Spring on Sugarloaf Mountain (Smithsonian Associates)
2024-05-22 10:00 - 13:30, 2024-05-23 10:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | DC
Natural beauty and fascinating history await this spring. Spend a day hiking to the summit of Washington, D.C.’s local mountain, a natural treasure less than an hour’s drive from the city. The picturesque and rocky Sugarloaf offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside of Montgomery and Frederick counties in Maryland.
Guided by popular study leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley, learn about the mountain’s plants and wildlife, seasonal changes, geology, and history. Spend time on the summit, composed of pink quartzite and forested with uncommon table mountain pines and mountain laurel, for a light lunch and a bit of forest bathing.
In addition to the deep dive into the flora and fauna of our local monadnock, get insights into two remarkable preservation stories:

Gordon Strong’s lifelong mission to save Sugarloaf Mountain from development and keep it open for public enjoyment and education under the administration of Stronghold, a nonprofit corporation.
Montgomery County’s innovative 93,000-acre farmland preservation area known as the Agricultural Reserve.

Hikers also hear tales about how plans for Sugarloaf Mountain by two of the 20th century’s most formidable personalities, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Frank Lloyd Wright, were thwarted.
Choukas-Bradley spent 20 years living near the base of Sugarloaf in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve and has authored two books about the mountain: one about its trees and wildflowers, and the other Sugarloaf: The Mountain’s History, Geology and Natural Lore.
Know Before You Go

Tour participants meet on site at the West View parking lot, Sugarloaf Mountain Drive, Dickerson, Maryland.
Important Note: Tour participants must be in good physical condition to hike the steep trail to the summit, which includes a long set of stone steps. Total hike distance is less than 1 ½ miles, and many stops are made en route. Hiking shoes required.
Lunch is not included; please pack your own food to enjoy on the summit.
The tour is limited to 20 participants.

Additional Date Options for this Tour

May 22
May 23

General Information

Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Monday, May 20, 2024.
Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
For additional tour information:

Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

Forest Bathing: A Guided Walk along the Rio Grande River Trail
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-22 | DC
The beauty and wonder of nature and trees can produce mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. Guided forest bathing, or forest therapy, is said to lower blood pressure, pulse rate, and cortisol levels; improve mood; and may even boost our immunity. Join us for morning walks along the Rio Grande River Trail to experience the benefits of this healing practice for yourself and to learn the history and background of forest bathing with author, naturalist, and certified forest therapy guide Melanie Choukas-Bradley.

Buy your pass here.

Author Talk - Wild Walking: A Guide to Forest Bathing through the Seasons
2024-07-10 19:00 - 20:00 | DC
Join Capital Nature co-founder Ana Ka’ahanui for a talk with local author, naturalist, certified forest bathing guide and Capital Nature advisor Melanie Choukas-Bradley. Melanie will talk about her newly released book, Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, sharing a brief history and description of forest bathing and its many health benefits. Melanie will be joined by other DC-area guides as they describe the special joys and opportunities for forest bathing in the DMV during the summer months.
Wild Walking is the re-release of Melanie’s original book The Joy of Forest Bathing, complete with updated design and illustrations. The new edition is available on Amazon and at Politics & Prose as of June 4th. Hear Melanie on the health benefits of forest bathing during a recent Pensacola NPR affiliate story and interview. You can learn more about DC-area forest bathing and sign up for an upcoming walk with Ana and other area certified guides here.

Theodore Roosevelt's North Dakota: Badlands, Bison, and the Making of a Conservationist - Register with Smithsonian Associates
2024-09-14 - 2024-09-18 | DC
Fly west and experience the wild beauty of the Dakota Territory that shaped young Theodore Roosevelt’s course as a conservationist and naturalist.
Register Here.

