New Year's Eve Forest Bathing: A Restorative Journey with Nature

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in a truly meaningful way. Join us for a restorative, empowering forest bathing experience at the beautiful Meadowlark Botanical Gardens to honor the past year and welcome the year to come. Step away from the hustle and bustle to slow down, breathe deeply, and reflect and reconnect with nature, yourself, and community. Honor your journey through 2024 and rekindle your inner radiance and resilience for 2025.

Forest bathing, or nature therapy, is a restorative practice of immersing yourself in the natural world through sensory experiences that engage your whole self. Guided by Ilana Rubin – Kindred Nature’s founder and certified forest bathing guide – this experience offers a series of gentle activities to help you tune into the present, reawaken your senses, spark curiosity, and feel at peace.

Through mindful walking, guided meditation, nature connection invitations, and tea, you can enjoy benefits such as lower stress, increased mental clarity, and greater creativity. Tune in to yourself and the beauty of the winter garden – a calming setting to release what no longer serves you and to set and embrace intentions for the new year. This program combines individual and shared experiences, encouraging a sense of belonging with oneself, nature, and community.

All adults are welcome, and no prior experience is needed. The program will include less than a mile of slow walking along paved or unpaved, flat or sloped terrain, with all activities adaptable for each person to engage however feels right.

Our guide for this program, Ilana Rubin, is a forest bathing and nature therapy guide trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. Ilana has been guiding forest bathing since 2021 when she founded Kindred Nature to replenish inner radiance, resilience, and belonging with nature and community through empowering and restorative experiences. She has guided for diverse groups and organizations including the US Forest Service, the GW Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, and multiple NOVA Parks sites.

Embrace this unique opportunity to welcome the new year with peace, presence, and purpose. Let’s ring in the new year with a nourishing experience to carry you well beyond midnight.

Important participant guidelines:

- All participants must register in advance online.

- $35 per participant. All attendees are considered participants, and must be 18 years of age or older and pre-registered. No prior experience is necessary.

- You are welcome to join us on your own or with friends or family.

- Arrive early to ensure the program starts on time.

- Dress appropriately for outdoor weather with extra layers for warmth. The event will proceed unless hazardous weather is forecasted.

- Bring a water bottle and (optional) snacks for yourself.

- A refund may be provided if your space is able to be filled from a waitlist. Refunds are not provided within 72 hours of the program.

- Notify us of any allergies or accommodation requests in advance by emailing [email protected].