Join us for this special DONATION BASED event to support Sacramento Splash which is a local non-profit environmental education center that educates our youth and community on this beautiful sensitive habitat.
If you are familiar with this incredibly special ecosystem, this is a wonderful offering for you to dive deeper into this space. If this is a new landscape to you, there is no better way to experience this magical land with a sensory journey on why this land should have advocates to protect it. Experience this landscape like never before as you feel into the More-Than-Human World as it shifts from day to twilight. Appreciate the golden sun upon your skin and hear the sounds of the vernal pool grassland critters. What will you notice?
Through a series of carefully crafted gentle invitations, participants are encouraged to slow down and experience the natural world through their senses.
A Forest Bathing walk is about connecting deeply with the More-Than-Human World and ultimately connecting with the deeper place within.
Forest therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing. In Japanese, “shinrin” means forest and “yoku” means bath, or immersing oneself in the forest and soaking in the atmosphere through the senses, according to Dr. Qing Li, who is the president of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine and one of Japan’s leading forest bathing researchers.
The positive impact of spending time in nature has been studied worldwide and over decades. Research shows that people who practice Forest Bathing experience relief from anxiety and depression, a deeper sense of mental relaxation, have better sleep, and an increased feeling of gratitude and overall sense of well-being. Forest Bathing also lowers blood pressure and heart rate, elevates NK cancer fighting cells in the body and strengthens the immune system.
Monica Mendoza is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy guides and programs (ANFT). Monica’s first visit to this landscape was 11+ years ago when Monica’s oldest daughter had a field trip here. After that moment it became a favorite place of hers and lucky for her, both of her younger daughters’ had field trips there as well. She has spent countless hours here experiencing the various seasons the vernal pools and the grasslands transition through. She has brought out preschool children back when she had her nature club to explore this magical place. Monica’s passion is bringing people of all ages into a place of stillness, where connection with the natural world can be made from that deeper place.
This is a donation based event. You can either Venmo Monica at the event or provide cash. All monies will be donated to Sacramento Splash for the Big Day of Giving.
Due to this being a highly sensitive habitat, the exact location will only be provided to those that register for the event. It is CLOSE to, but NOT located at Sacramento Splash which is in Mather.