In 1883, Theodore Roosevelt looked to the Badlands of western North Dakota as a place where he could transform himself from an asthmatic 24-year-old New Yorker into a big-game hunter, rancher, and authentic cowboy. A year later, it took on new meaning as a place of refuge and solace after the deaths of his wife and mother.
Over the course of the more than three decades he lived or visited there, the Badlands did indeed transform Roosevelt into the kind of vigorous outdoorsman that he’d idealized as a youth—and that shaped his public image as president. Perhaps more importantly, this corner of the West turned him into a passionate conservationist dedicated to the preservation of the rugged landscapes and native wildlife of the place he described as “where the romance of my life began.”
Experience those landscapes—filled with dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—on a 5-day study tour led by author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.
The tour begins in Bismarck with a welcome dinner and introduction by the tour staff. The following morning, travel by bus to the historic town of Medora, where the Rough Riders Hotel (the modern incarnation of an inn where TR once stayed) provides a base for the group. Over the course of the next days, explore the north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by bus and on foot, as well as the site of Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch along the Little Missouri River (easy and moderate hiking options offered). Clay Jenkinson, Theodore Roosevelt Humanities Scholar at Dickinson State University’s Theodore Roosevelt Center, and National Park Service rangers offer insights into Roosevelt’s pivotal years in the Badlands and the area’s natural history.
Say farewell to North Dakota with an intimate private reception and a performance by local musician Jessie Veeder at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora.
The next morning, the return trip to Bismarck includes a stop

If the Forest Could Talk, What Would It Say? Symposium
2024-10-01 18:30 - 20:30 | The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St, Bethesda MD
Register Here.

The Writer’s Center

You’re invited to the opening symposium of “If The Forest Could Talk, What Would It Say?” by DC-based artist Sophia McCrocklin. Speakers include: Sophia McCrocklin, Rock Creek Conservancy, Jeanne Braha, Executive Director of Rock Creek Conservancy, Brian Joyner of Rock Creek Park, Josh Tulkin of MD Sierra Club, and author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley. Join us as we celebrate the beautiful yet fragile forests of Rock Creek Park.

Register Here.

An Immersion in Nature Japanese Forest Bathing, Urban Style
2024-10-08 08:30 - 10:30 | DC
Register here
Shinrin-yoku (translated as “forest bathing”) began in Japan in the 1980s. Rooted in Shinto and Buddhist traditions of reverence for nature, the practice involves a full sensory immersion in the outdoors. Health studies conducted in Japan, Europe, North America, and elsewhere around the world, document the mental and physical health benefits of quiet time spent in nature, including lowered blood pressure and stress hormone levels, as well as improved mood and cognition. Many recent studies are focused on the health benefits of time spent in natural landscapes within cities.
Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide and author of several nature books, including Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, leads a 2-hour walk in the Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle. Move slowly to soak up the beauty of the Moongate Garden, inspired by the Chinese Temple of Heaven; the Fountain Garden, modeled after the Court of the Lions at the Alhambra; and the Victorian Parterre. This unique and restorative celebration of the beauty of autumn in one of the garden gems of the nation’s capital is the perfect way to learn why forest bathing is becoming popular all over the world.
All participants receive a signed copy of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons (Rock Point).
Know Before You Go
Tour participants meet at the entrance to the S. Dillon Ripley Center (1100 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC).
Additional Date Options for this Tour
October 9
General Information
Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Monday, October 7, 2024.
Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.

