Nature and Forest Therapy Guides

Gathering of Guides

Spring Gathering of Guides in Georgia

Cohort

March 22, 2019
to
March 22, 2019
22 March 2019

Enrollment Open

A Community gathering to connect, celebrate, exchange ideas, and encourage each other
Gatherings are open to trained forest therapy and forest bathing guides. They are led by ANFT-trained and certified guides, usually members of our training team.
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.)

Gatherings of guides are an important part of the work of ANFT. Often they are organized when a training or immersion team is in the area, and we invited all guides who are in the region at the time to attend. The agenda usually includes: an update on developments in ANFT and forest therapy in general; some council sharing time together; a casual walk in a forest or botanic garden; and a shared meal. On a longer gathering (1 to 3 days) there may be specific workshops offered, including "invitation clinics" given by guides in attendance. These gatherings are nurturing, connective, and informative.

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

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
Farmhouse Inn Georgia
1051 Meadow Ln. Madison GA 30650
Madison GA 30650
Georgia
USA
https://www.thefarmhouseinn.com
706-342-7933 | ​​innkeeper@thefarmhouseinn.com

Nestled in beautiful Madison Georgia, the Farmhouse Inn is just an hour's drive from Atlanta. Accomodations in the Farmhouse, Red Barn and Cottage include five private guestrooms, a two-bedroom cottage and a four-bedroom farmhouse for a cozy getaway for two or a family celebration for up to 30. Spacious guestrooms offer vintage-themed decoration and garden views. The Red Barn meeting room, terrace and adjacent lawns can be used for weddings, parties, day meetings and events. Hundred Acre Farm offers barnyard animals, nature trails, fishing, canoeing and a community garden and orchard. Groups can enjoy seasonal bonfires, hayrides, guided nature walks and trail breakfasts. One hour from Atlanta and minutes from Georgia's Lake Country with award-winning golf courses, Madison will entice you with its antebellum homes, shops and restaurants.

LODGING

We offer many rooms of all sizes to host you at our farm whether you are passing through or here for an event.  All of our rooms and suites include free Wi-Fi, a private TV, farm-to-table breakfast, and access to a bathroom.  There is a common room available, a public garden, nature paths, and several free on-site activities.

Orchard Loft and the Hay Loft come with a king-sized bed and a private bathroom.

Americana Room has an American theme with a king bed, pull-out couch, and a sizable private bathroom.

The River Room is a cozy retreat that includes a queen bed, a pull out couch, and a private bathroom.

The Garden Room includes a queen bedroom, pull out sofa located separately from the main bed for privacy or lounging, and one private bathroom.

Hillside Cottagea sleeps up to six people and is complete with a full kitchen with cooking supplies, a dining room, a living room with one pull out sofa, one bedroom with a queen bed and a private bathroom, one bedroom with a king bed and a private bathroom, and one laundry room for guest use.

The Farmhouse sleeps up to 12 and must be booked altogether. Perfect for families or groups as there is a full kitchen including cookies supplies, laundry room available for guest use, a dining area, living room, and five bedrooms totaling three queen beds, six twin beds and three bathrooms.

MEALS

The Farmhouse is able to work with any and all dietary restrictions. Breakfast is included with lodging. Lunches will be ordered for each day and will cost $15. Dinners will be ordered for each day and will cost $18.50.

TRANSPORTATION

From Atlanta take I-20 East to exit 114. Then north onto 441/129. Take the business route into Madison’s historic square. Go through the square and past the Ford dealership to the Madison bypass intersection. Go straight through and 5 1/2 miles to Greenboro. The sign for the Inn is on the left.

SCHEDULE DETAILS
GENERAL NOTES

Tuition

Trainers

Entrenadores

Advisors

Entrenadores

Dr. Qing Li

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.

Dr. Susan Abookire

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

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.

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.