Sequim

Sequim Bay

The Sequim Bay Campus was founded in 2020 and is hosted at Sequim Bay State Park off of Highway 101. Children start their day with a breathtaking hike through the old growth forest and across a large bridge. The large group campsite is our home base and has a magical feel that draws children in for a wide variety of exploration and play experiences. There are ample opportunities for children to test their strength, learn from one another, and find new surprises that the forest provides daily. The biodiversity is quite an incredible teacher and inspires a lifelong love for nature.

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Sequim Bay

Campus Programs

At forest preschool the children visit the same woodland on a regular basis and are given the freedom to play, opportunity to explore and learn about the natural environment, and support while learning how to handle risks, solve problems, and cooperate with their peers. Preschool runs all year, where children learn and play in the woods in all weather: sun, rain, snow, warm and cold, (barring high winds or other extreme weather). As the forest is ever changing, each day brings new and different exploration opportunities. Children play, learn boundaries – both physical and social - grow in confidence, and become self-starters. Children in this environment learn that there are different ways of solving problems and they develop their critical thinking skills daily. Learn more about Magnolia's Forest Preschool program.

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Class Details

Location:
Sequim Bay State Park, Sequim, WA

ENROLL 2025-2026

Ages: 2.5-5 years old

  • Tues/Thurs, 9:00-1:00, $336/month
  • Mon/Wed/Fri, 9:00-1:00, $504/month
  • Mon-Fri, 9:00-1:00, $800/month

Registration and materials fees are due at time of registration.

Reach our registrar: taylor@magnoliaforestpreschool.com

Summer Camp

Summer camp is a great time to try out forest school and see if your child loves it as much as we do! Registration for summer camps opens March 1. Reach out to our registrar for more information: info@magnoliaforestpreschool.com.

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Summer Camp Details

ENROLL FOR SUMMER CAMPS 2025

Visit our Summer Camps 2025 page for all dates and tuition.

Enrollment opens March 1st. Email our registrar for more information: lauren@magnoliaforestpreschool.com.

K-5th Grade

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K-5th Grade Details

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Visit Magnolia

Sequim Bay

and learn more

Each campus welcomes new families for tours regularly September-June so that you can see the forest school space, meet the site director, ask questions and get a taste for the Magnolia Forest Preschool experience!

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Campus Director

Jen O'Brien

Campus Director
jen@magnoliaforestpreschool.com

Jen is a Washington state native who has recently moved to the Olympic Peninsula. Her bachelor's degree is in Early Childhood Education, and she has a master's degree in Applied Behavioral Science. She has taught in a variety of settings and is most passionate about the ones that incorporate multiple ages, curiosity, collaboration and laughter.

Jen believes in the power of play and experiential learning for humans of all sizes and stages of development and loves to find joy in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. She has two adult children she continues to be proud of and a husband who she loves to go on adventures with.

In her free time you will find Jen in her garden, trying out a new recipe, exploring nature or snuggled on the couch with a book and her animals.

Sequim Bay

Campus Teachers

Jacob Vashutah

Assistant Site Director

Jacob Vashutah

Assistant Site Director

Jacob has long been passionate about human development and potential, as well as the natural environment as a teacher. While his formal education took him down the path of Aviation Sciences (Jacob holds his FAA Flight Instructor License), his passions turned him into an autodidact in regards to curating understanding, empathy, and curiosity in others. Alongside teaching adults how to fly fixed-wing aircraft, he found an outlet for this passion in wilderness therapy, working with adolescents and young adults, as well as mentoring and working with kids in foster care. Jacob has also been an advisor to executives holding contracts with the DOD.

It wasn’t until his son was born in April 2023, that he discovered the immeasurable joys working with young children. A child’s brain is developing at such a higher rate than an adults, you can see the connections being made. Jacob quickly became fascinated at the speed in which young children metabolize new information, and he grew excited at the potential in helping kids create social-emotional regulation and resilience from the get-go, as he has seen first-hand the effects of lacking these imperative skills. As soon as Jacob learned about the ethos of Magnolia Forest Preschool, it clicked for him, bringing together his passion and understanding of human development. And he can think of no better place than outside, in a natural setting, for this to occur.

Jacob recently moved to Port Angeles with his family to be closer to more family. While he grew up in Utah, he loves the climate of the North Olympic Peninsula Coast, and you will find him playing in the mountains, on the coast, or maybe snuggling in front of a fire.

Liz O'Hara

Preschool Teacher

Liz O'Hara

Preschool Teacher

Liz recently relocated from the east coast where she was an art teacher for twenty-one years. She has one Masters degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a second from the NYU Steinhardt School of Education.

Liz is thrilled to be part the Magnolia team! She loves the magic that happens when children come together with excitement and curiosity. Outside of her time at school, she enjoys exploring her passion for art and spending time outdoors with her family.