Autumn Splendor in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve
2024-10-25 08:00 - 19:30 | DC
Register here
Just a few miles from Washington, D.C., lies a rural oasis that rivals the English countryside. Spend an autumn day exploring the scenic 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve in Maryland’s Montgomery County, designed as a means to preserve farmland and rural space in the northwestern part of the county. Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a longtime resident of the reserve, serves as guide and introduces some of her favorite places in this close-in slice of paradise at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Along the way, hear two remarkable stories of preservation: Gordon Strong’s lifelong mission to save Sugarloaf Mountain from development and keep it open for public enjoyment and education and Montgomery County’s innovative farmland preservation program, which has served as a model for agricultural areas throughout the world.
Visit historic farms and meet farmers who will discuss the progressive methods they use to bring fruits, vegetables, and agricultural products to local markets. The morning includes visits to Kingsbury Orchard and Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, where you meet the people who provide care, rehabilitation, and sanctuary to abused, abandoned, and neglected farm animals—plus wildlife—at the 400-acre refuge. You also meet some of the animals, who include sheep, goats, rabbits, and pigs. After lunch, visit local Morningstar Studio, home to artist Tina Brown, before taking an autumnal walk on one of Montgomery County’s picturesque trails. Wrap up the day at Shepherd’s Hey Farm, known for its longwool sheep, and enjoy local cider, wine, and cheese.
A local lunch is included.
Know Before You Go
The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
Tour participants meet at and leave by bus the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St. NW, with a pickup stop at the Giant Food, 5320 Zenith Overlook, Bethesda, MD, at about 8:15 a.m.
Tour includes lunch and afternoon refreshments.
The tour involves a short, flat hike, plus walking and standing at most sites.
General Information
Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
Register here

Poetry Workshop: Rock Creek Park—Your Wild Home
2024-10-30 10:00 - 13:00 | The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St, Bethesda MD
Register Here.
Explore Rock Creek Park with Melanie Choukas-Bradley and turn that inspiration into poetry with the guidance of Ann Quinn.
Class will start with a ramble through the northern floodplains of Rock Creek Park to observe natural phenomena with naturalist, author, and poet Melanie Choukas-Bradley. After an intermezzo to travel to The Writer’s Center, poet and popular poetry instructor Ann Quinn will lead the class in a poetry workshop in a room filled with art that evokes Rock Creek’s forests. Note: the class will begin at Rock Creek Park. Specific directions will be emailed to registrants.
In-person class: This workshop will take place in Rock Creek Park and at The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St, Bethesda MD.
Register Here.

Forest Bathing Fall Walk at Tregaron Conservancy with Melanie Choukas-Bradley
2024-11-15 09:30 - 12:30 | DC
Register Here:
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a fall forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006. We will meander under tall trees in autumn glory, cross picturesque bridges over musical streams, and climb stone steps through a century-old cultivated and wild woodland landscape reminiscent of “the secret garden.” Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in the 1980s in Japan and it is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for nature. Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice akin to meditation, yoga and tai chi that involves tuning in to the beauty and wonder of your natural surroundings with all of your senses. Melanie is a nature and forest therapy guide with certification from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides & Programs and she has participated in guided shinrin-yoku walks throughout Japan. She will guide you on a calming and rejuvenating walk through the Tregaron woodland with plenty of time to slow down and soak up the beauty of this enchanting wild garden, one of the best kept secrets in our city.
Meet at the iron gate entrance on Klingle Road, NW. Please note there is another entrance to the Conservancy on Macomb Street, NW and also pedestrian access from the Rock Creek Park Klingle Valley Trail.
Register Here:

Rock Creek Park, Your Wild Home
2024-11-25 18:00 - 20:00 | The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St, Bethesda MD
Register Here.
Rock Creek is central to our community’s quality of life. Join this panel discussion, moderated by Representative Jamie Raskin, to learn more about the connections between green space and our well-being. We will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of Melanie Choukas-Bradley’s “A Year in Rock Creek Park,” which vividly illustrates the power of a nearby wild home. The book’s photographs are by Susan Austin Roth. Melanie and author, physician, and microbiome expert Dr. Robynne Chutkan will join the panel.
This program will take place amidst the artwork of Sophia McCrocklin, celebrating the fragile forests of Rock Creek Park, on display at the Writers Center in Bethesda from September 12 – December 11.
Register Here.

