Welcome
Nature & Forest Therapy Retreats based on Forest Bathing Practices
Relax, De-stress, & Connect
About Us
Nature & Forest Therapy
Forest Bathing (aka Nature & Forest Therapy) is a wellness practice. At it's core this practice is about slowing down mentally and physically. Forest Bathing half-day retreats draw on the latest developments in the field of nature connection, ancient traditions of mindfulness, stress management, and wellness promotion.
What Happens On A Walk
Nature & Forest Therapy is a practice. It is open-ended; there is no prescription for what a person "should" experience, or what benefits they "should" receive. Instead, it is a practice of developing a deepening relationship of reciprocity, in which the natural world and the practitioner find a way to work together that supports the wholeness and wellness of each. In Nature & Forest Therapy, there is a clearly defined sequence of guided events that provides structure to the experience, while embracing the many opportunities for creativity and serendipity offered by nature and the individual inspiration of each guide.
Lessen Stress and Anxiety
Nature & Forest Therapy is not a naturalist walk, rather, it is a slow meditative walk in nature that takes a holistic view to the physiological, mental, emotional, and psycho-spiritual benefits to be derived from an embodied contact with nature, and aims to engage humans through their senses, not their intellects. Nature & Forest Therapy can be viewed as an effective strategy to maintain and boost immune strength in human beings. The walk takes approximately 2.5 hours and requires no exceptional skill or physical exertion.
Complete Schedule of Public Retreats - March to June 2025
Date, Venue, & Time
Sun March 9 – Reeves Reed Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Summit, NJ
Sat March15 – Willowwood Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Chester, NJ
Sun March 16 – Frelinghuysen Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Morristown, NJ
Sun March 23 – Loyola Jesuit Center 2:00 – 4:30 PM Morristown, NJ
Sun April 6 – Reeves Reed Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Summit, NJ
Sat April 12 – Frelinghuysen Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Morristown, NJ
Sun April 13 – Bamboo Brook 9:30 – Noon Chester, NJ
Sun April 27 – Loyola Jesuit Center 2:00 – 4:30 Morristown, NJ
Fri May 2 – St Marguerite’s Retreat House 9:30 – Noon Mendham, NJ
Sun May 4 – Long Beach Island Foundation 1:00 – 3:30 Loveladies, NJ
Sun May 11 – Reeves Reed Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Summit, NJ
Sat May 17 – Willowwood Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Chester, NJ
Sun May 18 – Frelinghuysen Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Morristown, NJ
Sun May 18 – Loyola Jesuit Center 2:00 – 4:30 Morristown, NJ
June 6-8 – Rest-Reflect-Renew Retreat at St Marguerite’s Retreat House Mendham, NJ
Fri June 20 – Reeves Reed Arboretum 6:00 – 8:30 PM Summit, NJ
Sat June 21 – Bamboo Brook 9:30 AM – Noon Chester, NJ
Sun June 22 – Frelinghuysen Arboretum 9:30 – Noon Morristown NJ
Sun June 22 – Loyola Jesuit Center 2:00 – 430 Morristown, NJ
The Theraputic Power of the Labyrinth
Rest, Reflect, Renew Retreat, June 6-8
Our retreat is a weekend of reflection on who we are, and why we are here. In this quest we employ three action-oriented tools: Forest Bathing (shinrin yoku), The Labyrinth, and The Enneagram. Our retreat will take place at St Marguerite's Retreat House in Mendham NJ Registration: https://rest-reflect-renew.com
Preparing for Forest Bathing
To maximize your enjoyment on a walk, regardless of the weather, you'll only need a few things:
- Dress in Layers so you are comfortable
- Sunscreen
- Bug/Tick Spray
- Water
Health & Wellness Initiatives
Ask your employer to make Forest Bathing part of their Health & Wellness Program
- Minimum of 10 people
- We can provide the venue if you'd like
- 3 Options: 2.5 Hour Walk in Nature, 1 Hour Version, 30-minute Meditation
Offer a Forest Bathing Walk to your Group
Nature & Forest Therapy walks are perfect for bonding with family, friends, or co-workers - and a great way to make new friends for life. All you need to do to book a private walk is to collect 10 or more participants and email rich@thefriendlyterritory.com. What are you waiting for?
Give Your Club or Group a Special Event They'll Never Forget!
Your Guide
Rich
Rich is a Certified Guide for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT), based in Morristown, New Jersey. His company, Friendly Territory, specializes in Nature & Forest Therapy walks and Labyrinth work.
Why I'm A Guide
“Having traveled to Japan for many years, I began to hear about Forest Bathing and the amazing effects it was having on people’s health through the deepening of a reciprocal relationship with the natural world. So, I began trying it on my regular visits there. After a particularly powerful experience on one of my trips there, I thought to myself: 'This is something I can do for the rest of my life'. I returned home with the intention of starting a Forest Bathing practice here. To my delight I discovered that the ANFT was operating with an approach inspired by the Japanese concept, but adapted for North America. I applied, was accepted, and took part in their intensive training program. I most appreciate their vision of what our job is as Guide: The Forest is the Therapist, the Guide holds the space for the healing to occur.”