Description

Relax by Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ calming lakes with a restorative morning of nature therapy (forest bathing). During this peaceful morning, we’ll slow down with sensory invitations to reconnect with ourselves and nature by garden lakes and ponds thriving with fish, turtles, dragonflies. Led by certified nature therapy guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature, this guided experience includes mindful slow walking, quiet seated reflection, facilitated sharing, and tea.

What to Expect

Enjoy the gardens, slow down, awaken your senses, and share in a community-of-the-morning. Nature therapy (forest bathing) invites us to reconnect with nature—and our own inner nature—supporting wellness, stress relief, creativity, focus, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, nature therapy offers mindful and sensory nature connection invitations that can help us rediscover our sense of belonging within the natural world and community.

We'll move gently—up to 1 mile on varied terrain—with every invitation adaptable. No experience needed; just bring your curiosity and presence.

Meet Your Guide

Ilana Rubin (she/her), MPA, Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, Facilitator, and Founder of Kindred Nature will share her warmth and expertise as she guides this restorative experience. Trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, Ilana founded Kindred Nature in 2021 to replenish inner radiance, resilience, and belonging with nature and community through empowering and restorative experiences. Visit Kindred Nature to learn more.

Join Us!

? Registration: $35 per participant (ages 18+). All attendees are considered participants and require registration. Advance online registration required.

? Welcome: All adults are warmly invited - no previous experience or background needed.

? Arrival: We’ll meet at the Visitor Center and start check in 15 minutes before the program start time. Please give yourself this time to arrive 10-15 minutes early so we can begin together.

? Bring: A water bottle.

? Wear: Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes for outdoors.

? Weather: Programs run rain or shine unless conditions are hazardous.

? Requests: For dietary allergies or accommodation needs, please contact Ilana at kindrednatureguide@gmail.com.

Location

9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA