Emerald Echoes Forest Bathing.
ANFT-certified forest bathing walks in Elora and Halton Hills, run by a guide who came to the practice through grief
The brief.
Emerald Echoes Forest Bathing is a one-guide practice run by Chris Doran, a retired Physical Education and Art teacher based in Elora, Ontario. Doran trained with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy after the 2020 death of his wife, Tammy MacDonald-Doran, and began guiding walks built around the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku — slow, sensory time in the forest, structured by a sequence of guide-led "crafted invitations." Public sessions run on a small 2026 calendar that alternates between Elora and Halton Hills and tracks the wheel of the year — spring equinox, International Forest Bathing Day, autumnal equinox, winter solstice. Walks last about three hours, cover under a kilometre on flat ground, and are capped at eight people. Private group and corporate bookings are arranged direct with the guide.
4. ways in.
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Scheduled Walks 2026
For: Adults; eight spots per walkWhen: March 21 – December 20, 2026 (Spring Equinox / Ostara Mar 21; Breathwork & Art Day Apr 12; International Forest Bathing Day Sep 6; Autumnal Equinox / Mabon Sep 27; Winter Solstice / Yule Dec 20)A six-date 2026 calendar of public guided forest bathing walks, alternating between trails in Elora and Halton Hills. Sessions run 1–4 PM, cover under a kilometre on mostly flat ground, and follow the ANFT method — a slow walk threaded with "crafted invitations" to attention. Each date is themed on the wheel of the year — Ostara, Mabon, Yule — or on International Forest Bathing Day. Register at least a week ahead.
$45 per person; Winter Solstice walk is a charitable donation
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Private Group Walk
For: Self-assembled groups of 2–8When: Year-round, by arrangementA private guided session for a group you bring yourself — friends, family, a small wellness circle. Same three-hour, under-one-kilometre ANFT format as the scheduled walks. Date, time, and trailhead arranged with the guide.
$45 per person, or $320 flat for a group of eight
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Corporate Package
For: Workplaces and teams of up to eightWhen: Year-round, by arrangementA four-session programme for a workplace group of up to eight, scheduled in advance with the guide. Aimed at teams using forest bathing as a longer-running wellness or team-cohesion intervention rather than a one-off.
$1,200 for up to eight participants across four prearranged walks
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Introduction to Forest Bathing Talk
For: Community groups, organisations, classroomsWhen: By arrangementA speaking engagement on the practice and the research behind it, delivered by Chris Doran. Past audiences include York University and the Elora Environment Centre.
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Worth knowing.
- 01Founded and guided by Chris Doran, a retired Physical Education and Art teacher who began forest therapy guiding after the 2020 death of his wife, Tammy MacDonald-DoranSource ↗
- 02Guide certified through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)Source ↗
- 03Guide also holds Wilderness First Aid and CPR, an Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate, a Reconciliation Education Certificate (Seasons 1 and 2), and a Breathwork Teacher Certificate (Loka Yoga)Source ↗
- 04Fully insuredSource ↗
- 05Walks run about three hours and cover under one kilometre on mostly flat terrainSource ↗
- 06Scheduled walks capped at eight participants per sessionSource ↗
- 0710% of fees are donated to charitySource ↗
- 082026 schedule alternates between Elora and Halton HillsSource ↗
- 09Member of Nature and Forest Therapy of Canada, the Elora Environment Centre, Neighbourwoods, Tree Trust, Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, and the Bruce Trail ConservancySource ↗
- 10Register at least one week before a scheduled walkSource ↗