Mindful Meandering Along the Upper Verde River

Experience a day of mindfulness along Arizona's last wild and free-flowing river, the Upper Verde. Mindful Meandering invites you to slow down and fully engage with nature, using your senses to deepen your awareness of the environment and your place within it. Led by Grace Burford, this day-long program offers an opportunity to practice the foundational activity of natural history: being present and mindfully focusing on our immediate natural surroundings, moment to moment.

On this mindful journey, we'll set aside the usual distractions of hiking for exercise, identifying plants and animals, or reaching a destination. Instead, through guided activities and individual reflections, we'll explore ways to deepen our connection to our environment and recognize ourselves as an integral part of nature. Experiencing such awareness can heal and rejuvenate us and strengthen our gratitude for the earth's gifts.

Nurturing your personal mindfulness practice in the stunning landscape of the Upper Verde River, you'll experience firsthand the peace and beauty of one of Arizona's most cherished natural resources and gain a deeper sense of why this pristine waterway is worth protecting.

Join us for a day of healing, reflection, and gratitude on the Upper Verde River.

Details:

Cost: $50 per person

10% for Nature Guardian Members

FREE for Nature Champion Members

Time: Meet in Chino Valley, AZ, at the Safeway at 10:00am, carpool to the Rio Verde Ranch site, and return at 4:00pm.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate — This experience involves an easy 2-3 mile hike and climbing over or under a steel pasture gate.

Food and Water: Bring your own lunch, water, and snacks for a full-day excursion.

Supplies Needed: Bring a blank notebook/journal and pen/pencil.

Grace Burford, Ph.D., Prescott College Faculty Emerita, certified Arizona Master Naturalist (Central Highlands), ordained Buddhist minister and chaplain, began offering her Mindful Meandering programs in 2023. For these mindful walks in nature, Grace draws on her lifelong practice of Buddhist meditations, career as a college professor, decades of facilitating Spiritual Deep Ecology workshops, and love of natural history and mindful immersion in nature.

Host or Publisher Natural History Institute