at their own pace.
For TK & Kindergarteners
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Location: Glen Park, San Francisco
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Duration: 7-week series
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Schedule: Mondays, 3:45–5:15 pm, rain or shine!
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Dates: Every Monday April 7th - June 2nd
(No session 4/28 or 5/26)
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Make-up Dates: 6/9 and 6/16
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Group Size: Limited to 5 kids
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Cost: $850
What's Included:
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Seven 90-minute sessions
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Weekly group debrief + photos/videos from each session on Google Classroom
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30-minute phone call with your child’s lead therapist any time during the group series
1st & 2nd Graders
Sprouts
In this high-impact group, 1st and 2nd graders build social-emotional skills through play, outdoor adventures, and connections with each other. Each session is guided by an OT who knows how to work with kids and connect learning to everyday life.
Sprouts Group Details:
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Location: Glen Park, San Francisco
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Duration: 8-week series
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Schedule: Tuesdays 4:30-6:00 pm rain or shine!
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Dates: Every Tuesday April 8th - May 27th
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Make-up Dates: 6/3, 6/10, 6/17
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Group Size: Limited to 6 kids
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Cost: $1,110
What's Included:
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Eight 90-minute sessions
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Weekly group debrief
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Individualized weekly videos sharing your child’s progress that week
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Collaborative goal setting
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30-minute call any time during the group series with the lead therapist
2nd & 3rd Graders
Trekkers
In this highly engaging group, 2nd and 3rd graders build social-emotional skills through play, outdoor adventures, and connections with each other. Each session is guided by an OT who knows how to work with kids and connect learning to everyday life.
Trekkers Group Details:
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Location: Glen Park, San Francisco
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Duration: 8-week series
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Schedule: Thursdays, 4:30-6:00 pm, rain or shine!
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Dates: Every Thursday April 10th - May 28th
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Make-up Dates: 6/5 and 6/12
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Group Size: Limited to 6 kids
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Cost: $1,110
What's Included:
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Eight 90-minute sessions
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Weekly group debrief
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Individualized weekly videos sharing your child’s progress that week
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Collaborative goal setting
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30-minute call at any time during the group series with the lead therapist
How Social Group Sign-Ups Work
1. Get Ready
Book an optional call to get your questions answered and gain clarity on your decision. That way, you’re ready to go when the big day arrives.
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2. Secure Your Spot
Registration for spring 2025 groups opens at 7:00 AM on March 1st. Go through our website to select the group slot you want for your child and buy a ticket that counts as your registration and nonrefundable deposit. It’s a first-come, first-served system.
3. Confirmation
Once you’ve successfully registered, you’ll receive an email confirmation with the next steps and details for your child’s participation in groups.
4. Celebrate
Update your weekly calendar and gear up for an adventure like no other. It’ll be filled with fun, exploration, and plenty of growth opportunities!
From our previous families…
“We have loved Bearfoot OT for school year social year groups and summer camps! The OT to child ratio of 4:6 is phenomenal, and really provides the optimal environment for the kids to have a fun and safe environment to build upon their own skills, and develop new social skills. It’s particularly wonderful to have a mix of unscripted nature play, along with more structured activities. Even with the structured activities, there is a balance of quiet activities (crafts, stories) and active games (water play, running games, climbing, hiking). We’re so glad to have found Bearfoot OT!”
“Bearfoot is the occupational therapy program I have always wanted for kids! I am so glad I found a nature-based social group headed by such a passionate, talented and dedicated therapist as Marika. She keeps you informed of progress and empowers parents with strategies to implement at home. She's a great listener, sees the good in kids and understands their beautifully wild spirits. If you're looking for fantastic OT for your kiddo, look no further. Highly recommend!”
We can’t promise your child will walk away with five new best friends or never have a tough moment again.
But we can promise you and your child will leave with new tools and skills to help them handle social situations and life’s ups and downs more easily.
Here’s how our groups make that happen:
Organic learning opportunities within a small group of peers
Led by occupational therapists who are trained to manage and respond to the different needs of kids.
Outdoor setting that offers sensory and emotional benefits — on top of being positive and fun!
Wrap-around services to support parents in making long-term changes at home and school.
Focus on social-emotional skills like self-advocacy and emotional regulation versus narrow neurotypical “social skills.”
Together, we’ll give your child the confidence, skills, and support they need to thrive in their own way. That’s an outcome with a lifetime of benefit.
A Few Policies to Know Before Signing Up for our Bay Area Social Groups for Kids….
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You must sign up for all sessions in a group series - no partial enrollment/participation is available permitted
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You must arrive on time to group - no late drop-offs because we’ll already be off in the woods
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Any missed sessions for travel, sickness, etc will not be refunded
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Your child must be able to be safe with themselves, others and property/environment in a 5:2 child to adult ratio in a dynamic outdoor environment. This means your child must be safe given that the adults are always in the vicinity but not always within arm's reach
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If your child needs additional support to be safe, you are welcome to send your child with a 1:1 aide to help them be successful in the group environment!
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If your child uses physical behavior towards self or others when they are dysregulated, our group programming (with the 5:2 ratio) is not a good match at this time. Please contact us about 1:1 therapy!​
If you are interested in registering for one of our groups, please read our GROUP BEHAVIOR APPROACH AND POLICY DOCUMENT to see if your kid is a match for the support Bearfoot offers in our group programming. ​​
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For questions about registration, please email admin@bearfootoccupationaltherapy.com or call 415-322-0874
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Does my child need an evaluation?A current (less than 12 months) OT evaluation is required to participate in group. If you don't have one, we will complete an abbreviated evaluation for an additional $345. You may register for group and then complete the evaluation after registration.
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What is a session of group like?Great question! First off, you should know that every group is different. We don’t work from a set static curriculum because we customize the plan each week based on the specific needs and interests of each group. Sessions typically mix structured activities and unstructured play to keep things engaging. For Sprouts and Trekkers, we start with some structured activities like group games, creative projects, crafts, or reading books. These activities are designed to encourage social connections and support kids in developing new motor, social, and communication skills. Then, we wrap up with about 10-15 minutes of supported free play, giving kids the chance to explore and interact on their own — with guidance and support from our therapists. This balance between structure and flexibility allows kids to practice skills in different settings, building confidence and independence while still having fun. Parents love knowing that the sessions provide both structure (for learning and growth) and a little freedom (for natural social-emotional development). It’s all about creating a space where your child can thrive at their own pace—while also learning to navigate relationships, challenges, and emotions.
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Do parents attend the group too?Our groups are designed as a drop-off program, so no need to plan on heading into the woods with us. But if your child is having a tough time and needs you there for support, you’re absolutely welcome to stay. We’re aiming for kids to move towards attending sessions independently but we’ll move at their pace and comfort level.
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When do sign-ups happen?We run groups on a quarterly basis with sign-ups happening 3 times a year. Here’s when we open enrollment on our website: Dec 1 for winter groups that run Jan through March March 1 for spring groups that run April through June Aug 1 for fall groups that run Sept through December
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What do you do if it rains?We play! We don't cancel for bad weather, we have fun in it. The only exception is hazardous weather, such as poor air quality, lightning, or hail. We'll help you know how to best dress your kid so that all weather is enjoyable.
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What should my child wear?After enrolling your child, you’ll receive specific instructions for clothing that can get dirty and keep your child comfortable in a variety of weather conditions. As a general rule, we recommend sturdy shoes, layers, lightweight, non-cotton clothing, and rain gear (boots, rain jacket, and rain pants).