3rd Annual Fall Hiking Challenge

September 1st through November 30th we encourage you to hike 10 (or more) miles in Wooster Memorial Park.
This year members with children will all receive their prizes for getting out and enjoying the park!

To Participate
1. Sign up online at www.friendsofwmp.com
2. Download participation form and map, or pick up a copy at the Silver Rd. entrance (while supplies last).
3. Hike at least 10 miles of trails in the park between September 1 and November 30 to receive your prize.
4. Keep track of your progress on your participation form - use guide on map to calculate miles.
5. Once you’ve completed a minimum of 10 miles of trails, bring your completed form to any of our great upcoming events.

See poster or go to website for more info!

Night Hike and Campfire

Come view the autumn stars and a nearly full moon. The moon provides plenty of light to hike by if clouds don't get in the way. Come to enjoy the campfire and/or hike.

These group hikes are brought to you by Friends of Wooster Memorial Park (www.friendsofwmp.com) and are open to the public. Event will begin at the Education Parking Area at 7pm. Come prepared for the weather and to have a good time!

Forest Bathing at Wooster Memorial Park

Thoreau may have called it "sauntering," we might just call it a slow, silent nature walk...but these days some call it forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. Whatever we call it, we will be meeting to share this simple practice together. Research is beginning to show the health benefits of forest bathing for balancing our all-too-busy minds and bodies. For all those who love to shed stress on a hike, forest bathing takes the already-wonderful idea of hiking and slows it down, closer to the experience of opening all our senses and savoring each new awareness. When we forest bathe, rather than walk from point A to B, we travel a purposely short distance in order to feel each footstep on the earth, breathe aromatic fragrances, listen to individual bird songs, ponder where a slug is heading, or brush a fern lightly and feel its delicate resilience. Through immersing ourselves in the environment, we might just reconnect with our innate sense of beauty, wonder, and belonging in the green world. This activity is planned for evening in order to experience the sunset as a traditional time of rest and turning inward, as the more-than-human world prepares to leave the day behind. Weather permitting, circle up afterward around the campfire to sit in peace or share a few thoughts if you choose.
 

Please bring chair or blanket to relax around the campfire.

Event will be held at the Education Area at 5pm

These group hikes are brought to you by Friends of Wooster Memorial Park (www.friendsofwmp.com) and are open to the public. Event will begin at the Education Parking Area at 5pm. Come prepared for the weather and to have a good time!

Forest Bathing at Wooster Memorial Park

Thoreau may have called it "sauntering," we might just call it a slow, silent nature walk...but these days some call it forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. Whatever we call it, we will be meeting to share this simple practice together. Research is beginning to show the health benefits of forest bathing for balancing our all-too-busy minds and bodies. For all those who love to shed stress on a hike, forest bathing takes the already-wonderful idea of hiking and slows it down, closer to the experience of opening all our senses and savoring each new awareness. When we forest bathe, rather than walk from point A to B, we travel a purposely short distance in order to feel each footstep on the earth, breathe aromatic fragrances, listen to individual bird songs, ponder where a slug is heading, or brush a fern lightly and feel its delicate resilience. Through immersing ourselves in the environment, we might just reconnect with our innate sense of beauty, wonder, and belonging in the green world. This activity is planned for evening in order to experience the sunset as a traditional time of rest and turning inward, as the more-than-human world prepares to leave the day behind. Weather permitting, circle up afterward around the campfire to sit in peace or share a few thoughts if you choose.
 

Please bring chair or blanket to relax around the campfire.

Event will be held at the Education Area at 5pm

These group hikes are brought to you by Friends of Wooster Memorial Park (www.friendsofwmp.com) and are open to the public. Event will begin at the Education Parking Area at 5pm. Come prepared for the weather and to have a good time!