Welcome
Nature & Forest Therapy Retreats based on Forest Bathing Practices
Relax, De-stress, & Connect
About Us
Nature & Forest Therapy
Forest Bathing (aka Nature & Forest Therapy) is a wellness practice. At it's core this practice is about slowing down mentally and physically. Forest Bathing half-day retreats draw on the latest developments in the field of nature connection, ancient traditions of mindfulness, stress management, and wellness promotion.
What Happens On A Walk
Nature & Forest Therapy is a practice. It is open-ended; there is no prescription for what a person "should" experience, or what benefits they "should" receive. Instead, it is a practice of developing a deepening relationship of reciprocity, in which the natural world and the practitioner find a way to work together that supports the wholeness and wellness of each. In Nature & Forest Therapy, there is a clearly defined sequence of guided events that provides structure to the experience, while embracing the many opportunities for creativity and serendipity offered by nature and the individual inspiration of each guide.
Lessen Stress and Anxiety
Nature & Forest Therapy is not a naturalist walk, rather, it is a slow meditative walk in nature that takes a holistic view to the physiological, mental, emotional, and psycho-spiritual benefits to be derived from an embodied contact with nature, and aims to engage humans through their senses, not their intellects. Nature & Forest Therapy can be viewed as an effective strategy to maintain and boost immune strength in human beings. The walk takes approximately 2.5 hours and requires no exceptional skill or physical exertion.
Complete Schedule of Public Retreats - March - June 2026
Date, Venue, & Time
Sun March 8 Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sat March 14 Willowwood Arboretum Chester NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sun March 15 Frelinghuysen Arboretum Morristown NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sun March 22 Loyola Jesuit Center Morristown NJ 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Sat April 11 Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sat April 18 Bamboo Brook Chester NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sun April 19 Frelinghuysen Arboretum Morristown NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Mon April 20 Grace Lord Park Boonton NJ 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Sun April 26 Loyola Jesuit Center Morristown NJ 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Sat May 2 Herrontown Woods Princeton NJ 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Sun May 10 Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sat May 16 Willowwood Arboretum Chester NJ 9:30 - Noon
Sun May 17 Frelinghuysen Arboretum Morristown NJ 9:30 - Noon
Sun May 17 Loyola Jesuit Center Morristown NJ 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Fri June 12 to Sun June 14 St Marguerite's Retreat House Mendham NJ WEEKEND RETREAT
Sat June 20 Bamboo Brook Chester NJ 9:30 AM - Noon
Sat June 20 Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit NJ SUMMER SOLSTICE 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Sun June 21 Herrontown Woods Princeton NJ 2:00 - 4:30 PM
Sun June 28 Loyola Jesuit Center Morristown NJ 2:00 - 4:30 PM
The Theraputic Power of the Labyrinth
Rest, Reflect, Renew Retreat
Thanks to all who attended our June Retreat. We'll be opening registration shortly for our 2026 retreat which will take place from June 12 - 14 at St. Marguerite's Retreat House in Mendham, New Jersey.
Preparing for Forest Bathing
To maximize your enjoyment on a walk, regardless of the weather, you'll only need a few things:
- Dress in Layers so you are comfortable
- Sunscreen
- Bug/Tick Spray
- Water
Health & Wellness Initiatives
Ask your employer to make Forest Bathing part of their Health & Wellness Program
- Minimum of 10 people
- We can provide the venue if you'd like
- 3 Options: 2.5 Hour Walk in Nature, 1 Hour Version, 30-minute Meditation
Offer a Forest Bathing Walk to your Group
Nature & Forest Therapy walks are perfect for bonding with family, friends, or co-workers - and a great way to make new friends for life. All you need to do to book a private walk is to collect 10 or more participants and email rich@thefriendlyterritory.com. What are you waiting for?
Give Your Club or Group a Special Event They'll Never Forget!
Your Guide
Rich
Rich is a Certified Guide for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT), based in Morristown, New Jersey. His company, Friendly Territory, specializes in Forest Bathing, aka Nature & Forest Therapy, retreats and embodiment meditation.
Why I'm A Guide
“Having traveled to Japan for many years, I began to hear about shinrin yoku (Forest Bathing} and the amazing effects it was having on people’s health through the deepening of a reciprocal relationship with the natural world. So, I began trying it on my regular visits there. After a particularly powerful experience on one of my trips there, I thought to myself: 'This is something I can do for the rest of my life'. I returned home with the intention of starting a Forest Bathing practice here. To my delight I discovered that the ANFT was operating with an approach inspired by the Japanese concept, but adapted for North America. I applied, was accepted, and took part in their intensive training program. I most appreciate their vision of what our job is as Guide: The Forest is the Therapist, the Guide holds the space for the healing to occur.”