W STEP OUT: Unloneliness Walk: Forest Bathing at the U.S.National Arboretum, Washington DC

W STEP OUT: DC REGISTER TODAY TO JOIN US!!!  Registration is required to join this event.

Please join us for our next Step Out event, a "Forest Bathing" experience at the U.S. National Arboretum.  This Step Out is your long-awaited and much-needed travel opportunity to meet members of the W Connection community and make new friends.  

What is Forest Bathing?

Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure and heart rate, improved attention, and mood, and hitting the reset button on life. The Japanese have enjoyed shinrin yoku for decades as a regular public health initiative.  We could all use a reset button right now!

This two-hour program encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. During this walk through the beautiful National Arboretum's Holly and Magnolia gardens, our personal guide will be Dr. Paul Jarris, a physician leader in public health, health equity and policy, and wellness.  Paul has been a FONA ( Friends of the National Arboretum)  forest bathing guide for many years.  We are thrilled that he is available to lead our forest-bathing experience at the National Arboretum.  During the walk, he will share with us the science of loneliness and how experiencing and connecting with the beauty of nature can be an antidote to loneliness.  Forest Bathing is another wellness technique that can help empower widows to move forward.   The forest bathing walk consists of three ‘invitations’. Each time our guide will prompt you to reflect on a particular aspect of the natural world around you, give you time to wander and meditate throughout the garden collection, then reconvene to share reflections.

Each forest bathing walk will end with a modified tea ceremony —  small pre-packaged snacks will be provided to close the walk.   This event is for members only.  Cost of Event is $25.00.  All ticket prices directly cover costs for the National Arboretum.  

The W Step Out ends here, however, registered members are in the process of adding some additional get-togethers during the weekend.  Meals, museum-hopping, and possible more!

About Washington, DC: Things to do in DC   Following the W Connection's Forest Bathing experience, you can make this your weekend of healing, social connections, and fun.   Remember there are many free attractions/museums in DC, so this can be a budget-smart vacation. Washington DC is beautiful in the fall and is a city of incredibly diverse flowers, trees and shrubs, diverse architecture, and historic moments. Your Washington DC vacay can include strolling through the many neighborhoods, such as historic Georgetown, visiting the National Cathedral/Bishop's Garden, the spectacular Library of Congress, enjoy food and fun at the Navy Yard, Waterfront, U street/ 14th Street area, or Adams Morgan. to name a few neighborhoods. Walk to the White House at Black Lives Matter Plaza.  Or book the breathtaking monument night tours, catch a show or music at the Kennedy Center or one of the other smaller theaters, and so much more all a weekend to cover yourself with healing and joy and social connections. 

Coming in from out of town?

Hotels: 

• Some of our members have already booked their rooms  at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf.  Another option we know members are considering is Citizen M Capitol Hotel.  Both are conveniently located close to Amtrak, the National Mall, the DC metro, and an Uber ride away to the National Arboretum.

By car: Consider A cost-saving and fun W Connection carpool!

             USE OUR MEMBER DIRECTORY AND reach out to another member nearby and carpool together!!  

Trains:

            Amtrak has early bird rates
 

Planes: https://washington.org/DC-guide-to/washington-dc-airports

            Please book flights early.

            Ronald Reagan National Airport is much closer to DC

            Dulles International Airport is about an hour away from DC

     The meeting place will be provided in your email reminder two days before the event.

IF YOU CAN'T JOIN US LIVE
Find us on our W Connection Facebook Page and see photos from the event. Just click on this link https://www.facebook.com/thewconnection