Forest & nature therapy walks, Sit Spot circle, creative workshops, and nature photography tours with Kelly Hutchison, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide. Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) on Vancouver Island, BC—serving Qualicum Beach, Parksville & Nanaimo.
Vancouver Island
Ocean & Nature Therapy Walks
Guided nature therapy walks along the shores of the Salish Sea, Qualicum Beach
There is a particular kind of stillness that lives at the edge of the sea. The Salish Sea has been my own quiet companion through grief, through change, through the gentle work of returning to myself. It has held me through more than I can name. These walks are my way of sharing what the ocean has so generously offered me—a way of being held, slowed down, and softened by saltwater, sand, and sky.
If you have ever felt yourself exhale at the first glimpse of the shore, this practice is for you.
What to Expect
Each Ocean & Nature Therapy Walk is approximately two hours.
We move slowly along the shore—much more slowly than a typical walk. Together we follow a series of gentle sensory invitations, each one designed to open a different way of being with the natural world: noticing what is in motion, listening to what is near and far, attending to small textures and details we would otherwise pass right by.
We close with a sit spot by the water's edge, followed by a sharing circle in which you are welcome to offer a few words about what arose for you, or to listen. The sunset walk is a slow, guided journey through the golden hour, with sensory invitations along the shore and a sit spot to close. For those who wish to linger, sunset follows at 9:30 pm.
This is a complete practice and a deeper experience than our free Sunday sit spot circles. No previous experience is needed—only a willingness to slow down.
Why "Ocean Therapy"?
Researchers in environmental psychology have a term for places like ours: blue spaces. Time near water has been shown to lower stress, soften anxious thinking, slow the breath, and support a deeper sense of restoration than even green spaces alone.
For me, those findings name what the body already knows. The sea has rhythms older than thought. The breath of the waves teaches our own breath how to slow. The wide horizon teaches the eyes—and through them, the nervous system—how to rest.
These walks are an invitation to receive what the ocean is always offering, with a guide to help you find your way in.
Is This for You?
This walk is for you if you are drawn to the sea, curious about forest and nature therapy, and ready to spend two slow, sensory hours by the water. It is suitable for those new to the practice—and for those who have already attended a Sunday sit spot circle, or a full guided walk in the forest—and wish to go deeper. This is not therapy or medical treatment. It is a gently held practice for restoration, reconnection, and presence—alone, yet together, in the company of the more-than-human world.
What to Bring
Offered by Donation
These walks are offered by donation to make this practice accessible to our community. A suggested contribution of $20 – $40 per person honours my time and care, but please pay whatever feels right and possible for you. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
For those wishing to experience my full guided forest therapy walks in other natural settings around Vancouver Island, please visit my Forest Therapy Walks page.
Upcoming Walks
Thursday, June 18, 2025 · 7:00–9:00 pm Sunset Walk. Surfside East Beach Access (Kinkade Rd to Surfside), Qualicum Beach. Sunset arrives at 9:30 pm. You are welcome to linger after the walk closes. Additional dates will be added as the season unfolds.
To Reserve Your Spot
A simple RSVP (below) helps me prepare for our gathering and lets me reach out to you if anything changes due to the weather.
Questions? Please reach out to me.
I would be honoured to walk with you by the sea.
— Kelly
There is a particular kind of stillness that lives at the edge of the sea. The Salish Sea has been my own quiet companion through grief, through change, through the gentle work of returning to myself. It has held me through more than I can name. These walks are my way of sharing what the ocean has so generously offered me—a way of being held, slowed down, and softened by saltwater, sand, and sky.
If you have ever felt yourself exhale at the first glimpse of the shore, this practice is for you.
What to Expect
Each Ocean & Nature Therapy Walk is approximately two hours.
We move slowly along the shore—much more slowly than a typical walk. Together we follow a series of gentle sensory invitations, each one designed to open a different way of being with the natural world: noticing what is in motion, listening to what is near and far, attending to small textures and details we would otherwise pass right by.
We close with a sit spot by the water's edge, followed by a sharing circle in which you are welcome to offer a few words about what arose for you, or to listen. The sunset walk is a slow, guided journey through the golden hour, with sensory invitations along the shore and a sit spot to close. For those who wish to linger, sunset follows at 9:30 pm.
This is a complete practice and a deeper experience than our free Sunday sit spot circles. No previous experience is needed—only a willingness to slow down.
Why "Ocean Therapy"?
Researchers in environmental psychology have a term for places like ours: blue spaces. Time near water has been shown to lower stress, soften anxious thinking, slow the breath, and support a deeper sense of restoration than even green spaces alone.
For me, those findings name what the body already knows. The sea has rhythms older than thought. The breath of the waves teaches our own breath how to slow. The wide horizon teaches the eyes—and through them, the nervous system—how to rest.
These walks are an invitation to receive what the ocean is always offering, with a guide to help you find your way in.
Is This for You?
This walk is for you if you are drawn to the sea, curious about forest and nature therapy, and ready to spend two slow, sensory hours by the water. It is suitable for those new to the practice—and for those who have already attended a Sunday sit spot circle, or a full guided walk in the forest—and wish to go deeper. This is not therapy or medical treatment. It is a gently held practice for restoration, reconnection, and presence—alone, yet together, in the company of the more-than-human world.
What to Bring
- A blanket or cushion to sit on (I will have a few sit pads on hand)
- Weather-appropriate layers—the shore is often cooler than inland, especially as the day softens
- Water
- Sturdy footwear suitable for sand and uneven ground
- Bug spray, just in case
- Yourself, exactly as you are
Offered by Donation
These walks are offered by donation to make this practice accessible to our community. A suggested contribution of $20 – $40 per person honours my time and care, but please pay whatever feels right and possible for you. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
For those wishing to experience my full guided forest therapy walks in other natural settings around Vancouver Island, please visit my Forest Therapy Walks page.
Upcoming Walks
Thursday, June 18, 2025 · 7:00–9:00 pm Sunset Walk. Surfside East Beach Access (Kinkade Rd to Surfside), Qualicum Beach. Sunset arrives at 9:30 pm. You are welcome to linger after the walk closes. Additional dates will be added as the season unfolds.
To Reserve Your Spot
A simple RSVP (below) helps me prepare for our gathering and lets me reach out to you if anything changes due to the weather.
Questions? Please reach out to me.
I would be honoured to walk with you by the sea.
— Kelly
"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” ~Robert Wyland
"The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration." `Claude Monet
I respectfully acknowledge that Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are the traditional and unceded
territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw Peoples.
I am deeply grateful to the Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as, and Snuneymuxw Nations, on whose lands I walk, guide, and learn.
It is an honour to live, work, and gather here.
territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakwaka’wakw Peoples.
I am deeply grateful to the Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as, and Snuneymuxw Nations, on whose lands I walk, guide, and learn.
It is an honour to live, work, and gather here.
|
|
|
Please note: Forest Therapy is a non-clinical nature-based wellness service, not a substitute for mental health treatment.
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 ©2026
Copyright ©2026