Berkshire County Historical Society Forest Bathing

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join certified guide Kathleen Schoenberg for forest bathing.
 
Start your Sunday with a one-hour guided, stroll on the nature trail at Arrowhead on Sunday, Oct. 29, beginning at 11 am. 
 
The walk will be less than a mile and includes several breaks for meditation and mindful activities. 
 
Tickets are available at berkshirehistory.org: $25 for Berkshire County Historical Society members, and $30 for non-members. 
 
This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
 
According to a press release, A forest bathing session is a two-hour, guided program designed to encourage mindfulness and facilitate the participant's deep connection with nature.  Participants have a wide range of experiences – they might find themselves feeling the textures of the trees and rocks, breathing in the scents of the forest, or lying under a canopy while being guided to activate their senses.   
 
choenberg is a graduate of The Forest Therapy School with experience leading both one-on-one and group walks.
 
"Melville was inspired by the landscapes of the Berkshires," said Schoenberg.  "He once wrote, ‘Nature is not so much her ever-sweet interpreter, as the mere supplier of that cunning alphabet, whereby selecting and combining as he pleases, each man reads his own peculiar lesson according to his own peculiar mind and mood.'  In many ways this describes Forest Bathing - participants give to and receive from the forest, and each participant will take away something completely different."

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 
 
Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.
 
Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.
 
"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."
 
The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.
 
"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.
 
She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.
 
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