The Sierra Club is excited to host a lands conservation "Forest Bathing" outing at this recently conserved and accessible North Branch Cascades trail. This land was recently conserved by the Vermont River Conservancy.

As part of our new land conservation and outings campaign, the Sierra Club is celebrating newly conserved land by hosting accessible outings. We will be walking slowly and less than a mile on flat terrain, so it is accessible.

Join us for this first one at the recently created North Branch Cascades Trail.

Please Register ASAP for each forest bathing activity has a limit on how many can attend. The rain and inclement weather date is March 24. Email robb.kidd@sierraclub
Register here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7013q000002IJbtAAG

What is Forest Bathing?

This style of Forest Bathing involves a deeply immersive and guided forest experience designed to help participants slow down and open to a state of true receptivity to the world around us. Through facilitated centering exercises, uncommon invitations, and group sharing, participants will be able to connect with and experience the forest in a way that is rich and unique compared to how most of us normally interact with the woods. This practice allows us to experience deep rest, relaxation, presence, and receptivity, allowing the forest to open our minds and hearts and infuse us with both healing energy and medicinal compounds. This practice allows us to connect with the forest, a community of nature lovers, and ourselves- all in one sitting!

What to expect: This guided experience will last about two hours. It will consist of a welcome circle, grounding exercises, a series of interactive invitations, and a closing circle. After each invitation (followed by an open space of between 10 and 20 minutes for personal exploration), there will be a group-sharing opportunity to communicate what we noticed and what our experience was like. This experience is deeply personal and encourages an intimacy with the forest that is nourishing and specific to each participant.

About the Guide: Zach Rissman will be guiding this experience. He has lived in Montpelier for about two years and is on a journey of constant deepening in his reverence for and connection with the Earth. He has spent time as a climate activist, in community development, and, most recently, as a farmer. He trained with the Wildcraft Forest School to lead forest bathing walks and has been leading walks in the community ever since. He is also training to be a meditation teacher and spiritual companion.

May 1, 2024, 7 to 8:30 PM

May 2, 2024, 5 to 6 PM

May 4, 2024, 4:30 to 6:30 PM