I believe that deep nature connection is life-enhancing and profoundly healthy — for each of us, for our communities, and for the entire planet.

Dan grew up in central Virginia and connected early on to a love of nature through hiking and backpacking in the nearby Appalachian Mountains. He moved to Seattle over 25 years ago, and has spent many days exploring the Pacific Northwest through hiking, backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking and backcountry skiing. These experiences ultimately made him want to share his deep appreciation for nature with others. This started years ago with co-founding a program called Ancient Earth Outings, which took small parties on retreats to share art, mindfulness, and immersion in nature.

He has also realized a long career in city planning, believing that healthy and livable cities are good for people and nature. He is an advocate for urban design that creates opportunities for people to connect with nature at every scale, from the individual building to neighborhoods, cities and regions.

Dan practices as a forest therapy guide in the greater Seattle area. He leads individuals and groups on nature encounters through an approach that is gentle, sensory, and relational, with the understanding that encounters with nature can be transformational in ways that are hard to predict but very real. He is also a visual artist, with a painting practice that explores nature in a changing world.

About Your Guide, Dan Stroh