Forest Therapy and Hike at Ken Reid

Sunday April 28, 2024

NEW location!

Get outside in a mindful way.

Life is busy and, let’s be honest, sometimes overwhelming. How often do we take a moment to slowdown and reconnect? That’s what this day is about: tuning in, being mindful, and allowing our connection to nature to support us in a therapeutic way!

Forest therapy, also known as forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan in the 1980s and has since gained popularity worldwide. Its core philosophy revolves around the belief that nature possesses a remarkable ability to heal and restore balance to our minds and bodies. By intentionally immersing ourselves in nature's embrace and mindfully observing our surroundings, we can tap into its transformative qualities. Forest therapy provides a unique opportunity for individuals to slow down, disconnect from the demands of daily life, and attune themselves to the present moment. By engaging our senses and embracing the beauty of nature, we can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while nurturing a sense of calmness and well-being. The Forest Therapy portion is guided by Kristie Virgoe, the conservation authority's director of stewardship and conservation lands and a certified forest therapy guide.

After the Forest Therapy experience, we will continue with exploration of the park at a slow pace guided by the ActiveDays Trip Leader.

Ken Reid Conservation Area offers a diverse landscape of lush forests, serene wetlands, and shimmering ponds, offering a picturesque backdrop for nature enthusiasts. The park has interconnected trails that total almost 12 km. A favorite route includes the floating boardwalk.

Easy: Relatively flat trails, with gentle inclines. Suitable for beginners. 

THIS ACTIVEDAYS TRIP IS ORGANIZED BY THE ACTIVEDAYS COMMUNITY. SEE ALL ACTIVEDAYS TRIPS AND JOIN US VIA OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!

DAY SCHEDULE 

9:00am - Pick-up 34 Asquith Ave near Yonge and Bloor subway

10:30 - 10:50am - Arrive/ use bathrooms

11am - 12:30pm - Guided Forest Therapy Experience

12:30 - 1:00pm- Lunch break (Lunch is not included. Please pack a lunch and water for yourself)

1:00 - 4:30pm - Guided group hike

5:00pm - Depart the park

WHAT TO BRING

• Lunch! and snacks

• Tea (optional but, again, a great way to keep warm)

• Hat

• Water (at least 1.5L)

• Medications

• Weather appropriate clothing

• Rain gear (weather depending)

• Camera

• Whatever else you need to have fun on the trail :)

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH ACTIVEDAYS

To us, facilitating this event is about creating an environment that you can engage with in your own way. This is your experience and everyone has their own relationship with the outdoors and their bodies. We want to meet you where you are at — you can take part in the hike, or wander off on your own adventure.

ActiveDays is also a community. This is an inclusive space to meet new people, share stories and have fun! To us, there is no better place to get to know someone than the outdoors. We all share a desire to get out, explore and move.

ALL ACTIVEDAYS PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN A WAIVER. WE WILL SEND YOU A COPY OF THE WAIVER VIA EMAIL. YOU CAN FIND A DIGITAL COPY OF A SAMPLE WAIVER HERE

Photographs and/or video may be taken at this event. By taking part in this event you grant the event organisers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the group’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications. If you do not wish to be photographed please inform an event organiser.