Tag: Plants

In order to participate in this program, please email olivia@smithcenter.org.

We have limited spots available for the 8-week Strolls for Well-Being at Brookside Gardens program beginning in September. These spots are first-come-first-served. For more information about the program, please read below.

Strolls for Well-Being is an evidence based program that promotes emotional healing through focused time spent in nature. Drawing on psychological principles such as mindfulness as well as practices like shinrin-yoku (Japanese “forest bathing”), this eight-week program is a balm for anyone struggling with difficult questions, suffering from stress or trauma, or seeking greater peace and fulfillment.

Program:

Over the course of 8 weeks, participants:
1) Participate in a facilitated group meeting, where they receive an introduction to the program as well as the beautiful full-color, 110-page guided journal that will guide them on their emotional journey
(journals are available in English or Spanish);
2) Complete 12 walks individually in various areas of Brookside Gardens, with their journal and on their own schedule. Each stroll has its own theme, reflected in the journal with readings & writing prompts;
3) Meet again with their group at the middle and end of the program to share insights and learn about others’ experiences;
4) Finish the program with a sense of renewal and an appreciation for the healing power of nature!

Benefits:

Survey data using the PANAS and PGIS scales shows that participants in the Strolls for Well-Being at Brookside Gardens finish the program with:
• More positive emotions and fewer negative emotions than before
• Increased motivation to grow and change in their lives

Session Dates:

You may choose from three scheduling options for the group meetings at the beginning, middle, and end of the program. The sessions will be held at the Brookside Gardens Visitor Center (1800 Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton). Meetings will be facilitated in English, though guided journals are available in English or Spanish.

  • Saturdays | Sept 9, Oct 7, and Nov 4 10:00 – 11:30 am
  • OR Tuesdays | Sept 26, Oct 24, and Nov 14 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
  • OR Wednesdays | Sept 27, Oct 25, and Nov 15 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

In order to participate in this program, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing olivia@smithcenter.org.

with April Thompson

Come prepare for the zombie apocalypse by learning about nutritious delicious plants growing right from the sidewalk cracks from urban forager, food writer and instructor April Thompson. In this hands-on in-person workshop, you will take a short U Street stroll and learn how to safely identify and incorporate several common wild urban plants in your diet. Afterward, you will get a roundup of resources for participants interested in continuing their knowledge of foraging and cooking with wild foods.
The class will meet in-person at Smith Center (1632 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009) at 6pm ET.
You are not expected to bring anything to class, but you *could* bring a plant from your yard that you are curious about!
Suggested Donation: $10

About April Thompson

April Thompson is a Washington, DC-based writer, gardener, foodie, and forager. Working as a freelance writer for more than 20 years, April has covered food, travel, sustainability, gardening, foraging, and other subjects for
dozens of publications, including her ongoing column in Natural Awakenings magazine. She has taught workshops on foraging, fighting food waste, and related topics for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Crash Course DC, Rooting DC, AirBNB Experiences and other organizations. She is a founding member of the Bruce Monroe Community Garden, the culinary chair of the Mycological Association of Washington, and an alum of the UDC Master Gardener program. She is licensed to sell wild foraged mushrooms in several states via a wild mushroom certification overseen by Mushroom Mountain.