This forest bathing program at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens will weave together several activities, including guided meditation, slow guided walking, local sustainably sourced tea, and individual and group activities that connect us with nature through sights, sounds, textures, smells, imagination, and feeling. The guide will provide invitations or prompts for nature connection practices such as new ways to learn about a tree or creating temporary nature art. All of the invitations are adaptable for each person to participate in the way that is best for them. The forest bathing walk will cover less than a mile at a slow pace on paved and unpaved trails. There is no background, experience, or skill level needed for participants.

Our guide for this program is Ilana Rubin, a forest bathing and nature therapy guide trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. Ilana has been guiding forest bathing since 2021 when she founded Kindred Nature to help restore and reconnect health and relationships of and between people and the natural world. She has guided events for diverse groups and for organizations including the US Forest Service, the GW Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. We are excited to add more forest bathing sessions with Ilana at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens as all previous programs have sold out. Please join us and register now while spaces remain.

Program details:

- A $35 program fee includes garden admission.
- A refund is provided only if your space is filled by an individual on the waitlist. Refunds are not provided within 72 hours of the program.
- Please meet at the Visitor Center.
- Please dress to be outdoors in the weather throughout the program. We’ll hold the program rain or shine unless there’s a forecast for extreme/hazardous weather.
- Please bring your own water bottle and any optional snacks you may want to have during the program. Tea and light snacks provided toward the end of the forest bathing program.
- Participants are strongly encouraged to arrive early so that everyone will be present and ready to begin the program on time.
- While forest bathing can be adapted for all ages, this specific program is intended for adults only, supporting a relaxed and mindful experience.
- Participants should be 18 years of age or older.
- If you have any allergies or accommodation requests, please let us know in advance by emailing [email protected].
- Advanced online registration is required. Registration will close two days before the program.

Click here to Register