Dr. Kari Krogh, has a PhD in Human Development and Applied Psychology and has worked as a professor of Disability Studies. She has led national studies using collaborative research methods and represented Canada in developing disability policy with the World Health Organization. While holding a Senior Research Fellowship with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, she suddenly acquired a severe disability affecting mobility, communication, hearing, vision and neurocognition.
Kari understands disability! She brings theoretical, community-based, and personal understandings of the disability experience to EcoWisdom initiatives. In addition, she understands the physical, social, and economic barriers that disabled people often face when trying to access green spaces or participate in nature therapy programs or trainings. Dr. Krogh prioritizes evidence-based nature connection practices and community development processes that attend to equity issues.
EcoWisdom works in partnership with university academics who systematically study the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing effects that EcoWisdom’s Accessible Nature Wellbeing Programs has upon its participants.
As part of Kari’s journey of living with a fluctuating complex chronic illness disability, she has become certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher, interfaith spiritual director and forest therapy guide as well as practitioner. She has also enlisted the support of Indigenous teachers to aid her in understanding her deepening connection to the EcoWisdom Forest Preserve, located on Algonquin Territory. In relationship with the land, plants, and trees she creates nature prints on paper and fabric. Contemplative photography is another practice she enjoys. Kari has found living off-grid among thousands of trees, soft moss, a flowing river and wild-roaming moose, deer, and wolves to be life-changing.
Her background, teachings and practices have been woven into her ongoing community activities with EcoWisdom where forest bathing is offered as a pathway to nurture care for ourselves, one another, and the earth. Kari’s own experience of finding a sense of belonging to the land has fuelled her passion for making mindful nature connection more accessible to populations who could benefit but are often excluded.
For Kari, engaging in mindful nature connection, otherwise referred to as shinrin yoku or forest bathing, has reduced chronic pain and fostered holistic wellbeing, creativity, and a deep sense of belonging to the web of life. These wellbeing benefits have enabled and inspired the creation of the EcoWisdom Forest Preserve, Programs and Trainings with David Gordon and a team of experts by training and experience, many of whom live with disability or chronic illness themselves.