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Experience Forest Bathing at Audubon Wednesday, July 20

Submitted Photo Audubon Community Nature Center offers an opportunity to escape one’s usual stress and learn a practice that can be used on one’s own. Emily Hampton, an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs certified guide, is leading a morning of forest bathing on Wednesday, July 20.

The Audubon Community Nature Center will host a forest bathing experience from 9:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, July 20.

Also known as forest therapy, forest bathing is a slow, mindful immersion in nature.

During this time, those attending will move through the forest and other natural areas and connect with the environment. The guide, Emily Hampton, uses “invitations” (voluntary activities) to invite guests to engage all their senses and “take in” the forest.

Forest bathing is not a hike or a plant identification walk. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

Hampton is an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) certified guide. The Chautauqua County native is a graduate of Stanford University and a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Hampton is also a certified yoga teacher and Nidra meditation teacher.

Come prepared to be outdoors. Long pants and long sleeves, insect repellent, and sunscreen are recommended.

This event will take place in light rain. If stormy situations with thunder and lightning prevail, it will be moved to Thursday, July 21, at the same time.

Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. Fee is $30; $22.50 for Nature Center members.

Paid reservations are required by Monday, July 18, by calling 716-569-2345 during business hours or by going to AudubonCNC.org and clicking on “Upcoming Programs.” Walk-ins will be accepted if there is room.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Visit the 600-acre nature preserve and see Liberty, the non-releasable Bald Eagle, enjoy the native tree arboretum, gardens, picnic area, natural play space and hike the six miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free.

The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, the 2021 Nature Photography Contest winners, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.

To learn more about Audubon and its programs, call 716-569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org. Entries to the 2022 Nature Photography Contest and votes for the Community Choice winners can be made at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest.

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