Forest & Nature Therapy walks with Kelly Hutchison, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island & the Gulf Islands of BC.
All images are copyright protected by Dave Hutchison Photography. For image use requests please contact Dave through his website.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island & the Gulf Islands of BC.
All images are copyright protected by Dave Hutchison Photography. For image use requests please contact Dave through his website.
3 Day Forest & Nature Therapy Retreat in Port Renfrew
(West Coast Vancouver Island, BC)
See more information & online booking below—scroll to bottom of page
SOLD OUT
Join me, and my husband Dave Hutchison, Professional Landscape & Wildlife Photographer, for a 3 day and 2-night forest bathing immersion weekend on the beautiful west coast of Vancouver Island in Port Renfrew, July 19-21, 2024. We will be overnighting at the Anglers Retreat, and forest bathing at Botany Bay, Botanical Beach, an old growth forest and spending time with Big Lonely Doug. July is a great month to relax, get away from day-to-day life, and to retreat into nature. The days are warm and long and perfect for early morning sunrise or evening sunset walks, and the forest is lush and green with old growth moss covered trees, including Western redcedars, Sitka spruce, Hemlock, and Arbutus.
When my husband brought me to this area for the first time, I knew that I was in love with the landscape, and that I wanted to spend more time here. The air is fresh, the trees and forest are welcoming, the sound of the ocean waves is powerful yet calming, and exploring the beaches and tide pools is never ending, and reminiscent of my childhood days, as there is so much to see and touch. Immersing all my senses in this beautiful landscape through the practice of forest therapy has been a soulful healing experience, and I would love to share it with you!
Research shows that spending just two hours a week breathing in the forest has profound benefits on our well-being. Some benefits include reducing stress and anxiety, strengthening immunity, lowering blood pressure, improving cognitive abilities, and increasing creativity. In one study conducted by Dr. Qing Li, Chairman of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine, the Effect of Forest Bathing Trips on Human Immune Function, it was discovered that spending 3-days, and 2-nights in a forest area and forest bathing, increased human immune function for more than 30 days after the trip. Suggesting that if one participated in a weekend forest bathing trip once per month, that it resulted in increased immune function and other healing benefits.
The health benefits come from breathing in the trees natural chemicals called phytoncides (wood essential oils) as well as the higher concentrations of oxygen that are found naturally in the forest. In Dr. Qing Li's book Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness, Dr. Li explains that phytoncides are higher in evergreens like pine, cedars, spruces, and that conifer trees in general, are the largest producers of these healing oils. Phytoncides are also more bountiful during the warmer months, with the concentration being highest at 30 degrees Celsius. With the summer weather, and abundance of evergreen trees on Vancouver Island’s west coast, this makes July the perfect month for a weekend forest bathing/therapy experience!
Join myself, Kelly Hutchison, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide & my husband, Dave Hutchison, Professional Landscape & Wildlife Photographer for a mindful immersion in nature, on the beautiful west coast of Vancouver Island, BC. I will be guiding daily forest and nature therapy walks on the magical beaches of Botany Bay and Botanical Beach, and through the trails of old growth forests in the area. I also hold Remote & Wilderness First Aid and CPR Level C, through Red Cross. Dave will be supporting us through extensive knowledge of the Port Renfrew area and landscape, and documenting our weekend through beautiful imagery that he will share with those that are interested. I have created a basic itinerary below; however, this may change slightly as Dave, and I will be scouting the area in early March and again in early Summer. Registration limited to eight participants. Please contact me with any questions that you may have. See below for more information.
When my husband brought me to this area for the first time, I knew that I was in love with the landscape, and that I wanted to spend more time here. The air is fresh, the trees and forest are welcoming, the sound of the ocean waves is powerful yet calming, and exploring the beaches and tide pools is never ending, and reminiscent of my childhood days, as there is so much to see and touch. Immersing all my senses in this beautiful landscape through the practice of forest therapy has been a soulful healing experience, and I would love to share it with you!
Research shows that spending just two hours a week breathing in the forest has profound benefits on our well-being. Some benefits include reducing stress and anxiety, strengthening immunity, lowering blood pressure, improving cognitive abilities, and increasing creativity. In one study conducted by Dr. Qing Li, Chairman of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine, the Effect of Forest Bathing Trips on Human Immune Function, it was discovered that spending 3-days, and 2-nights in a forest area and forest bathing, increased human immune function for more than 30 days after the trip. Suggesting that if one participated in a weekend forest bathing trip once per month, that it resulted in increased immune function and other healing benefits.
The health benefits come from breathing in the trees natural chemicals called phytoncides (wood essential oils) as well as the higher concentrations of oxygen that are found naturally in the forest. In Dr. Qing Li's book Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness, Dr. Li explains that phytoncides are higher in evergreens like pine, cedars, spruces, and that conifer trees in general, are the largest producers of these healing oils. Phytoncides are also more bountiful during the warmer months, with the concentration being highest at 30 degrees Celsius. With the summer weather, and abundance of evergreen trees on Vancouver Island’s west coast, this makes July the perfect month for a weekend forest bathing/therapy experience!
