Field Trip Leader Bios
Read all the biographies here.
A special note about Field Trips
Please arrive at the location indicated 20 minutes prior to your scheduled event. This will allow us time to check you in and ensure the trip leaves promptly. We ask that you follow your field trip leader from the meeting location to the final destination. Anyone arriving after the field trip leader has left may not be able to join the group. Walk-in registration may be available for some events during the weekend of the Festival.
Weather may change a trip's itinerary, but most trips will be conducted rain or shine. The weather in the valley during January is variable. It is generally cold and sometimes rainy, with daytime highs ranging from 50F to 65F.
Be sure to bring the following on your field trips: rain gear, waterproof footwear, layered clothing, binoculars, camera, field identification guide, water and snack or lunch as needed. Please also check out the Tips & Etiquette below to help you enjoy your day to the fullest.
Tips & Etiquette for Bird Watchers
To make your trip more enjoyable for yourself and others, we ask you to please use these following etiquette tips:
- Wear clothing suitable for the weather and area you'll be hiking in. It's practical to layer clothing to accommodate fluctuations in temperature. Wear comfortable shoes that have a good grip and are waterproof when necessary. You may want to take sunscreen, a hat or rain gear.
- Bring binoculars or a scope for a better viewing experience.
- Bring water on long outings to stay hydrated.
- Bring a Field Guide if you are interested in learning more about the birds you see. If you are a beginning birder, look for a guide that specializes in birds of northern California.
- Be courteous to other explorers. Stay with your group and pay attention to your trip leader. Walk quietly and slowly. Do not disrupt animals or damage their habitats (breaking branches, trampling vegetation). Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices. If you are taking children with you, explain to them proper etiquette before the trip. Always behave in a manner that will enhance the image of the birding communities in the eyes of the public.
- Tune up your senses and listen carefully. Scan the horizon and tree canopies. Look to the ground for prints, feathers and other traces of wildlife. Please remove litter and leave natural items where they belong. This will keep it enjoyable for others when they visit.
- No dogs or pets allowed on any Snow Goose Festival event, workshop, or program. Please leave Fido with friends or family and not in the car during a field trip.
Field Trip: Forest Therapy - Hooker Oak
$25 Adult; $10 Youth
Saturday, Jan 27, 2024 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Meet at Patrick Ranch Museum (Map)
Mostly birding by car and/or easy walking
Description
Forest Therapy is designed to support health and wellness through guided immersions in natural environments to promote the well-being of both people and the land. Inspired by Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of "Forest Bathing," Forest Therapy has been proven to enhance health, wellness, and happiness.
Forest Therapy is an opportunity to slow down and experience the natural world through your senses. During your guided immersion, a certified guide will offer a series of invitations to deepen your sensory experience and assist you in finding your own authentic way of interacting with the land. There is no right or wrong way to do it; just come and be yourself. It's all welcome in the forest. Forest Therapy experiences finish with tea made from wild-harvested forest herbs and snacks. Studies from around the world have shown that Forest Therapy can:
- Reduce cortisol and adrenaline levels.
- Enhance immune system function by increasing the production of natural killer cells.
- Improve respiratory and cardiovascular function.
- Decrease anxiety and depression.
- Improve mood, focus, academic performance, and creativity.
Field Trip Leader
Josh Trout
I became interested (more like obsessed) with wellness after nearly dying from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever when I was 8. Today, I promote physical activity as a Kinesiology Professor, but I am growing more interested in the need for mental wellness and rest. I love how Nature isn't rushed and I want more of that feeling. After every Forest Therapy walk, I'm just a better version of myself for the next several days. I have more of a calm, clear, and decisive demeanor that makes life easier and more pleasurable.
Josh Trout's Events
- Forest Therapy - Hooker Oak (1/27/2024)