William Hutcheson

Campus Mentor

William Hutcheson

Campus Mentor

William has been a beloved campus director at Magnolia since 2020 and continues to steward his Silverwood Campus classes while mentoring new site directors. He graduated from Olympic College in 2008 with a degree in Arts and Science with a special interest in both geology and biology. He started martial arts when he was young and eventually found a passion for it which led to becoming both a martial arts and fitness instructor for 15 years, helping guide children as young as two in developing important social, behavioral, and character development skills. It has been one of the most influential parts of his life growing up and he jumped at the opportunity to teach kids and fulfill the role of a mentor and fellow student.

A visit to his old elementary school helped him discover that it was time for a change of pace, which led him to Magnolia Forest Preschool, where he has been given a new opportunity to influence children in a different way, becoming a source of comfort and a guide for when they need him as well as a fellow student learning alongside them.

He believes in a hands-on learning approach and feels that there is no bigger motivation in learning than through having fun and making positive experiences, helping equip children with fundamental skills, and facilitating the time and space to practice those skills so that they can carry them for life.  As a father and husband, William has been a member of our local Poulsbo community for many years.

Brandyn Boyd

Founder & Exeuctive Director of Finance & Operations

Brandyn Boyd

Founder & Exeuctive Director of Finance & Operations

Brandyn earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Grove City College, with a concentration in math and science. She taught high school science (i.e. biology, chemistry, physics and physical science) and loves to inspire children to revel in the intricacies of nature. She holds a master's degree from the University of Washington in Library and Information Science. She is passionate about empowering Magnolia staff through knowledge creation and management strategies so that many children can experience the transformative power of play-based forest school learning.

Brandyn believes that all children are innately artists, initiators of originality, and is dedicated to fostering this in their very first experiences at school. She has an extensive background in early childhood dance education and was the Artistic Director at Aspire Academy of Expressive Arts in Sequim prior to moving to Kitsap County. When inspiring children to dance, sing, and make music in forest school, she draws on her certification in American Ballet Theatre’s® National Training Curriculum, Music Together™, and the Brain Dance Method.

Brandyn is the mother of three children, ages 18, 15, and 13. She is championed by her husband of 21 years, a well-loved high school teacher in Kingston.

Find Magnolia Forest School Near You!

At unique campuses across the Puget Sound Region in Washington, Magnolia children learn rain and shine. Preschool (ages 2.5-5) and Waldkinder (ages 5-8) programs meet September through June. We welcome lots of new friends at our summer camps, too!

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“In the safety and freedom of the woods, [my child’s] little voice started asking for things she needed – and getting those needs met. Through climbing, exploring the natural world around her, her confidence grew. Magnolia’s style makes room for that.”
“One of the biggest leaps has been [my child’s] ability to communicate her emotions. Instead of endless tantrums or guessing games, [my child] has been able to clearly tell me what she’s feeling. Being able to identify a feeling is one of the first steps to working through it for her. This is a big deal in our everyday life, and I believe it’s truly added to her life in a dynamic manner. At Magnolia, I know I have a group of other caring adults in her life to help her learn to trust herself and others, during those difficult life moments.”
“ We look forward to the year, as well as the adventures of the K-8th program to follow. I want [my child] to continue to grow and learn to trust herself and grow into a confident child, and eventually young woman, with respect for life, others and the world around her. Those values are echoed by this school as well. Having the freedom to be 100% herself in a safe environment as she discovers who she is priceless.”
“Now, as a first time parent, I’ll admit, I had my doubts when it came to the theory behind child-lead learning, but I’m now sold on it. The confidence gained by learning to climb a rock transfers over to facing new learning milestones, like counting. [My child’s] imagination is free to expand with simple tools and toys, friends, fresh air, and the occasional snow ball. Imagination is the mother of invention. [My child] knows School is a safe place to make mistakes, explore, and grow.”
“I cannot say enough how much my child has grown since school started in September! She went from crying at drop off and clinging to a teacher, to confidently walking to a teacher at the start of a school day and strutting back at pick up.”
“[My child] has great stamina! Before Magnolia she wouldn’t walk very far and now she is able to hike up to 3 miles! She also has a longer attention span. She will stick with a task for 45 min or an hour. Again, before school she would flit from activity to activity.”

I'm interested in enrollment

We're so glad you're interested in enrolling your child at Magnolia! Families often have lots of questions, and we're here to help. Complete the interest form below, so we can support you in your journey toward forest school. You can also directly contact our office: info@magnoliaforestpreschool.com.

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Have a question?

We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Forest school can be the perfect fit for so many children because it is uniquely tailored to support their strengths and interests. We look forward to connecting with you and your child further, and we hope to see you in the forest soon!

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