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Can’t find the Forest Bathing Studio? It’s this way!
Upcoming Programs
Nature Journaling Club
6-Week Spring Series (March 20 - April 24)
Wednesdays, 1:30 to 2:30 pm EST
Live on Zoom
$60 + HST
Join us online for our weekly Nature Journaling Club. Nature journals are a place to record our observations of nature. If you find yourself marveling at nature every time you step outside, collecting twigs, keeping a list of birds you’ve seen, or filling your phone with pictures of flowers, you’ll be in good company this spring!
What to expect:
Discover a nature journaling practice that encourages mindfulness and supports your well-being. Each week will begin with a playful warm-up to get the creative juices flowing. We’ll then have a short lesson relating to the week’s theme. Afterwards, you’ll be guided through a creative exercise for capturing your nature observations.
In The Community
As a guest artist at The Bitove Method, you’ll find me once a month making nature-based art with the community. My next visit will be Thursday, May 16. Hope you’ll join me then!
The Bitove Method
A creative & social program for people living with dementia
The Bitove Method is an innovative and thoughtful approach to dementia care, emphasizing creativity, dignity, education, and fun.
Thursdays, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
850 O’Connor Drive, East York
$65 per creative session
Four Class Pass: $240
Emma Rooney, Growing Wellness Cafe Host
www.bloomingcaravan.ca
Victoria Muir-Burcea, Growing Wellness Cafe Host
www.myrecreo.health
Mosaic Home Care
Growing Wellness Cafe
A Memory-Friendly Community*
Brighten your month with inspiration from nature!
First Thursday of the month
Next session: Thursday, May 2, 2024
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST
Live on Zoom
FREE
Leave the virtual cafe feeling connected to community and with new knowledge and tools to grow your wellness naturally.
*We are an inclusive community that welcomes everyone, including those living with memory loss and their care partners.
Contact Lauren at 416-322-7002 or info@mosaichomecare.com to register.
Listen to Mosaic's Community Life Podcast, episode 13, to hear how the Growing Wellness Cafe got started, our growing community, and the many benefits of connection to nature.
“I think it is uplifting and informative. This program is a good way to learn new things and connect with others across Canada. I enjoy all of the effort Emma and Victoria put into providing a quality program each month. I look forward to every session and schedule my appointments around the monthly meetings, so that I never have to miss!”
Alzheimer Society of Toronto
Garden Wellness Cafe
Summer 2024 Series
Weekly on Wednesdays
Starts May 15 (6 weeks)
10:00 am to 11:00 am EST
Live on Zoom
FREE
Our summer 2024 series will include seed starting, flower pressing, and creating a peaceful garden nook. We’ll also be tasting local asparagus and making our own hydrating iced tea. Our final series session will be a chance to celebrate the start of summer and National Indigenous Peoples Day.
This program will be held on Zoom. Participants will be mailed program materials and expected to collect some simple supplies on their own (instructions provided).
Garden Wellness Cafe is intended for people living with early to mid-stages of dementia, young onset dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
Visit our Events Portfolio to find out more about past events.
Keep reading to see our lineup of group workshops and how to bring Blooming Caravan to your location.
Group Workshops
Blooming Caravan loves to partner with community groups and organizations that are enriching the lives of seniors. Ask us about delivering one of our seasonal workshops, propose your own idea, or have Blooming Caravan custom design a program for you.
All Blooming Caravan workshops are currently available as a 1-hour online offering using Zoom or your preferred video conferencing platform. Online programs are interactive versus lecture style. Participants will be provided with a list of materials in advance so that they have time to gather what they need for the hands-on portions of the online program. Alternatively, supply kits can be dropped off at your location anywhere in the GTA (additional charges apply).
Contact me to discuss pricing and how we can create a meaningful online program for your participants.
Online workshops start at $150 + HST.
In-person workshops in the GTA start at $350 + HST.
You can read more about past workshops and presentations on the Events Portfolio page.
Let Blooming Caravan support you in making meaningful connections.