Theodore Roosevelt's North Dakota: Badlands, Bison, and the Making of a Conservationist In-Person Program (Smithsonian Associates)
2025-10-10 18:00 - 2025-10-14 12:30 | DC
In 1883, Theodore Roosevelt looked to the Badlands of western North Dakota as a place where he could transform himself from an asthmatic 24-year-old New Yorker into a big-game hunter, rancher, and authentic cowboy. A year later, it took on new meaning as a place of refuge and solace after the deaths of his wife and mother.
Over the course of the more than three decades he lived or visited there, the Badlands did indeed transform Roosevelt into the kind of vigorous outdoorsman that he’d idealized as a youth—and that shaped his public image as president. Perhaps more importantly, this corner of the West turned him into a passionate conservationist dedicated to the preservation of the rugged landscapes and native wildlife of the place he described as “where the romance of my life began.”
Experience those landscapes—filled with dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—on a 5-day study tour led by author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.
The tour begins in Bismarck with a welcome dinner and introduction by the tour staff. The following morning, travel by bus to the historic town of Medora, where the Rough Riders Hotel (the modern incarnation of an inn where TR once stayed) provides a base for the group. Over the course of the next days, explore the north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by bus and on foot, as well as the site of Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch along the Little Missouri River (easy and moderate hiking options offered). Clay Jenkinson, Theodore Roosevelt Humanities Scholar at Dickinson State University’s Theodore Roosevelt Center, and National Park Service rangers offer insights into Roosevelt’s pivotal years in the Badlands and the area’s natural history.
Say farewell to North Dakota with a private reception and a performance by local musician Jessie Veeder at the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora.
The next morning, the return trip to Bismarck includes a stop at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum before your transfer to the airport.
Know Before You Go
Program begins Friday, October 10, at 6 p.m. with dinner in Bismarck and ends Tuesday, October 14, with a midday transfer to Bismarck Airport (tentative 12 p.m.).
Cost includes 4 nights of accommodations, bus transportation, services of a study leader and Smithsonian representative, 10 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), gratuities, taxes, and entrance fees. An airport shuttle is provided by the hotel.
Single-room supplement $325 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Non-Member pricing).
Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
Once participants are registered, additional information will be sent via email. For questions, please call the tours office at 202-633-8599. We highly suggest registrants consider personal trip insurance. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
Travel information: Flights are not included; participants make independent flight arrangements to Bismarck, North Dakota. Round-trip fares typically range from $400 to $600 from Washington-area airports; American, United, and Delta serve this route.
Important note: Once the tour has reached its minimum registration, participants will be notified and encouraged to purchase airline tickets.
General Information
Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
For additional tour information:
Study Tour Policies
Refund/Cancellation Policy

Politics & Prose WALKING TOUR: A Mystical Forest Bathing Walk at Tregaron Conservancy
2025-10-31 09:30 - 12:30 | Tregaron Conservancy, 3031 Klingle Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
Photo by Jennifer Packard

Halloween is a mystical time in many cultural traditions, midway between the fall equinox and winter solstice. Get yours off to a serene start with a magical morning walk.
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, The Joy of Forest Bathing, A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a fall forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006. We will meander under tall trees in autumn glory, cross picturesque bridges over musical streams, and climb stone steps through a century-old cultivated and wild woodland landscape reminiscent of “the secret garden.”
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in the 1980s in Japan and it is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for nature. Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice akin to meditation, yoga and tai chi that involves tuning in to the beauty and wonder of your natural surroundings with all of your senses.
Melanie is a nature and forest therapy guide with certification from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides & Programs and she has participated in guided shinrin-yoku walks throughout Japan. She will guide you on a calming and rejuvenating walk through the Tregaron woodland with plenty of time to slow down and soak up the beauty of this enchanting wild garden, one of the best kept secrets in our city.
Sign up Here.
@politicsprose

A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island (Smithsonian Associates )
2025-11-04 08:30 - 11:30, 2025-11-05 08:30 - 11:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island
Enjoy a fall morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C.
Choukas-Bradley shares an overview of the landscape’s fascinating mix of trees, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife and highlights the island’s history and the legacy of the naturalist and conservationist president it memorializes. The morning also includes pauses for moments of guided forest bathing to quietly soak up the beauty of this wild island near the capital city.
Register Here.

