Forest Bathing with Agnes

Join us for a guided forest bathing walk at the Nature Sanctuary

What is forest bathing?
Shinrin-Yoku is the Japanese practice of forest bathing, of taking in the forest through our senses - through our sense of hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell. 

More than a walk in the woods, forest bathing is an opportunity to slow down, focus on our senses and re-connect with nature. Being outdoors and connecting with nature offers us wellness and health benefits that include increased immune function, enhanced cardiovascular and respiratory health, stress relief, and more. 
Find out more here [URL embedded]. 

This guided nature therapy walk invites guests to tune in their senses, connect with nature, and quiet the mind. 

When: The walk will begin at 10:00am and go until about 12:00pm. We encourage you to arrive 10 minutes early.

Where: Meet in front of the Nature House, 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria, BC

Cost: $20

More about this guided walk

We will meet at the Nature House where your guide, Agnes, will lead guests on a slow-paced walk covering less than 1 kilometer along Swan Lake's gravel trails, grassy areas, and minimal elevation gain. Along the way Agnes will encourage participants, through nature-based invitations, to take time to tune into their senses and connect with nature. 

To ensure you’re comfortable during our 2-hour guided walk, please plan to dress for seasonal weather. Since we will be walking slowly and creating very little body heat, please bring an extra layer. It may also be helpful to bring extra items in a backpack such as mitts, hat, and water. 

Please note that the walk may take place on trails that are not rated as "accessible" within our trail system. If you have any questions or requests for accommodations, please reach out to info@swanlake.bc.ca directly prior to registering.   

As our walk wraps up, we will share tea together in appreciation to Swan Lake and our time with Nature.

Other helpful details

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes prior to start time to get settled. 

The Nature House has two accessible washrooms and a watering fountain and will be made available in case there is need. 

Please dress appropriately for this outdoor activity (layers are recommended), including footwear well-suited for trail walking. 

Pre-registration is required for this program.  

Please ensure that you detail any mobility or accessibility needs for you and any other participants that you might be enrolling in the registration form. 

Registration will close 1 business week day prior to the event. This typically looks like a Friday morning registration close prior to the Monday Forest Bathing event.  These timeline and pre-registration requirements are needed to ensure the safety of all involved and success of this program. 

Free parking is available on site. Please view the Parking page on our website [URL embedded]. Bike parking and nearby bus routes are also available – 17, 26, 51, 70, 71, 72, and 75. 

About your facilitator, Agnes K.

Agnes has enjoyed playing, being, and learning about nature and the woods from a young age. From the woods to the ocean, Agnes’ curiosity of the beauty and calmness of nature reminds her of the connection we all have with the wildness around us. Being able to share this love and peace of nature with others is the inspiration for being a forest bathing guide. 
In the spring of 2025, Agnes successfully completed her certification as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy [URL embedded], graduating from the Chickadee cohort. 
Her safety training includes basic first aid training and a twenty-hour remote wilderness first aid through the Canadian Red Cross. 

We acknowledge the lək ̓ʷəŋən-speaking Peoples (Songhees and Esquimalt/Kosapsum) on whose territory the Nature Sanctuary stands, and the lək ̓ʷəŋən-speaking and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples — including the W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), W̱SIḴEM (Tseycum) and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) — whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

We respect the vital relationships of First Peoples with these lands and waters for countless generations. We are honoured to receive Indigenous guidance and welcome collaboration in stewardship and appreciation of the Nature Sanctuary.

For more information about the Nature Sanctuary's other charitable, non-profit activities click here, follow us @SwanLakeNature, or sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter.