The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees explores the ancient spiritual and ecological wisdom that trees offer for living into deep connections with our human and nonhuman kin, Earth, and Divine Mystery. Trees, our elders who have graced Earth far longer than the human family, beckon us to wisdom, beauty, and peace.

 

In this course, we will explore lessons from our tree elders, including:

 

During our days together, we'll engage in rich conversations in plenary sessions and small groups, take time for spacious silence and reflection with the trees, and listen for their wisdom on this beautiful land. Practices that encourage spiritual deepening through connections with the living world will be incited throughout the course.

 

Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, North Carolina

 

With training and experience in both spirituality and ecology, Beth Norcross founded and directs the Center for Spirituality in Nature, which provides experiences and resources to open individuals to a lived, loving connection with Earth and the Divine Mystery that infuses it. Through extensive speaking, writing, and program leadership, she offers guidance for developing deep, sustained, reciprocal relationships with nature. Beth has advanced degrees in both forestry and theology as well as many years of experience in both the environmental and spiritual fields. She has written numerous articles and curricula related to ecology and spirituality, including the popular six-week video series she co-developed with Leah Rampy on The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees and is currently writing a new book with Leah on The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees (Broadleaf Books, 2025.)

 

Leah Rampy is a writer, speaker, and retreat leader who weaves ecology, spirituality, story and practice to support others in deepening their relationship with the natural world. She is the author of Earth & Soul: Reconnecting amid Climate Chaos, published in 2024, that calls us to a soul journey for these edge times. Leah is a frequent speaker on contemplative leadership and Eco spirituality. She leads programs for the Center for Spirituality in Nature, Friends of Silence, and Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, where she formerly served as the executive director. She is the founder and leader of the Church of the Wild Two Rivers. Leah holds a Ph.D in curriculum from Indian University.

The course will begin at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, October 8, and conclude on Saturday, October 11 at noon. The schedule includes morning and evening prayers, small group conversations, and free time to enjoy the beauty of Montreat. If flying, return flights should not be scheduled before 3:00 PM on Saturday to allow unhurried travel to the airport at the conclusion of the event.

$450, which includes a nonrefundable $50 deposit. All balances are due September 9, 2025. Cancelations must be received before September 24, 2025, to receive a refund of the program fee minus the deposit.

 

Register directly for housing through Montreat at this link. Participants are welcome to extend their housing arrangements through Sunday in order to enjoy further restful time at Montreat.

 

Meals are included in your Montreat housing registration. Individual meals may be purchased with an advance reservation. For meal reservations, please contact the front desk of Assembly Inn at 828-419-9844.

 

Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees (Beth Norcorss and Leah Rampy, Broadleaf Books, 2025)

 

Inside Out: Practices for Going Deeper in Nature (Beth Norcross, The Center for Spirituality in Nature 2018)

 

Everyone is welcome to attend this event. If you are taking this course for enrichment, we invite you to fully participate in all aspects of the event. The schedule includes morning and evening prayers, plenary sessions, and small group discussions. There will be free time to rest, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of Montreat. We also invite you to write reflection papers. The post-event reflection paper is required for credit towards the Certificate in Spiritual Formation.

 

If your spouse would like to travel with you to Montreat, they are invite to join in worship, but must be registered in advance to participate/sit in on plenary sessions. Auditing is not an option, and we do not do registrations on location.

 

Registration will close two weeks prior to October 8, 2025, or when registration has reached maximum capacity. Day-of registrations are not permitted.

 

For questions about registration or for technical assistance, email lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu. For questions about the course content, please contact Sharon Junn at junns@ctsnet.edu.