Evergreen Minds

Forest Bathing with the Alzheimer's Association!
2023-05-19 10:15 - 12:00 UTC
Evergreen Minds is Partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association for a special offering: Forest Bathing in May!
Friday, May 19th 10:15-noon
on the Ecological & Nature Preserve at Vassar College.
Participants living with dementia and /or with their Care Partners are invited to join us for a relaxing & restorative Forest Bathing Experience.
Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) translates into, ‘taking in the atmosphere of the forest’ is a wellness practice led by Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Gerontologist, Dr. Michelle Olson. You will be invited to tune into your senses and reconnect with the natural world in a no-pressure, relaxing and meaningful way. You cannot do this wrong! The forest is our partner and I wonder what gifts await you?
At the end of our forest walk, we will enjoy some refreshments together!
Please note:
This is NOT a hike but will involve a very slow walk covering about 1/4 mile.

Chairs will be provided.
Rollators can be used on the uneven terrain.
You will receive a confirmation email with more details about location and logistics of where to meet, what to wear etc.
Email: Michelle with questions: molson@evergreenminds.org or call (845) 464-3256

This event is FREE! Spaces are limited, so please call or Email the Alzheimer’s Association to reserve your spot Today!
1-800-272-3900
Tara DeLuca tedeluc@alz.org
Eileen Hendriksen eihendriksen@alz.org
We are so happy you will be joining us and connecting with one another and the land in meaningful ways!

EARTH DAY Event at Dia Beacon!
2023-04-22 10:30 - 12:00 UTC
Evergreen Minds is honored to partner with Dia Beacon for a special EARTH DAY event in Beacon, NY!

The Event Takes Place on:
April 22nd, 10:30 to Noon

This event will be led by a Dia Artist Educator along with Evergreen Minds’ Executive Director and Art Therapist, Dr. Michelle Olson. Participants living with dementia and their care partners will be invited to explore and discuss these works by an artist that utilizes recycled materials in an inspiring and colorful way.

We will also create our very own art inspired by these works and then enjoy Refreshments compliments of Dia Beacon!

This event is FREE but registration is required. (Online or by emailing Michelle–email below).
Spaces are limited and we look forward to you joining us!

*There will be some walking through gallery spaces for this event, but chairs will be available.
*Please let us know in advance if you/your partner will require an accomodation such as a wheelchair.

Located in a former Nabisco box-printing factory, Dia Beacon presents Dia’s collection of art from the 1960s to the present as well as special exhibitions and public programs.

For questions or more information call Michelle at (845) 464-3256 or Email: molson@evergreenminds.org

Forest Bathing
2022-12-17 10:30 - 12:00 UTC
Evergreen Minds is offering a gentle, connection with nature called Shinrin-Yoku or “Forest Bathing”.

Forest Bathing 🌱 is a very slow, gentle stroll in nature that is led by a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide to help people relax, restore and reconnect with their natural state of BE-ing.
This is not a hike or an educational walk. This experience is for you to help get out of your busy, anxious mind and into your body. You will be invited to grow your sense of wonder, curiosity and your own relationship with the human and more-than-human beings around us!
We invite people who are living with dementia and their care partners to join us as a way to honor the land, one another, ourselves and this change of season.

What gifts await you…in the forest?
The event will be located in Fishkill. Once registered, attendees will be given exact location and instructions.
We welcome a donation to help ensure these programs are available and accessible to our community 🌱
Click here to Donate

Growing in the Garden
2022-07-17 11:30 - 13:00 UTC
If you or your care partner are living with Dementia, Please join us for Music & Nature-based Art in the Garden with Evergreen Minds’ volunteer and music therapist, Christina Tadin & Founder and Art Therapist, Michelle Olson!

Click Here to Register in Advance

Evergreen Minds Presents an Earth Day Celebration
2022-04-22 11:00 - 16:00 UTC
Welcome to Our Age-Diverse & Dementia-Inclusive Community Garden!

