CHAMINADE RESORT & SPA

Forest Therapy Blog

Could Chaminade's Certified Forest Therapy Trail Become Your Third Place?

By Wendy Figone

Most of us have two places that dominate our lives: home and work. But what about the places in between? Sociologists call these spaces third places - places outside of home and work where people gather, connect, reflect, and simply belong.

Today, many of us move between work, home, and screens with little time spent in places that nourish our wellbeing. This is one reason Chaminade's certified Forest Therapy Trail is so special. The trail offers more than a wellness activity. It offers a place to return to. A place where guests can slow down, leave their phones behind, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves, others, and the natural world. Over time, something powerful happens. A favorite redwood becomes familiar. A particular bench becomes a place of reflection. The overlook becomes somewhere you return when you need perspective. The trail becomes more than a trail. It becomes your place.

Researchers call this place attachment - the emotional bond we develop with places that hold meaning for us. Studies suggest these connections can support wellbeing, resilience, community connection, and even stewardship. People are more likely to care for places they feel connected to.

For corporate teams, the value of a third place may be even more important. Many organizations are searching for ways to support employee wellbeing, reduce burnout, strengthen team connection, and create space for creativity in an increasingly digital world. Chaminade's Forest Therapy Trail offers teams an opportunity to step outside of conference rooms and experience a different kind of gathering place - one that supports attention restoration, authentic conversation, reflection, and fresh thinking.

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of the forest is not simply helping us escape our lives for a few hours, but helping us discover a place we want to return to again and again.