Forest & Nature Therapy immersion walks with Kelly Hutchison, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island and the Gulf Islands of BC.

All images are copyright protected by Dave Hutchison Photography.  For image use requests please contact Dave through his website.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir
Experience Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island’s natural beauty while deepening the connection with yourself and nature. The practice of Forest Therapy is an “immersion” into the space of trees, plants and beings of the forest. It is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which means to “bathe in the atmosphere of the forest." This term was originally used by the Japanese government in the 1980's, "to describe the practice of spending time in the woods, to soak up its health benefits." The Japanese have thoroughly researched the positive benefits of spending time in nature and discovered that if practiced regularly, forest bathing can decrease stress, boost immunity, heighten mood, enhance creativity, improve sleep and promote overall peace and calmness in daily life.

Each guided walk includes a series of unique sensory invitations—helping you to slow down, immerse yourself in the natural world and connect with yourself. Walks are generally 1 km or less in length, between two and half to three hours and we move leisurely—making the practice of forest therapy accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities.

Kelly and her husband professional wildlife & nature photographer Dave Hutchison, offer forest bathing experiences and photo tours in various remote locations in the Sooke to Port Renfrew West Coast Corridor on Vancouver Island.  Experience some of British Columbia's oldest forests and trees! Perfect for nature enthusiasts, nature photographers, or those just wanting to have photo memories of their time in nature!  Learn more.

Benefits of Regular Forest Therapy Walks

  • Decrease stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels
  • Boost the immune system by increasing natural killer cells
  • Heighten mood and enhance creativity
  • Improve sleep and increase energy levels​
  • Feel a greater sense of peace and calm
  • Deepen connection with yourself, others and the natural world

​Spending quiet thoughtful time in the forest feels like coming home to a peaceful place inside of your heart. The practice of forest bathing is a mindful “immersion” into the space of trees, plants and the beings of the forest. It's not about getting to a place—it's about slowing down while using your senses to mindfully notice and connect with the natural world and yourself.

Look, touch, feel, smell, listen and taste.  What are you noticing?  

During a guided walk you will be offered a series of “invitations." You are then invited to do what feels comfortable. A Forest Therapy guide holds the space for a deepening of connection, within yourself and with nature.​


​"We all know how good being in nature can make us feel.  We have known it for millennia. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air—these things give us a sense of comfort. 
They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. 
Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us." 
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​~Dr. Qing Li, The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing, how trees can help you find health and happiness.