Join myself, Kelly Hutchison, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide & my husband, Dave Hutchison, Professional Landscape & Wildlife Photographer for a mindful immersion in nature, on the beautiful west coast of Vancouver Island, BC. I will be guiding daily forest and nature therapy walks on the magical beaches of Botany Bay and Botanical Beach, and through the trails of old growth forests in the area. I also hold Remote & Wilderness First Aid and CPR Level C, through Red Cross. Dave will be supporting us through extensive knowledge of the Port Renfrew area and landscape, and documenting our weekend through beautiful imagery that he will share with those that are interested. I have created a basic itinerary below; however, this may change slightly as Dave, and I will be scouting the area in early March and again in early Summer. Registration limited to eight participants. Please contact me with any questions that you may have. See below for more information.
Botany Bay & Botanical Beach, Vancouver Island, BC
Old growth forest trails, Port Renfrew area, Vancouver Island, BC
Where: Anglers Retreat, Port Renfrew, BC Canada
(Google maps)
When: Date: July 19-21, 2024
Time: Friday 1PM to Sunday 3PM
Who: Able bodied persons comfortable with moderate level of walking.
Limited to 8 participants ONLY
Cost: $895 CDN + 5 % GST tax
(based on shared accommodations)
Deadline to Register is July 1, 2024
Your Hosts:
Kelly Hutchison (Kiss), ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide
Dave Hutchison, Professional Nature & Wildlife Photographer
What is Included:
~2 nights lodgings in Port Renfrew at the Anglers Retreat (Fri-Sun)
~Friday afternoon (starting at 1pm), introduction to forest therapy, meet and greet and
guided afternoon walk at Botany Bay
~Saturday (starting at 8am), morning guided walk through an old growth forest—afternoon meeting Big Lonely Doug—evening a full moon sit spot.
~Sunday (starting at 7:30am) morning guided beach walk at Botanical Beach,
afternoon guided forest walk from Botanical Beach to Botany Bay (we will finish around 3pm)
(it is not mandatory to participate in all walks)
What is Not Included:
- meals (there is a full kitchen at the lodge, local market, and a few restaurants
- medical and travel insurance (if applicable)
- transportation to and from Port Renfrew
- accommodations before and after the workshop (if you arrive early or stay later)
Cancellation Policy
- Retreat is held rain or shine.
- no refunds for inclement weather.
- no refunds for the retreat unless your spot can be filled, then refund given less a $100 + GST admin is charged.
- There are no refunds for any other reasons. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended for your retreat fee.
- Please call your travel insurance representative if you wish to insure your retreat fee (i.e. BCAA).
- liability waiver for each participant must be signed prior to retreat start.
- full refund given if I am not able to run the retreat (sick, injured, etc.).
(Google maps)
When: Date: July 19-21, 2024
Time: Friday 1PM to Sunday 3PM
Who: Able bodied persons comfortable with moderate level of walking.
Limited to 8 participants ONLY
Cost: $895 CDN + 5 % GST tax
(based on shared accommodations)
Deadline to Register is July 1, 2024
Your Hosts:
Kelly Hutchison (Kiss), ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide
Dave Hutchison, Professional Nature & Wildlife Photographer
What is Included:
~2 nights lodgings in Port Renfrew at the Anglers Retreat (Fri-Sun)
~Friday afternoon (starting at 1pm), introduction to forest therapy, meet and greet and
guided afternoon walk at Botany Bay
~Saturday (starting at 8am), morning guided walk through an old growth forest—afternoon meeting Big Lonely Doug—evening a full moon sit spot.
~Sunday (starting at 7:30am) morning guided beach walk at Botanical Beach,
afternoon guided forest walk from Botanical Beach to Botany Bay (we will finish around 3pm)
(it is not mandatory to participate in all walks)
What is Not Included:
- meals (there is a full kitchen at the lodge, local market, and a few restaurants
- medical and travel insurance (if applicable)
- transportation to and from Port Renfrew
- accommodations before and after the workshop (if you arrive early or stay later)
Cancellation Policy
- Retreat is held rain or shine.
- no refunds for inclement weather.
- no refunds for the retreat unless your spot can be filled, then refund given less a $100 + GST admin is charged.
- There are no refunds for any other reasons. Trip cancellation insurance is recommended for your retreat fee.
- Please call your travel insurance representative if you wish to insure your retreat fee (i.e. BCAA).
- liability waiver for each participant must be signed prior to retreat start.
- full refund given if I am not able to run the retreat (sick, injured, etc.).
Botany Bay & Botanical Beach, Vancouver Island, BC Canada
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Early morning, Cattle Point, Victoria, BC Photo: Kelly Hutchison.
I would like to honour and acknowledge that Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands is the traditional land
and unceded territory of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations peoples.
I am grateful to live, work and play in this beautiful place.
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All photographs are the sole property of Kelly Hutchison and/or Dave Hutchison Photography (where noted) and are held under copyright. The images and contents of this website may not be copied, collected, or used for personal or professional gain without express written permission from Salish Sea Nature Connections, www.salishseaforesttherapy.ca
Copyright ©2025
Copyright ©2025