Friday, April 22nd 11am – 4 pm
Project Growing Together Community Garden is located on the grounds of the ecological preserve at Vassar College.
11 am – 11:45 – Musical Meditation in the Garden – Eric Fraser
Eric Fraser is a licensed music therapist and a multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer, and songwriter. Eric’s orientation to Indian classical music serves as inspiration for melody, and a creative tool for improvisation on original styles that incorporate voice, guitar, keyboard, electronics and looping. Join Eric in the garden with his Bansuri (a bamboo flute from India) for a relaxing and grounding musical meditation in and with nature! www.ericfraser.com
12-12:45 – Wild Hudson Valley – Justin Wexler & Anna Plattner
Those That Sustain Us: The Role of Plants in Hudson Valley Native Life:
Local indigenous communities once relied on the great diversity of plants that call the Hudson Valley home. Join ethnoecologist, teacher and farmer, Justin Wexler of Wild Hudson Valley to explore some of the important plants for food, tools, fiber, medicine and dyes, and their role in Lenape culture both centuries ago and today. www.wildhudsonvalley.com
12:50-1:45 –Creating Mushroom Sculptures for the Garden! —Serena Domingues:
Serena is a multi-media creator exploring conceptual ideas about human nature and how we impact the natural world and ourselves. She will be hosting a sculpture workshop; teaching the importance of mushrooms and how to make one out of clay! Each participant will be able to keep a mushroom and give one to the garden. Her website is www.serenasnature.com to learn more about her work and classes. Suggested donation $10-$20 pp–Pay what you can for this activity!

1:50 – 2:10 – The Practice and Science of Home Composting—Joyce deVries Tomaselli: Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
Joyce deVries Tomaselli is Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County’s (CCEDC) Community Horticulture Resource Educator and a Master Gardener.
Join us as Joyce shares how to effectively compost organic materials and successfully use them in gardening. Learn how organic matter improves key aspects of soil and enables plants to take up the nutrients they need. Join us to learn all about it! http://ccedutchess.org/
2:30-3:15 – Move with the FLOW of NATURE: Qigong in the Garden—Kele Baker
Relax, restore and revitalize in this comfortable qigong (“chee-gong”) session. Through a series of easy, fun meditative movements, learn how to embody the resilience of a tree, the joy of the sun, the groundedness of earth, the courage of the mountain, and graceful flow of water. These therapeutic movement and breathing practices are easy to do and adaptable to all abilities. You are welcome to stand or sit for the session. Teacher Kele Baker is a senior trainer for Holden Qigong, Healer Within Qigong and Tai Chi Easy. Locally, Kele teaches qigong courses for Vassar College LLI and Marist College CLS. She also teaches online group classes and one-to-one coaching sessions. www.kelebaker.com
3:30-4 – Closing Celebration & Music in the Garden with Dementia Care Champion, Dr. Al Power, MD
We are honored to have the world-renowned G. Allen Power join us as we officially open our community garden! Dr. Power will be playing his guitar for a fun, musical ribbon-cutting in the Garden!
Dr. Power is a board-certified internist, geriatrician, and clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Rochester. He is also a Certified Eden Alternative® Educator, a member of the Eden Alternative board of directors and an international educator on transformation models of care for older adults, particularly those living with changing cognitive abilities.

In addition, Dr. Power is also a trained musician and songwriter with three recordings, including Life Worth Living: A Celebration of Elders and Those Who Care for Them. His songs have been recorded by several artists and performed on three continents. Peter, Paul and Mary performed his song of elder autonomy, “If You Don’t Mind”, and Walter Cronkite used his song, “I’ll Love You Forever” in a 1995 Discovery Channel profile of American families.
You can learn more about Dr. Power’s contributions to dementia care and his books, Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care and Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being at http://www.alpower.net/alpower_bio.htm
Other FUN Happenings Throughout the Day:

The fabulous Vassar Band, Fowlmouth Adds to the Earth Day Festivities https://www.instagram.com/fowlmouth.band/
Our Intern, Lixuanyi (Joy) Pan will be preparing an authentic Chinese Dish!
Nature Mandala Making: Everyone is Welcome to add to Our community Mandala!
Pix with Chix! Join Bea the Mayor—The World’s Most Beloved Chicken (ok, well…maybe just in the Hudson Valley)…and her person, Evergreen Minds Board Member, Karen Finnegan visit and you can have your photo taken with The Mayor!
Our hard-working Vassar Interns and community Volunteers will be here to greet you and help throughout the Event!

Evergreen Minds, Inc is a 501 (C)(3) organization here in the Hudson Valley.

Giving Thanks, Forest/Nature Walk
2021-11-27 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
Reese Park Town Nature Preserve in Wappingers Falls

Skip the stress and rush of holiday shopping and left-overs and decompress with a warm & welcoming forest/nature therapy experience. This reconnection with nature will help slow you down, alleviate stress and provide an opportunity to deepen your relationship with the More-Than-Human world, and learn how our interconnection with nature can promote health, gratitude & joy!
Please note: This is NOT a hiking class or ecology class. There will not be any strenuous walking. However, this particular walk takes place in a forest with uneven earth with one small incline. This offering is about noticing and paying close attention, tuning into our senses, nurturing our relationship with the natural world and with ourselves. Feel free to bring a portable/folding chair or seat cushion that is comfortable to sit on.
We are ALL Nature and Everyone of All Abilities is Welcome!
What to bring:
*Water (there will be mulled cider / snacks offered at end)
*Dress in warm layers!
*Shoes with rugged/non-slip soles such as hiking shoes or boots.
*Folding chair or a soft mat to sit on (optional)

