Nature Rx | Grateful by Nature: A Mindful Walk of Appreciation

Join us for a mindful walk through Cuyahoga Valley National Park to reconnect with nature and the practice of gratitude.

As the season turns and the holidays approach, this experience invites you to pause and notice the abundance that already surrounds you. Through guided reflection and simple mindfulness practices, we’ll explore gratitude not just as something we feel, but as something we practice ~ a way of seeing through the lens of appreciation.

Together, we’ll move gently outside, tuning into the small wonders of the natural world: the texture of bark, the crunching of the leaves, the sound of wind through the trees. Along the way, we’ll reflect on what grounds us, nourishes us, and gives us reason to say “thank you.”

Our journey will close with the creation of a Grateful by Nature Manifesto~ a personal expression of appreciation inspired by the natural beauty around us and the connections we discover within ourselves.

Come ready to walk, reflect, and create, bringing your awareness, your gratitude, and your curiosity for what unfolds when we align with the generosity of nature.

Potential Benefits Include:

✅ N – Nurture your nervous system: Step away from daily busyness and breathe deeply in nature’s calm.

✅ A – Appreciate what’s here: See your world through the lens of gratitude and wonder.

✅ T – Tune in to your senses: Notice the colors, sounds, and textures that bring you back to the present.

✅ U – Unwind and reset: Let go of stress and return to your natural rhythm.

✅ R – Reconnect with what matters: Strengthen your sense of belonging—to yourself, others, and the earth.

✅ E – Experience renewal: Leave feeling refreshed, restored, and grateful by nature.

This event is part of the Nature Rx program. For more details on the program, please visit www.forcvnp.org/naturerx.

Additional Event Details

Parking/Directions: Parking is available at the Hines Hill Conference Center. We will meet upstairs in the Conference Center.

What to wear/bring: Please wear closed-toed, sturdy shoes that you do not mind getting dirty if conditions are muddy. Dress for the weather as a portion of this event will take place outside on mostly flat surface. Walk distance will be under one mile.

Weather: This is a rain or shine event, so please dress accordingly so that you are comfortable. In the case of severe weather (lightning, hail, storms, etc.) we will cancel or postpone. Participants will be notified of any event changes via email. Participants will be notified of any event changes via email.

About Shannon Speaks: Shannon Speaks, LISW-S, is a therapist, coach, and certified mindfulness teacher who blends nature-based experiences, compassion practices, and neuroscience to help others build authentic resilience.

As the founder of Nourish C&C, Shannon supports professional helpers and caregivers in high-stress environments to cultivate self-compassion and sustainable resilience. She leads monthly mindfulness sessions and training programs for staff at Summa Health, and provides therapeutic support for individuals navigating grief and loss through Kelly’s Grief Center.

Shannon is proud to serve as a Nature Rx advisor through the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, where she brings her love of mindfulness and nature together to gently invite us all back to the possibility of the present moment

To learn more, please visit www.nourishcc.com

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Host or Publisher The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park