Course Description: The Rooted Leader: Cultivating Resilience with Forest Bathing

A two-part immersive, nature-based leadership experience inspired by Florence Williams' The Nature Fix.

This unique course invites participants to explore the intersection of leadership and nature in order to reclaim clarity, resilience, and purpose in their professional lives. Drawing on neuroscience and ecological wisdom from The Nature Fix, the course supports a shift from reactive leadership to reflective presence through the transformative power of the natural world.

Morning 1 meets at COCC campus in Bend for a classroom-based session where participants are introduced to the science behind nature's impact on wellbeing, focus, and emotional intelligence. Through interactive discussion, reflective dialogue, and guided mindfulness practices, participants will examine how time in nature strengthens leadership capacity-and how to apply those insights in the workplace.

Morning 2 meets offsite and brings these concepts to life with a guided forest bathing walk at Shevlin Park. This slow, sensory hike offers space for intentional movement, stillness, and connection with the environment. Participants will engage in invitations to deepen awareness, with optional journaling and a reflective circle to help ground personal insights and commit to next steps.

What You'll Experience:

Research-based takeaways from The Nature Fix and how nature supports cognitive performance
Tools for reducing stress, restoring attention, and enhancing emotional regulation
Mindfulness and sensory practices to increase focus and present-moment awareness
A restorative forest bathing walk with guided invitations to connect with the land
A personalized aromatherapy blend to serve as a sensory anchor for ongoing practice

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Describe the cognitive and emotional benefits of nature for leadership performance
Apply mindfulness and sensory awareness practices to enhance presence and decision-making
Identify opportunities to embed nature-based wellbeing strategies into workplace culture
Use ecological metaphors to reflect on personal leadership style and team resilience
Create a personal "Nature Fix Plan" to support sustainable wellbeing and clarity in leadership

Course Details: (seats remaining)

Schedule:

Day 1: Meets Aug 8, 8:30-11:30 AM, Cascades Hall 104 - Bend Campus. Day 2: Meets Aug 15, 8:30-10:30 AM, Shevlin Park

Times:

08:30am-11:30am PDT

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Price:

Class Price : $159.00

Additional Course Information

First session meets on Bend Campus. Second session meets at Shevlin Park.

Instructors

Name

Additional Resources

Stefanie Siebold

Biography: Stefanie Siebold (she/hers) has spent 29 years in the fields of education and workforce development helping business leaders solve their workforce issues and overcome challenges in pursuit of success. She is the co-founder of PIQue Coaching and Strategy Group whose mission is to help leaders hire and inspire their dream team where engagement is positive and sustaining. She is driven by opportunities to increase workforce diversity by creating inclusive work environments where every employee can show up authentically and thrive. Stefanie approaches coaching and training opportunities with a sense of curiosity, discovery, and empathy which allows her to listen deeply, embrace multiple realities and the lived experiences of others creating an inclusive, authentic environment for meaningful learning. Her trainings bring relevance to diverse and complex topics of leadership, organizational development, team dynamics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her formal education includes earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Leadership and Organizational Development as well as a master's degree in Public Administration. She earned an Executive Certification in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University and she received her professional coaching certification through Coach Training Alliance. Stefanie is a certified consultant for the Predictive Index and is a trained mental fitness coach through Positive Intelligence. What she loves about this work is how coaching and training produce a co-creative environment where growth and opportunities are unearthed in transformative ways. It's that shift in perspective and those "ah ha" moments that bring about impactful and lasting transformation. Those moments provide clarity of direction as we walk down the pathway of success.

Bio for Siebold, Stefanie (PDF Document)

Facility Detail

COCC Cascades Hall

CAS 104

2600 NW College Way

Bend, OR 97703

Cancellation Policy

Students must cancel by contacting our office via phone: (541) 383-7270 or email: ceinfo@cocc.edu. Cancellations received 5 days prior to the start of the class will receive a full refund. Full refunds are also issued for classes cancelled by COCC. Refunds will be issued back to your card or in the form of a check and mailed within two weeks of the cancellation date if paid by check or cash. Failure to participate in a course or program does not result in a refund. Exceptions to the general refund policy are noted in the course descriptions on our website and in the printed schedule. If you have any questions, please call us at (541) 383-7270.