What Is "Forest Bathing" & Why You Might Want a Guide

Feeling like you are burning the candle at both ends, navigating the chaos of today's world, and just completely worn out? Anyone in your family spending time 'doom-scrolling'? A nature immersion might be calling you to combat all of the stresses and to give you a reset moment.

"Forest Bathing" is a term coined from a Japanese practice - shinrin (forest) - yoku (bathing) that is not what you would expect from a real bathtub of water, but imagine a deep soak in the natural world. There is significant research that supports the benefits of spending time amongst trees including the discovery that humans can absorb the phytoncides that trees emit to help each other which increases our NK cells (natural killer cells). You may already recognize that you feel a bit better after a walk in the park, taking care of your plants, or breathing the fresh air that calls you for that vacation time.

Camp Wonder Wander offers a unique opportunity to spend quality time in the natural world. However, it's very difficult for people to turn off the devices and channel your inner child to go slow without a destination. Most people consider walking practice to have a pace and a purpose such as calisthenics. Hiking has other demands and usually has an end goal of a place or increased heart rate. A naturalist walk focuses on identifying various species which uses a particular part of the brain. A 'forest bathing' experience is the opposite of these, as there is no end goal, fast pace, or identifications you need to worry about.

This is why choosing a certified guide for your first intentional immersion is important. A guide leads you through a series of intentions and even takes away the responsibility of keeping track of time. A guide customizes a walk and interacts with you on a one-on-one basis. A guide helps you go slow.

Previous participants who have channeled the childlike sense of wonder and embraced the feeling of wander on a guided walk with Val at Camp Wonder Wander have commented that they feel calmer, that they have never had such a deep connection with the land when they go on walks or hikes, and that they often have an unexpected personal moment or memory.

The uniqueness of this location offers the forest habitat, meadows, and even a quiet time on the rocks of the Buffalo River. Engaging all of our senses while the phone is in proverbial airplane mode can be just the right recipe for a reset. This time, maybe you choose the go-slow vacation rather than the intensity of one with lots of activities and chaos.