The Story of Friends of the Forest
In the summer of 2020, during the quiet of COVID, I went on a forest bathing walk that popped up in my feed. I had always loved nature, but I was never a hiker, and traditional meditation—whether in yoga or guided practice—was always difficult; my mind never seemed to settle. On this gentle, reflective walk, I immediately felt at ease. The invitations to connect with the forest were quiet and deliberate, and not once did I think of my to-do list.
We arrived at a small river cutting through a thick forest in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and settled into our sit spots. As I sat at the water’s edge, silently absorbing the rhythm of the flowing river, a bald eagle glided down so close to the water that I could see her sharp eyes outlined in gold. The moment was breathtaking—magical, sacred, and unmistakably a sign. I left that walk knowing I wanted to dive deeply into forest bathing and become a guide.
With the constraints of COVID, I enrolled in an outdoor leadership course at Kripalu, which had been adapted for online learning. Over the next three months, my cohort of fellow students became a source of inspiration and deep learning. We explored the principles of nature connection, mindfulness, and guided reflection, discovering ways to create spaces in the wild that invite stillness, curiosity, and presence. From there, I continued my studies with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), deepening my understanding and practice of forest therapy.
It felt like coming home. Everything I had learned as a child—walking trails with my father, identifying trees, listening to birds, rescuing fallen robins from their nests, talking to trees, thanking the earth, saving dandelions from the mower—resurfaced. Those early moments of wonder and reverence had quietly shaped a deep love for nature and an understanding of its magic, creativity, and restorative power.
After receiving my certifications, I knew I wanted to focus specifically on walks for women. I wanted to create experiences rooted in the Wheel of the Year, a practice I had followed on my own spiritual path. From there, Friends of the Forest began to take shape.
As the work unfolded, incredible teachers and guides crossed my path, and together we expanded our offerings—always nature-based, always centered on women. Over the past four years, more than 3,000 women have attended one or more of our events in person. Our reach has grown nationally and internationally through online classes and virtual gatherings, allowing women everywhere to experience the calm, grounding magic of nature and community.
I am deeply humbled and grateful for the community that has blossomed around Friends of the Forest—a sisterhood rooted in presence, curiosity, and care. And through it all, I carry the wisdom of the bald eagle from that first sit spot: a reminder to rise above, to see clearly, and to trust in the signs and guidance that appear when we slow down and open our hearts. The eagle teaches us to honor perspective, clarity, and courage—to trust that the path we are called to follow is held in the light of something greater.
Friends of the Forest has grown from that single, sacred walk into a living sanctuary—both outdoors in the forests, rivers, and fields, and indoors in the spaces we are creating. It is a place where women can step away from the demands of daily life, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the quiet wisdom that lives within.
I chose to build this as a nonprofit because I believe that access to nature, reflection, and soft magick should not be limited by profit. My background in nonprofit work runs deep, and at my core, I’ve always been committed to creating spaces that serve the community, that nourish the spirit, and that prioritize connection over commerce. By keeping Friends of the Forest a nonprofit, we ensure that every offering—from forest bathing walks to workshops—remains focused on well-being, learning, and shared experience.
This vision is rooted in the belief that women thrive when they are supported, seen, and guided back to the rhythms of nature. It is a belief that has been proven over and over again through the thousands of women who have joined us in the forests, in our online classes, and at our seasonal gatherings.
That is the heart of Friends of the Forest: a place to pause, to rise, to see your life from the sacred vantage of the soul.
With gratitude,
Kathleen
Founder, Friends of the Forest
“The land knows you, even when you are lost.”
— Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
