Why Nature is the Best Medicine — Experience it at Great Mountain Forest

 In today's fast-paced, screen-saturated world, it's easy to forget how healing nature can be. Yet for centuries, humans have found peace and rejuvenation in forest environments, drawn by the quiet atmosphere, fresh air, and the simple beauty of trees swaying in the breeze. Few places embody this restorative experience better than Great Mountain Forest, a 6,000-acre gem spanning Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village in the northwest corner of Connecticut. Here, the ancient practice of forest immersion—also known as Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing—can be truly embraced. This isn't about hiking or physical exertion; it's about slowing down, engaging all five senses, and reconnecting with the natural world in a meaningful, mindful way.

Scientific research has consistently shown that spending time in forest environments can reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, boost the immune system, and enhance cardiovascular health. At Great Mountain Forest, these benefits are just a walk away. 

With 13 miles of trails ranging from easy to challenging, Great Mountain Forest offers something for everyone. More than 16 trails weave through diverse ecosystems, where there are a multitude of sensory experiences waiting to be discovered. Whether you're listening to the whispers of rustling leaves, looking for wildlife, catching the earthy scent of moss and pine, or watching sunlight flicker through the canopy, each step brings you closer to nature—and to yourself.

Whether you're a beginner enjoying the peaceful Tamarack Interpretive Trail around a dragonfly-dotted pond or an adventurer exploring the historic Charcoal Pit Trail, where remnants of 19th-century industry meet modern conservation, there's a path for everyone. More adventurous explorers can venture into the Tobey Bog Trail, a unique ecosystem rich with pitcher plants and black spruce trees, or stand in awe among 400-year-old hemlocks on the North Forty Trail. Each trail offers a distinct sensory experience designed to help you slow down and truly be present.

More than just a place to walk, Great Mountain Forest is a living classroom. With year-round guided walking tours, tours, educational programs, and hands-on workshops in sustainable forest management, visitors of all ages can deepen their understanding of the natural world and their place within it. As Michael Zarfos, Executive Director of GMF, puts it: "In an age dominated by artificial surroundings and constant noise, forest immersion is a simple, powerful return to our roots." At Great Mountain Forest, that return is always just a walk away.

For event information and to download maps, visit greatmountainforest.org. To sign up for the Woodland Academy, visit greatmountainforest.org/woodlandacademy.

 

About Great Mountain Forest

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is a leader in forest stewardship. For more than a century, we have been demonstrating how sustainable management can protect biodiversity and support ecosystems. By serving as a hub for education and research, we are spreading the benefits of sustainable management so that communities across New England derive educational, economic, and recreational and health benefits from their forests, now and well into the future. GMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit encompassing 6,300 acres of contiguous forestland in Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village, Connecticut.

Photo credit: Tom Blagden

Great Mountain Forest Launches Outdoor Learning Programs with Community Foundation Grant

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is proud to announce the launch of a new series of outdoor learning programs, made possible through a generous grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation’s Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund. This pivotal funding supports the development and implementation of hands-on, inquiry-based K–12 science modules aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These programs are specifically designed to provide equitable access to high-quality environmental education for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in forestry-based learning. 

 "The grant has significantly accelerated our ability to offer these engaging, NGSS-aligned programs,” said Mike Zarfos, Ph.D., Executive Director of GMF. “Without this support, it would have taken much longer to bring this level of immersive science education to our region’s schools. Our goal is to foster a meaningful connection between students and the natural world, empowering them to become thoughtful, informed environmental stewards." 

 What sets these offerings apart is not only the content, but the setting. Using GMF’s diverse natural resources as a living classroom, the multi-age science education modules will help students build essential skills in ecology, conservation, and sustainability. These field-based programs emphasize practices such as Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) and include innovative offerings like "Sap to Syrup: The Sweet Science of Maple Magic!" and "Wildlife Explorers: Discovering Adaptations and Biodiversity in GMF!" Three additional modules will soon be available for selection by local schools in the Northwest Corner. 

This initiative not only supports science education but also promotes the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of students through outdoor engagement. With a longstanding commitment to sustainable forestry and deep ties to Yale University, GMF is uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional environmental education experiences that inspire curiosity and conservation. 

 About Great Mountain Forest 

Great Mountain Forest (GMF) is a leader in forest stewardship. For more than a century, we have been demonstrating how sustainable management can protect biodiversity and support ecosystems. By serving as a hub for education and research, we are spreading the benefits of sustainable management so that communities across New England derive educational, economic, and recreational and health benefits from their forests—now and well into the future. GMF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit encompassing 6,200 acres of contiguous forestland in Norfolk, Canaan, and Falls Village Connecticut.