Who is the Natural Awareness Guide?

I’m Kirsten Welge. I guide people to relax into wonder and curiosity
through wildlife tracking and shinrin yoku sessions.

Why wonder & curiosity in nature?

I grew up with Attention Deficit Disorder, chronic anxiety, and depression. For decades, I focused on proving my worth through hard work, and prioritized the needs of the workplace ahead of rest and connection with family. While I experienced success in my career in hospital administration, prioritizing work over family caused profound strain in my personal relationships. This approach was not sustainable.

In contrast, when Iā€™m practicing wildlife tracking, shinrin yoku, or meditation, curiosity and calm naturally arise. My body settles, my awareness expands, and I notice more of what is present around and within me. Afterwards, this feeling continues: I carry that calm and connection into my interactions with my family and community. This approach is sustainable, and cultivates wholeness in me and within my relationships.

Learning to relax & connect through three disciplines

I began training intensively in mind-body principles through Ki-Aikido and meditation in spring of 2013, and was introduced to Wildlife Tracking in October that same year. These three disciplines provided a foundation to relax into my body, and develop greater awareness and sensitivity to myself, others, and nature around and within us.

Through practice, I found that these mind-body principles and observational skills apply directly to interactions with others, regardless of circumstances. Since 2016, I’ve led numerous classes on ki principles, meditation, and movement with Community Education and in the workplace, as well as wildlife survey teams and tracking sessions in the field. I also train in (and now teach) traditional Ki-Aikido at the Minnesota Ki Society, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

I served professionally in public health and hospital management for over 13 years, applying Lean principles to streamline processes, make care safer for patients, and support clinicians through regulatory surveys and data reporting for population health. 

As a result, I stand at the intersection of public health, body-mind practice, and nature connection. How can I support people in improving the quality of their life with simple, effective, evidence-based changes?

Curious about my programs?
Click here for information

Certifications & Experience

Wildlife Tracking & Nature Connection

  • Minnesota Master Naturalist: Big Woods, Big River Biome (2024-present)
  • Certified Shinrin Yoku Instructor, International Society of Forest Medicine (October 2024)
  • ANFT-certified Forest Therapy Guide (July 2021-present)
  • Wildlife Track & Sign Identification — Level III (Minnesota & South Africa) (Cybertracker International)
  • Wildlife Trailing — Level III (Minnesota)/Level II (South Africa) (Cybertracker International)
  • Person of Interest/Collaborator, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve (2021-present)
  • Co-instructor, Wildlife Tracking Workshop at Fort Snelling State Park (2018, 2019)
  • Co-instigator & volunteer, Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project (2016-present)
  • Facilitating survey teams & tracking programs since 2017

Mind-Body Oneness

Public Health

  • Over 13 years of experience in health care administration across hospital and clinic settings, including 5 years as manager
  • NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certification (2021-present)
  • Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), 2012-2020
  • Masters in Public Health (UCLA); B. S. in History (California Institute of Technology)