Rooted in Calm: A Mindfulness Walk for Mental Health Awareness Month

Rooted in Calm: A Mindfulness Walk for Mental Health Awareness Month

📅 Event Details

Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025

Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Location: Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Winslow Cemetery Road, Marshfield, MA

Meeting Spot: Trailhead – look for our welcome sign

Parking: Free gravel lot at the end of Winslow Cemetery Road

This Mental Health Awareness Month, Ample Access Outdoors and the James P Harrington Organization invite you to take a meaningful pause with Rooted in Calm—a guided mindfulness walk designed to help you ground yourself in nature, reconnect with your body, and restore your spirit.

We’ll gather at the beautiful Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, a 578-acre property cared for by Mass Audubon, featuring grasslands, marshes, red cedar swamps, woodlands, and panoramic views from the Fox Hill overlook. The walk will follow the Fox Hill Trail, a 1.4-mile round-trip path with level grassy terrain and a gentle incline at the end. The first portion of this trail—the All Persons Trail—is ADA-compliant, with a smooth, hard-packed surface that welcomes mobility aids. Participants are welcome to walk as much or as little of the trail as feel comfortable.

During our time together, we’ll move through a gentle flow of grounding and reflective practices. This includes a guided walking meditation, a seated nature meditation at a scenic overlook, journaling or rest time, and an optional group reflection. We'll close with affirmations and a shared moment of gratitude in community. You don’t need prior experience with meditation or mindfulness—just bring yourself, your breath, and whatever helps you feel present.

We’ll hike at a steady, supportive pace. As always, we move at the pace of the slowest hiker—no one is ever left behind.

Fox Hill Trail: 1.4-mile round-trip with level, grassy terrain and a gentle incline near the observation platform

All Persons Trail: 0.6-mile round-trip with an ADA-compliant hardpack surface, ideal for wheelchairs and other mobility aids

Participants are encouraged to walk as much or as little of the trail as feels comfortable.

We move at a steady, supportive pace, always matching the pace of the slowest hiker—no one is ever left behind.

Need specific accommodations? Please reach out to Brittany Francis at YnJpdHRhbnkgfCBhbXBsZWFjY2Vzc291dGRvb3JzICEgY29t so we can plan accordingly.

• From Rt. 3 North or South, take Exit 27 (Rt. 139)
  
• Follow Rt. 139 East for 3.7 miles to Marshfield Center
  
• Turn right at the light onto Webster Street
  
• Drive 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Winslow Cemetery Road
  
• The sanctuary is 0.7 miles ahead at the end of the road
  

🔗 Mass Audubon Daniel Webster Sanctuary Website

📞 781-837-9400 | ✉️ c291dGhlYXN0IHwgbWFzc2F1ZHVib24gISBvcmc=

• Foot travel only – please stay on designated trails
  
• No pets, dogs, or horseback riding (service animals welcome)
  
• No smoking, hunting, camping, collecting, fishing, or feeding wildlife
  
• Day passes are available for powered mobility devices.
  
• Commercial photography requires prior approval.
  
  

• Water
  
• A notebook and pen (optional for journaling)
  
• Sunscreen and insect repellent (with deet)
  
• Comfortable walking shoes
  
• Weather-appropriate clothing or layers
  
• Anything else that helps you feel grounded and supported
  

This event takes place on the ancestral lands of the Wampanoag people. We honor their ongoing connection to this land and encourage participants to learn more through the Mashpee Wampanoag and Herring Pond Wampanoag websites.

Ample Access Outdoors provides inclusive, beginner-friendly outdoor recreation for people of all sizes, abilities, and backgrounds. Whether you’re stepping into nature for the first time or looking for a space that fully welcomes your body and experience, we are here for you.

We offer:

• Guided hikes and community events
  
• Online and hybrid courses
  
• Custom accessibility-centered programming
  

At Ample Access Outdoors, you are welcome just as you are, and no one is ever left behind.

Brittany Francis (she/her) is the founder of Ample Access Outdoors. She is passionate about sharing her love of nature with others and advocating for representation and accessibility in outdoor spaces. As a special education teacher, Brittany has devoted her career to championing the needs of individuals with diverse abilities. She founded Ample Access Outdoors to make outdoor recreation inclusive, adaptable, and safe for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Through Ample Access Outdoors, she aims to foster an environment where the natural world is open and enjoyable for all.

Michael Francis (he/him) co-leads Ample Access Outdoors activities with Brittany. He is passionate about community engagement and the outdoors. He loves reading, hiking, and finding the best places for ice cream—especially after a great hike! Michael designs and implements programs that promote community service and personal development. He is committed to creating inclusive and engaging educational environments for all. He brings enthusiasm, expertise, and a warm sense of community to everything he does.

We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for everyone. We honor and respect all identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, body size, ability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background.

Our work is grounded in universal design principles and the belief that nature belongs to everyone. We actively stand against all forms of oppression and are building a community where all voices are valued, and everyone can connect with nature on their own terms.

✨ You are welcome here, just as you are.

Want to stay in the loop about future hikes, workshops, and events?

🌎 Website: ampleaccessoutdoors.com

📬 Join our mailing list: Click here

✉️ Email: YnJpdHRhbnkgfCBhbXBsZWFjY2Vzc291dGRvb3JzICEgY29t

This walk is being held in loving memory of Marianne Sierocinski.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Marshfield, Health & Wellness events in Marshfield.