Nature and Forest Therapy Guides

Gathering of Guides

Summer Gathering of Guides in Germany

Cohort

June 15, 2019
to
June 17, 2019
15-17 June 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

This event begins on June 15 at 5:00 pm, and ends on June 17 at noon. Participants are welcome to extend the schedule and arrange other activities on their own after the end of the event; however after noon on June 17 this will no longer be an "official" and will not be staff by ANFT or Forest Bathing International personnel.

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
Mountain Retreat Center Germany
Schweibern 2
83229 Sachrang bei Aschau, Chiemgau
Deutschland | Germany
https://www.mountain-retreat-center.com/english/
Telefon +49 8057 1050 mrc@indigourlaub.com

The Mountain Retreat Center (MRC) is in the small Bavarian village Sachrang, right at the border to Tyrol/Austria. It is only a 15 minute drive from highway A8 connecting Munich to Salzburg. Tranquil and modest it is situated in a hillside overlooking the little village with only a few restaurants, one shop, church and some housing. The view of the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. Silence.

If you want to exercise in fresh air you can hike right from the house winter and summer.  The most popular peaks nearby are Spitzstein, Geigerstein, Kampenwand. The next little towns are Aschau im Chiemgau (13km) or Kufstein in Tyrol (15km) away. The famous lake Chiemsee is about 23 kilometers from Sachrang. Visits to Salzburg or Tyrol are also worthwhile.

Anything is possible. Nothing is a must.

LODGING

Register per email for food and accommodation directly with the Mountain Retreat Center.  The Center assigns the rooms to the clients based on the sequence of incoming registration.

Booking: mrc@indigourlaub.com

The rates are per person and night, in Euro and include tax, full board, tea/water and wifi.  

MEALS

The tariffs include full board (100%vegetarian, mainly organic) consisting of breakfast buffet with different breads, jams, butter, cheeses, porridge or muesli, fruits, vegetables, coffee,tea, juice. For lunch we serve soup and different dips with breads. The dinner buffet contains salads, main dishes and desert.
Upon advance notice we can also consider gluten free, lactose free, vegan.

All day guests can take tea or energized water in the lounge (included in price).

The included catering starts with dinner on day of arrival and ends with breakfast on day of departure. Further meals on arrival or departure day can be ordered for an extra fee.

For guests not staying at the Center we charge € 40 per person/day for lunch, dinner,tea/water and seminar room use.

TRANSPORTATION

The international airport of Munich is approximately 1.5 hours (depending on traffic) away. The airport in Salzburg is about an hour away. Airport shuttle service can be arranged for a fee.

A train can be taken to Aschau im Cheimgau or Oberaudorf. From there you can either take the public bus or a Taxi to Sachrang. It's only a 12 to 15 minutes drive away from the center.

The retreat center can arrange airport shuttle services for approximately EUR 95 per person both ways. This shuttle travels from the Munich airport to the Center, then back to airport. This is a collective shuttle. Please ask Mountain Retreat Staff for details when you are booking lodging.

SCHEDULE DETAILS
GENERAL NOTES

Pets

Pets are not allowed at the Center.

Belongings

The Center cannot be held liable for damage or loss of any belongings brought by guests.

House rules

The house rules apply and have to be considered. Guests are asked to respect silence at nights and wear house shoes.

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.