(MD) (Springsong Museum) Nourish your sense of wonder during a morning forest bathing walk in the Northwest Branch gorge adjacent to the Springsong Museum site. We will walk slowly and pause often as we explore the upland woods and streamside of cascading Northwest Branch. Forest bathing is a practice that began in Japan in the 1980s and celebrates the beauty and wonder of nature in a way that aligns with Rachel Carson’s views of the world. During our walk we will tune in to each of our senses as we open our hearts to the beauty of spring in the gorge.

Walk leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley is a certified nature and forest therapy guide who has participated in forest bathing walks with shinrin-yoku guides in Japan. She is the author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons and several other nature books.