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Healing Forest
Slow down and be fully present as you reconnect with nature. It’s good for your mental wellbeing! Practicing mindfulness when out in nature provides respite from a busy world and introduces moments of serenity and calm.
- Montshire Healing Forest Initiative: Gifts will support the creation of new mindfulness exhibits and experiences in nature, implementation of our forest management plan, and expansion of a fully accessible trail along the Connecticut River.
*All gifts to the Healing Forest will be matched dollar for dollar by a gift from The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation.
Donate HERE to help us achieve our goal by September 30, 2026!
July 18, 2025
Explore Play Grove! Our wooded nature playscape invites you to swing, climb, build and play your way through whatever your day brings. Regardless of your age, outdoor hands-on play offers a variety of mental health benefits including improved mood, enhanced creativity, and the development of stronger social and cognitive skills.
July 18, 2025
Focus on the sounds in Timber Tumble. Sound bathing can contribute to clearer thinking, better communication and improved healing. The simplicity of focusing on the sounds of wooden balls moving over rock or wood, or striking miniature bells helps to increase mental clarity and focus by reducing stress and improving mood.
July 18, 2025
Our newly resurfaced Meadow Loop Trail is walker, wheelchair and stroller accessible, inviting those with mobility restrictions into nature to the banks of the beautiful Connecticut River. Exploring in nature provides a break from overstimulation and mental clutter, allowing for mental restoration and reduced rumination. Plus, nature exposure has been linked to increased happiness and overall well-being.
July 18, 2025
Step inside an old forest glen and discover a waterfall, striking rock formations, moss, ferns and lichen in our Woodland Garden. This very special trail that invites you to take in the sights, sounds, and textures of your surroundings as you focus on your breath. Meditation, focused breath-work, and being fully present in nature has a calming influence that lowers cortisol levels, promotes relaxation and alleviates tension and stress.
July 18, 2025
Nestled along the riverbank in a hemlock grove, the Wind Phone invites you to pause, reflect, and remember those who have passed away by engaging in a symbolic, one-way conversation with deceased loved ones. The act of speaking "into the wind" invites private reflection, remembrance, and contemplation of life and loss as a meaningful way to engage with grief.
November 1, 2022
A short walk in the Quinn Nature Preserve, which borders a two-acre meadow