For those feeling a bit nature-starved in our screen-focused times, there's an opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors right at Spring Lake Regional Park. On June 1st, from 2 until 4 PM, a certified guide from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) will be offering a forest bathing session that's bound to make you forget your digital woes for a couple of hours. According to Scott County's announcement, interested attendees do need to register in advance—specifically by two days prior—to secure their spot.
The guide, David Motzenbecker, is no stranger to the practice, which involves intentionally soaking up the surroundings of a forested area with all senses on board. Those attending can expect a series of exercises designed to help them slow down and tune in to the environment around them. While it might seem like just another leisure activity, forest bathing hails from the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-yoku.
What you won't find during this event are your traditional hiking or nature photography sessions. Instead, David’s approach invites participants to focus on the subtler aspects of the forest, from the texture of tree bark to the symphony of bird calls. This connection with nature has been associated with reduced stress, improved mood, and even bolstered immune function—a hot topic for anyone looking to naturally improve their health.
With urban life constantly threatening to overwhelm our senses with an overload of stimuli, forest bathing offers a stark contrast, a chance to deliberately immerse in a less chaotic, more grounded setting.
