MY STORY

Hi - I'm Rebecca Locke, a lover of all seasons and the infinite wonders of nature. Michigan has been my lifelong home and I am humbled by the wide array of natural spaces that have shaped me. As a child, my family spent a lot of time outdoors - endlessly exploring different municipal, state and national parks. I began my professional career in bank marketing in the 90's surviving Y2K and up until my husband and I had our first child. I am grateful I was able to make a conscious decision to raise my children as a stay-at-home mom. Watching our three children grow into their own unique humans has been my greatest joy. After moving our family to Ann Arbor 15 years ago, I volunteered in the M.L. King Elementary School's Outdoor Learning Garden for nearly a decade. We helped classrooms of students build and sustain a large, organic, edible garden throughout each school year. I also served as the Assistant Market Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Ann Arbor Farmers Market for a handful of years and through the pandemic. This work kept me rooted in the community while continuing the rhythms of seasonal life. In spring 2021, I made another intentional decision to return home again full-time to ground my family after such an uncertain time. What I didn't realize then was that I was stepping directly onto the path I'd been moving toward all along. It was in this time that I was introduced to the role of Forest Therapy Guide and the training at Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides & Programs. Beginning with the application, I knew that it was a special thing. Now, through Birdsong Forest Therapy, I'm honored to guide others while holding a safe space to slow down and remember what if feels like to be still. Giving reminders that nature is not separate of us. We are nature.

The world moves too fast. You deserve to rest.