"Into the woods I go
to lose my mind and find my soul"
Wednesday, September 18th, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Alycin Hayes will give an interactive talk and book reading from her adventure travel memoir "Amazon Hitchhiker: A Woman's Adventures from Canada to Brazil" at Oxford County's Harrington Library, 539 Victoria St, Harrington, Ontario, Canada N0J 1J0
September, 2024
Alycin Hayes will give an interactive book reading of her children's book "Milo & the Mustang" at the Forest Hills Private School & Retreat. (This talk is not open to the public)
Alycin Hayes will give an interactive book reading of her children's book "Milo & the Mustang" at the Forest Hills Private School & Retreat. (This talk is not open to the public)
Future workshops
Alycin in the trees
Plein Air Poetry Workshop led by Alycin Hayes
Plein Air poetry, like Plein Air painting is done outside in nature. Writing in the open air helps you to write and create with more freedom. Alycin will give Plein Air poetry writing tips and lead the class in techniques to increase your awareness of sights, smells and sounds to help your writing flow fluidly engaging the right brain. The class will have an opportunity go out on their own into Echo Hill conservation area to write. Those who choose to may share their writings with the group.
If you are interested in this workshop please email [email protected]
Plein Air poetry, like Plein Air painting is done outside in nature. Writing in the open air helps you to write and create with more freedom. Alycin will give Plein Air poetry writing tips and lead the class in techniques to increase your awareness of sights, smells and sounds to help your writing flow fluidly engaging the right brain. The class will have an opportunity go out on their own into Echo Hill conservation area to write. Those who choose to may share their writings with the group.
If you are interested in this workshop please email [email protected]
How to Write Your Memoir Workshop led by Alycin Hayes
Follow your dream to become a successful author. Through various exercises this workshop will help you to write your own memoir about your life even if you have never written anything before. This workshop will include handouts to help you find and compose your unique story.
1. We will discuss how to turn your journal/diary into a memoir.
2. We will go over how make your first draft ready for publication through editing, cover design and formatting.
3. We will then cover three different options available for publishing your book: traditional, vanity/ hybrid and self publishing as we discuss the pros and cons of each to help you decide what will be best for you and your book.
We will also go over various way of successfully marketing your book.
If you are interested in this workshop please email [email protected]
Follow your dream to become a successful author. Through various exercises this workshop will help you to write your own memoir about your life even if you have never written anything before. This workshop will include handouts to help you find and compose your unique story.
1. We will discuss how to turn your journal/diary into a memoir.
2. We will go over how make your first draft ready for publication through editing, cover design and formatting.
3. We will then cover three different options available for publishing your book: traditional, vanity/ hybrid and self publishing as we discuss the pros and cons of each to help you decide what will be best for you and your book.
We will also go over various way of successfully marketing your book.
If you are interested in this workshop please email [email protected]
"Echo Hill is a beautifully forested setting where I felt tension dissolve as we walked through the forest. The workshop helped to nurture creativity I didn't even know I had! Thank you Alycin for your fun and inspiring workshop! I can't wait for your next one!" - Jan Kalmusky
Tom Campbell painting at Echo Hill Pond.
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London artist, Janice Rule, painting Echo Hill pond.
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Some of the Wildlife that lives at Echo Hill Wildlife Sanctuary: Deer, Mink, Fox, Rabbit, Snapping turtle, Painted turtle, Leopard Frog, AmericanToad, Red Spotted Newt, Garter Snake, Milk Snake, Chipmunk, Squirrel, Coyote, Raccoon, Monarch Butterfly, Robin, Goldfinch, Bluejay, Baltimore Oriole, Crow, Northern Flicker, Canada Goose and goslings, Great Blue Heron, Ruby Throated Humming Bird, Wild Turkey, Cardinal, Pileated Woodpecker, Wren, Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Downy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Hawk, Lake Gulls.
White tailed deer fawn
Camping
Personal weekend & weekly camping retreats in our private, completely off the grid rustic cabin beside Echo Pond are available in the summer. If you enjoy being alone in the woods this is the place for you. Experience our re-wilding. Practice your bushcraft.
Click here to see more photos or book camping at Echo Hill.
Personal weekend & weekly camping retreats in our private, completely off the grid rustic cabin beside Echo Pond are available in the summer. If you enjoy being alone in the woods this is the place for you. Experience our re-wilding. Practice your bushcraft.
Click here to see more photos or book camping at Echo Hill.
Misty Morning at Echo Hill
Past Workshops :
All workshops are limited to very small intimate groups.
