Forest & Nature Therapy walks with Kelly Kiss & Peter Hehl, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guides.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Salt Spring Island, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, BC.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Salt Spring Island, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, BC.
**Group walks outdoors (of up to 10 people) are permitted with physical distancing.
We also offer walks to private groups, couples and families.
As Forest Therapy is practiced outdoors, it is a “Covid-safe” wellness activity,
and helps to strengthen ones own immune system.
Please contact us if interested.
We also offer walks to private groups, couples and families.
As Forest Therapy is practiced outdoors, it is a “Covid-safe” wellness activity,
and helps to strengthen ones own immune system.
Please contact us if interested.
Upcoming Forest Therapy Walks
Sunday afternoon walks at Burgoyne Bay
Sunday afternoons, 1-3:30pm
June 6, 13, 20, 27
July 4, 11, 18,25
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park
Maximum 8 participants
Self Investment: $25 per session
To encourage regular participation during these challengeing times, we are offering these walks for a discounted fee (regular $40 per walk).
Come and receive the benefits of a guided forest therapy experience with ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guides Kelly Kiss & Peter Hehl at beautiful Burgoyne Bay provincial park on Salt Spring Island.
If you would like to deepen your connection to yourself, want more energy, better health, creative inspiration in your life, or perhaps struggle with chronic stress, anxiety or depression, the regular practice of forest therapy can support you.
Spending quiet, thoughtful time in the forest feels in many ways, like coming home to a peaceful place inside 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, rather it's about slowing down, and using your senses to mindfully notice and connect with the natural world, and yourself.
Meeting on Sundays beginning in June, we will bring together the healing benefits of the forest and group support, to deepen our connection with ourselves, our health, our community and nature.
We invite you take time away from your busy schedules of family and work, for self care and reflection. During each walk you will be given different invitations to help you to slow down, and perhaps connect with nature and yourself in a way you have not experienced before.
Each walk is 2.5 hours and includes a series of different invitations to open-up your senses and become deeply immersed in your surroundings.
We will conclude our walks with a tea ceremony (featuring tea made with local plants) and snacks. Due to covid restrictions, we ask that you bring your own snacks and hot water for tea.
Perhaps come to each walk with an intention of what you would like to receive, or just be open to being given whatever the forest and nature has to offer you.
Please register early as only 8 participants are permitted. Please contact us to register, for directions on where we will meet within the park, and to make payment. Please pay prior to the walk via paypal or etransfer.
Sunday afternoons, 1-3:30pm
June 6, 13, 20, 27
July 4, 11, 18,25
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park
Maximum 8 participants
Self Investment: $25 per session
To encourage regular participation during these challengeing times, we are offering these walks for a discounted fee (regular $40 per walk).
Come and receive the benefits of a guided forest therapy experience with ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guides Kelly Kiss & Peter Hehl at beautiful Burgoyne Bay provincial park on Salt Spring Island.
If you would like to deepen your connection to yourself, want more energy, better health, creative inspiration in your life, or perhaps struggle with chronic stress, anxiety or depression, the regular practice of forest therapy can support you.
Spending quiet, thoughtful time in the forest feels in many ways, like coming home to a peaceful place inside 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, rather it's about slowing down, and using your senses to mindfully notice and connect with the natural world, and yourself.
Meeting on Sundays beginning in June, we will bring together the healing benefits of the forest and group support, to deepen our connection with ourselves, our health, our community and nature.
We invite you take time away from your busy schedules of family and work, for self care and reflection. During each walk you will be given different invitations to help you to slow down, and perhaps connect with nature and yourself in a way you have not experienced before.
Each walk is 2.5 hours and includes a series of different invitations to open-up your senses and become deeply immersed in your surroundings.
We will conclude our walks with a tea ceremony (featuring tea made with local plants) and snacks. Due to covid restrictions, we ask that you bring your own snacks and hot water for tea.
Perhaps come to each walk with an intention of what you would like to receive, or just be open to being given whatever the forest and nature has to offer you.
Please register early as only 8 participants are permitted. Please contact us to register, for directions on where we will meet within the park, and to make payment. Please pay prior to the walk via paypal or etransfer.