A Fall Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island (Smithsonian Associates)
2025-11-06 08:30 - 11:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island

Politics & Prose: IN-PERSON CLASS AND NATURE STROLL: Let Nature Be Your Superpower - Cultivating Resilience and Wisdom in Everyday Life
2025-11-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902
Lecture and Discussion Followed by Nature Exploration and Book Signing.
These days it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected. Yet when our lives feel fractured and our prospects uncertain, we can tap into a powerful source of wisdom and resilience: Nature. In this class you will learn how to strengthen and deepen your connection with Nature in everyday ways that will comfort and inspire. We’ll explore how to tap into the interconnected relationships and extraordinary attributes of Nature’s flora and fauna – and discover the many ways this can empower you. Our instructor will share lessons she has learned from her own Nature connections as well as the latest health research on the mental and physical benefits of spending time in Nature. Together as a class, we’ll share our ideas and practices, collectively recognizing and celebrating what may be our greatest and most under-appreciated superpower: Nature.
After the class discussion, we’ll head outdoors for a guided exploration of the gardens and hands-on exercises that will deepen your connection with Nature.
Register Here.
@politicsprose

Rock Creek Park: A Virtual Exploration (Smithsonian Associates )
2025-11-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is the oldest urban national park in the country and covers twice the size of New York’s Central Park. This forested gem running through the heart of Washington, D.C., has delighted residents long before it was declared a national park by an act of Congress in 1890—and continues to offer a welcome destination for outdoor lovers.
Drawing on vivid photographs and her knowledge of Rock Creek Park through the seasons, author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley introduces the story and natural history of a national park landscape as old as Yosemite. Learn about the Indigenous peoples who hunted, fished, and quarried on the land; the presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, who enjoyed recreation here; and the flora and fauna that find a wild refuge in their urban surroundings.
Register Here.

Washington Through the Seasons: A Naturalist's Journey (Smithsonian Associates)
2026-03-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
The splendor of springtime in Washington is world-renowned, owing largely to the Japanese flowering cherry trees that have encircled the Tidal Basin for over a century. Yet the cherry blossoms are a single aspect of the city’s spectacular flowering spring, and spring is only one of the city’s vibrant seasons.
Smithsonian Associates tour guide, naturalist, and nature-book author Melanie Choukas-Bradley leads a virtual journey of seasonal transformation in and around the nation’s capital.
Register Here.

Nature Forward: Bluebells and Budbreak at Boundary Bridge
2026-04-03 09:00 - 13:00 | Boundary Bridge at Rock Creek Park
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Location: Boundary Bridge, Rock Creek Park
Members $35; nonmembers $49
We’re delighted that the author of the award-winning book A Year in Rock Creek Park, and the critically acclaimed City of Trees, will offer her 20th year of Nature Forward walks in the country’s oldest urban national park. Under her expert guidance, you will witness the start of the annual floral miracle of Virginia bluebells in the floodplain forest, while the buds of the tulip tree and American beech swell to bursting. We’ll hope to catch the earliest spring ephemerals in bud or in bloom—bloodroot, spring beauties, trout lily, wild ginger, and cut-leafed toothwort, among others, as we explore both floodplain and upland woods at a leisurely pace. We’ll do a bit of “forest bathing.” Melanie is also author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons. Throughout, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for belted kingfishers, wood ducks, migrant songbirds, and tiny spring peeper frogs. Expect some uphill/downhill on natural surface trails which may be muddy and/or slippery. Please note: There are no restrooms at our meeting place or along the route.
REGISTER HERE.

