Nature and Forest Therapy Guides

Immersion

Council of Waters & Trees

Cohort

October 7, 2018
to
October 12, 2018
Immersion 8-11 Oct 2018

Fully Registered - Accepting Wait List 

Duration
6 months training +
4 day immersion
Hybrid Format
Remote Live Calls +
In Person Immersion
US$ 2495.00 +
US$495 (Travel expenses, lodging and meals not incl.)
Duration
6 months training +
4 day immersion
Hybrid Format
Remote Live Calls +
In Person Immersion
US$ 3350.00
‍US$495 (Travel expenses, lodging and meals not incl.)

This is an ASL video by Deaf certified ANFT guide, Summer Crider, explaining the details of this retreat, including some video clips of the Aspen Camp location.

Schedule for Live Events

In this four-day program we enter the liminal space of renewed possibility for deepening our connection with the more-than-human world through Forest Therapy and The Way of Council.

​Forest Therapy
is the practice of sensory connection to come into intimate relationship with the more-than-human world and with each other. A series of guided invitations bring us into the present moment, opening the doors of communication with the forest, waters, and landscapes we explore. We encounter not just the forest, but through the many mirrors of nature, we also encounter ourselves.

The Way of Council is a process of communication with ourselves and each other that supports deepening into our experience. Through council we can discover the meaning of our emerging stories through sharing and being witnessed in circle. Council invites us to become more intimate with our own lives, and support each other as we move through our processes of learning, growing, grieving, and healing. Because it invites authentic expression, council can be quite intimate. Your facilitators will show how the form of Council can create space that is both vulnerable and safe.

Restorative Practices build on the Way of Council to create opportunities for exploring and healing harms in relationships. In the Council of Waters and Trees we introduce "Aloha Ropes," a restorative practice developed by Amos Clifford. Inspired by the Hawaiian tradition of Ho'oponopono and other sources, we will use this practice to deepen our relationship with the more-than-human world of nature. Through Aloha Ropes we will discover how the land can listen and speak to us, and through us give voice to its longings, wisdom, and needs.  Like Council, Aloha Ropes is a method that can be readily transferred into other settings such as schools and communities.

This four-day journey will allow us to sink deeply into the medicine of the forest. Mornings will be spent immersing ourselves in the experiential practices of Forest Therapy.  Afternoon Council meetings support the deep rooting of the medicine the forest has offered us. We will experience the brief "light touch" council as it is used in Forest Therapy as well as diving into the deeper practice and learning-by-doing the core skills of council leadership.

Who the Council of Waters and Trees is for: We recommend this if you are interested in ecotherapy, forest therapy, and experiencing the Council format. It will emphasize deep nature connection as a practice of connecting with our own wisdom, personal and group insights, and pathways to wellness. ​​

  • You are curious about Council and/or Forest Therapy and would like to learn more about these powerful connective practices.
  • You are a therapist or helping professional who would like to learn powerful techniques of eco-therapy.
  • You have a desire to deeply immerse yourself and be held by the healing power of the forest, making time for both self-reflection and community sharing.
  • You are a Forest Therapy Guide/Guide-in-training and wish to deepen your understanding of Council Practice.
  • You are interested in how Council and Forest Therapy work together as a deeply restorative practice supporting wellness of people and the many other species and places upon which we depend.
  • You are considering becoming a Forest Therapy Guide and want to know more about it before committing to the training.

Council of Waters and Trees: Schedule for Estes Park event.

  • October 7: Take the 1:00 PM shuttle from DIA (reservation required; $85 round-trip) for a late afternoon start. We will have introductory activities and an evening lecture.  We will also organize logistics such as food shopping, transportation, and other needs. Dinner at 6:00 pm.
  • October 8: Breakfast on your own, activities from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Sack lunch provided. Dinner at 6:00 pm.  Guided Forest Therapy Walk and Council. Introduction to Restorative Dialogue with the More-than-Human World.
  • October 9:  Breakfast on your own, activities from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Sack lunch provided. Dinner at 6:00 pm.  Guided Forest Therapy activities, Council, and Introduction to Imaginal Communication.
  • October 10:  Breakfast on your own, activities from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Sack lunch provided. Dinner at 6:00 pm. ​ Self-Guided Forest Therapy. Structured solo forest wander with restorative dialogue with the more-than-human world. Council of Waters and Trees.
  • October 11: Breakfast on your own. Check out of rooms before we begin the morning workshop at 9:00 am. We will end at noon so those who need to can catch the 1:00 pm shuttle back to DIA.  Brief Forest experience and Incorporation Council.

Airport: Denver International (DIA)
Shuttle Service:Available>> ($85 round trip from DIA, reservations required)
Location: YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park
​Meals: Lunches and Dinners provided
Lodging: Double Occupancy in large lodge with common room and other amenities
Lodging and Meals: $298 for four nights
Tuition: $795 USD
Total Cost (does not include travel): $1,093

Fitness Requirements: This event will be at higher elevation (7,500 feet) and will include short walks (up to 1/2 mile) on easy to moderate trails, at a slow pace. Typical weather for this time of year is cool with nightime lows near freezing and daytime highs in the 60s.  ​

What is Included in the Training? 

14 modules, over
120 lessons
Over 14 live calls with your trainers and cohort
Small group discussion calls with trainers
Downloadable manual
30+ short videos, recorded by different trainers
40+ assignments/ self exploration activities
20+ nature connection activities
Access to research papers and studies
Fun Facts and Reflections
Remote Forest Therapy walks guided by trainers
Guide your own walks and debrief them
Access to the largest forest therapy guide's community worldwide
About the Venue:
VENUE
YMCA of the Rockies Colorado
Estes Park Center 2515 Tunnel Road Estes Park, CO 80511
Estes Park CO 80511
CO
USA
https://ymcarockies.org/

Graced by the awe-inspiring mountains, elk, deer and other wildlife and adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park, YMCA of the Rockies’ Estes Park Center offers a wholesome, spiritual environment where we are inspired by nature.

Surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park, at our Estes Park immersions we regularly encounter wildlife among the forest and streams where our guides lead us through series of invitations that support our connections with self, nature, and each other.

The quaint town of nearby Estes Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Colorado and one of the highest-rated family destinations in the U.S., offers a variety of restaurants, shops and festivals throughout the year, and more wildlife than any other destination in Colorado. Elk, deer and an occasional bear frequent both Estes Park Center and the town of Estes Park.

LODGING

Our group will lodge together in a spacious Reunion Cabin--so named because it is designed for family reunions. The cabin has 8 rooms, all double occupancy. It has a very spacious kitchen and dining room with a large gathering area featuring full-height windows with stunning views and a fireplace.

We will be staying four nights. Lodging is $95 per night ($380 total) for a shared double occupancy room, $160 per night ($680 total) for a single room (limited availability). All rooms are en-suite.

MEALS

Catered lunches are included with lodging. Breakfast and dinner is not included. You will prepare your own food. There are markets in nearby Estes Park and the cabin has a large well-equipped commercial kitchen. Groups may self-organize to prepare shared meals.

TRANSPORTATION

Airport: Denver International (DIA)
Shuttle Service: Available>> ($85 round trip from DIA, reservations required)

SCHEDULE DETAILS
GENERAL NOTES

Tuition

Trainers

Entrenadores

Advisor

Entrenadores

Advisor

Summer Crider

Summer , as a certified Nature and Forest Therapy guide, works in partnership with Nature to provide opportunities to help humans re-connect with the Earth and themselves.

Born and raised in the cypress swamp of North Florida, Summer has navigated through various life experiences as a human being who happens to be deaf. After getting their degrees in Expressive Art Therapy and Deaf Cultural Studies, and certified in American Sign Language, Summer taught ASL, Spanish, and Deaf Culture in various high schools and colleges/universities for 15+ years. They also established a media consulting business, making educational films accessible to the sign language community.

After they experienced some challenges with severe anxiety, Summer found Mother Nature calling them back home. Summer decided to study Nature and Forest Therapy through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and eventually found a new purpose- assisting humans from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and languages to rediscover their connection with the Natural world through the healing practice of forest bathing.

Advisors

Tamberly Kerr - Conway - PhD
Tamberly serves as an ANFT Certified Guide and ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail Consultant. Tamberly holds an MS and PhD in Forestry, with a focus upon Human Dimensions in Natural Resources, focusing upon diversity engagement, health and nature connections, forest health/human health relationships, and community empowerment in conservation.

Tahia Devischer - PhD
Tahia is a research and teaching fellow at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford, and is a certified forest therapy guide with ANFT. She works at the nexus of urban forests, human well-being and climate resilience.


Certification Pathway

STEP 1
6-month remote training
STEP 2
4-day in-person immersion
STEP 3
Get your certification
STEP 1
You will start with a 6-month remote training, covering the content on live calls with the support of your trainers, fellow students, a very user friendly learning platform, many self exploration and nature connection activities that are done outside. After completing this training you get a provisional certification as a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. To view the available trainings scroll down
STEP 2
After completing module 4 you can apply to attend a 4-day in-person immersion, for hands on forest therapy guiding experience with trainers and fellow students. You have two years time to complete this step. To view the available immersions click here
STEP 3
After completing the 6-month remote training and the 4-day in- person immersion, you will receive your permanent certification as an ANFT Certified
Forest Therapy Guide
and be part of the largest Forest Therapy
Guide Community Worldwide. Click here to see the guide´s map.
IMPORTANT: Before you send out your application, please make sure that the
schedule for the calls works for you and your time zone. Check the detailed Schedule HERE
Additional Questions?  Check our FAQ section

Advisors

Tamberly Kerr - Conway - PhD
Tamberly serves as an ANFT Certified Guide and ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail Consultant. Tamberly holds an MS and PhD in Forestry, with a focus upon Human Dimensions in Natural Resources, focusing upon diversity engagement, health and nature connections, forest health/human health relationships, and community empowerment in conservation.

Tahia Devischer - PhD
Tahia is a research and teaching fellow at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford, and is a certified forest therapy guide with ANFT. She works at the nexus of urban forests, human well-being and climate resilience.


Advisors

Tamberly Kerr - Conway - PhD
Tamberly serves as an ANFT Certified Guide and ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail Consultant. Tamberly holds an MS and PhD in Forestry, with a focus upon Human Dimensions in Natural Resources, focusing upon diversity engagement, health and nature connections, forest health/human health relationships, and community empowerment in conservation.

Tahia Devischer - PhD
Tahia is a research and teaching fellow at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford, and is a certified forest therapy guide with ANFT. She works at the nexus of urban forests, human well-being and climate resilience.


Advisors

Tamberly Kerr - Conway - PhD
Tamberly serves as an ANFT Certified Guide and ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Trail Consultant. Tamberly holds an MS and PhD in Forestry, with a focus upon Human Dimensions in Natural Resources, focusing upon diversity engagement, health and nature connections, forest health/human health relationships, and community empowerment in conservation.

Tahia Devischer - PhD
Tahia is a research and teaching fellow at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford, and is a certified forest therapy guide with ANFT. She works at the nexus of urban forests, human well-being and climate resilience.