Event Calendar

2025 Calendar 

Registration for most paid events closes one week prior to start date.
 

Jul. 28^th – Aug. 1^st (Mon. - Fri.) Spiritual Ecology Annual Retreat $1250. Bainbridge Island, WA Registration is closed. Please consider joining us next year. 
Deepen relations with our more-than-human Earth neighbors, nurture a greater sense of wellbeing and wholeness, nourish yourself through creative and nature-based activities. Give yourself the gift of five days on verdant Bainbridge Island exploring forests, conservation areas, saltwater beaches and flowing into greater ease and clarity about your next steps on life’s journey. This retreat is especially for anyone navigating life change, embarking on a significant project (or at a stuck point along the way), or who simply desires a nourishing retreat space. We will use the values, principles, and practices of Compassionate Spiritual Ecology as the foundation for our time together. Price includes five days of group work, guided activities, and individual (project) support. Accommodations and meals not included. 

Aug. 4^th (Mon.) Compassionate Spiritual Ecology: A Virtual Gathering via Zoom Free (register to get access)
7:00 – 8:30 AM Pacific / 9:00 - 10:30 AM Central  Hosted by Jennifer Wilhoit (TEALarbor stories Spiritual Ecology Training Founder/Mentor) and Brooke Gilley (Naturalist, Spiritual Ecology Training Graduate, Forest Bathing Guide)
Come gather with us for ninety nourishing minutes every first Monday of the month for an exploration of Compassionate Spiritual Ecology. Together we will engage the many ways of embodying Spiritual Ecology values, practices, and rituals to enhance our everyday connections with the sacred in the Earthy wild within and outside of us. Please bring a journal, pens, and a sacred-to-you item to each gathering. 

(Please note: due to the holiday, we will not have our September Compassionate Spiritual Ecology Gathering) 

Sep. 2^nd – Nov. 4^th (Tues.) Writing Through the Seasons: Autumn (register here) 
Non-member $350.
Bloedel Member $275.
BARN Member $300.
Member of Bloedel & BARN $250.
Writing Through the Seasons is a new program designed for writers and nonwriters to experience how landscapes inspire and inform writing throughout the progression of nature’s seasons. It is for people of all genres or none, those comfortable with writing or not. There will be readings, gathering time, guided explorations on the land, writing and activity prompts, and opportunities to share writing. (Please note that sharing is optional and there will be no literary critique.) Participants will experience the nature/creativity connection; be guided through free writing and practice; learn ways to bring nature into their writing projects and creative processes; and receive feedback on how their projects can incorporate these practices. Spending guided time outside roaming or sitting will be a significant aspect of this offering. Participants should bring: a few pens, journal (preferably unlined), weather appropriate clothing and gear, and water bottle, as well as an open heart and mind. This five-session offering is co-sponsored by TEALarbor stories, Bloedel Reserve, and BARN. The program will take place on the exquisite grounds of Bloedel Reserve.
The five sessions for autumn all begin at 12:30 PM. The first session will meet at the Japanese Guest House (JGH). 
Sep. 2^nd (two-hour session) meet at the JGH
Sep. 16^th (semi-guided one-hour session) meet outside the Bloedel Residence
Oct. 7^th (ninety-minute session) meet at the JGH
Oct. 21^st (semi-guided one-hour session) meet outside the Bloedel Residence
Nov. 4^th (ninety-minute session) meet at the JGH

