Sat, Aug 05
|Nell's Woodland
08/05/2023 Forest Bathing Hike with Joe Jakupcak
Forest bathing takes place at a slow, almost meditative pace. Take your time and look around as you stroll along a forest path.
Time & Location
Aug 05, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Nell's Woodland, 2000 Alexis Ave, Ottawa, IL 61350, USA
About the event
*Registration via Eventbrite required*
What is a forest bathing hike?
The term emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a physiological and psychological exercise called shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”). The purpose was twofold: to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests. (National Geographic, 2019)
Forest bathing takes place at a slow, almost meditative pace. Take your time and look around as you stroll along a forest path. Engage your senses and observe your surroundings. Stop every once in a while and sit or look up and all around.
Meet Your Guide
Ottawa native Joe Jakupcak is a hike leader at prominent ecological sites in the Starved Rock region, including at Starved Rock Lodge and Dayton Bluffs Preserve. Joe also is a tour guide at Starved Rock Marina and is the narrator of sightseeing tours on the Ste. Genevieve Riverboat. Joe holds a B.S. in Geology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Masters in Science Education from the University of Missouri Columbia. With a career in science education spanning 40 years, Joe is known for infusing his understanding of geology and passion for teaching into his hikes, all of which are excellent educational opportunities for all ages. We are excited to bring Joe’s extensive knowledge, expertise, and devotion to the ecology of the Starved Rock region to Nell’s Woodland this August!