A 4 day in-person gathering, with 1 or 2 trainers, and people from different cohorts where you will have the opportunity to apply what you learned, experience in-person forest therapy walks and simply connect and share experiences and stories with other guides.
In this immersion, you will:
Get a hands on experience of what you learned
Get to know trainers personally
Get to know other guides and connect
Learn from shared experiences with other guides
Deepen into the practice
Get the opportunity to ask specific questions that might come up
Once you complete this four-day immersion, your certification will be moved from provisional to permanent. You have two years after you complete the six month core training course to complete an immersion. It will help to give you a sense of the community of guides that has grown and is active throughout the world.
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.
Aotea - Great Barrier Island welcomes you with its long sandy surf beaches, sheltered coves, rugged volcanic ranges, regenerating native forests and wetland eco-systems. This beautiful and remote island, affectionately known as 'The rock' by locals, is situated approx. 90 kms NE of Auckland- NZ’s largest city, and is a world of its own. Great Barrier has a thriving fully off-grid community of settler families, creatives, renegades and folk who learn how to make do and live off the land and ocean as much as possible. With an area of 285 sq km (110 sq m) this diamond-shaped island is NZ’s 4th largest and also known as the jewel in Auckland’s crown. Its highest point, Hirakimata/Mt Hobson, is 627 metres (2,057 ft) above sea level. It is sought after as a holiday destination for trampers/hikers, conservationists, fishermen, divers, surfers, families and nature lovers alike, as well as those interested in exploring its International Dark Night Sky Sanctuary status. There are natural hot springs in the bush and many different eco-systems here to explore all within a relatively short drive. Please note living off-grid requires a consciousness and awareness around power and water usage wherever you stay, so there may be some restrictions in place. Wi-fi and cellphone access can be intermittent or not available in some locations.
This venue is trainer Vicky Kyan’s private Nature therapy retreat and homestay accommodation and is situated a stone’s throw from the white sands of Medland’s Beach on the East coast of Aotea. Limited bed space is available here, but it will be our central meeting point each day throughout this training. The theme for this x4 day Immersion training will include guiding by the ocean as well as ‘bush’ and eco-systems other than forest.
Surf beaches, sheltered harbours, coastline estuaries, sand-dune and wetland forests, natural hot-springs, volcanic ranges, dark night skies. Native flora includes: regenerating native forests - kauri, nikau etc.; wetland vegetationNative fauna includes many rare and endangered seabirds including Takoketai- Black petrel, Korora- Little Blue penguin; wetland birds including Pateke- Brown teal duck; other rare native species including endangered native parrots - Kaka, Kakariki along with other native species. The island is also known as a 'Dolphin Hotspot'.
Please take note that for this immersion, participants are responsible for securing their own accommodation independently.
You can find a list of local accommodations here :https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13dbtPouIFzSUODkbAYNBu1LvjSbnKr-7pmjTuZgMWQw/edit?usp=sharing
All accommodations listed here are within 2-15 min walking distance of our venue. NB. for those staying off-site there will also be a day-charge of NZ$40 per person for the entire immersion. The day-charge covers coffee, tea/herbal infusions, water, wifi, and other facilities at the venue. Once you register for this immersion, you will receive an information kit with accommodation and transport sharing options, and more information from the training team.
This is a self-catering immersion. Meals are not included. Participants are responsible for securing their own food. We recommend you plan for bringing a packed lunch for each day of the immersion. There are local shops where you can buy groceries and necessities within a 10-minute drive from our venue. There are also various eating-out options all requiring local transport, e.g. bakery, cafes, restaurants.
Getting There:
International: Arrival to Auckland International Airport
National/local: Domestic transfer to the island by air or by sea
By Air: Flights
- with Barrier Air - 35 mins from Auckland Domestic Terminal and/or Northshore Airports to Claris Airport from NZ$104 one-way (seat only) https://www.barrierair.kiwi/
- with Sunair - 35 mins from Ardmore Airfield from $180 one-wayhttps://www.sunair.co.nz/
By Sea: Vehicle Ferry - 4.5 hours from Auckland with Sealink from NZ$103 one-way (passenger) from NZ $423 one-way (vehicle+passenger) https://www.sealink.co.nz/
NB All transport is weather dependent and may be subject to delays Its advisable to give yourself 24hrs either side of this training for international travel and take out travel insurance to cover any possible delays.
Getting around the Island & local transport during the Immersion: A variety of options including shuttle buses, electric bikes, scooters, rental cars etc. are available for hire locally. More Information will be supplied on confirmation of registration. We will also charter a minibus shuttle service for access to the beaches, forests and trails we will be visiting (x 2-3 walks). Once you register for this immersion, there will be more information provided, as well as an option to book and guarantee your spot for the minibus service.
Arrival and Registration:
March 30th 2023 (Thursday) from 4.30-6.30pm
Morning Circle: March 31st 2023 (Friday) at 9.30am
End: April 3rd 2023 (Monday) by 3.00 pm
IMPORTANT: Please note that priority is given to students that live in the Asia-Pacific Region. Trainees from other regions may apply but will be confirmed 6 weeks before the immersion starts.
WIFI
The island is remote and fully off-grid - wifi and cell phone services may be limited and intermittent at certain places and times.Our main venue has satellite wifi available.
SMOKING
No smoking - Respect off-grid power and water systems that are fragile
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR VENUE
Day charges of NZ$40/person
45 days or more: full refund.
44 days or less: 50% refund.
Cancellation of accommodation: subjected to each accommodation’s policy.
