About this Event
Forest Bathing with Birds: Shinrin Yoku meets Ornitherapy
Join Leica Birding Specialist, Whitney Lanfranco, and Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Professional Birding Instructor, Holly Merker, for Forest Bathing walks at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday, February 18th. Two walks will be scheduled: one at 9 a.m. and the 2nd at 1:30 p.m. Each walk will meet one half hour earlier for check in at the main entrance. The lush and thoughtfully stewarded landscapes and at Hollywood Forever Cemetery provides the perfect backdrop to reaping the wellness benefits that nature provides us.
With origins inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku, Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy, harnesses the health and restorative benefits the natural world holds for us. Ornitherapy, a practice of Mindful Birding, pairs together the observation of birds with mindfulness practices, amplifying the wellness benefits both provide us.
This experience will be a bit different than a traditional outdoor guided walk, not focusing solely on the identification of birds, but instead allowing the forest and birds to intentionally guide us into to slowing our pace as we notice our surroundings in a different way. With a framework of guided "invitations” and “explorations” centering around birds and the natural world, we will deepen our connections to nature by engaging the senses, noticing, and awakening our experience of reciprocity with the natural world.
A tea ceremony will be included to culminate the experience as we celebrate nature. Forest Bathing with Birds can be calming, contemplative, mindful, revealing, soothing, awe inspiring, and more. Any skill-level of experience in nature is welcomed, and this is a great way to herald the coming spring season and boost your wellbeing.
Participants will receive a take-home Ornitherapy Journal as part of the event.
Accessibility information: This program has been developed for most all mobility levels. In tradition with Forest Bathing principals, this will be a slow-paced walk on wide and flat unpaved trails that will include gathering time where we’ll sit and sometimes stand, for short periods of time as we observe. Easy parking and indoor restrooms are on site.
What to bring: For this program, a limited number of loaner Leica Sport Optics equipment will be available for use during the bird walk on a first come, first-served basis. A photo ID and credit card will be necessary for any loaner equipment. Please consider sun protection (suggestions: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and water to hydrate. A yoga mat that is easy to carry, or a small camping stool, are helpful.
Consider dressing for the elements and temperature for the day at hand. We look forward to seeing you there!
About Holly Merker
Holly Merker is a professional birding guide, writer, and educator, who has a background in art therapy but today uses birds and nature towards the same goals delivering nature-based wellness programs for people of all ages.
Holly shares her love of birds guiding for the American Birding Association, National Audubon, Hillstar Nature, and many other organizations, and has provided Ornitherapy and Forest Bathing programs across the US. She is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (ANFT) and founder of The Mindful Birding Network. Holly was the recipient of the 2022 Conservation and Education Award given by the American Birding Association for her work in both those areas of birding.
Holly is an author of two books which guide readers into explorations optimizing the wellness benefits research shows that birds provide us, including the award-winning book Ornitherapy: For Your Mind, Body, and Soul (along with Richard Crossley, and Sophie Crossley, Crossley Books, 2021) and Die Kraft Der Vogel Beobachtung – “The Power of Birdwatching”, Freya verlag, 2023), coauthored with Dr. Angelika Nelson.
In her free time, Holly spends every possible moment practicing Ornitherapy, which she credits in helping defeat breast cancer, restoring her health mentally and physically.
About Whitney Lanfranco
Whitney's passion for nature began at a young age while she was growing up on a ranch in rural Central Texas. She spent her youth learning the names of wildflowers and observing bacteria under her microscope. While earning her degree in zoology from Texas A&M University, she discovered her true passion was birding. Whitney completed an ecological study abroad in South Africa before beginning work as an aviculturist at the San Antonio Zoo. However, she soon realized that her true joy was in educating and sharing her passion with others. A fortuitous turn led to her discovering the world of bird guiding and ecotourism, and she spent several happy years sharing her knowledge in the field. In 2020 she became the Nature Sales Manager for Leica Sport Optics and can now be found at festivals and events all over the country birding and talking all things optics.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
EUR 0.00