Mindfulness Experience | Camp Santanoni | Newcomb | July 21

Monday, July 21, 2025
9:00 AM 3:00 PM

Great Camp Santanoni 58 Newcomb Lake Road Newcomb, NY, 12852 United States (map)

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Mindfulness Experience at Historic Great Camp Santanoni

Great Camp Santanoni forest bathing and mindfulness experience — The Main Lodge at Santanoni.

Come to Great Camp Santanoni for an immersive experience in the tradition of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, a Japanese wellness practice that helps individuals access the healing properties of nature. You will be invited to slow down, be curious, and use all your senses to more fully experience the nature and the heritage of the Santanoni Preserve.

Robert Pruyn, Santanoin’s original owner, was an admirer of traditional Japanese architecture (he lived there when his father was Abraham Lincoln's minister to Japan).

Pruyn wanted to apply the principles he admired in Japanese design to the Camp at Santanoni, such as the common roof and porch system connecting all the buildings.

An experience in mindfulness.

This mindfulness experience begins at the Gate Lodge with orientation, warm-ups, centering, and breathing exercises intended to connect participants to their bodies and the world around them.

Participants will then make their way to the Farm Complex, using their senses to become more attuned to their surroundings and taking time for an extended sit among the trees to deepen their connection to the land and nonhuman world.

Adirondack forest bathing at great camp santanoni — Experience the art of forest bathing at Santanoni.

At the farm, the group will shift their awareness to the landscape features that represent the more recent human story of the place and explore the site’s buildings, considering the continuity of both natural and human history in the present moment.

Upon returning from the Farm Complex, the group will reflect on the experience and understand how the practice of mindfulness can be applied in daily life.

Tour Great Camp Santanoni.

Following the mindfulness session, participants are invited on an optional group bike ride to the Main Camp, where they will enjoy a special tour of the Main Lodge, a walk to the historic bathhouse, and a visit to the beach. All are welcome, with a special invitation for nonprofit leaders and staff to take time for renewal and a reset at Camp Santanoni in July.

Kripalu-certified Outdoor Mindfulness Guide and longtime preservation leader Susan West Montgomery leads the mindfulness experience, while AARCH Executive Director Erin Tobin leads the bike tour. The mindfulness experience begins at 9 am and ends at 12:30 pm. The bike excursion ends at 3 pm.

A suggested donation of $40 per person and $35 for nonprofit staff and board members is requested. This tour is first-come, first-served.

Please note that this outing involves approximately 2.5 miles of walking at a leisurely pace along a dirt road. The afternoon bike ride requires attendees to bring their own bicycles and cycle 9.6 miles (round trip) on a dirt road to and from the Main Camp. The road features a mix of flat, rolling, and uneven terrain.

For more information, visit Great Camp Santanoni’s website.