Joy of Forest Bathing

Join ACES and certified nature and forest therapy guide, Melanie Choukas-Bradley, for a magical morning forest bathing walk in the aspen groves above the Catto Center at Toklat. Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in Japan in the 1980s and is rooted in the ancient Japanese reverence for nature. This mindfulness practice has since gained popularity all over the world. On our morning walk, we will breathe deeply and move slowly, as we soak up the beauty and wonder of the meadows and forests above the lodge, with their glorious mountain views. We’ll engage all of our senses as we explore the trees, wildflowers, meadow grasses and icy waters of a picturesque tributary of Castle Creek. Our walk will last for three hours and we’ll close with maple sap tea. Dress in layers for the weather. It’s apt to be quite chilly at the start of our walk. Since we move slowly on a forest bathing walk, standing and sitting often, you’ll want to dress more warmly than you would for a hike. As the day warms, you may want to take off your shoes (optional) to commune with the earth barefoot. Bring water and snacks. Melanie Choukas-Bradley is an award-winning nature book author and forest therapy guide, certified by the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides & Programs. Her most recent book is titled Wild Walking – A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons. Melanie is based in Washington, DC and she has written the authoritative guide to the trees of the capital, City of Trees, and an independent publishers’ award-winning nature memoir, A Year in Rock Creek Park, as well as several other nature books. She has led forest bathing walks at Toklat for ACES and as part of the Aspen Ideas Festival and fell in love with our aspen groves, wildflowers, mountain views and the story of Toklat. She is very happy to return to lead walks for ACES this June! We understand that plans can change, and we try our best to work with you if you need to cancel a class. Email cancellation requests to communityprograms@aspennature.org. Please read carefully. A 50% REFUND is given if cancellation request is made within 14 days of program start date. NO REFUNDS are given for cancellation requests received within 14 days of program start date. In the event that ACES has to cancel a class, FULL REFUNDS will be issued (no additional fees) . Please let us know if you would like to turn your program refund into a fully tax-deductible gift to the Children’s Education Fund to support ACES’ education programs. The amount of your donation will reflect the cancellation policy, and the amount that you would receive as a refund at the date of cancellation. These programs provide valuable experiences for students that encourage resiliency, creativity, and a connection to the outdoors. We thank you, as always, for being part of the ACES family! Joy of Forest Bathing $75, Members receive a 10% discount June 25–26, 2026 Information About ACES Staff Board Contact Us Reports & Financials Partners Corporate Sponsors Privacy Policy Opportunities Work At ACES (Careers) Locations Hallam Lake Rock Bottom Ranch Catto Center at Toklat Newsletter Sign Up First Name Last Name Email (required) * Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from ACES. (You can unsubscribe anytime)