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Mohonk Forest Bathing Trail

The Art of Nature Awareness

August 23 – 27, 2021
November 29 – December 3, 2021

Immerse yourself into the ancient art of nature, mindfulness, and self-awareness. Join Mohonk’s Naturalist, Michael Ridolfo as he teaches time-tested principles of tracking and nature observation, authentic survival skills, and the spontaneous attention that occurs when we move through the arena of the natural world. Michael will be joined by Dr. Jackie Schnurr who is a Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Wells College. In August, both Michael and Jackie will be joined by Dr. Dan Bogan, a Professor at Siena, and Lynn Bogan, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator with New York State Parks. You’ll never look at a hiking trail the same way again…

Availability is limited. For reservations, please call .

MEET OUR PROGRAM LEADERS

Michael Ridolfo

June & August Program

Michael Ridolfo

Michael Ridolfo is the Naturalist at Mohonk Mountain House. After 20 years of rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, skiing, winter mountaineering, nature photography, writing, and music, he began practicing the art of tracking, wilderness survival, and the native mentoring model. This journey has evolved into teaching children and adults how to deepen their relationship with the natural world. In 1999, he founded Wilderness Mind (now The Earthtime Project), a school dedicated to preserving the ancient arts of tracking and nature awareness.

biology professor dr jackie schnurr

June & August Program

Dr. Jackie Schnurr

Dr. Jackie Schnurr is a Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Wells College, a small liberal arts college located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. She has been working with plants for over 25 years, and her research mostly looks at the roles that biotic factors, such as small mammals, and abiotic factors, such as light and nutrients, have on dictating plant distributions.

Pagi Vail Posing Infront of Helicopter

June Program

Pegi Vail

Pegi Vail (Director/Producer) is an anthropologist and filmmaker at the Center for Media, Culture, and History at NYU. Pegi teaches documentary production through the Program in Culture and Media in the Department of Anthropology at NYU. She is a former Fulbright scholar, has previously taught at Columbia University and lectured on travel study tours with the Columbia Alumni Travel Study Program, Smithsonian, and National Geographic. As a curator, she collaborates with colleagues at NYC arts and cultural institutions such as the National Museum of the American Indian, Museum of Natural History, MoMA, and through organizations such as the The Moth, the storytelling collective she was a founding board member and curator for. Vail is a sustainable travel consultant who additionally serves as a judge for National Geographic’s World Legacy Awards. Most recently, she was the cultural advisor and APP co-writer for Felix & Paul Studios’ “Nomads” virtual reality (VR) series for Oculus / Samsung / Facebook.

Melvin Estrella Smiling

June Program

Melvin Estrella 

Melvin Estrella (Director of Photography/Producer) has worked in numerous capacities within the independent film arena as well as within commercial, television, and non-profit production. Clients have included ESPN (It’s the Shoes), Filmlance Sweden (The Last Contract), Daniel Fridell (Beneath the Surface), Galavision, 3rd Edge Communications, Hock Films, House Films, Make a Wish, and TV-One. Melvin shot and produced the documentary, The Dodgers Sym-Phony and is the director of photography on the documentary-in-progress Wall Street in the Black. His short film, Firebird, premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center during the New York Indian Film Festival. Melvin was on the founding board for The Moth.

Bogan Nature Week Program Leader Headshot

August Program

Dr. Dan Bogan

Dr. Dan Bogan is an Assistant Professor at Siena. He earned his doctorate in Wildlife Science from the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University. Dan’s research investigates the ecology of wildlife, particularly carnivores, to understand how animals are responding to changing environments. Gaining this information helps to understand human-wildlife interactions to reduce the potential for conflicts and to conserve wildlife.

Lynn Bogan Smiling

August Program

Lynn Bogan

Lynn Bogan is the Conservation Section Head with New York State Parks. Lynn received her Bachelors of Science from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, and her Masters of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy from SUNY Albany. She has worked with reptiles and amphibians throughout her career and focuses on on-the-ground conservation and stewardship of native biodiversity.

Paul Huth

August Program

Paul Huth

Paul Huth brings nearly 50 years of natural and cultural history research on the Shawangunk ridge, mostly concentrated at Mohonk and the surrounding Mohonk Preserve. He worked for 15 years with the Preserve’s 1st Director of Research, Daniel Smiley, and with his brother Keith, founders of the Mohonk Trust in 1963. Paul followed Dan as the Preserve’s 2nd Director of Research and served for over 20 years. Paul authored and coauthored over a hundred Research Reports and published papers on a diversity of subjects, including the century old Mohonk Lake Cooperative Weather Station, where Dan and Paul both served as long-term Cooperative Observers for the National Weather Service. Paul’s decades of service insured the future of Dan’s science legacy, now being digitized, for future generations.

Availability is limited. For reservations, please call .

When you visit for The Art of Nature Awareness, your overnight package includes:

  • Three meals daily featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients from our farm-to-table partners. See our full list of dining options>
  • Access to more than 85 miles of scenic hiking trails
  • Yoga, Meditation, and Fitness classes
  • Afternoon tea and cookies in our historic Lake Lounge
  • Make an appointment to visit our Greenhouse
  • Indoor heated pool with underwater music
  • Guided hikes and outdoor activities with our Recreation team
  • Nightly evening entertainment, special events, and more! See activities schedule>

Seasonal Activities

À la carte experiences available to overnight guests:

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