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Forest Bathing

Whether studying at home or making a living in an office, many people spend a lot of time indoors. Unfortunately, this can have negative effects on one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Research suggests spending time in nature can have a variety of health benefits.

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Plan

  • When and where will you go forest bathing? How will you get there?
  • What will you bring along to enhance your experience? A camera? Some tea?

Do

  • On your own or as a group, plan an outing in a wild space to practice what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku: forest bathing. It’s a form of meditation that can help you to appreciate nature and relieve stress
  • Explore a forest.
  • Move slowly and pay close attention to your surroundings.

Review

  • What do you know now that you did not know before?
  • How did you feel before, during and after forest bathing?
  • In what ways, if any, has your experience inspired you?
  • How might you build on this experience?
  • Remember to submit your activities on our Scouts for Sustainability Take Action Map

Keep it Simple

  • Learn some basic meditation and try meditating at your next meeting. If there’s too much background noise, use calming forest sounds or a white noise machine.

Take it Further

  • How else does nature help your overall health? Create a healthy living plan and include elements of nature to keep you healthy!