Signature Workshop Series
GARDEN CAFe (VIRTUAL SERIES)
Through weekly or biweekly virtual sessions, the Garden Cafe brings a connection to nature and to the changing seasons for those stuck indoors. We’ll start each meeting by awakening our senses through some gentle seated movements. A short photo slideshow will introduce the week’s theme and transport participants to beautiful outdoor settings. Each session includes a hands-on activity that participants can follow along with and try themselves from wherever they are. The supportive cafe environment provides an opportunity for participants to share fond garden memories and meet other gardening enthusiasts. This is an ideal workshop for memory-friendly settings. Seasonal themes are selected based on the interests of the group. Topics can include caring for houseplants, growing herbs, creating your own flower arrangements, and gardening for birds and bees.
Garden Cafe bookings require a minimum of three sessions.
Suggested Cafe Themes:
SPRING
• Spring Equinox Celebration
• Seed Starting
• Bulb & Blossom Showcase
• Birds, Butterflies, & Bees in the Garden
SUMMER
• Summer Solstice Celebration
• Soil: The Life Underground
• Garden Flower Arrangements
• Garden Kitchen: Local Tastes of the Season
FALL
• Fall Equinox Celebration
• Wartime & Peace Gardens
• Touchstones & Floating Gardens
• Planting Bulbs & Garlic
WINTER
• Winter Solstice Celebration
• Gardening for Winter Interest & Wildlife
• Growing Under Glass
• Caring for Houseplants
Forest Bathing From Anywhere (New Virtual Experience)
Take the time to recharge with nature regardless of where you live!
This mini introduction to forest bathing will explore forest therapy, a practice that originated in Japan in the 1980s as a way to address worker burnout caused by the technological boom. Now, the practice has inspired people all over the world to connect with nature. The health benefits discovered by scientific researchers will also be highlighted. A 10-minute nature visualization experience will allow participants to engage their senses more fully—seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching the nature surrounding them, even while indoors. Participants will get the opportunity to try a simple daily practice for connecting with the more-than-human world and learn a few tips for continuing this exploration on their own.
This experience can be adapted for any setting and the needs of the individuals taking part. It is designed to be gentle and accessible to participants who may not have any experience with mindfulness practices. Naturalist knowledge is not needed. And while access to an outdoor setting, such as a courtyard garden, is welcomed and can be incorporated, it’s not required. This workshop is also appropriate for older adults with mobility restrictions, memory-friendly groups, care partners, and health care professionals. Why not offer forest bathing at a virtual staff lunch and learn?
A handout and illustrated acorn visualization card will be provided as a PDF and can be printed for your group.
CREATE YOUR OWN NATURE INTENTION CARDS
We’ll begin by discovering 10 simple ways to connect with nature nearby that can benefit our well-being and that of our surroundings. Then we’ll set a doable intention for bringing more nature into our lives during the season ahead. After setting your nature goal, I’ll walk you through how to make your own mini-deck of five intention cards to support a personal nature practice. You’ll see examples of finished cards and have a wide variety of mixed-media arts supplies to choose from, along with photos and quotes for inspiration. This project is suitable for all participants, including those who do not consider themselves artistic or crafty. Everyone will leave with fun ideas for using their cards to stay motivated and turn to nature for well-being and inspiration.
Introduction to Fairy & Miniature Gardens
Are you looking to add a little whimsy to your gardening? This introductory workshop is sure to inspire you to think big in tiny spaces. Be transported into a land of magical miniature gardens with a slideshow of examples. Then, learn how to create your own Pinterest board online to keep track of fun ideas and inspiring images. We’ll walk you through the basic principles of starting a fairy garden, including containers to use, plants to pick, and how to collect materials and accessories without having to buy anything. We’ll also include some basic tips for plant care that can be applied to any container gardening. Miniature gardens are a wonderful activity for people of all ages. You’ll walk away from this workshop with ideas for getting started and sharing the experience with your friends and family.
STONE SOUP STORYTELLING
Explore the secret of making soul-warming recipes while cooking up a pot of Stone Soup with local seasonal ingredients. This hands-on cooking workshop is all about sharing food memories and exploring foods that provide comfort and healing. Participants will also create their own recipe cards for bringing people together through food. After sharing a bowl of soup, you’ll leave with fun ideas for connecting in the kitchen, engaging all your senses, and adding new flavours to your life. Additional sessions can be provided to create a community cookbook to showcase your group’s favourite nourishing recipes and stories.
