Join ANFT certified forest therapy guide, Katie Venechuk, to explore the relaxing wellness practice of Shinrin-yoku in the beauty of the winter forest! This special 3-part series will begin with a brief introduction to the background and research of Shinrin-yoku (translated in English as “forest bathing”), how it differs from a hike in the forest, and how it can help enhance our well-being in the darkest months of winter. From there, you’ll be guided in three separate shinrin-yoku experiences over the months of January, February and March to help you relax, tend to your relationship with winter, and explore the beauty of the cold weather season in new ways. As a bonus for this winter programming, each session will also include a luminary lit guided breathing practice to help you cleanse your lungs in the forest after a day inside. We'll close each session with a half hour of time indoors, warming up with an opportunity to visit as a community while sipping a hot wild foraged tea and enjoying a snack. This series is a great opportunity to keep connected to nature throughout winter and enjoy a little fresh air, relaxation, and community connection. We suggest attending the full series if you can – or join us for a taste of the experience at a single session. Come see what nature has to share with you as you slow down, find presence and enjoy winter after dark at BNC!
Event includes hot stone hand warmers for our time outside. Each session will include an hour of time outdoors and a half hour indoors. This event is not a hike and the total distance covered will be less than 1-mile. Be sure to dress warm!
Instructor: Katie Venechuk, founder and program guide at In Your Element Wellness and Certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
Price:
Member: $18
Non-Member: $23
If you register for all 3 sessions of this program (Jan 5, Feb 2, March 2) at once, use code WINTER23 for a $5 discount, making the full 3-part series $49 for members and $64 for non-members.
This program is intended for ages 18 and up. Pre-registration is required due to limited capacity. Online registration will remain open until 12pm the day before the event, unless it is sold out. If you are attempting to pre-register between that time and the start of the event, please contact Visitor Services at 616-735-6240 to find out if there is space available and to register over the phone. Please contact our Community Programs Coordinator, Camilla Voelker, at registrar@blandfordnaturecenter.org with further questions.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation and refunds for any of the three sessions will result in forfeiture of this discount. No registration transfers will be allowed after the discount is applied. Notice must be received at least 7 business days before the scheduled program to receive a 75% refund. Due to processing fees, full refunds are not available. There will be no refunds issued within 7 days of the program, and transferring your registration to a future class within the series, if you did not sign up for all three sessions, may not be available and is not guaranteed. All Community Programs will be held unless there is severe weather, in which case you will receive a full registration refund. Please come prepared for the elements as refunds are not available for weather-related conditions except in the case of severe weather and you have been contacted that the program has been cancelled.
All Community Programs have a registrant minimum. If the minimum is not met, you will be contacted by Blandford Nature Center and notified of your refund options.
Please Note: This program will take place mainly outdoors. In the event of severe weather, this program will be canceled, and participants will be notified of their refund options and/or a possible makeup date.
COVID-19 Information: As of January 1, 2023, face coverings are not required while participating in programs indoors or outdoors at Blandford. Blandford will continue to monitor local COVID rates and reserves the right to reinstate masking requirements for staff, general visitors, and program participants of all ages, regardless of vaccination status, if community health concerns arise. Blandford will notify program participants if this policy changes before a scheduled program takes place. Participants should not attend a program if they show any signs of infectious illness, including cough, fever, headache, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea.
