Build a deep connection with a living giant throughout the shift of seasons.
What is slow leaf peeping?
Autumn in New England is brilliant. We’re gifted with sweater weather, apple cider donuts, and a glowing world of red, orange, gold, and auburn. It’s easy to understand why people would want to travel to Maine just to get a glimpse of this magical moment.
However, most leaf peepers will drive hundreds of miles just to quickly pull over on the side of the road, snap a picture, and move on to the next “peak” location. There are busloads of people shuttled from one tree to the next, weekly foliage reports, live webcams, and influencers sharing this neatly packaged idea that fall can only exist in a brief “perfect” moment.
This class asks, “How can we shift leaf peeping from a frenzied, scarcity-driven industry to being in an intentional relationship with the land we inhabit?”
Slow Leaf Peeping is a fully immersive experience where you’ll be able to slow down and connect with a single tree through the entire cycle of its leaves changing and falling. Throughout the course, you’ll also begin to change, expanding your awareness of the tremendous natural transformations that occur every single day, “peak” foliage, or not.
“This course was my first experience with using a sit spot and doing nature journaling, and it was a perfect environment in which to learn…This course is definitely a gift that you give to yourself. Highly recommended.” — Kelley M.
This class came out of my lifelong love for trees. Everywhere that I’ve lived, I’ve made a conscious decision to befriend a tree in my neighborhood so that I feel more at home. A recent study showed that humans can have decades long relationships with tree friends that elicit joy, admiration, and a connection to something larger than themselves. It’s a friendship that can be passed from generation to generation, a constant in a world that is rapidly changing.
Portland is frequently called the Forest City. Whether you’re deep in Fore River Sanctuary or walking in the Old Port, you have the opportunity to connect with trees. This experience will give you the tools to find a sense of belonging anywhere you go.
What you’ll learn
Slow Leaf Peeping is an 8-week class and cohort. Sessions will take place in person in Portland, ME.
Each session is designed to deepen participants’ relationships with the tree they’ve chosen to observe. Using your tree as an anchor point for the passage of time, your practice will be bolstered by guided centerings and gentle movement, environmental education, hands-on mindfulness meditations, journaling, and community sharing circles.
Week 1: Arrival
Course & cohort intros. Learn about fascination attention vs directed attention, and you’ll choose “your” tree.
Sunday, September 14, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 2: Natural Sound Bath
Orient to your environment. Practice observation through deep listening, learning how to slow down and prioritize rest.
Sunday, September 21, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 3: Light and Wind
See how your tree is shaped by intangible forces
Sunday, September 28, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 4: Leaves
Observe the brilliant transformation of color one leaf at a time.
Sunday, October 5, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 5: Welcoming Autumn (Phenology)
Attune to the subtle seasonal shifts and passage of time.
Sunday, October 12, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 6: Bark & Roots
Breathe with your tree’s vascular system.
Sunday, October 19, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 7: Animal Life
Learn about the wildlife that inhabits your tree.
Sunday, October 26, 2025, 9–11 am
Week 8: Letting Go
A celebration of ephemerality. Meet each other’s trees!
Sunday, November 2, 2025, 9–11 am
Meet your Guide
Davinica Nemtzow
Davinica (she/her) is a certified Mindful Outdoor Guide from the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and a proud Mainer. She builds inclusive communities that honor our collective growth, healing, and sense of belonging through connection to each other and immersion in nature.
Through Kaneel she offers guided mindfulness practices in natural settings throughout the state of Maine. She encourages people to connect with the natural world in meaningful ways so they may become active stewards of our planet.
Are you ready to…
Cultivate a consistent mindfulness practice?
Connect, share with, and learn from a community of like-minded people?
Enhance your observational skills to be more engaged with the world around you?
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you have specific questions about accessibility, please reach out to Davinica at davinica@kaneel.me.
Parking: There are at least 6 designated accessible spaces in a partially paved parking lot. None of them are van-accessible with striped access aisles. There is also ample street parking available.
Trail: This course is wheelchair accessible. The trail surface is paved (asphalt, brick, or cement), and typically at least 4 feet wide. We will spend most of our time on a lawn-style grass. The estimated grade is mostly gentle (5% or less). Most of our experience will be in stillness, and when we do walk it will be slow and for very short distances.
Sensory Activities: Throughout the meditation, participants will be invited to explore the space using all 5 of their senses. Participation in any of these activities is not required and can be adapted for those with sensory impairments or difficulties.
Restrooms: There are two wheelchair accessible all-gender toilets in the park. A vault toilet is a permanent waterless bathroom that sits above a vault or “pit” that is serviced by a waste management company. Vault restrooms do not require plumbing or electricity.
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Early bird pricing is available through August 17 and is just $195!
The regular price for the 8-week program, cohort, and course materials is $250.
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Yes! Using a pay-what-you-can model, a subsidized rate is available starting at $85.
Please email Davinica at davinica@kaneel.me with a price that feels accessible to you and she will send you a discount code to enter when purchasing.
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This course is for any and all people who want to slow down and align with the gradual shift of seasons. This course and cohort will support and nourish you whether you are new to mindfulness or have been practicing for years.
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Attendees should try to make themselves available for all of the program sessions as each lesson builds off of the previous weeks.
However, you can miss up to 2 sessions.
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While this course can be used to add another skillset to your arsenal, this is not a professional certificate program. It's for anyone who wants to engage in learning for the sake of learning.
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There’s a lot to learn about our natural environment in the rain! If a session needs to be canceled due to extreme weather or illness, we will find a time to reschedule that fits the majority of the cohort’s schedules.
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We’re excited to have you! You will receive a welcome email shortly after you sign up. You will also be added to an email group in the days leading up to the event to connect with your cohort and receive notifications from Davinica.