My Story
Welcome! I'm Cailyn, the founder of The Gathering Grounds. My passion for nature-based wellness began over 15 years ago when I found myself working in ecotourism and saw the transformative power of spending intentional time in nature.
What started as a small diversion on the way to becoming a grown up became a deep passion to share these experiences with others. I spent years studying horticulture, gaining experience in plant identification, sustainable gardening practices, and deepening my joy of working with the land. Combined with my background in eco/adventure tourism, yoga instruction, and foraging I've created programs to help people connect with nature in meaningful, accessible ways.
The Gathering Grounds is more than a business—it's a community of nature lovers, curious learners, and anyone seeking to slow down and remember our deep connection to the earth.
Certifications & Training
🌿 Experienced Outdoor Guide
Over 15 years experience leading whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and many other adventure tourism trips across the Americas.
🧘 Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200 and Yoga Tune Up)
Yoga Alliance - Pure Yoga, 2014 - Training in Hatha, Yoga Tune Up
🌲 Wilderness First Aid
Previously certified as a wilderness first responder
🍄 Foraging Specialist
My first taste of foraging was hunting for bolete mushrooms in Argentina in 2010. Since then I have been regularly foraging plants and mushrooms in Ontario with a safe and sustainable approach.
My Approach
🌿 Respect for the Land
Every experience I offer is designed with deep respect for the natural world. I believe in sustainable practices, leave-no-trace principles, and honoring the indigenous wisdom keepers who have cared for these lands for generations.
🌿 Safety First
Your safety is my top priority. All foraging walks include thorough plant identification training, and I maintain current wilderness first aid certification. I never encourage anyone to consume any wild food unless we're 100% certain of the identification.
🌿 Inclusive & Accessible
Nature is for everyone. I strive to make my programs accessible to people of all abilities, backgrounds, and experience levels. If you have specific needs or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
🌿 Mindful Connection
Beyond learning skills, my goal is to help you develop a lasting relationship with nature. Whether through mindful movement, plant medicine, or simply being present in the forest, every experience is an invitation to slow down and remember you are part of nature, not separate from it.