DOUGLAS WOOD’S FOREST THERAPY RETREAT SEPTEMBER 2026
‘THE WISDOM OF TREES’Of all the beings in the world who may be our teachers and mentors, comforters and guides, perhaps none are greater than trees. A forest is, of course, a place of trees, along with wild flowers, stones and shadows, birds, and other creatures. But it is trees that make a forest. This Forest Therapy Retreat will focus on ‘the wisdom of trees,’ their silent but profound lessons in survival, endurance, personal growth, community, the importance of honoring roots, while yet aspiring and reaching for the light. And much more. For Doug, trees have always been his teachers, as he has detailed in his books A Wild Path and Things Trees Know. But this will be his first workshop/retreat to ever focus primarily on trees, their meaning and their deep connection to the human spirit.
‘These trees shall be my books.’ William Shakespeare
‘I have learned a lot from trees: sometimes about the weather, sometimes about animals, sometimes about the Great Spirit.’ Walking Buffalo
‘The space between any two pines is the doorway to another world.’ John Muir
Limited participants, maximum of 12.
Elements of ‘The Wisdom of Trees’ Forest Therapy Retreat:
- Trees as teachers
- Trees as inspiration
- Trees as elders
- Trees as shelter
- Gentle guidance and woodland expertise
- Woodcraft
- Nature journaling
- Stillness meditation
- Walking meditation/the four ways of walking
- How to listen, how to see
- Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nature study/identification and interpretation
- The power of metaphorical thinking
- Stories and legends of the forest
- Mindfulness
- Music
- Private, personal time
- Group/community time
- And more…
LOCATION
All set within the grand beauties, tall groves, streams and wild lakeshore of Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center on lovely Grindstone Lake.
Groves of two hundred-year-old pines
Nearly 800 acres of woods, wetlands, streams, and undeveloped shoreline
Housing and gatherings in grand old Schwyzer Lodge. Gorgeous, wrap-around screen porch under the big pines overlooking the lake. Kitchen, beautiful living room and fireplace. Three shared bathrooms and showers, large, comfortable bedrooms accommodate up to 6 or 8. But for Forest Therapy max of just 2 per room.
Excellent home-made meals in the Center’s Dining Hall, largely organic, farm-to-table from the Center’s regenerative farm. Great cooks, gluten-free, custom dietary choices available.
Easy walking/hiking, mostly level, no difficult terrain.
Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center website link: www.ospreywilds.org
ABOUT DOUGLAS WOOD…
Douglas Wood is the NY Times bestselling author of 40 books, with nearly 3 million copies in print. Often called ‘Minnesota’s Renaissance Man,’ he is also an artist, recording artist/musician and public speaker who has appeared at wellness, literary, and wilderness conferences across the nation. As a wilderness guide, he has led scores of expeditions from the Boundary Waters to the Northwest territories. Among his honors and awards are: American Booksellers Book of the Year/ABBY Award, International Reading Association Book of the Year; the Christopher Medal; Midwest Book Award (twice); Smithsonian Notable Book Award; Minnesota Book Award; Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education.
For further details and registration info contact
Douglas Wood at douglaswoodmn@gmail.com
Register for the Thursday–Sunday, September 10-13 Retreat
Register for the Thursday–Sunday, September 10-13 Retreat
$1750 per person
50% Payment due at registration
Large, comfortable bedrooms. Max occupancy of only 2.
Cancellation policy
Register & Pay Deposit