EXTRA COSTS TO CONSIDER
Extra Costs to prepare for:
Local transport: Minibus Shuttle Service or private transport to the beaches and trails we will be visiting ( x 2 or 3 walks) - more information will be sent on registration.
Celebration Dinner: There will be a Celebration dinner on Day 3 either privately catered or at a local restaurant - trainees to pay on the day.Koha/donation for traditional Mihi whakatau/indigenous Maori welcome (if this can be arranged).
COVID POLICY
Participants will need to have a negative COVID test before entering the venue premises, within 24 hours of the start of the event. This can be an at-home-test and needs to be sent to the trainers. The training team will be in touch the month before the immersion to let you know what the specific COVID protocol will be during the immersion. The policy will likely mirror whatever the local policy is at the time of the event. Much of the immersion will take place outside and everyone will have the option to wear a mask whenever they wish to do so. Please be in touch directly with the trainers for this immersion if you have any additional questions.
The tuition for the four-day immersion is $495. Wait to pay until you are ready to register for a specific immersion. You will have two years from the completion of your core guide training to do the immersion.
Immersion tuition does not include transportation, lodging or camping fees and food. These expenses are separate from the program costs for the four-day immersion and are the responsibility of the trainee.
IMPORTANT: Please wait until you receive enrollment confirmation before booking travel and lodging.
Tuition figures are current as of January 1 2021 and are subject to change.
Vicky Kyan is the first ANFT Certified Guide, Mentor and Trainer in the Southern Hemisphere. She is a strong advocate for the practice of Nature and Forest Therapy, and for the promotion of trainings in the South Pacific. She is largely inspired by her local ocean beach, seashore and estuary ecosystems, where she has pioneered this work since her Guide Training with ANFT in North California in May 2015.
Vicky operates a small Homestay holiday retreat, where she offers ‘Wellbeing Wanders’ Nature and Forest Therapy guided experiences. When she is not travelling she uses her Pacific Island home as a base for mentoring ANFT trainee guides and building network with nature connection contacts both nationally and around the world. She is also an active member of the ANFT International Training Team and travels to trainings around the world.
Youmin is one of Southeast Asia's pioneer certified Forest Therapy Guides. She trained with Cohort 18 in 2017 and has since been offering the practice on a full-time basis. Currently based in Singapore, Youmin founded Xiu Nature Connections to offer forest therapy experiences with the intention to ignite the importance of deep restorative rest and deep connections for the wellbeing of stressed-out and disconnected city dwellers. In her practice, Youmin has partnered and worked with several organizations including designing and hosting of community nature programs for the National Parks Board of Singapore, wellness workshops for spas and resorts such as Museflower Retreat and Spa in Thailand, staff wellbeing events for companies such as GIC Singapore, wellbeing support programs for community groups such as Singapore Cancer Society, introductory workshops for related industries such as the Department of Tourism of Philippines etc. Her work has also been shared at various international conferences. On the invite from the National Parks Board Singapore, Youmin published an article on "Urban Forest Therapy". Youmin holds a degree of Master in Science in life sciences from the National University of Singapore, and a postgraduate diploma in education from the National Institute of Education Singapore.
Dr, Qing Li (MD, PhD) graduated from Shanxi Medical University in China and got a PhD degree from Kagoshima University in Japan. He has studied at Stanford University School of Medicine.
He is a clinical professor at Nippon Medical School, President of the Japanese Society of ForestMedicine, Director of the Forest Therapy Society, Vice-President and Secretary General of International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM) (https://www.infom.org).
Prof. Li is the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine and immunology. He has received Society ward from the Japanese Society for Hygiene in Forest Medicine in 2022 and University Award from Nippon Medical School in Forest Medicine in 2011 (https://researchmap.jp/read0045249?lang=en)
Some people study medicine. Some people study forest. Dr. Li studies forest medicine to find out all the ways in which walking in the forest can improve our well-being. He started the forest medicine research (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing/Forest therapy) from 2004 and has published many articles in scientific journals and books in forest medicine.
His book: Shinrin-yoku (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/308285/shinrin-yoku/9780241984857.html) has been translated into 26 languages.
His book: Forest bathing (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/579709/forest-bathing-by-dr-qing-li/) was ranked in the bestseller list in the US in 2018.
Susan Abookire, BSEE, MD, MPH, FACP, is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, a practicing Internist, and a senior executive with 20 years’ experience leading healthcare organizations. She has served as Chief Medical Officer, System Chief Quality Officer, and Chair of Quality and Patient Safety. Dr. Abookire began her career as an electrical engineer in aviation systems. She has taught nationally and internationally on patient safety, high reliability, systems design, and the health benefits of nature. Dr. Abookire also enjoys being a Forest Therapy guide and incorporates Forest Therapy into medical curricula.
Dr. Robert Zarr is a physician researcher and public health pediatrician based at Unity Health Care, Inc. and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Canada. He has provided medical care to minority and immigrant populations for more than 20 years.
A longtime advocate for Medicare for All, Dr. Zarr served as PNHP president from 2015 through 2016. He founded and was the first medical director of Park Rx America, a community health initiative to prescribe nature to patients and families to prevent and treat chronic disease and promote wellness. A certified nature and forest therapy guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, Dr. Zarr previously served as the Park Rx Advisor to the National Park Service in his national advocacy to connect patients to parks.
Dr. Zarr earned his medical degree at Baylor University and his MPH at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and completed residency in pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our Mission: Support planetary health by nurturing heart-centered relationships between all peoples and the More-Than-Human World of Nature.
