Forest Therapy Groups for Nonprofit organizations
(or friends & family groups)

Greetings!

These sessions are designed just for you! I tailor each to fit your people, by selecting supportive activities based on the land, the weather, and your needs.

Forest Therapy Sessions (Forest Bathing Experiences) have invitations that help you explore multiple relationships through mindfulness and bodyfulness. They can be fun and uplifting, and/or deeply touching and rejuvenating.

2- 2.5 hour can include:

20 minute guided meditation
slow, sensory activities to explore biodiversity & connection
listening circles to share and be heard
medicinal tea that I locally harvest.

This sequence has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and more!

See a simple list of health benefits here.

See Stress Reduction Theory and Attention Restoration Theory here. See more about my approach to powerful nature therapy here.

Non-profit goals can include:

Team building
Prevent burn out
Increase clarity and focus

This is an amazing way to feel alive and get to know each other and the land better!

Read the info below, then Contact Me

with your theme, location request, possible dates, and number of people. We’ll have a 15 minute phone call to iron out details, and voila!

~Shannon Gorres, MDiv, MA, ANFT Certified Guide

journey to new life forest bathing group

Pick a Theme

Celebrating? Grieving? Family reunion? Just need to de-stress, restore, or relax?

Let me know what your intentions are, and I’ll attune to them.

Some themes people request are:

“Team Trust Building”

“Stress Reduction and Attention Restoration”

“Bonding and releasing as Daughter moves to college”

“70th Birthday of a life-long gardener”

“Blessingway (ritual before giving birth)”

“Engagement Commitment Celebration”

I've led group sessions for the Kansas City Schlagle Nature Library, City of Lawrence Park and Rec, Willow Domestic Violence, The Resilient Activist of Kansas City, Journey to New Life Kansas City, Ernie Miller Nature Center in Olathe, Wildwood Center KC, Creighton University Omaha, and more.

Choose Location

You can choose from the following locations:

~Divine Nature Sanctuary, (10 minutes north of downtown Lawrence, with prairie, ponds, and woods). It’s rustic, with mowed paths and an outhouse, and more quiet.

~Hidden Valley Camp (40 acres of private wooded and prairie land inside West Lawrence. This site is an additional $30). It has groomed trails, picnic tables, and latrines.

~Your own private land. I travel within Douglas County for no extra cost. If further, a small travel time fee is added ($1/minute from Lawrence).

~You are in your location (your backyard, nearby park, your yard), while I’m at mine, and I guide you remotely (via Zoom). It actually works really well!

Each person's experience is unique, no matter the location. Various thoughts and feelings are welcome, and I’ll hold space for individual experiences within the whole group. There is no expectation of being a certain way, other than following safety rules. :)

Payment

1-5 people $200

6-9 people $250

10-15 people $300

I’m happy to support larger nonprofit or private groups, please contact me.

Non-profits: if you can provide preparation and an assistant to me, I can guide up to 20 people at the $300 level pricing.

Payment is due at time of booking.

Prepare

How can I describe Forest Therapy to my employees/family/friends?

“Heart-based Relational Forest Therapy™ focuses on rebuilding relationships with the More-Than-Human World as a foundation for healing people and the planet.

Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, ‘forest bathing.’ Studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and improving mood and cognition.

We build on those benefits and look beyond, to what happens when people remember that we are a part of nature, not separate from it, and are related to all other beings in fundamental ways."

~Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (you can see the science at Research | Association of Nature and Forest Therapy)

Weather

There’s all sorts of wonderful kinds of weather to Forest Bathe in! If approached with an open mind, exploring in unusual weather can be fun or heart opening! Unless it is unsafe to be outside (lightning, dangerous heat index, or wind chill below freezing), I will keep our agreed upon date. If the weather is totally unmanageable for you, you have the option to defer once by contacting me at least 2 days ahead of time to pick a new date within a 2 week period (from the option/s I have available). Or I can guide you in an indoor or virtual session that day (helping you experience therapeutic interbeing with plants in your home, building, or yard), and/or you can elect to purchase a new in-person session.

Dress in layers and pack extra warm gear if it’s winter. Since we are moving slow and not hiking, it will likely feel cooler than you’re used to. If it’s rainy or muddy, consider clothes and shoes/boots that can get wet and dirty, and wear layers. Bring a separate pair of shoes/socks for the drive home, and a plastic bag to put dirty items into for the car ride. Bring an umbrella and/or raincoat.

If it’s hot, bring an umbrella or choose shady spots to sit. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Wear breathable, thin long sleeves to keep direct sun rays off your skin. Bring extra water with ice in it. Bring a washcloth and a bag of ice water to dip the cloth in, then put around your neck. Feel free to wet your hat or neck bandana as well, as the evaporation will cool you.

Children

It’s 99% best if a session is either just for adults, or planned to be child-based (which is playful and fun, and less meditative/deep/restorative). I've found that the noises of young children do not allow most adults to center, and most young kids can't easily be silent and still for the 20 minute beginning meditation. Of course, many children naturally know how to play, so sessions specifically for young children are amazing, with shorter fun activities, and centered on kids' needs.

Feedback by a Sustainability Leader

"We are so grateful that Shannon was able to facilitate such a wonderful experience in the forest. Every participant was actively engaged and enthralled by the program. Shannon's wisdom and calming nature will have a positive impact on all who participated for a long time." ~Heather Pearson, Naturalist Educator, Fontenelle Forest, Omaha

Contact Me

with any questions, or with your theme idea, location request, some possible dates, and number of people. We’ll schedule a 15 minute phone call to iron out details, and I’ll email you the final plan.