The Gardens at HCP, Victoria, BC
Ongoing Forest Therapy Walks at HCP
Horticultural Centre of the Pacific,
505 Quayle Rd Victoria, BC
These walks are be held at the beautiful botanical gardens at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, located just a short drive from downtown Victoria. Each walk will feature a different garden. Find out more about the gardens here.
Wednesday’s: June 30, July 28, August 25, September 29, October 27, 2021 1:30-4pm (2.5 hours)
Saturday’s: June 19, July 17, August 14, September 18, October 16, 2021 1;30-4pm (2.5hours)
Self investment, $45
Currently there is a maximum of 10 participants to ensure physical distancing requirements.
Please register early if you would like to participate.
Each walk we will explore a different garden within the beautiful grounds of HCP. Please contact the HCP directly to register.
Please dress for the weather. In the summer months a hat and sunscreen is recommended, as well as a light jacket as the forested areas can still be cool even in warm weather. For your comfort, please also wear appropriate foot wear. In the colder months gloves, hats, scarves, rain wear and warm footwear are all highly recommended. You may also want a water bottle and a small mat or towel to sit on.
Ongoing Forest Therapy Walks at HCP
Horticultural Centre of the Pacific,
505 Quayle Rd Victoria, BC
These walks are be held at the beautiful botanical gardens at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, located just a short drive from downtown Victoria. Each walk will feature a different garden. Find out more about the gardens here.
Wednesday’s: June 30, July 28, August 25, September 29, October 27, 2021 1:30-4pm (2.5 hours)
Saturday’s: June 19, July 17, August 14, September 18, October 16, 2021 1;30-4pm (2.5hours)
Self investment, $45
Currently there is a maximum of 10 participants to ensure physical distancing requirements.
Please register early if you would like to participate.
Each walk we will explore a different garden within the beautiful grounds of HCP. Please contact the HCP directly to register.
Please dress for the weather. In the summer months a hat and sunscreen is recommended, as well as a light jacket as the forested areas can still be cool even in warm weather. For your comfort, please also wear appropriate foot wear. In the colder months gloves, hats, scarves, rain wear and warm footwear are all highly recommended. You may also want a water bottle and a small mat or towel to sit on.
The Gardens at HCP, Victoria, BC
To schedule a one-on-one, family, couple, or private group walk, please contact us.
We currently offer scheduled Forest Therapy walks on Salt Spring Island, Victoria and North Saanich, on Vancouver Island. However, we are able to create a unique forest therapy walk anywhere in nature, and would be delighted to design a personal experience for private groups for retreats, couples or families. Private individual or couple walks are currently only available on Salt Spring Island.
Experience Forest bathing at Ruckle Provincial Park or Burgoyne Bay Provincial park on Salt Spring Island. Ruckle is one of the most beautiful parks in BC, overlooking the Southern Gulf Islands and Salish Sea. Located within the oldest working farm in BC, amongst a west coast Rainforest, it features magnificent old growth trees, beautiful ocean views, eagles, herons, seals and many other nature beings. Visit the many farm stands and artisans on your way to the park!
Burgoyne Bay Park is located on the west side of Salt Spring Island and is adjacent to Mount Maxwell Park and Mount Maxwell Ecological Reserve. It is abundant in hiking trails with beautiful old growth Cedars, Douglas Fir and Garry Oaks, rocky shorelines with magnificent ocean views, and open grasslands abundant in native Rosehip and Hawthorn trees.
We also occasionally offer group walks at Coles Bay park in North Saanich. This quiet, small park is located just outside of Victoria, between Brentwood Bay and Deep Cove in North Saanich. Walk a short distance through a canopy of native Douglas Fir, Cedar, Black Hawthorn, and Arbutus trees to Coles Bay, and enjoy beautiful views of the Saanich Inlet!
Or come join us in Victoria at the beautiful botanical gardens at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, located just a short drive from downtown Victoria.
We currently offer scheduled Forest Therapy walks on Salt Spring Island, Victoria and North Saanich, on Vancouver Island. However, we are able to create a unique forest therapy walk anywhere in nature, and would be delighted to design a personal experience for private groups for retreats, couples or families. Private individual or couple walks are currently only available on Salt Spring Island.
