Earth Day at Rolling Ridge 2024

Celebrate Earth Day with us!

Hosted by Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center and our eco-partners (separate organizations that offer programming at the Ridge), you and your family are invited to get back to nature with us. This is a free community-wide event happening Saturday, April 20th (Rain date: Sunday, April 21st).

Choose from seven 45-minute workshops, happening across our beautiful grounds on the shores of Lake Cochichewick in North Andover. Roll up your sleeves with organic gardening and composting, immerse yourself in forest bathing in nature-based meditation, try out play-based activities with your little ones, and more!

You can sample up to three workshop sessions between 1 pm – 4 pm. See the schedule below for more details. All workshops are free, and you do not need to register for each workshop. We do ask you to register once for the day so that we know how many people to expect!

As a nonprofit organization, our goal at Rolling Ridge is to bring neighbors and community members together to uplift our shared values: care for the earth, environmental responsibility, and the holistic benefits of the natural world for all people. We hope you’ll join us!

Additional Information

​Register so we know you’re coming: Click here

• Address: 660 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA, 01845
• Event Schedule: See below
• Questions? Need more info? Contact us at thestaff@rollingridge.org

Schedule

1:00pm: Opening Welcome at Rolling Ridge Courtyard (15 Minutes)

1:15pm: Session 1 (45 minutes)
Participants attend their first chosen workshop (scroll down for more information about each workshop)

A) Intro to Forest Bathing: Nature’s Pace LLC
B) Hands-On Organic Gardening: The Giving Garden
C) Kids’ Outdoor Discover: Nature Play with Kay
D) From Kitchen Scraps to Black Gold: Conscious Composting
E) Lakeside Mindfulness and Meditation: Pray and Paddle
F) Intro to Herbalism and Indigenous Medicine: Herbalist Todd Warfield
G) Walking the Labyrinth: Facilitator Judy Smith

2:00pm: Transition Break (15 minutes)
Participants move to their next chosen workshop

2:15pm: Session 2 (45 minutes)
Participants attend their second chosen workshop (from the remaining options)

3:00pm: Transition Break (15 minutes)
Participants move to their next chosen workshop

3:15pm: Session 3 (45 minutes)
Participants attend their third chosen workshop (from the remaining options)

4:00pm: Closing and Thank Yous (15 minutes)

Workshops

A) Intro to Forest Bathing: Nature’s Pace LLC

• Leader: Christine Cohne from “Nature’s Place, LLC” (Partner Organization)
• Location: Rolling Ridge Bowling Green
• Description: Participants will be introduced to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing. Forest bathing is a practice that involves mindful, slow-paced walks in nature that have been scientifically proven to reduce stress and promote well-being.
• Activity: Participants will take a guided walk through the beautiful woods of Rolling Ridge, with instructions on meditation and mindfulness techniques. They’ll be encouraging them to engage their senses and connect with the natural world, in order to experience the healing power of the forest.

B) Hands-On Organic Gardening: The Giving Garden

• Leader: Emily Strong from “The Giving Garden” (Partner Organization)
• Location: The Giving Garden
• Description: Join this interactive gardening workshop to learn the basics of sustainable gardening. Discover how to cultivate your own garden and make a positive impact on the environment.
• Activity: Participants will get their hands dirty with some light gardening work in the Rolling Ridge Giving Garden. You’ll learn about soil preparation, planting techniques, and the importance of native plants for local ecosystems.

C) Kids’ Outdoor Discover: Nature Play with Kay

• Leader: Kay Milligan from “Nature Play with Kay” (Partner Organization)
• Location: Great Lawn
• Description: This workshop is perfect for families with young children, especially those ages 2-8 years old. Enjoy outdoor activities and nature exploration suitable for kids and parents alike.
• Activity: Families with children can participate in a range of fun outdoor activities, like nature scavenger hunts, art with natural materials, and storytelling in the great outdoors. It’s a chance for young ones to connect with nature!

D) From Kitchen Scraps to Black Gold: Conscious Composting

• Leader: Carol Zoubeck and Marie Rudzinsky from “Conscious Composting” (Rolling Ridge)
• Location: Composting Yard
• Description: Learn about composting and how to turn kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
• Activity: Participants will receive a basic overview about the essentials of composting. They’ll learn the dos and don’ts of composting, see different composting systems in action, and even have the opportunity to start a small compost bin.

E) Lakeside Mindfulness and Meditation: Pray and Paddle

• Leader: Kent Harrop of “Pray and Paddle” (Rolling Ridge)
• Location: Boat Launch
• Description: An introduction to the medieval contemplative practice of lectio divina. Rather than using a religious text, participants will learn to ‘read’ the natural world and practice contemplation from ‘the book of nature.’ While it will be too cold to kayak, participants will be introduced to ways in which lectio-style contemplation can be incorporated on the water.
• Activity: Participants will engage in a reflection session on the shores of Lake Cochichewick, exploring themes of attentiveness, reciprocity, and gratitude toward the Earth. We’ll end with a shared time of reflection, responding to the question: ‘What did you notice? What surprised you on the walk?’

F) Intro to Herbalism and Indigenous Medicine: Herbalist Todd Warfield

• Leader: Todd Warfield, Rolling Ridge Naturalist Consultant (Rolling Ridge)
• Location: Rolling Ridge Memorial Garden
• Description: Todd Warfield is a certified herbalist and person of Abenaki heritage. He will guide participants through a workshop on the wonders of herbalism. Together, we will discover the fascinating world of herbs, their healing properties, uses in Indigenous cultures, and how they can be integrated into daily life to promote health and well-being.
• Activity: Embark on a sensory journey with a diverse array of herbs. Participants in this workshop will be instructed in the uses and benefits of various herbs, especially their unique healing properties and culinary applications. Participants will touch, smell, and taste different herbs when learning how to identify them, and even try out making their own herbal teas or infusions.

G) Walking the Labyrinth: Facilitator Judy Smith (Rolling Ridge)

• Leader: Judy Smith (Rolling Ridge)
• Location: Rolling Ridge Labyrinths
• Description: Discover the practice of labyrinth walking, a meditative journey that promotes self-reflection and mindfulness. This is an activity for people of all faiths and none, inspired by the Christian contemplative tradition, offering participants a path to inner peace and clarity. As you walk the winding paths of the labyrinth, you’ll embark on a symbolic journey of self-discovery, letting go of stress and distractions as you focus on each step forward.
• Activity: Participants will gather at the Rolling Ridge Labyrinths, where Facilitator Judy Smith will provide an introduction to the history and significance of labyrinth walking. After a brief grounding meditation, participants will embark on their labyrinth journey, encouraged to walk at their own pace and reflect on their thoughts, emotions, and intentions.

Note: this event is sponsored in part by a grant from the North Andover Cultural Council. Thank you!