TBE In The Trees: Text & Practice in Nature (In Person, Off Site)

Attend any or all of the following opportunities to experience the natural world through a Jewish lens with your TBE community. The experience is geared towards adults, but younger learners comfortable with that level are welcome.

All three sessions will take place at the Brooadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick which hosts beautiful and accessible trails. Participants must be able to walk for approximately 3/10ths of a mile on the All Person’s Trail, which is a wide, smooth, accessible dirt and boardwalk trail, to a central gathering spot. Participants may choose to go further on less accessible trails. Pets are not allowed at Broadmoor. If you have any questions about accessibility specific to each session, please contact Hannah or Vanessa.

We recommend wearing long pants and light layers, bug spray, and carrying water and snacks.

July 18: Wooded stroll and text study (Rabbi Vanessa Harper) — Enjoy an easy stroll in nature while walking through the study of a Jewish text together. The paths we will be on during the program will be accessible, with options to take more difficult trails if a greater challenge is desired. Meet at the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary parking lot by the picnic tables.

August 1: Watercolor painting (Hannah Kearney) — Focus on noticing colors and shapes that we see in nature with an eye towards a deeper sense of awareness of and connection to creation. Bring a picnic blanket or towel to sit on. No artistic experience is necessary! Accessibility: Participants will need to walk to the central gathering platform, and will need to be able to sit on either benches or wooden steps while they paint. Meet at the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary parking lot by the picnic tables.

August 22: Mindfulness (Hannah Kearney) — Engage in a series of different mindfulness practices enhanced by being in the natural world, including walking, guided meditation, and hitbodedut (an outdoor, solitary prayer practice). The paths we will be on during the program will be accessible, with options to take more difficult trails if a greater challenge is desired. Meet at the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary parking lot by the picnic tables.

The experience is geared towards adults, but younger learners comfortable with that level are welcome.

Registration: This event is available in person. Please click the purple bar above to register.

This event is part of Summer Institute; please click here to view other adult learning opportunities this summer. We are deeply grateful to the family of Burton D. “Bud” Rose, M.D., who has underwritten the Summer Institute in loving memory of Bud, who was a lifelong teacher and student.