Meet Your Guide

Photo by  Tanya Szustaczek

Hi, I am Chris Doran, a retired Physical Education and Art teacher. 

I was born in the UK from an Irish cultural heritage and I now reside in the beautiful town of Elora, Ontario. 

For many years I have been an avid outdoors adventurer with a particularly keen interest in trail running. A few years ago while grieving the loss of my wife, I was drawn to the profession of Forest Therapy Guiding and I pursued the interest to train and qualify as an Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) guide.

I am also available for the talk, ‘An Introduction to Forest Bathing’ previously presented to Elora Environmental Centre members and York University Teacher Education students.

My other interests include painting and animal welfare work.

  • ANFT guide certified

  • Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified

  • BA(Hons) Physical Education/English

  • Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate

  • Reconciliation Education Certificate (Season 1)

Qualifications:

Memberships:

  • Association of Nature and Forest Therapy

  • Nature and Forest Therapy of Canada

  • Elora Environment Centre

  • Neighbourwoods

  • Tree Trust

  • Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy

  • Bruce Trail Conservancy

Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides

My Inspiration

At the end of the training to become a Forest Therapy Guide we were encouraged to celebrate by reflecting on what we had harvested from the course.

My harvest was the realization that my wife Tammy had unknowingly set me on a new pathway for life and inspired me to follow it and this is the piece I wrote.

A Harvest from Grief

During Tammy’s Chemotherapy treatment, she began to write poems and songs. ‘Thank You Mother Earth’ was inspired by her time meditating in the forest and was written one month before her passing.

Walk On - mixed media artwork by Chris Doran

Doran, Chris. Walk on. Acrylic, oil pastel, conte crayon. 2022.

Emerald Echoes Forest Bathing logo no text

Emerald Echoes - What’s in a name?

Emerald: 

A verdant shade of nature which symbolizes balance and harmony. The colour of luck, freshness and renewal, emerald is thought to help balance emotions and promote a sense of calm and clarity. 

It is also a respectful reference back to Ireland, the home of my ancestors.

Echoes: 

Thoughts, memories, feelings, emotions that may return to you through a renewed, reciprocal relationship with nature and reverberate in your soul. 

Also embodies my personal journey back to my Celtic roots and rediscovery of their nature-based culture that this guiding pathway has returned me to.

Nature in gaelic is nádúr, which denotes all Nature; the natural world around us, the material world, and our own human nature. It does not divide nature into us, humans, and the more-than-human-world. Nádúr is not divisible, it covers all of life.

Maple leaf

“If you go off into a far, far forest, and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand you are connected with everything.

— Alan Watts

  • “I’d say it was led by someone who is very passionate and enjoys what he’s doing. It made the experience really enjoyable and engaging. It opened my eyes to the beauty of the trees, their energy, their strength and their long lives. It also showed me how beneficial they are to your state of mind.

    — S.B.

  • “Chris’ calm presence and gentle voice was impactful. Great location. Tea and snacks were a lovely touch.”

    — J.T.C.

  • “You are in trusted and compassionate hands with Chris guiding you in a forest bathing walk. It is more than a stroll in the woods, it is a guided experience of turning your senses and consciousness towards the heartbeat of the forest, while being aware of the intelligence and connection of nature.”

    — G.C.

  • “Chris’s forest walk was a soothing, peaceful experience. I have been on many hikes, usually at a quick pace, so this forest walk was a novel experience for me. Chris’s guidance was just what I needed to remember to slow down and truly take in my environment in a mindful way.”

    — S.B.

  • “I highly recommend taking a slow, meditative walk in the forest with Chris - exploring and getting to know the trees while they calm your mind. I came away with a light feeling of calm and thoughts of returning for more quiet tree time. Try it, you won’t be sorry!”

    — C.H.

  • “Thank you again, for being a kind, open guide and allowing me the opportunity to experience this day. I think you did a great job.”

    — R.A.K.

  • “As a retired teacher, Chris’ professional skills to educate, inform and provide enrichment shine through during the forest walk experience. He has a great ability to create a feeling of community, yet also the space for individual contribution. He also shares interesting tidbits of information along the way that leave you thinking, “Wow! That’s amazing. I never knew that.”

    L.F.

  • “This was such a calming and relaxing experience. Chris’ invitations were thought provoking and it was okay to share or not share. I truly felt connected to nature and awed by the beauty of the snow-covered trees.”

    — J.D.

  • “Chris was our happy, easy going guide. He is patient with the pace of the group and greets all passersby with a smile. He provides moments of knowledge and humor interspersed among the lengths of silence that are core to forest bathing. Chris is witty, thoughtful and also comforting. It’s very comfortable and organic. Forest bathing turned out to be a thoughtful, relaxing, and deepening experience that I wasn’t expecting. The experience gave a sense of looking beyond one’s self to maybe find something much bigger. Thank you Chris. “

    — J.J.