What is Nature Therapy?
Nature can be a therapeutic environment for young people.
Spending time in nature helps reduce stress and anxiety and it also improves emotional health and wellbeing. We facilitate weekly nature therapy groups for 11-16yr olds and for 17-25yr olds (term-time only). During sessions, we introduce young people to the positive benefits of connecting with nature.
The groups participate in a variety of activities including campfire cooking, bush craft, mindfulness, creative writing, arts & crafts, team games and den building.
Information about our Nature Therapy Groups
A group for 11-16 year olds
Our younger Nature Therapy group meets at 4pm every Thursday (during term-time) at Pinsent Scout Campsite in Winchester.
A group for 17-25yr olds
Our older Nature Therapy group meets at 2.15pm every Thursday (during term-time) at Pinsent Scout Campsite in Winchester. Transport can be arranged and paid for by WYC for this group to and from Pinsent campsite, meeting at train station at Winchester.
Both groups are lead by an experienced counsellor and supported by other counsellors and/or trainee counsellors, and trained members of staff.
Referrals for nature therapy can be made by going through our referral process using the link above. For more information, please contact admin@winchyc.org or call us on 01962 820444.
What happens at Nature Therapy sessions?
Our weekly group nature therapy sessions are a chance to unwind, destress, make connections, and engage with the natural world.
Each week our session themes vary but the structure stays the same. We will meet you in the car park and walk together to a round outdoor wooden hut. Here we will open our circle by introducing ourselves using the talking stick and share how our week has been. We will then invite you to find a ‘sit spot’ or enjoy a ‘wild wonder’ in the nearby woodland to slow down and start to engage and immerse in the natural world. We will then invite you to participate in an activity if you would like to. We finish our session with a closing circle, sharing our gratitude’s.
Images courtesy of Ethan Everett
“I really enjoyed it actually. The location is really perfect for it. Overall I think having enough time to do all the activities properly and really be immersed in them is very important, but you guys facilitated them really well and the combination of group or individual and arty or practical tasks will appeal to lots of people. Personally, I think that being in a more open space is the most valuable part, it completely changes the atmosphere compared to being in a small room, even when I was talking to [fellow Youth Board members] Grace and Bluebell, who I have known for quite a while now, it felt different, and that was what made it more effective.”
Zac, 17, WYC Youth Board member, Nature Therapy taster session
- Previous Youth Board Member