CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 19th (9-3pm)

$225 per person

Includes lunch

Experience the wonder and beauty of Drakes Estero on this special kayaking journey, co-hosted by Point Reyes Adventure Co. and In Place.

We'll paddle from the estero's quiet upper reaches toward the place where its waters meet the Pacific. Guided by Point Reyes Adventure Co. owners Liz Wilhelm and Dallas Smith, and joined by local naturalist and storyteller Claire Peaslee, this immersive excursion invites you to experience the estero through both adventure and deep connection to place.

As we paddle and pause along the way, we'll explore the many stories held within this remarkable landscape. We'll encounter pristine tidal bays, sculpted shorelines, abundant birdlife, harbor seals, native plants, and the rich diversity of this thriving estuary, while honoring the enduring relationship of the Coast Miwok and other First Peoples whose lives have been intertwined with these waters for millennia.

More than a kayak tour, this is an invitation to slow down, observe, and cultivate a deeper sense of belonging. Through shared conversation, quiet reflection, and time on the water, you'll leave with a richer understanding of Drakes Estero—and perhaps a lasting relationship with this extraordinary place.

September 25th (4:30pm-7:30pm)

$120 per person

Forest bathing, or Shinrin - Yoku, is the practice of immersing your senses in the natural world to reduce stress and boost well-being.

Through a series of carefully crafted, gentle invitations, you are encouraged to deeply slow down in a variety of ways that foster connection and reciprocity with the more-than-human world.

This specific walk on the eve of the harvest full moon captures the transition from the setting sun to the rising of the moon. Our experience together will culminate in a tea ceremony as we observe the setting of the sun and rising of the moon.

We will cover less than a mile at a slow pace, and we will be mostly in silence. There will be periods of sharing, and the tea ceremony towards the end offers time for reflection and discussion.

You won’t need to bring much for our time together, but these few items are essential: please bring a light pack with water, warm layers, a hat, and a windbreaker. Weather conditions can change quickly in the park, and you want to be able to stay comfortable during our time together.

Your guide, Joey, will bring a compact foam pad for each participant to sit on; you can also bring a light camping stool or a small mat to sit or lie on the forest floor more comfortably.

More about Joey:

Joey is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy guides and programs (ANFT).

Her passion is bringing people of all ages into a place of stillness, where a connection with the natural world can be made from that deeper place.

She guides Forest Bathing walks and retreats in Marin County and beyond. Joey is also a lover of all things in and of the ocean. She has been volunteering at The Point Reyes as a Winter Wildlife docent for well over a decade. This is where she fell in love with whales, observing the gray whales from the lighthouse platform on their annual migration between Alaska and Baja. Joey became a Naturalist with the American Cetacean Society in 2015. Each year, she organizes and guides adventures in Baja to observe blue whales in the Sea of Cortez and gray whales and their calves in their breeding lagoons. 

For more information, see Joey’s website at: https://www.exploreinnature.com/

September 26th (4-8pm) 

& 

September 27th (1-3pm)

$250 per person

This course is for people who want to improve their skill at making photographs of subjects that are outside. 1 day in the field and the next afternoon reviewing photographs inside. Students in the course will have the opportunity to work on their technical and creative abilities as photographers while deepening their relationship with the local ecosystem. The focus will be on landscape photography. This can mean anything from wide vistas of the sun setting over the sea to close-ups of what grows beneath the trees, depending on the location we visit. The course is designed to meet students where they are in terms of their skill level or previous experience.

No previous experience with landscape photography is required.

Students in the course will learn:

-How to improve their visioning and pre-visualization skills. 

 

-How to use manual exposure.

 

-How to use white balance to get the colors you want in your photos



-How to use a tripod as a creative tool

. 

-How to recognize and respect the animals and plants who live where the course takes place.

The course is taught by professional photographer and award-winning filmmaker Bryan Hewitt in collaboration with Point Reyes Adventure Company owners and Leave No Trace instructors Liz Wilhelm and Dallas Smith.

What you’ll need:

-A digital or film camera and lens capable of manual exposure (manually setting the ISO/film speed, aperture/f-stop, and shutter speed).

 

-A tripod that can hold your camera

 

-At least 2 fully-charged batteries if your camera is digital.
 

-Layered clothing for a variety of temperatures from warm to cold and windy

 

-Water in a reusable bottle

 

-Shoes or boots you can walk a trail in comfortably

Recommended:

-A remote release for your camera

 

-A macro lens for your camera

 

-Sunscreen

 

-A hat and/or sunglasses 

-Snacks