This is a forest bathing walk where children and youth are encouraged to take the lead!
tickets: $50 members $60 non-members
Sun, February 5, 2023, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM PST
About this event
Youth and children are encouraged to take the lead during this family-friendly forest bathing experience.
We will have a slow meander in the woods, intended to allow for a deep and meaningful connection with the natural world. Through a series of gentle invitations, everyone is encouraged to slow down and experience and engage with the natural world through their senses. We will explore aspects of light and dark , shadows and light and we will engage with the more than-human world in away that deepens our connection with the trees and with each other.
Children and Youth ages 5-17 are welcome with an adult chaperone.
Forest Bathing is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which can be loosely translated to “taking in the medicine of the forest”.
This practice was established in the 1980s in Japan as a direct response to declining health in the population. The healing energies of the natural world have been known for centuries. Forest bathing is a simple yet powerful way for us to remember, and tap into these healing powers that are readily available to all of us.
The positive impact of spending time in nature has been studied worldwide for decades. Research shows that people who practice Forest Bathing experience relief from anxiety and depression, a deeper sense of mental relaxation, better sleep, and an increased feeling of gratitude and overall sense of well-being. Forest Bathing also lowers blood pressure and heart rate, elevates NK cancer-fighting cells in the body, and strengthens the immune system.
During this Forest Bathing walk, I will offer a set of carefully crafted invitations to encourage slowing down and experiencing the more-than-human world in a variety of possible new ways and through our senses. We will be covering less than a mile of distance and we will mostly be in silence. There will be brief periods of sharing and a tea ceremony towards the end with time for reflection and discussion.
You won’t need to bring much for our time together and you can keep your lunch, camera, and binoculars in your car.
Weather conditions can change quickly in the park and you want to be able to stay warm and dry during our times of stillness in the forest. You can carry a light pack with warm layers as well as a snack to enjoy towards the end of our time together. You can also bring a light stool or small mat to sit on the forest floor more comfortably.
Joey Heusler is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy guides and programs (ANFT). Joey’s passion is bringing people of all ages into a place of stillness where a connection with the natural world can be made from that deeper place. She guides Forest Bathing walks in Marin County and beyond.
Questions? Contact the PRNSA Field Institute fieldinstitute@ptreyes.org.