Staff & Care Partner Workshops
Take An Energizing Nature Break Virtually
Do you have an employee town hall or an all-day conference coming up? Give your staff or conference attendees the chance to rejuvenate through nature connection right at their workstations. This 20- to 30-minute team-building experience provides an introduction to forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan in the 1980s as a way to address worker burnout. Your guide will lead participants through a short nature visualization and a simple practice anyone can follow to connect with nature at work. At a time when many of us are feeling as though screens have taken over our lives, give your group a meaningful moment to come together, engage their senses, and open the doors to the health benefits of nature, even in busy indoor settings. A seasonal naturescape photo handout and an illustrated acorn visualization card will be provided as a PDF participant take-away.
Portfolio of Past Events
Pop-up Nature Nook
At the Parkdale Seedy Saturday with Toronto Urban Growers & Greenest City
Visitors of all ages dropped by the Blooming Caravan Nature Nook to read a garden book, listen to a nature soundscape, and explore the sensory table. We also had a lot of keen interest in growing a nature gratitude tree and setting intentions for connecting with nature this spring.
Check out a Seedy Saturday near you to learn about growing plants from seed, meet other gardeners, and exchange knowledge and seeds. You’ll find a complete list of Seedy Saturday events on the Seeds of Diversity website. You can also purchase local seeds by mail from our neighborhood friends at Urban Harvest.
Hands-on art activities help to bring nature indoors at Seedy Saturday.
Participants create their own wallet-sized reminder cards for connecting with nature nearby.
The Nature Nook is a place to momentarily escape and reflect on the beauty of the natural world.
Does your event need its own nature nook? Contact us to bring one to your group.
Roasting apples around the fire while discussing how winter can be a time for slowing down and reflection.
Outdoor Winter Retreat: New Year Nature
High Park Nature Centre
Nature lovers gathered at the High Park Nature Centre to celebrate the new year and set intentions for connecting with the Earth all year long. Introductions were made while savoring delicious homemade soup. Participants were led on a sensory stroll through the Black Oak savannah to the High Park labyrinth. Walking the ancient path of the labyrinth, we asked questions of our surroundings to seek clarity on how to rejuvenate through nature and contribute to the health of our planet. Afterwards, we gathered around the warmth of a campfire to share hibernation stories. To conclude, we headed back inside to create a beautiful set of nature intuition cards to help guide our personal practice at home. Participants left with a tangible calendar of ideas for bringing nature into their home and work life and experienced the benefit of building community with fellow nature lovers.
Read Emma’s interview about the workshop and how to make nature your everyday companion throughout the year.
Walk in the Park Celebration
Park People
Blooming Caravan was honored to facilitate the Walk Leaders’ celebration for Park People’s innovative Walk in the Park program for seniors. What better way to celebrate and honour the expertise of local walk leaders than through a community mapping activity?
Participating groups create visual representations of their favourite walking routes in local parks.
Mapmaking is a time to share stories about nature nearby and explore how green space is used.
Check out the Park Walk resource for starting a walk group in your local park.
Moving the discussion on garden accessibility beyond just raised beds.
Keynote Speech: How Master Gardeners Can Grow Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion in our Communities
Toronto Master Gardeners
At their monthly meeting, Emma’s address to Toronto Master Gardeners prompted the audience to reconnect with the organization’s mission statement through the stories and memories that bring us to gardens. Emma drew connections between the land acknowledgement of the “Dish with One Spoon” territory and the group’s gardening and education practices. Drawing from a breadth of texts, Emma wove personal experience together with statistics to examine the role of Master Gardeners in a rapidly changing city. Attuned to the hands-on nature of the audience, Emma led a group brainstorming activity. Participants generated a list of concrete and actionable ideas in response to questions about the organization’s relevancy and sustainability.
Nature Rest Stop
City of Toronto
People of all ages were invited to take a break from the hive of activity during the High Park Harvest Festival in this magnificent nature retreat curated by Blooming Caravan and Garden Jane. Featuring a sensory garden spa, forest bathing, nature mindfulness activities, and a wellness nook for storytime or quiet reflection, participants raved about the benefits of an unexpected oasis.
