Because sometimes the best medicine grows in the forest.
On May 3rd, something beautifully simple—and profoundly needed—will happen across the country. From the coastal rainforests of British Columbia to the windswept shores of the Atlantic, Canadians will step outside, place their hands on the bark of a tree, and remember something ancient:
We belong here.
This marks the first-ever National Forest Therapy Day in Canada, an initiative led by Nature and Forest Therapy Canada—a growing community of forest therapy guides devoted to reconnecting people with the living world.
Why Forest Therapy, Why Now?
In a time when many Canadians are navigating stress, disconnection, and the invisible weight of modern life, forest therapy offers a gentle, evidence-informed invitation: slow down.
Rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), forest therapy is not about hiking or fitness. It is about presence. Through simple, sensory invitations, we begin to notice—the sway of branches, the scent of pine, the quiet intelligence of the forest.
And something shifts.
Our breath deepens. Our nervous systems soften. Our sense of separation dissolves.
Aligned with Mental Health Week, National Forest Therapy Day reminds us that wellbeing doesn’t always come in a prescription bottle. Sometimes, it grows quietly beneath our feet.
Meet the Tree Huggers of Canada
At the heart of this campaign is something joyful, human, and a little playful:
Tree hugging.
On May 3rd, forest therapy guides from coast to coast will be sharing photos and stories of themselves with a tree they love—each one rooted in a different landscape, each one carrying a unique story.
Through NFTC’s interactive map, Canadians can discover Forest Therapy guides in their regions and begin to see the forest not just as scenery, but as relationship.
This is an invitation not only to witness—but to participate.
Hug a Tree, Canada
We’re calling on Canadians everywhere to step outside and join us.
Find a tree—any tree. In your backyard, your local park, along a familiar trail. Place your hand on its trunk. Lean in, if you feel called. Stay a moment longer than usual.
Then, if you’d like, share your experience.
Tell us:
-Where you are
-Why you love trees
-What you noticed when you paused
Tag us on Instagram @nftc.sinc and use the campaign hashtags to join a growing chorus of connection:
#HugATreeCanada #ForestTherapyDay #NFTC #MentalHealthWeek
More Than a Moment
This day is more than a social media campaign. It is a collective remembering.
That we are not separate from nature—we are nature.
That healing doesn’t have to be complicated.
That even in the midst of uncertainty, there is steadiness in the forest.
And perhaps most importantly, that belonging is something we can feel—right here, with our feet on the earth and our hands against the living bark of a tree.
On May 3rd, let’s come home to that together.
—
Now it’s your turn.
Step outside. Hug a tree. And see what happens.