Experience Forest bathing at Ruckle Provincial Park or Burgoyne Bay Provincial park on Salt Spring Island. Ruckle is one of the most beautiful parks in BC, overlooking the Southern Gulf Islands and Salish Sea. Located within the oldest working farm in BC, amongst a west coast Rainforest, it features magnificent old growth trees, beautiful ocean views, eagles, herons, seals and many other nature beings. Visit the many farm stands and artisans on your way to the park!
Burgoyne Bay Park is located on the west side of Salt Spring Island and is adjacent to Mount Maxwell Park and Mount Maxwell Ecological Reserve. It is abundant in hiking trails with beautiful old growth Cedars, Douglas Fir and Garry Oaks, rocky shorelines with magnificent ocean views, and open grasslands abundant in native Rosehip and Hawthorn trees.
We also occasionally offer group walks at Coles Bay park in North Saanich. This quiet, small park is located just outside of Victoria, between Brentwood Bay and Deep Cove in North Saanich. Walk a short distance through a canopy of native Douglas Fir, Cedar, Black Hawthorn, and Arbutus trees to Coles Bay, and enjoy beautiful views of the Saanich Inlet!
Or come join us in Victoria at the beautiful botanical gardens at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, located just a short drive from downtown Victoria.
Self Investment for Private Walks
Private group walks: $40 per person (3-9 participants); $35 per person (10-19 participants); $25 per person (20+)
Private single or couple walk (1-2 persons): $120.
Walks are 2.5 to 3 three hours in duration depending on group size.
For those individuals who are interested in a walk but are in need of financial assistance please contact us.
Private group walks: $40 per person (3-9 participants); $35 per person (10-19 participants); $25 per person (20+)
Private single or couple walk (1-2 persons): $120.
Walks are 2.5 to 3 three hours in duration depending on group size.
For those individuals who are interested in a walk but are in need of financial assistance please contact us.
What Happens on a Forest Bathing Walk?
Forest bathing walks are not a naturalist walk or a hike. There is no plant or animal identification, and no agenda. Walks move slowly over a gentle landscape and are usually 1 km or less in length. For this reason the practice of forest therapy is accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities. Walks are typically between two and three hours in length. As guides, we will offer you a series of invitations to open-up your senses and become deeply immersed in your surroundings. Invitations are a method that guides use to help participants find their connection with the natural world and the healing powers of the forest. Guides help participants to slow down, become more mindful and assist in creating a deeper connection with self, others, and nature beings. Your experience will always be personal to you, and invitations are just suggestions to help you interact with the forest in a unique way. All guided forest therapy walks are then concluded with the sharing of tea brewed from local plants, and healthy snacks. This final offering further strengthens our sense of community and connection.
Benefits of Regular Forest Therapy Walks:
Forest bathing walks are not a naturalist walk or a hike. There is no plant or animal identification, and no agenda. Walks move slowly over a gentle landscape and are usually 1 km or less in length. For this reason the practice of forest therapy is accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities. Walks are typically between two and three hours in length. As guides, we will offer you a series of invitations to open-up your senses and become deeply immersed in your surroundings. Invitations are a method that guides use to help participants find their connection with the natural world and the healing powers of the forest. Guides help participants to slow down, become more mindful and assist in creating a deeper connection with self, others, and nature beings. Your experience will always be personal to you, and invitations are just suggestions to help you interact with the forest in a unique way. All guided forest therapy walks are then concluded with the sharing of tea brewed from local plants, and healthy snacks. This final offering further strengthens our sense of community and connection.
Benefits of Regular Forest Therapy Walks:
- Decreases stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels.
- Boosts the immune system by increasing natural killer cells.
- Heightens mood and enhances creativity.
- Improves sleep and increases energy levels.
- Helps you to feel a greater sense of peace and calm.
- Deepens your connection with yourself, others and the natural world around you.
Burgoyone Bay Provincial Park
"Yes, trees are the foundation of forests, but a forest is much more than what you see...Underground there is this other world, a world of infinite biological pathways that connect trees and allow them to communicate and allow the forest to behave as though it's a single organism. It might remind you of a sort of intelligence." `Suzanne Simard, forest ecologist, University of British Columbia. Forest Bathing Retreat, Hannah Fries.
"As you walk through the forest, feel your own body react and respond.
Invite the forest through your senses."
Hannah Fries
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