River Fit Spring 2026: Nature Therapy & Forest Bathing

Name: River Fit Spring 2026: Nature Therapy & Forest Bathing
Start: 2026-04-29T18:00:00-0400
End: 2026-05-27T19:00:00-0400
Location: Otis Grove on the Charles River Esplanade

Wed, Apr 29, 6pm - Wed, May 27, 7pm EDT

Otis Grove on the Charles River Esplanade

Boston MA, United States

Esplanade Association

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Description

Introducing Nature Therapy & Forest Bathing with Cole Huang!

In this FREE class, we’ll slow down and fully experience nature with all our senses. Nature therapy is the practice of immersing yourself in a natural setting and noticing the sights, sounds, textures, and details around you. It is inspired by the Japanese concept of shinrin yoku, meaning “forest bathing,” which describes being surrounded by and absorbed in the atmosphere of the forest. (No, we won’t be swimming in the Charles!).

We’ll engage in guided meditation and activities designed to deepen our connection with the natural world and awaken our senses.

Register ahead of each class to stay informed of any updates, including weather cancellations. Don’t forget your water bottle—refill stations will be available on site! If your plans change, please cancel your registration so others can join.

Nature Therapy & Forest Bathing will take place every Wednesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm starting on April 29th and ending on May 27th on the following dates:

April 29
May 6
May 13
May 20
May 27

This event is part of our River Fit Series, Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Learn more and register for other events in this series here.

EVENT CANCELLATION

In the event of extreme weather or other hazardous conditions, the Esplanade Association will email all participants and post a cancellation notice. Please follow our social media accounts Instagram (@EsplanadeInBoston) / Facebook (@EsplanadeBoston) to keep up to date about potential class cancellations.

LOCATION INFORMATION & DIRECTIONS

Questions about Accessibility? Please visit our Know Before You Go page.

NOTE: There is NO PARKING on the Esplanade. Please plan to arrive via one of the options below:

WALKING
If entering by foot, you can take one of many footbridges to enter the park. They are all noted on this map. Otis Grove-on the Charles River Esplanade is closest to the Dartmouth Footbridge which is located off of Dartmouth Street and goes over Memorial Drive. Once on the Esplanade, begin walking left over the rounded footbridge to find

MBTA
Otis Grove is a ten-minute walk from the Copley MBTA Station (Green Line) and a fifteen-minute walk from the Charles / MGH MBTA Station (Red Line). Find all of the nearby stations on this map.

BLUE BIKES
Pick up a Bluebike at any station around Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville and return to a station located conveniently near the Hatch Shell. Find locations on the System Map or mobile app. The closest Blue Bikes station is located where Beacon Street meets David Mugar Way, in front of Beacon Street access to the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge.

PARKING (outside of park)
Recommended parking locations include Newbury Street lots or the Boston Common Garage.

RIDE SHARE
Please direct rideshare vehicles to drop you off on Dartmouth Street and Back Street. Cheers is a good reference spot. Once you’ve been dropped off, enter the park on foot via the Dartmouth Street Footbridge.

ABOUT COLE HUANG

Cole Huang (he/him) guides nature events that are immersive and awaken sensory experiences, bringing participants into embodied presence and a deeper relationship with nature. He is a certified nature therapy guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. His practice is inspired by forest bathing, a phrase translated from the Japanese phrase shinrin-yoku which means immersing yourself in a natural setting. Cole focuses on organizing events that inspire people to appreciate the nature that exists in everyday urban green spaces.

Certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy

Recipient of 2025 Downtown and Neighborhood Activation Grant for nature therapy and public art

Instructor for Cambridge Center for Adult Education

ABOUT THE ESPLANADE ASSOCIATION

The Esplanade Association (Esplanade.org) is a nonprofit organization that works to revitalize and enhance the Charles River Esplanade, sustain its natural green space, and build community in the park by providing educational, cultural, and recreational programs for everyone.

Stay up to date with the Esplanade by following us on Instagram (@EsplanadeInBoston) and Facebook (@EsplanadeBoston). Visit Esplanade.org/Events to learn about upcoming events and programs on the Esplanade

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Hostinformation

Esplanade Association

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The Esplanade Association is the community-supported nonprofit organization that works to revitalize and enhance the Charles River Esplanade, sustain its natural green space, and build community in the park by providing educational, cultural, and recreational programs for everyone. Working in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Esplanade Association is dedicated to improving the experiences of the millions of visitors who enjoy Boston’s iconic riverside park. Importantly, the Esplanade Association acknowledges that the 64 acres of its care were originally inhabited by the Massachusett, Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples in what was the tidal Quinobequin River, now called the Charles River. Through its work, the Esplanade Association strives to honor, respect, and recognize the connection between this site and our local indigenous tribes’ and neighbors’ ongoing stewardship of these lands and waters. For more information visit, Esplanade.org.