Madeleine Gerdes

Certified Forest Therapy Guide

Growing up in a mountain cabin overlooking Lake Tahoe, my shoe-less siblings and I had the run of the forest and slept outside under the stars. Our mom pointed out low-to-the-ground violets, had us inhale the warm butterscotch scent of Jeffrey Pines, and locate where we were based on the sounds around us when exploring out in the woods.

I had no idea that the slow observation and immersion in the woods Mom taught us had a name until 2019 when I was gifted the book “The Joy of Forest Bathing, Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life. “ It’s called Forest Bathing!  This book inspired me to become a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) in 2020.

I primarily guide forest bathing outings in the Santa Cruz Mountains and city parks of Silicon Valley. My husband and I are trail patrol volunteers with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space and enjoy chatting with hikers, bikers and equestrians. When I’m not hiking or forest bathing I’m usually puttering around in my garden.

Prior to certifying as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide I worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer in Silicon Valley.  I know first hand how spending the entire day in an office or lab, face in front of a computer screen, deadlines looming, takes a toll on mental and physical health. Go ahead, give yourself permission to get out and enjoy what even just a little time in nature will do for you.

madabouttheforest@gmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/madabouttheforest/