A Spring Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island (Smithsonian Associates)
2026-04-08 08:30 - 11:30, 2026-04-09 08:30 - 11:30, 2026-04-10 08:30 - 11:30 | Theodore Roosevelt Island

Nature Forward: Tree Walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island
2026-05-01 09:30 - 12:30 | Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Field Trips & Walks
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $35; nonmembers $49
Usher in the merry month of May with a springtime nature stroll on the trails and boardwalk of DC’s Theodore Roosevelt Island! Join long-time field trip leader and author of the award-winning Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island, City of Trees, Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, and several other nature books, for a May Day exploration of this 90-acre island in the Potomac River. The scenic island serves as a fitting memorial to our conservationist and naturalist 26th President – and Nature Forward (then-Audubon Naturalist Society) member. This springtime tree walk will take you deep into the island, where swamp and tidal inlet can be explored by boardwalk as willow, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of the city beyond it. We’ll see basswoods, sycamores, cottonwoods, silver maples, pawpaws and many other tree species decked out in their freshest greens as we look for herons, ospreys and songbirds. In addition to sharing her knowledge and love of the island’s trees, Melanie will share details of this National Park’s
fascinating history. We’ll also do a bit of forest bathing next to a tidal inlet. Expect a flat walk of nearly two miles at a leisurely pace. Our circuit walk will traverse natural surface trails as well as boardwalk, both of which may be muddy and/or slippery. The island lies under the flight path of Reagan National Airport and so frequent planes passing may present challenges for those who are sound sensitive.
Register Here.

Casey Trees: Spring Tree Walk in Rock Creek Park with Melanie Choukas-Bradley
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Piece Mill, 2401 Tilden Street Northwest, Washington, DC, DC, 20008, United States
Join us for a historic, scenic tree walk through Rock Creek Park, led by author and naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley.
More than twice the size of Central Park and the oldest urban national park in the U.S., Rock Creek Park is an 85% forested gem coursing through the heart of our city.
Join Casey Trees and nature book author Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a three-hour tree walk along scenic Rock Creek and through the upland woods of the Western Ridge Trail.
Melanie will show you how to identify American hornbeam, American elm, river birch, American sycamore, boxelder, black walnut and other stalwarts of the floodplain forest. She’ll then lead us into the upland woods where several species of oak, including DC’s official tree, the scarlet oak and a large spreading post oak, mockernut and pignut hickories, American beeches, and sugar and red maples flourish.
While gazing into the boughs of DC’s official tree we’ll listen for DC’s official bird, the wood thrush, recently returned from Central America. We’ll begin our tree walk near historic Peirce Mill, an early 19th century gristmill, and walk past an heirloom orchard and a fish ladder built to assist migrating herring.
During our walk we’ll stand on Boulder Bridge, built in 1902, and gaze at the precise spot where President Theodore Roosevelt scaled a wall during his famous rock scrambles.
The walk should take approximately 3 hours and cover a little over 2 miles with moderate elevation change. In the case of light rain, we will proceed as planned. However, in the case of heavy rain or thunderstorms, the rain date is Sunday, May 3, at the same time and place.
Meeting Place: We’ll meet at Picnic Grove #1, just south of Peirce Mill, at 9:45 am to start the walk by 10 am.
Parking and Public Transportation: Limited parking is available at Picnic Grove #1. The Cleveland Park Metro station is a 15-20 minute walk away and the Van Ness-UDC Metro station is a 25-30 minute walk.
What to Expect: While it will be an easy-paced walk, please note that there will be uneven surfaces and perhaps muddy areas.
What to Bring: We recommend clothes to protect you from the sun and closed-toed shoes that are comfortable for walking. Bring water, snacks, and wear sunscreen, a hat, and tick/mosquito protection.
Restrooms: Restrooms are available at the start and close of the walk.
Cancellations: If you are no longer able to attend, please let us know so others may attend.
Youth Attendees: Youth attendees may participate with an adult present. However, the content is designed for adults and may not be appropriate for youth.
Animals: Please no animals, except for service animals.
Register Here.

