Mindful Birding
October 1 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Mindful birding combines observing birds with mindfulness techniques, creating a practice that incorporates heightened awareness. Labeling or identifying birds is not the primary focus. Instead, the intention is to slow down and notice the world around us, using birds as our guides. During this guided experience, you’ll practice simple mindfulness exercises to engage sensory awareness while intentionally tuning into the birds surrounding you.
Techniques and prompts accompany this gently guided walk and/or “sit spot” experience, which strive to 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 wellbeing. Participants will also be provided “Ornitherapy Journals” and select prompts to increase observation and awareness and provide a takeaway from the experience.
No prior experience with birds or mindfulness practice are necessary to attend.
The benefits of mindful birding:
- Enjoy a reprieve from life stressors and pressures.
- Stimulate and promote a more positive overall wellbeing, mind and body.
- Gain enhanced sensory awareness (sight, sound, smell, touch).
- Better understand birdlife through intentional observation.
- Enhance \observation skills, in turn building a stronger foundation for overall bird identification.
- Increase self-reflection through birds and the natural world.
about the instructor
Holly Merker has a background in art therapy but, today, connects nature and birds to achieve the same result of mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing through her work in nature-based wellness practices. As an award-winning author, mindful birding leader, wellness counselor, mindfulness mentor, podcaster, certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (ANFT), and Forest Therapy Practitioner (FT Hub), Holly offers gently guided experiences that incorporate accessibility and for all skill levels, which are designed to be welcoming and inclusive to all people. Learn more here.
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about the property
Stoneleigh is the public garden of nonprofit Natural Lands. The garden provides joy and well-being for thousands of guests every year through inspiring displays of native plants that support local ecology in a magnificent former Main Line estate.
parking
There is a 63-car asphalt parking lot at the main entrance to the garden at 1829 East County Line Road, Villanova, PA 19085.
guest hours
Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Mondays.
more garden informationbefore you go
- Meet at Pool House.
- Dress for the weather.
- Participants are encouraged to bring a writing implement and binoculars.
- Bring a camera to capture your favorite spaces.
- Service animals are welcome. Pets are not permitted.
- Picnicking at the Catalpa Court pavilion is available as first come, first serve.
- The terrain is relatively level. There is about a mile-and-a-half of porous paved pathways and a mile of asphalt roads that are accessible to people who use strollers, wheelchairs, or other mobility aids.
- Accessible bathrooms are available on-site and will be open.
- This video is a guide to visiting Stoneleigh: a natural garden in Villanova, PA.
- If you are sick or feeling unwell, please stay home.
Registration is required to reserve your spot. Your online registration signifies acceptance of our terms and conditions (read in full below). Questions? Please contact us.
- $30- Natural Lands member ticket
- $35- non-members ticket
- $55- event ticket and a year-long membership to Natural Lands
- $10- ACCESS Cardholder ticket – limited number available.
Event Terms and Conditions
Cancellation
Events may be cancelled due to inclement weather or low registration. In that case, we will make every effort to update our website and contact registrants. Note that we cannot offer refunds of paid registrations or ticket purchases, but rest assured that your donation will help us in our work to save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors.
Communication
Natural Lands (and our co-host if applicable) will use the email address you provided here to let you know details about this event and to keep you up-to-date on other news and happenings. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Photography Policy
Attendance at Natural Lands programs and events constitutes consent to be photographed for use in print and electronic media. Images will not be identified using full names without written approval from the individual. Please notify Natural Lands staff if you would prefer that your photo not be used.
Participant Waiver
By registering for this event, I, as the participant, and/or parent or legal guardian of a minor participant, do hereby understand and acknowledge that by participating, in this, or any, Natural Lands’ event or activity, I am agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless Natural Lands, their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, members, volunteers, employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the “RELEASEES” herein).
I further acknowledge, agree, and represent that I understand the nature of the Program and related Activities and my and/or the Minor’s experience and capabilities, and believe that I and/or the minor are qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such activity. I willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions of participation.
I fully understand that: (a) the Program and related Activities involve risks and dangers of damage to personal property and serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death (“risks”); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by my and/or the Minor’s own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or the negligence of the “releasees” as aforementioned; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I and/or the minor incur as a result of my participation or that of the Minor in the Activity.
I hereby release, discharge, and covenant not to sue Natural Lands or any of their “releasees” from all liability, claims, demands, losses, injuries, damage to property, or other damages on my and/or the minor’s account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the “releasees” or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement I, the Minor, or anyone on the Minor’s behalf makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the releasees from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as the result of such claim.
I have read this Agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by registering for this event, and have done so freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid, the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
