How do I check in at Riverdaughter Acres?

Check-in is at 3:00 PM via self check-in with a door code. Detailed instructions are sent the day before arrival.

What is the cancellation policy?

Full refund if cancelled 30+ days before check-in. 50% refund 7-30 days before. No refund within 7 days.

Is Riverdaughter Acres pet-friendly?

Guest pets are not accommodated. The hosts' friendly dogs may be on the property.

How many guests can stay?

Up to 4 adults with a king bed and pullout sofa. Extra guest fees apply for 3rd and 4th adults ($20/night each).

What's included in the nightly rate?

Full suite with kitchen, laundry, games room, fire pit, WiFi, linens, and toiletries. $95 cleaning fee applies.

How far is it from Victoria?

About 90 minutes from Victoria, 60 from Nanaimo, 45 from Duncan. Minutes from Cowichan Lake beaches.

Yes, free WiFi throughout the suite. Cell service may be limited depending on provider.

Can I store my boat or quads?

Yes, space available for boats, quads, and bikes. Direct access to Gordon River Road.

What is forest therapy?

Forest therapy — also called forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku in Japanese — is a slow, guided, sensory practice of being in a forest. It is not a hike, not exercise, and not psychotherapy. Sessions typically last 2–3 hours and involve attentive walking, structured sensory invitations, and silent solo time. The practice has measurable physiological effects: reduced cortisol, increased parasympathetic activity, and a documented immune-system response from inhaling tree-released phytoncides.

Is this course right for me if I don't want to teach others?

Yes. About half the modules cover universal forest therapy practice (the science, sensory work, breathing, mindfulness, Qi Gong, tree identification) and apply equally to personal practice and guiding. The other half focuses on facilitation skills — useful if you want to lead sessions, optional if you don't. Many students take the whole course just to deepen their own relationship with nature.

Is forest therapy scientifically proven?

Yes — there is a substantial body of peer-reviewed research, particularly from Japanese forest medicine since the 1980s. Studies have shown reductions in cortisol (Park et al., 2010), increases in Natural Killer cell activity from phytoncide exposure (Li, Q., Nippon Medical School), reductions in rumination linked to depression (Bratman et al., Stanford, 2015), and improvements in blood pressure, mood, and immune function. The science is covered in detail in Module 1.

Is this a recognized certification?

No. The certificate confirms course completion from Riverdaughter Acres — it is not a regulated professional designation, and forest therapy is not a regulated profession in most jurisdictions. The course gives you a comprehensive grounding in the science, methodology, and practical facilitation of forest therapy, which prepares you to guide sessions, but it is not equivalent to a clinical or licensed credential.

How long is the course, and how long do I have to complete it?

There are 10 modules, each taking roughly 1–2 hours to work through (including the audio narration). Total time is approximately 12–18 hours depending on pace. You have lifetime access — there is no time limit. Most students complete the course over 4–8 weeks, but you can take longer or finish faster.

Do I need any prior experience?

No prior experience is required — just a genuine interest in nature and a willingness to slow down. The course assumes no background in psychology, biology, or facilitation. If you have related experience (yoga teaching, therapy, outdoor education, mindfulness instruction), it will complement what you learn here but is not a prerequisite.

What's the difference between forest therapy and just walking in the woods?

A forest therapy session is slow, intentional, and structured. Where a hike might cover 5+ km in two hours, a forest therapy walk often covers less than 500 metres in the same time. The practice involves opening practices, guided sensory invitations (looking at light, listening, touching, smelling), solo time, and closing reflection — usually with tea. The structure is what produces the measurable physiological and psychological effects.

Can I retake quizzes if I fail?

Yes — quizzes and the final exam can be retaken as many times as needed. Only your best score is recorded. The minimum passing score is 70% for module quizzes and 75% for the final exam.

What if I want a refund?

Take a real run at the course. If you have worked through 3 modules or fewer within 30 days of purchase and it isn't what you hoped for, email riverdaughteracres@gmail.com and we will refund you in full — no forms, no fuss. The 3-module mark is just there so you have time to evaluate properly; most people who realise the course isn't for them know within the first module or two.

Online Course

Facilitate profound experiences in the forest.

