Nature Therapy – The Rooted Path @ Lakeside Nature Center

Nature can help the body remember how to settle, focus, and receive what is present.

Join Clement Waters nature therapy guide Joy Ellsworth for a guided Nature Immersion Therapy session at Lakeside Nature Center as part of The Rooted Path project at Clement Waters. This beginner-level experience welcomes adults, and teens may attend with a parent or guardian present.

WHAT TO EXPECT

We will begin at the shelter at the east side of the parking lot, near the nature center and wildlife rescue operation, where public restrooms and water fountains are available before we begin. From there, we will move together into a two-hour guided experience shaped to help participants restore attention and reconnect with the living world around them.

Our meander will take us past ancient rock formations, down into the Blue River valley, and along forest trails waking up to spring. During our time together, Joy will guide the group through a sequence of sensory and awareness-based invitations that support calm attention, present-moment noticing, and personal reflection. Participants will experience an opening orientation, a settling practice, a slow and observant meander, a sharing circle, and a final invitation of noticing exploration of the forest, before we return to circle for final sharing.

This experience is gentle, accessible, and welcoming for beginners. It is especially well-suited for people carrying stress and seeking a grounded way to reconnect with themselves through the living world. Many participants leave with renewed attention and a simple personal practice they can return to in everyday life. In the days that follow, some people notice a greater ability to hold calm and keep clear focus on what matters most.

WHAT TO WEAR

Please wear closed-toe shoes with strong tread, since the trail descends fairly dramatically in some sections. Tough pants and layered clothing will help you stay comfortable outdoors. Periods of standing will be brief. Ample parking is available in the Lakeside Nature Center lot.

CONSIDERATIONS

If you choose to use bug deterrent, please apply it at your car before joining the group. This helps care for participants with scent allergies while we are together in the forest.

If weather conditions appear likely to interfere with the success of the session, I will email all ticketholders by 12:30 p.m. that day with an update.

Your patronage holds great meaning for us at Clement Waters, because you help us to continue expanding nature therapy access for people of all backgrounds and ethnicities across the Kansas City area and beyond.

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