Step 1: Make a tax-deductible donation in any amount that feels right to you. Please Include Email.
To donate click the button below or scan the QR code using your phone:

Step 2: Once Donation is Made, The location details will be emailed to you. Email Michelle for more info: molson@evergreenminds.org

In-Person Forest Therapy Walk
2021-10-10 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/93595833737
Vassar College farm & Ecological Preserve

Join us for a warm & welcoming face to face forest therapy experience to help slow you down in this hectic fast-paced world. This reconnection with nature helps alleviate stress and provides an opportunity to deepen your relationship with the More-Than-Human world, be more attuned to your senses and learn how our interconnection with nature can promote health, gratitude & joy!
Please note: This is NOT a hiking class or ecology class. There will not be any strenuous walking. This course is about noticing and paying close attention, tuning into our senses, nurturing our relationship with the natural world and with ourselves. Feel free to bring a folding chair or something comfortable to sit on.
We are ALL Nature and Everyone of All Abilities is Welcome!
What to bring:
*Water (there will be tea offered at end)
*Dress for the weather. Layers are recommended—be comfortable!
*Folding chair or a soft mat to sit on

*Leave your cell-phones off as this should be an immersion in and with nature and time to recharge YOU
Step 1: Make a tax-deductible donation in any amount that feels right to you. Please Include Email.
To donate click the button below or scan the QR code using your phone:

Step 2: Once Donation is Made, The location details will be emailed to you. Email Michelle for more info: molson@evergreenminds.org

Virtual Forest Therapy ‘Walk’
2021-10-05 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/93595833737
Join us for a virtual forest therapy experience to help slow you down, alleviate stress and an opportunity to deepen your relationship with the natural world, be more attuned to your senses and learn how our interconnection in and with nature can promote health, gratitude & joy!
Please note: This is NOT a hiking class or ecology class. There will not be any strenuous walking. This course is about noticing and paying close attention, tuning into our senses, nurturing our relationship with the natural world and with ourselves.
We are ALL Nature and Everyone of All Abilities is Welcome!
*You are welcome to join from a local park, your deck, your backyard or even indoors by a window or with some house plants!
What to bring:
*Have a thermos of tea or water, something comfortable to sit on and anything that makes you feel cozy—sweater, lap blanket, etc.
*Bring a piece of paper (or a journal), a sharpie or any art materials you like! (Not to worry…No art experience or talent needed!
*Be sure you have Zoom access from your fully-charged device. It may be helpful to have a power bank handy.
Step 1: Make a tax-deductible donation in any amount that feels right to you. Please Include Email.
To donate click the button below or scan the QR code using your phone:

Step 2: Once Donation is Made, The Zoom link & details will be emailed to you. Email Michelle for more info: molson@evergreenminds.org

Soundscapes: Connecting to Nature
2021-06-26 10:30 - 11:30 UTC | Bower Springs, Bolton, MA
Immerse yourself in sounds of nature with this expressive Arts Workshop.
If you or someone you care for our living with dementia please register in advance by emailing Lauren Bell lbell@evergreenminds.org

Natures Art on the Hudson
2021-06-19 10:30 - 12:00 UTC | Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie, NY
Evergreen Minds, Inc. is offering a Free creative & sensory experience for people living with dementia. We are partnering with the fabulous teens from Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess No Child Left Inside! **Please email Michelle to Register! molson@evergreenminds.org

The Love of HAIKU & Nature-Inspired Art
2021-03-20 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom, https://zoom.us/j/93595833737
Haiku is an ancient form of poetry that is fun to create and is usually inspired by a specific moment in nature.
In this online event, you will learn about how to write a soul-inspired Haiku and an accompanying piece of art to go with it.
For people who are living with dementia and their care partners…We will explore the beauty of seasons with a sense of wonder, a little humor & create meaningful works/words of art TOGETHER!

No art or writing skills or experience needed. This is a No-pressure, safe, welcoming group with no right and no wrong way to create. We’re glad you’re here!
Bring ANY art materials you have/prefer, a pen or sharpie and some scratch paper.
You will need Zoom, a web camera and microphone so that we can all enjoy one another’s company and share this space together!

To Register:

Please consider a tax-deductible donation of any amount that feels right to you. Your support helps us to continue to provide these meaningful programs! Click here: Evergreen Minds PayPal or scan the QR code with your smart phone:

2. Click REGISTER and the Zoom link to join will be sent right to your email!
