About your Guide

Jess Kelly, Nature Therapy Guide

I've always found peace in nature. As a child, I spent hours playing by the creek and among the trees near our home instinctively drawn to the quiet wisdom of the natural world. But in 2021, after receiving a surprising diagnosis, I came to understand just how deeply nature supports healing—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

During a series of retreats that gave me space to pause, reflect, and listen inwardly, I felt a clear calling: to help others experience that same sense of rootedness and renewal. This path led me to train with The Forest Therapy School and become a certified Forest Therapy Guide. I now offer mindful nature walks in North Carolina’s Triangle area, inviting people to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the restorative rhythms of the earth.  

My husband and kids—my pride and joy—know how essential time in nature is for me. On tough days, they lovingly nudge me out the door, asking, “When’s the last time you were in the woods?” They know it’s where I return to myself, where my peace is rooted.

I’ve spent nearly two decades helping children and families connect through American Sign Language. Since 2005, my business Signs of Learning has offered ASL instruction to babies, parents, educators, and Early Intervention specialists across the Triangle.

My graduate studies in Holistic Spirituality opened my heart to the sacredness woven into everyday life. For over 25 years, my mindfulness journey has been shaped by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, Dan Siegel, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and others. Training with Mindful Schools and Mindful Life has helped me share mindfulness with children—though in truth, they often teach it best. This grounding in presence and compassion flows into everything I do—whether I’m guiding a walk, teaching ASL, parenting, or simply sitting with someone in stillness.

It’s an honor to hold space for others to reconnect—with nature, with themselves, and with the deep well of peace that lives within us all.