Meet your guide…

Elaine "Sky" Schenkel
A life-long lover of the woods, Sky is a former yoga teacher, meditation practioner, photographer, artist, poet and outdoor enthusiast who is certified as a Forest Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Sky's realtionship with nature started when she was a young child growing up in NJ's suburbs near a patch of woods that served as a never ending curiosity and inspiration. Sky's connection to nature evolved throughout the years from a place of belonging and wonder to also include outdoor sports, walking and hiking. Throughtout her life she has turned to the wilderness for solace and friendship, healing and spiritual connection. Today she seeks to share her passion for nature with others. Sky approaches Forest Bathing as a relational practice where participants are invited to interact with the more then human world in ways that cultivate kinship and connection.
For the past twenty years, Sky has worked professionally with differently abled individuals in various capacities including presently as a Case Manager and previously as an Assistant Director and Program Coordinator for a Wellness and Arts Center located in Northern NJ. In 2013, Sky spent time at Spring Lake Ranch in Vermont working as a House Advisor for individuals coping with mental health and substance abuse. In all of her work, Sky brings a compassionate presence and a rare ability to truly meet others where they are in their own process of healing and self-discovery.