Sep. 8^th – Nov. 24^th WE (Whole Earth) Cohorts via Zoom $650./3 months 
This offering is especially for people who want to deepen and enhance their positive impact on the world; we apply our unique gifts through inner work as well as in community, for community. We will explore together how to apply ecological ideas to the matters that concern us in a fragmented, hurting, and fluctuating climate-changed world. The values of Spiritual Ecology and wisdom from Nature are the foundation for our work as a cohort. We will approach our passions in a very practical way; each participant will have a special area of concern that they will focus on during the course of our time together. Drawing inspiration from readings, poetry, ritual, images, creativity, writing, outdoor time, and sound will be the grounding in our sessions. We will also have opportunities to sit in sacred circle to discern the next steps in our individual and collective work on behalf of the world. Radical compassion, gratitude, justice, hope, and love will underlie all that we do. Gatherings will be ninety minutes in length and occur twice monthly. Choose one of two learning cohort times: Mondays 7:00-8:30 AM Pacific or Wednesdays 1:00-2:30 PM Pacific*. A certificate and some of the Spiritual Ecology Training prerequisites earned upon successful completion of the WE cohort. For more info and to register, email Jennifer: tealarborstories@gmail.com
Autumn: Sep. – Nov. (6 meetings) $650.
[Mon: 9/8, 9/22, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10, 11/24] OR [Wed: 9/10, 9/17, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 11/19]
*If these Monday or Wednesday times don’t work for you, please inquire about how you and your small group can join a WE cohort on a day and time that is better for you.  

Sep. 23^rd (Tues.) The Heart and Soul of Memoir Writing via Zoom $TBD (registration info forthcoming or check here) in collaboration with Chuckanut Writers/Village Books and Whatcom Community College
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pacific
This class focuses on the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of memoir writing. Intended to be a very practical, hands-on guide to the process of memoir writing, students will have the opportunity to engage creative and nature-based ways to handle the inevitable inner landscape difficulties that arise as we delve into writing our stories.

Sep. 24^th (Wed.) Farm to Journal Bluetree Farm, Bainbridge Island $ 70. per session (register)
12:30 – 2:30 PM
Savor time on a lavender farm and forest. Enjoy exploring the property, learning about seasonal cycles on the farm, turning lavender into product, and recording these experiences in written form. This is a collaboration between Bluetree Farm and TEALarbor stories. You’ll start with a group tour and opportunity to process lavender. Then you will have individual time to connect with the farm’s floral species. Finally, you will be guided through various journaling activities to help you reflect, capture, and deepen your experience. Please bring weather appropriate gear, a water bottle, your journal and pen.
Dates: Wednesdays 12:30-2:30 PM on Sep 24^th & Oct 22^nd
Contact Jennifer to register: tealarborstories@gmail.com

Sep. 30^th (Tues.) Writing the Season of Autumn via Zoom $TBD (registration info forthcoming or check here) in collaboration with Chuckanut Writers/Village Books and Whatcom Community College
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pacific
This class focuses on the season of autumn in the natural world and how we can draw from ecological wisdom for our own writing projects, regardless of genre. This will be a very practical, hands-on guide to the process of abiding in, gleaning lessons from, and applying the insights from time in the outdoors just outside our homes.

Oct. 6^th (Mon.) Compassionate Spiritual Ecology: A Virtual Gathering via Zoom Free (register to get access)
7:00 – 8:30 AM Pacific / 9:00 - 10:30 AM Central  Hosted by Jennifer Wilhoit (TEALarbor stories Spiritual Ecology Training Founder/Mentor) and Brooke Gilley (Naturalist, Spiritual Ecology Training Graduate, Forest Bathing Guide)
Come gather with us for ninety nourishing minutes every first Monday of the month for an exploration of Compassionate Spiritual Ecology. Together we will engage the many ways of embodying Spiritual Ecology values, practices, and rituals to enhance our everyday connections with the sacred in the Earthy wild within and outside of us. Please bring a journal, pens, and a sacred-to-you item to each gathering. 

Oct. 22^nd (Wed.) Farm to Journal Bluetree Farm, Bainbridge Island $ 70. (register)
12:30 – 2:30 PM
Savor time on a lavender farm and forest. Enjoy exploring the property, learning about seasonal cycles on the farm, turning lavender into product, and recording these experiences in written form. This is a collaboration between Bluetree Farm and TEALarbor stories. You’ll start with a group tour and opportunity to transform lavender into a product. Then you will have individual time to connect with the farm’s floral species. Finally, you will be guided through various journaling activities to help you reflect, capture, and deepen your experience. Please bring weather appropriate gear, a water bottle, your journal and pen.
Contact Jennifer to register: tealarborstories@gmail.com