The Nature Rest Stop is a place to connect with nature using all your senses.
“I have never sat in nature for an hour. I’m going to make it part of my life now.”
“All events should have a space like this.”
Sometimes all you need to recharge is a change of scenery.
You’re invited to touch and hold a bit of the earth in your hands.
It doesn’t matter your age, storytime brings people together.
“My child was so engaged with these activities, I’m going to share some of the ideas with their school.”
Fall Gardening Workshop Series
Northwood Neighbourhood Services Seniors Program
Sponsored by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Hands-on activities that allow seniors with limited access to space to experience and enjoy nature. Emma brings a bounty of autumn native wildflowers, seeds, soil, bulbs, and garlic to the table to celebrate the season and provide a sensory experience related to specific environmental themes. An easy way for people to get their hands dirty and connect with nature without leaving their comfort zones.
All set up to make seedballs with clay, compost, and milkweed seeds.
The fall is the perfect time of year to talk about gardening with wildlife in mind.
Workshop participants find out about a slew of creative resources they can turn to for inspiration and project ideas.
Nature as Healing Partner: A Hands-on Workshop for Caregivers of Older Adults
High Park Nature Centre
A passionate group came together at the High Park Nature Centre to explore how to help older adults connect with nature to promote their health and well-being. We began by looking at some of the barriers older adults face to getting outdoors and shared our experiences on making nature more accessible. Afterwards, we headed outside for a campfire, and participants had a chance to try a variety of sensory activities for adding nature to their caregiving routines. Lively discussions continued over a homemade seasonal lunch featuring local produce, freshly baked bread, and a peony flower jelly.
Read the workshop interview on the High Park Nature Centre blog.
I can come to your site to offer a customized staff training or workshop for care partners. Contact me to discuss your training needs and book a session.
All-Ages Garden Tea Party
City OF Toronto
A delightful nature-inspired tea party with Garden Jane and Blooming Caravan at the High Park Children’s Garden. This special program featured tea play, mud pies, compost tea making, and make-and-take mini flower bouquets. Participants of all ages enjoyed hearing stories garden stories in our book nook, sipping a cup of afternoon tea, and taking part in intergenerational activities designed for kids, grandparents, and everyone in between. This program was a special offering from Emma Rooney and Jane Hayes, two of the garden’s pioneer programmers, as well as their special guests.
All set for our tea party under the canopy of High Park.
A young maker carefully arranges a mini flower bouquet.
In keeping with the intergenerational theme of the tea party, Emma and Jane both brought their moms and, in Jane’s case, her daughter—that’s three generations!
“Emma is a gifted at designing and delivering intergenerational programs, events, and workshops that appeal to children and grownups alike. Emma always goes the extra distance to make experiences special for each client. She is a clear and intelligent thinker, superbly organized, and a generous team player—qualities that make her a pleasure to work with!”
Dementia-Friendly Workshops
Alzheimer Society of Toronto
A chance to sample different local honey flavours while learning about what plants attract bees.
The Boomers Club—a weekly wellness group for people living with young onset dementia and their care partners—enjoyed an interactive evening learning all about Toronto’s native bees and honey bees. As part of the Spring Flowers & The Sweetness of Honey workshop, we all got our hands in the dirt by rolling seed balls that will sprout into flowers bees love. We then made our own nourishing honey and sugar hand scrub.
A month later, Blooming Caravan was back with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto to celebrate the start of summer with a very special Strawberry Social. Everyone had a great time shaking up their own homemade ice cream served with fresh-off-the iron waffles topped with local Ontario strawberries.
The ice cream-making station in full swing.
Satisfying results of our travelling kitchen.
Restored by Landscapes Close to Home
Mosaic Community Resource Centre
Blooming Caravan joined the Alzheimer Society of York Region and Mosaic Home Care to offer a special edition of the First Link Memory Café. Through nature poetry, green space mapping, and a scenic photo tour, we explored the soothing effects of various Ontario landscapes through the four seasons. Participants also created their own take-home miniature window views and discussed everyday tips for connecting to the healing benefits of nature.
Memory Café patrons display their favourite views of nature.