Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy: A Family Experience

About this event

In Partnership with Flow State Holistic Health

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Start your Saturday in the woods. 🌳

Join Flow State Holistic Health and Urban Forest Therapy for a guided Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy experience created especially for families with children ages 5 and up.

Time in nature is associated with meaningful benefits for both kids and adults. In children, research has linked nature contact with better mental health, more physical activity, and improvements in attention and executive functioning.

For adults, studies of Forest Bathing suggest benefits for stress, mood, anxiety, heart rate, and the restorative feeling we get from stepping away from everyday demands.

This experience gives families a chance to access those benefits together .

Instead of a hike with a destination to reach, Certified Forest & Nature Therapy Guide Jess Thenhaus will lead you through simple sensory invitations that help both children and adults slow their pace, direct their attention toward the natural world, and experience the park in a different way.

For kids, the morning offers space for curiosity, sensory exploration, and focused attention through simple guided invitations in nature. For adults, it offers a chance to step out of the usual planning and supervising mode, slow down themselves, and participate alongside their child instead of managing the experience from the sidelines.

And perhaps most importantly, families get to practice slowing down with one another . In a world where both kids and adults are constantly pulled toward schedules, screens, and stimulation, this is a few hours set aside to notice, explore, connect, and simply spend time together outside.

You don’t need any previous Forest Bathing experience, and you don’t need to know anything about nature. Just come ready to see what happens when the whole family gets a little more space to slow down.

What to expect

🌲 Guided Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy 🌿 Sensory invitations designed for children and adults 🧠 Time in nature that supports attention, mood, and stress recovery 🤍 Space for family connection without screens or another task to accomplish ✨ A slower, more intentional way to experience the outdoors together

Space is limited to keep the experience small, personal, and easy to navigate as a group. Advance registration is required.

If this sounds like the kind of Saturday morning your family could use, we’d love to have you join us.

NOTE: This is a shared family event, not a drop-off program or childcare service.

Parents and caregivers remain responsible for their children throughout the entire experience . Adults should stay with their children, help them navigate the environment, and support them in participating in ways that feel appropriate for their family.

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per adult + $10 per child

FAQ

What ages is this experience appropriate for?

This family experience is designed for children ages 5+ and the adults attending with them. The invitations are simple, sensory, and flexible enough for a range of ages, but children should be able to stay with their adult and participate in a gentle outdoor group experience.

How is this different from just taking our family to the park?

A guided Forest Bathing + Nature Therapy experience creates structure around slowing down and noticing in ways families may not naturally make space for on their own. I’ll guide the group through sensory-based invitations that help both kids and adults engage with the natural world more intentionally, while still leaving plenty of room for curiosity and individual experience. And importantly, parents and caregivers get to participate too rather than planning and leading the outing themselves.

Where is the event held?

Exact meeting and parking details will be emailed to registered families before the event. We’ll gather at Emmenegger Nature Park, 11991 Stoneywood Drive, St. Louis, MO 63122 . The park offers a mix of wooded trails and natural areas while still being close to the city.

Who is responsible for supervising children during the event?

Parents and caregivers remain responsible for their children throughout the entire experience . This is a shared family event, not a drop-off program or childcare service. Adults should stay with their children, help them navigate the environment, and support them in participating in ways that feel appropriate for their family.

Do we need any Forest Bathing experience?

Not at all. No previous experience with Forest Bathing, mindfulness, meditation, or nature-based practices is needed. You also don’t need to know anything about plants or the outdoors. Just come dressed for the weather and ready to spend a slower morning outside together.

Is a waiver required?

Yes. A signed participant waiver is required for every person attending , including children, before participating in the event. Parents or legal guardians will complete the waiver for minors. Waiver information will be sent after registration.