Mindfulness Experience at Camp Santanoni

Monday, July 21, 2025

Come to Great Camp Santanoni for an immersive experience in the tradition of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, a Japanese wellness practice that helps individuals access the healing properties of nature. You will be invited to slow down, be curious, and use all your senses to more fully experience the nature and the heritage of the Santanoni Preserve. This mindfulness experience begins at the Gate Lodge with an orientation, warm-ups, centering, and breathing exercises intended to connect participants to their bodies and the world around them. We will then make our way to the Farm Complex, using our senses to become more attuned to our surroundings and taking time for an extended sit among the trees to deepen our connection to the land and nonhuman world. At the farm, we will shift our awareness to the landscape features that represent the more recent human story of the place. We will explore the site’s buildings and consider the continuity of both natural and human history in our present moment. Upon our return from the Farm Complex, we will reflect on the experience and understand how the practice of mindfulness can be used in daily life. Following the mindfulness session, participants are invited on an optional group bike ride into the Main Camp with a special tour of the Main Lodge and walk to the historic bathhouse and beach. All are welcome, with a special invitation for nonprofit leaders and staff to take time for renewal and a reset at Camp Santanoni this July.

This experience is led by Kripalu-certified Outdoor Mindfulness Guide and longtime preservation leader, Susan West Montgomery while the bike tour is led by AARCH Executive Director Erin Tobin. The mindfulness experience begins at 9 AM and ends at 12:30 PM, and the bike excursion ends at 3 PM.

There is a suggested donation of $40 per person and $35 for nonprofit staff and board members.

Please note that this outing includes roughly 2.5 miles of walking at a leisurely pace over a dirt road. The afternoon bike ride requires attendees to bring their own bicycles and cycle 9.6 miles (round trip) on a dirt road to and from the Main Camp. The road features a mix of flat, rolling, and uneven terrain.

This program is co-sponsored by the Preservation League of New York State.