If you have a special interest please let us know. Email [email protected]
2023
Plein Air Painting Taught by Tom Campbell, September 11, 2023
2020 - 2022 - Break for COVID
2019
Plein Air painting - taught by Artist Tom Campbell
Forest Bathing/Shin Rin Roku - led by Alycin Hayes
Guided Forest Walks: Shinrin-Yoku - Forest bathing embraces the healing properties of trees
Literally translated "Forest bathing" or "Taking in the forest atmosphere" is the practice of taking a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits. The practice originated in Japan where it is called Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴) in Japanese.
We will be booking Guided Forest Walks - Shrinrin-Yoku in our private 100 acre hilly forested Nature Sanctuary located near Stratford, Ontario, Canada. No swimming is involved, rather you will wash away your stress on your guide walk through our therapy forest trails.
Our Forest Guide, Alycin Hayes is a certified Reiki practitioner and Equine bodyworker. She studied Yoga in India and has developed special mudras and other techniques that help you connect your senses (hearing, visual, tactile, chemical and electromagnetic) with the wild natural world.
On our guided walks you will learn to reconnect once again with your inner being by focusing on your own innate survival senses. As your brain tunes into nature you will feel at home and the healing of the forest will calm and soothe your nerves as your mind and body naturally promote healing.
The scientifically-proven BENEFITS of Shinrin-Yoku include:
• Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body's Natural Killer (NK) cells.
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced stress
• Improved mood
• Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
• Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
• Increased energy level
• Improved sleep
2018
Wild Green Man Masks - Gather plants from the wild to & make an amazing mask you can wear or hang on a wall. All supplies, make, paint glues etc and lunch included. - taught by British Columbia Artist Judy Anderson
Drum Workshop - taught by Alycin Hayes
Forest Bathing/Shin Rin Roku - led by Alycin Hayes
Living with Beavers - Hike to a wild beaver dam and find out how to make a beaver deceiver and live happily with the beaver on your property.
Make Apple Cider like the Pioneers -Gather wild organic apples and make cider from them in a pioneer Apple Press. All supplies and lunch included.
Foraging for Wild Teas - Gather wild herbs and learn how to dry them to make teas from them. High tea included.
2017
Cactus Creations - taught by Alycin Hayes
Whit Tailed Deer Trail Blazing
All workshops are limited to very small intimate groups.
If you have a special interest please let us know. Email [email protected]
2023
Plein Air Painting Taught by Tom Campbell, September 11, 2023
2020 - 2022 - Break for COVID
2019
Plein Air painting - taught by Artist Tom Campbell
Forest Bathing/Shin Rin Roku - led by Alycin Hayes
Guided Forest Walks: Shinrin-Yoku - Forest bathing embraces the healing properties of trees
Literally translated "Forest bathing" or "Taking in the forest atmosphere" is the practice of taking a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits. The practice originated in Japan where it is called Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴) in Japanese.
We will be booking Guided Forest Walks - Shrinrin-Yoku in our private 100 acre hilly forested Nature Sanctuary located near Stratford, Ontario, Canada. No swimming is involved, rather you will wash away your stress on your guide walk through our therapy forest trails.
Our Forest Guide, Alycin Hayes is a certified Reiki practitioner and Equine bodyworker. She studied Yoga in India and has developed special mudras and other techniques that help you connect your senses (hearing, visual, tactile, chemical and electromagnetic) with the wild natural world.
On our guided walks you will learn to reconnect once again with your inner being by focusing on your own innate survival senses. As your brain tunes into nature you will feel at home and the healing of the forest will calm and soothe your nerves as your mind and body naturally promote healing.
The scientifically-proven BENEFITS of Shinrin-Yoku include:
• Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body's Natural Killer (NK) cells.
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced stress
• Improved mood
• Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
• Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
• Increased energy level
• Improved sleep
2018
Wild Green Man Masks - Gather plants from the wild to & make an amazing mask you can wear or hang on a wall. All supplies, make, paint glues etc and lunch included. - taught by British Columbia Artist Judy Anderson
Drum Workshop - taught by Alycin Hayes
Forest Bathing/Shin Rin Roku - led by Alycin Hayes
Living with Beavers - Hike to a wild beaver dam and find out how to make a beaver deceiver and live happily with the beaver on your property.
Make Apple Cider like the Pioneers -Gather wild organic apples and make cider from them in a pioneer Apple Press. All supplies and lunch included.
Foraging for Wild Teas - Gather wild herbs and learn how to dry them to make teas from them. High tea included.
2017
Cactus Creations - taught by Alycin Hayes
Whit Tailed Deer Trail Blazing
Click here to Watch a film made about the history of Echo Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.
"Echo Through the Trees"
"Echo Through the Trees"
