Ornitherapy: A Practice of Mindful Birding

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation is an operating foundation dedicated to sharing the gifts and ideas of Rachel "Bunny" Mellon.  Its mission is to support and inspire fresh thinking and bold action on the history and future of plants, including the art and culture of plants, gardens and landscapes.

Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Join OSGF's Biodiversity Management Team (BMT) and the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) to practice therapeutic mindful birding.

Rokeby Farm - The Granary

O﻿ak Spring Garden Foundation and the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia are pleased to offer a two part therapeutic workshop on mindful birding. The morning workshop will dive deep in the practice of Ornitherapy (mindful birding) and the afternoon session will focus on <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/528645401627" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Forest Bathing with Birds</a>. Participants are welcome to attend both sessions or one respectively. Please note: If you intend to sign up for Ornitherapy (only) or both Ornitherapy AND Forest Bathing, you may purchase your tickets through this event. However, if you only plan to attend Forest Bathing, you must purchase your tickets through the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/528645401627" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Forest Bathing </a>workshop event. Overview: Mindful Birding combines observing birds by sight and sound with mindfulness techniques, creating a practice that incorporates a heightened awareness. Labeling or identifying birds is not the primary focus, but instead, the intention is slowing down and noticing, using birds as our guides. This style of birding holds therapeutic value and amplifies the wellness benefits that observing birds can bring into our lives. This program is designed for people with all skill-levels of observing birds and is a great way to blossom your spring birding experiences.Through guided instruction, participants will practice simple mindfulness exercises to engage our sensory awareness while intentionally tuning into the birds surrounding us. Techniques and prompts called “Ornitherapy Explorations” accompany the gently guided walk, which enhance our observation skills, promoting a deepening of our experiences with birds around us. This in turn amplifies the multitude of benefits birds provide to our overall wellness. Participants will be provided take-home Ornitherapy Journals to increase observation and awareness and take-away techniques to use wherever life takes them. Following the workshop a selection of books from Holly Merker will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Accessibility Information: This program has been developed for most all mobility levels. We will take a slow-paced walk on wide and flat unpaved trails, where we might sit and sometimes stand, for short periods of time as we observe birds. Easy parking and indoor restrooms are on site. What to Bring: For this program, binoculars are not necessary, though some will be available to borrow from the instructor. Please bring sun protection (suggestions: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) and water to hydrate. For Forest Bathing a yoga mat that is easy to carry or small camping stool is encourage. For Ornitherapy you will be given a journal and your choice of pencil or pen, but if you have a favored pen/pencil for writing feel free to bring that along! Consider dressing for the elements and conditions: sturdy closed-toe shoes, layers, wind/rain jacket, etc. Participants are also invited to bring their own lunch for an informal group picnic at 12:30 PM following the conclusion of Ornitherapy. What will be Provided: Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be provided to participants. This event will take place on the Rokeby Farm portion of OSGF. The event will not include a tour of the formal garden, or main residence. Workshop Schedule (subject to change)Morning Session: Ornitherapy: A Practice of Mindful Birding <ul><li>10:00 AM | Introduction to Ornitherapy</li><li>10:30 AM | Walk</li><li>12:30 PM | Lunch</li></ul>Afternoon Session: Forest Bathing with Birds<ul><li>1﻿:00 PM | Introduction to Forest Bathing </li><li>1:30 PM | Walk</li><li>3:00 PM | Tea Ceremony</li><li>3:30 PM | Adjourn</li></ul>A﻿bout the Instructor: Holly Merker is a professional birding guide, writer, and educator who has a background in art therapy, but today uses birds and nature towards the same goals delivering nature-based wellness programs for people of all ages. In her work as an environmental educator and professional birding guide, Holly shares her love of birds guiding for the American Birding Association, National Audubon, Hillstar Nature, and many other organizations. She is also a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (ANFT) and founded The Mindful Birding Network. Holly was the recipient of the 2022 Conservation and Education Award given by the American Birding Association for her work in both those areas of birding. Holly is an author of two books which guide readers into explorations optimizing the wellness benefits research shows that birds provide us, including the award-winning book Ornitherapy: For Your Mind, Body, and Soul (along with Richard Crossley and Sophie Crossley, Crossley Books, 2021) and Die Kraft Der Vogel Beobachtung – “The Power of Birdwatching”, Freya verlag, 2023), coauthored with Dr. Angelika Nelson. In her free time, Holly spends every possible moment practicing Ornitherapy, which she credits in helping defeat breast cancer, restoring her health mentally and physically.About OSGF: The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) is a philanthropic foundation based at the former primary estate of the late Paul and Rachel Mellon, who were major philanthropists in the U.S. of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the second half of the twentieth century. OSGF is located in the northern Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains region (ca. one-hour drive from Washington, D.C.). Led by Sir Peter Crane, the Foundation’s inaugural President, OSGF provides short courses and supports residencies for artists and scholars. Its celebrated Library comprises rare books, manuscripts and works of art relating to horticulture, landscape design, botany and natural history. It is becoming a new center of stimulation of all things botanical, from fundamental research in plant evolution and conservation, to horticultural and plant conservation practice, to the history and art of plants, gardens and landscapes.Availability: Both Ornitherapy and Forest Bathing will be capped at 15 participants. Registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis through Eventbrite until full.

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Ornitherapy: A Practice of Mindful Birding

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Ornitherapy: A Practice of Mindful Birding

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