Politics & Prose: WALKING TOUR: A Magical Spring Forest Bathing Walk at Tregaron Conservancy
2026-05-29 09:30 - 12:30 | Tregaron Conservancy, 3031 Klingle Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
Join Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons, The Joy of Forest Bathing, A Year in Rock Creek Park, and several other nature books for a magical spring forest bathing walk through the enchanting Tregaron Conservancy, a woodland garden tucked away in the midst of northwest Washington that has been restored and stewarded by a non-profit organization since 2006. We will meander under tall trees in autumn glory, cross picturesque bridges over musical streams, and climb stone steps through a century-old cultivated and wild woodland landscape reminiscent of “the secret garden.”
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, began in the 1980s in Japan and it is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for nature. Forest bathing is a mindfulness practice akin to meditation, yoga and tai chi that involves tuning in to the beauty and wonder of your natural surroundings with all of your senses.
Sign Up Here.

Smithsonian Associates: An Immersion in Nature: Japanese Forest Bathing in Rock Creek Park
2026-06-04 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-06-05 08:30 - 10:30 | Rock Creek Park
Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide and author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons and A Year in Rock Creek Park, leads a 2-hour walk along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek in the nation’s oldest urban national park. Move slowly to soak up the beauty of the flowing creek and the lush June greens of the bountiful trees. Focus on the sights, sounds, and woodsy fragrances of Rock Creek Park, letting go of cares while slowly exploring the surroundings through all senses. This restorative celebration of the beauty of late spring in the wooded heart of the nation’s capital is the perfect way to learn why forest bathing is becoming popular all over the world.
Register Here.
Code: 1CSA02
Location:
Tour meets at Picnic Grove 6 in Rock
Creek Park, located along
Beach Drive NW, Washington, DC

Springsong Museum: Living Landscapes: 2026 Fall Hike with Springsong
2026-09-18 09:30 - 12:00 | Springsong Museum
Forest Bathing Walk at Springsong with Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Free with registration (limited to 15 participants)
🗓 Friday, September 18, 2026
🕤 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Nourish your sense of wonder during a September morning forest bathing walk in the Northwest Branch gorge adjacent to the Springsong Museum site. We will walk slowly and pause often as we explore the upland woods and streamside of cascading Northwest Branch. Forest bathing is a practice that began in Japan in the 1980s and celebrates the beauty and wonder of nature in a way that aligns with Rachel Carson’s views of the world. During our walk we will tune in to each of our senses as we open our hearts to the beauty of spring in the gorge. Wear shoes or boots with good tread and prepare for some rock scrambling in the stream valley during a slow walk of about a mile. We will go ahead in light rain but postpone if rain is heavy or thunderstorms are likely.
Walk leader Melanie Choukas-Bradley is a certified nature and forest therapy guide who has participated in forest bathing walks with shinrin-yoku guides in Japan. She is the author of Wild Walking—A Guide to Forest Bathing Through the Seasons and several other nature books. Melanie has been leading nature walks in the DC area for many years.
Important details:
📍 Starting Point: Meet at Burnt Mills East (Trader Joe’s side): 10701 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20901. There is plenty of free parking.
There are no water fountains available, so you may want to bring a water bottle.
The ground can be uneven, parts are on an incline, and there are a few rock scrambles, so wear hiking boots or other sturdy shoes. Some may want to bring hiking poles.
The hike will be approximately 1 mile, but the trail goes much farther, so if you want to extend your hike, you can do that independently.
Bring your sense of wonder! We will hike at a naturalist’s pace, stopping often and taking notice of the world around us.
Dress accordingly for chilly, warm or rainy conditions.

Rock Creek Park Tree Tour with Melanie Choukas-Bradley
2026-09-26 10:00 - 12:00 | DC
Join naturalist and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley for a guided walk through the rich landscapes of Rock Creek Park. This immersive tour invites participants to slow down and observe the intricate relationships between native trees, understory plants, and wildlife. Drawing on her deep knowledge of the region, Melanie will show you how to identify many of the park’s venerable trees, highlight seasonal changes, ecological connections, and the cultural history embedded in this urban forest. Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or simply curious, this walk offers a chance to deepen your connection to nature and gain a new appreciation for one of DC’s most treasured green spaces.
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