Nov. 3^rd (Mon.) Compassionate Spiritual Ecology: A Virtual Gathering via Zoom Free (register to get access)
7:00 – 8:30 AM Pacific / 9:00 - 10:30 AM Central  Hosted by Jennifer Wilhoit (TEALarbor stories Spiritual Ecology Training Founder/Mentor) and Brooke Gilley (Naturalist, Spiritual Ecology Training Graduate, Forest Bathing Guide)
Come gather with us for ninety nourishing minutes every first Monday of the month for an exploration of Compassionate Spiritual Ecology. Together we will engage the many ways of embodying Spiritual Ecology values, practices, and rituals to enhance our everyday connections with the sacred in the Earthy wild within and outside of us. Please bring a journal, pens, and a sacred-to-you item to each gathering. 

Dec. 1^st (Mon.) Compassionate Spiritual Ecology: A Virtual Gathering via Zoom Free (register to get access)
7:00 – 8:30 AM Pacific / 9:00 - 10:30 AM Central  Hosted by Jennifer Wilhoit (TEALarbor stories Spiritual Ecology Training Founder/Mentor) and Brooke Gilley (Naturalist, Spiritual Ecology Training Graduate, Forest Bathing Guide)
Come gather with us for ninety nourishing minutes every first Monday of the month for an exploration of Compassionate Spiritual Ecology. Together we will engage the many ways of embodying Spiritual Ecology values, practices, and rituals to enhance our everyday connections with the sacred in the Earthy wild within and outside of us. Please bring a journal, pens, and a sacred-to-you item to each gathering. 

Dec. 2^nd – Feb. 3^rd (Tues.) Writing Through the Seasons: Winter (register here) 
Non-member $350.
Bloedel Member $275.
BARN Member $300.
Member of Bloedel & BARN $250.
Writing Through the Seasons is a new program designed for writers and nonwriters to experience how landscapes inspire and inform writing throughout the progression of nature’s seasons. It is for people of all genres or none, those comfortable with writing or not. There will be readings, gathering time, guided explorations on the land, writing and activity prompts, and opportunities to share writing. (Please note that sharing is optional and there will be no literary critique.) Participants will experience the nature/creativity connection; be guided through free writing and practice; learn ways to bring nature into their writing projects and creative processes; and receive feedback on how their projects can incorporate these practices. Spending guided time outside roaming or sitting will be a significant aspect of this offering. Participants should bring: a few pens, journal (preferably unlined), weather appropriate clothing and gear, and water bottle, as well as an open heart and mind. This five-session offering is co-sponsored by TEALarbor stories, Bloedel Reserve, and BARN. The program will take place on the exquisite grounds of Bloedel Reserve.
The five sessions for winter all begin at 12:30 PM. The first session will meet at the Japanese Guest House (JGH).
Dec. 2^nd (two-hour session) meet at the JGH
Dec. 16^th (semi-guided one-hour session) meet outside the Bloedel Residence
Jan. 6^th (ninety-minute session) meet at the JGH
Jan. 20^th (semi-guided one-hour session) meet outside the Bloedel Residence
Feb. 3^rd (ninety-minute session) meet at the JGH

Online Courses
The following courses are "on-demand" (register and take the class at your own pace).

Compassionate Spiritual Ecology $150. More info here.
This foundational course provides an overview of spiritual ecology, with practices for compassionate engagement with the more-than-human world. This course is also one of the prerequisites for Spiritual Ecology Training. 

Growing Words of Compassion: Nature and Writing Practices to Love By $65. More info here.
Deepen your innate capacity and expression of tender compassion. 

Writing on the Landscape: The Book Experienced $50. More info here. 
Let the author guide you through her book, Writing on the Landscape: Essays and Practices to Write, Roam, Renew. 

Instructors' Guide to Writing on the Landscape $25. More info here. 
This instructional aid is for professors/facilitators using Writing on the Landscape in their curriculum/group work.