A self-paced 10-module course in forest therapy and Shinrin-yoku, taught from the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Train to guide others — or take it to deepen your own practice in nature.

See what you'll learn ↓

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Lifetime access 10 modules Completion certificate 30-day money-back guarantee

Who this course is for

This course is for you if…

The same curriculum serves two different journeys. Whichever you're on, you'll be doing the same evidence-based practices and learning the same material.

For your own practice

You want forest therapy in your life

A structured, evidence-based way to bring Shinrin-yoku into your weekly life
No teaching, no facilitator pressure — just deeper time in nature with intention
Pairs well with meditation, yoga, or any existing personal practice

For aspiring guides

You want to guide others

The foundation to run forest therapy walks for friends, clients, or your community
Practical modules on facilitation, session structure, safety, and finding your voice
Earn a Forest Therapy Course completion certificate (note: not a regulated credential — see FAQ)

One enrollment serves both paths. $129 CAD · 30-day guarantee.

Grounded in research

The science of Shinrin-yoku

Forest therapy isn't a vibe. Decades of peer-reviewed studies have measured what happens to your body and mind in a forest. Module 1 covers the foundational research in depth.

15.8%

lower cortisol after a forest walk vs. an urban walk

Park et al., Chiba University, 2010 ↗

50%

increase in Natural Killer cell activity, with effects lasting 7+ days

Li, Q., Nippon Medical School ↗

90 mins

in nature reduces neural activity linked to rumination and depression

Bratman et al., Stanford University, 2015 ↗

Not ready yet?

Try the practice first, free

Get "Five Forest Therapy Invitations to Try This Weekend", a short practical guide you can take into any forest or park, plus a few emails on the science and practice.

Curriculum

What you'll learn

The Science of Nature's Benefits

Explore the research behind nature therapy — from biophilia to phytoncides, cortisol studies to immune system research.

The Modern Disconnection

Understand nature deficit disorder and why modern life creates a deep hunger for nature connection.

Forest Therapy Methodologies

Compare Shinrin-Yoku, Western forest therapy, ecotherapy, and attention restoration approaches.

Practical Steps for Hosting Sessions

Site selection, safety protocols, group management, timing, weather, and equipment essentials.

Light Qi Gong

Basic movements for forest settings, breathing-movement coordination, and standing meditation.

Light Tree Identification

Pacific Northwest and Vancouver Island trees, sensory identification techniques, and seasonal changes.

Structuring a Guided Session

Opening circle, threshold crossing, invitations, nature meditation, and sharing circles.

Mindfulness & Breathing

Grounding techniques, body scans, sensory awareness, pranayama, and walking meditation.

Closing a Session

Tea ceremony, sharing circle facilitation, gratitude practices, integration, and aftercare.

Finding Your Style

Developing your personal approach, adapting to groups, seasonal sessions, and building a practice.

Francis Hall sitting among old-growth cedars on Vancouver Island

Meet your instructor

Hi, I'm Francis.

I guide forest therapy walks from Riverdaughter Acres, our home in Honeymoon Bay, in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island: just under five acres of maples, cottonwoods, and pines with a creek running along the border. The walks that leave from here explore big and small trees, moss, rocks, water, and wildlife, and the land is a different place in every season. Those slow walks (sensory invitations, solo time, tea at the end) are the foundation this course is built on.

I came to the practice by living it. After nearly a decade in London, my family and I moved to Vancouver Island, and the forests here changed the pace of our lives. Daily time under the trees turned into a study of why it works so deeply, and then into the practice of guiding others through it.

This course is everything I teach in person: the science, the sensory practices, and the craft of holding a session, so you can take it into your own woods, for yourself or for the people you'll guide.

“I booked a Forest Therapy session with Francis and found peace, inspiration, and insight that I have taken home and integrated into my daily routine - I was not expecting that.”

Pamela · Google Review

One-time payment

$129

CAD · Less than one wellness retreat day

All 10 modules with audio narration
Interactive quizzes (retake any time)
Comprehensive final exam
Downloadable completion certificate
Lifetime access — no time limit

30-day money-back guarantee · see FAQ

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$129 CAD, one-time. Lifetime access. 30-day money-back guarantee.

$129 CAD · 30-day money-back guarantee