Douglas Wood’s Forest Therapy Retreats for 2026:
We are born into a world in which every stone is a teacher and every breeze a language. Where trees are our mentors and other creatures our relatives. These are not just poetic metaphors, but apt descriptions of the living, natural world of which we are a part. Sadly, our understanding of this profound connection is too often lost amidst the hurly-burly of life and the demands of a busy world. Douglas Wood’s Forest Therapy Retreats are a rare opportunity to slow down, recharge, and reconnect. To sense the meaning of a single, green leaf or the beauty of a flower; to truly hear the song of a thrush or feel the softness of moss; to walk a forest trail and find that most important person of all—yourself.
Doug draws upon his long career as a wilderness guide, his expertise as a naturalist, and his lifetime study of spiritual traditions and psychology, to create a woodland experience that is not simply ‘forest bathing’ (shinri yoku) but a unique encounter with belonging. With being. With seeing and hearing the natural world, the world of the forest, and sensing that we are a part of it all. And that the ancient connection still has much to teach us in our modern lives.
Limited participants, maximum of 12.
Elements of the Forest Therapy Retreat:
- Gentle guidance and woodland expertise
- Woodcraft
- Nature journaling
- Stillness meditation
- Walking meditation/the four ways of walking
- How to listen
- Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nature study/identification and interpretation
- The power of metaphorical thinking
- Stories and legends of the forest
- Mindfulness
- Music
- Artistic expression
- Worldwide traditions and philosophies
- 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, May 28-31 Retreat
Register for the Thursday–Sunday, May 28-31 Retreat
$1750 per person
50% Payment due at registration
Large, comfortable bedrooms accommodate up to 6 or 8. But for Forest Therapy max of just 2 per room.
Cancellation policy
Register & Pay Deposit
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
Comfortable, double occupancy rooms
Cancellation policy
Register & Pay Deposit
