I never liked Valentine’s Day. Too commercial. But I found a gift that doesn’t wilt: adventure. A personal story about backpacking, arguing in the wild, learning to share the load, and finding connection again, one trail at a time.

Our founder, Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan, coauthored a peer-reviewed study of CNIT’s brief, clinician-led ecotherapy program. Participants consistently reported less reactivity, more present-moment attention, and experiences of awe/connection. Here’s the plain-English summary—and what it means for clients, clinicians, and community partners.