Forest Bathing Camp
Goldendale, WA — Ekone Ranch
A joyful and easeful nature-based retreat for adults
May 15-18, 2025
An invitation to slow down, de-stress, and reclaim your joy,
playfulness, and curiosity in the loving embrace of the natural world.
Offered in collaboration with Alderroot Healing & Renewal
Be immersed in the beauty of nature at our Forest Bathing Camp, where you can reconnect with the joy of curiosity and wonder, quiet your mind, and nurture your body and spirit. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," this immersive retreat invites you to experience the power of the forest to offer groundedness and renewal. This retreat provides a unique opportunity to unplug from technology*, and to enjoy inspiration and nourishment through extended mindful connection with the natural world.
At the heart of this camp experience is the soothing and gentle presence of the forest. Through guided forest bathing sessions, you'll be invited to slow down, breathe deeply, and fully immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world. You’ll be invited to feel the earth beneath your feet and to notice and connect with the presence of the more-than-human beings around you.
We are living in a world full of uncertainties, dis-ease, and real climate disasters. And the earth is dreaming through us, calling to us to listen and to explore what it means to live in gentler, more connected, embodied, and mindful ways. At this camp we will slow down to engage in meaningful connection with the living earth. As we do, we may find that we are offered tender healing, guidance, and inspiration in return.
Heather and Irene, both certified Forest Therapy guides, will guide you in forest bathing walks, offering a variety of invitations to experience awe and wonder, to explore playfulness and creatively, and to deepen your mindful and embodied connection with nature. We’ll also hold space for meaningful connection with each other and for simple healing rituals and ceremonies to deepen your sense of belonging and connection with the living earth. There will be time for solo exploration and space to explore your unique relationship with the natural world.
Whether you're looking to reduce stress and angst, increase joy, find clarity, or simply relax into the rejuvenating benefits of spending extended time outside and in the forest, this retreat will help you connect with your spirit, with other like-hearted souls, and with the earth in new ways. You'll leave camp feeling grounded and refreshed, and with new calming practices that you can carry with you.
Join us for an unforgettable experience of rejunvenation & connection where the forest is our sacred and honored space.
No experience necessary; just an open heart and willingness to connect with the Earth. Experienced forest bathers and guides welcome.
All are welcome.
Camp Highlights
Forest Bathing: Guided walks with a series of invitations to immerse yourself in the healing power of the forest. Including a night walk under the stars
Mindfulness Meditation & Breathing: Daily sessions to cultivate mindfulness, presence, mental clarity, and well being.
Sensory Awareness: Forest bathing invitations are designed to heighten your senses and deepen your connection with nature.
Nature Journaling: Opportunities to reflect and document your experiences as a way to integrate your feelings and insights.
Ritual and ceremony: Ways to foster a deeper sense of belonging and reciprocity, and create meaning and connection.
Restorative Movement: Gentle movement to relax the body, release tension, and complement your mindful forest bathing practice.
Holistic Nourishment: Delicious nutritious meals prepared from local, organic ingredients to nourish your body and mind.
Cozy, Eco-Friendly Accommodations & Camping: Comfortable lodging where you can rest after a day of deep connection with the natural world.
Technology detox– no wifi and limited cell service. Phone/ internet available for emergencies and for checking in with loved ones as needed.
Facilitators:
Heather Burns
Irene Elle Bailey
START
May 15: Arrive & settle, 4-5 PM
END
May 18: Depart, 11 AM
INCLUDED
•All meals (dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 3)
•Location for camping or stay in the bunkhouse
• Over 1000 acres of land for wandering and exploring
•A variety of facilitated nature connection activities
•Opportunities for deep connection to self, community, & the natural world
•Guided forest bathing experiences that ignite your curiosity and joy, including a evening walk under the stars
•Individual support (as needed)
ACCOMMODATION DETAILS
Stay in the cozy open-floor-plan shared bunkhouse or camp in your own tent or vehicle. Bathrooms with showers are provided.
* Option to stay nearby in hotel/ Airbnb in Goldendale at additional cost. This must be arranged individually but reach out for suggestions.
FOOD
Delicious, nourishing, from-scratch, vegetarian fare, using as much local produce as possible, and as many organic, humane, ethically-produced ingredients as practical. We can accommodate a certain level of special dietary needs, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan.
YOU PROVIDE
•Tent, sleeping bag & pad if camping
•Yoga mat or pad for laying in forest
•Water bottle
•Sunglasses & hat
•Journal & pen
•Headlight or flashlight
•Warm & comfortable layers for being outdoors
•Sturdy shoes for walking on uneven terrain
A detailed clothing and gear list will be provided closer to the retreat start date.
Cost: $475-$775
($50 discount for professional forest therapy guides - use code GUIDE50)
Inclusivity:
We ask that our participants be committed to the ongoing learning and awareness of how white supremacy negatively impacts all life, especially black and brown people. In an effort to support an inclusive space, we know this work, this dismantling of systemic oppression, is essential to sharing healing spaces and to supporting the collective liberation for all beings.
Why Forest Bathing?
Forest bathing also known as forest therapy, is a nature connection experience inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku. This nature-based experience offers the chance to step away from the stresses of daily life and to find healing and nourishment through intentional engagement with the land and other beings.
Forest bathing supports healing by offering the opportunity to radically and intentionally slow down, rest, take a break from technology, and to renew your sense of connection with the living earth. The healing impacts of forest bathing increase over time and support long-term health and wellness. Research has shown that forest bathing allows the nervous system to relax, boosting immunity, reducing anxiety, depression, and stress, improving cognitive function, and improving sleep. Through a series of guided invitations, forest bathing creates a sense of embodied presence that enables you to access new ways of being, including more joy, curiosity, playfulness, spaciousness, and awe--states that are so important to cultivating resiliency in this era of dramatic change.
Each forest bathing session includes intentional connection to the senses, a slow walk, guided invitations to enhance presence and connection, and a tea ceremony with snacks. Forest bathing is effective because it helps us rest our bodies and minds, but it is also a balm for the spirit by sparking our imagination, creativity, connection to the earth, and sense of belonging.
