Walking with Trees - Washington Park

We are excited to host a meaningful walking/movement experience visiting a wide variety of trees in the Washington Park area of Denver. We will explore themes of science, health, mindfulness, art, healing, community, pedestrian safety, folklore and more. This walk will be exploratory with small stretches of movement between visiting various trees. There are several mature "Champion Trees" in the area and we will visit at least 3-4 of them on our route. Colorado’s Champion Trees reflect the most grand specimens throughout the state. This collection is lovingly curated by the Colorado Tree Coalition to help people connect with and celebrate trees. We invite you to bring your own tree knowledge/connections to share with our group!

Meeting Location, restroom, transit/parking: We will meet on the east side (Franklin) of the Boathouse facing the parking lot. Nearby transit routes (12, 3 & 24). Parking is available near/at boathouse or on surrounding residential streets. There are portable restrooms throughout the park and near the boathouse.

Pace & terrain: We will be moving at a very relaxed, exploratory pace with significant stop-and-go. We will be moving on sidewalks, gravel paths and through the grass. Please get in touch (contact info below) with us if you have any access needs/questions.

Your hosts:

Monticue Connally is a Colorado Community Herbalist and Medicine Man who resonates with the sounds of African Drums, Rhythmic Chanting and Afro-Caribbean Folklore. Herbs, Medical Astrology, the outdoors, singing and alternative healing methods have been a lifelong interest for the life-long Denver resident who continues to use workshops, music, humor and fun to teach people in urban areas how to access the earthly medicines growing around them. He’s led various classes and herb walks at spaces such as Ruby Hill Tiny Farm and the lovely Woodbine Ecology Center. He has taught for the Denver Botanic Gardens Herbal Certification Program and now teaches for the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. He is also Lead Herbalist and Youth Coordinator for the organization- Front Line Farming. He received the Preventative Care Leadership Award from the Be Well Health Initiative in 2019 for being of service to diverse black and brown communities, pushing them towards the accessible and immediate plant medicines growing all around them. Instagram: @monticue_the_herbalist, Facebook: Monticue Connally, Patreon: Patreon.com/arootawakening

Jonathon Stalls (he, his) spent 242 days walking across the United States in 2010 and has continued to move alongside thousands of people for thousands of miles. He identifies as a 'walking artist' with his creative project, Intrinsic Paths. He also founded Walk2Connect in 2012. His work currently moves in the realms of pen and ink drawing, writing and poetry, storytelling with the Pedestrian Dignity project, economic and racial justice organizing, training walk event leaders, guiding meditative practices, and creating long-distance walking routes. His first book, WALK - Slow Down, Wake Up & Connect at 1-3 Miles Per Hour (North Atlantic Books) was released on August 16, 2022. He is gay/queer and resides primarily in Denver, CO. Visit "Intrinsic Paths" on Patreon.com to learn more about how you can support his creative work.

Art & t-shirts: All participants (up to 25!) will get a free t-shirt with Intrinsic Paths and Colorado Tree Coalition artwork and small recycled art prints with Intrinsic Paths artwork on them. Thank you, Thaddeus for getting these printed at your University of Denver student makerspace!

Partners: A big shout out to Dana Coelho and Thaddeus Driscoll of the Colorado State Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program for initiating and sponsoring this event.

Contact: Please send an email to jonathon (at) intrinsicpaths (dot) com or a text message to 720-263-0227 if you have any questions.