Springhouse invites people from the community to join them along the journey, a walk to build beloved community, one step at a time.
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April, 23, 2025
Floyd County, Virginia – Springhouse students and staff will set out on the morning of Monday, April 28th on a four day walking trip. Beginning in downtown Floyd, behind the courthouse, an intergenerational group of learners will begin a journey to downtown Roanoke, finishing the walk on Thursday, May 1st. People from around the region are invited to participate in the walking trip in various ways, including walking during the day, evening activities at camp-sites, or supporting the walk through donating supplies and nourishing food.
Springhouse Head of School, Sarah Stabler, recalls the school’s past walking trip experience seven years ago. Stabler shares, “We did this same trip in 2018, where we were joined by our friend, Jonathon Stalls. Jonathon is an artist and activist passionate about the practice of walking for personal and collective healing, and we are so grateful and excited that he will be joining us again this year.”
Springhouse will be walking approximately 8-15 miles per day, with an option to ride in a vehicle if needed and will be primarily on the Blue Ridge Parkway. As a learning community, Springhouse focuses on building beloved community and views this walking trip as an opportunity to explore how to create welcoming spaces that foster unity, respect individuality, and take care of relationships. Inspiring messages will be shared along the walk including some special printed items from Springhouse’s print shop, Sourced Press.
Jonathan Stalls, lead guide for Springhouse’s walking trip, is an author and founder of Intrinsic Paths, a creative journey focused on artistic expression, nature connection, and unhurried movement. Stalls shares, “There is great medicine in slowing down – for days at a time – alongside students, teachers, parents, and community members. Our 4-day walking journey from Floyd to Roanoke in 2018 came with endless gifts, surprises, and support-van-dance-breaks as we moved on winding roads, quiet dirt paths, and dense forest trails through neighboring farms, ranches, National Parks, small towns, and residential areas. We become so much more available and connected to the wise landscapes and people surrounding us when we take time to move at 1-3 miles per hour. I’m deeply grateful that Springhouse has invited me back to move in this way again with a new wave of students.”
Springhouse welcomes those who are interested in participating in the walking trip experience to visit this webpage (https://springhouse.org/walking-trip/) and complete the interest form found there.
WHAT: Springhouse Walking Trip
WHEN: Monday, April, 28 – Thursday, May 1, 2025
WHERE: Downtown Floyd to Downtown Roanoke
Learn more about Springhouse at springhouse.org
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