Forest Bathing a the Kemper Art Museum: Community Mindfulness Program: Wanderings

In Partnership with the Kemper Museum on Washington University Campus

Before stepping into the galleries, we’ll begin outdoors with a sensory-based Forest Bathing experience to awaken awareness and presence. Gentle invitations will help you attune to texture, color, and rhythm, deepening your connection to the art you’re about to encounter.

Just as artists observe the world with intention and care, nature therapy encourages us to deepen our awareness and tune into subtle details. This kind of sensory presence supports nervous system regulation and somatic awareness, helping us move from doing to being. In that quiet space, the mind is free to wander, wonder, and make new connections. These are the very things that fuel imagination and creative engagement. Slowing down in nature can change how we show up in other spaces too, including how we experience and connect with art.

Guided by Jess Thenhaus, a certified Forest and Nature Therapy Guide, this walk will explore the quieter green spaces of Washington University’s Level 3 Arboretum campus and offer a gentle invitation to slow down, reconnect with the senses, and discover how nature can shift the way we see the world around us.

🌿 What to Expect

• A short, guided sensory practice outside the museum.
• Mindful pauses to notice seasonal light, movement, and detail.
• A grounding transition from nature into the art space.