Guide Training Immersions
This four-day in-person immersion is the second part of the Forest Therapy Guide Training. An immersion is an opportunity to be guided by ANFT trainers, and to practice guiding with the most experienced Forest Therapy Guides in the world.
Who is eligible to attend?
If you have completed at least module 9 and submitted the corresponding assignments, of the six-month remote Forest Therapy Guide Training you're eligible to apply. Completion of this immersion and the six-month training fulfills the requirements for full Certification.
When space is available, ANFT-trained guides who have completed training in any past cohort can also participate. If this is you, you will find it an ideal refresher course and an opportunity to meet new guides. Please note that priority goes to students who need to take the immersion to get fully certified. Therefore, when you apply, you'll be put on a waitlist until three weeks before the start of the immersion.
These immersions are not open to participants who are not on the six-month remote-training or or who are not already certified as Forest Therapy Guides. You can see the available six-month trainings here.
IMPORTANT: Please wait until you receive enrollment confirmation before booking travel and lodging. Please note the COVID 19 policy requirements vary between venues. ANFT does not have a companywide mandate for vaccines and some ANFT immersions do not require participants to be vaccinated. To inquire about the process for religious or medical exemption requests for this immersion, please contact the specific trainers for an immersion.
In-person Immersions 2023
In 2020 ANFT Changed the training format.
Now much of it is done online and remotely. Is it still as effective as the old training?
Just as with the prior trainings, trainees of the new hybrid model continue to report that the experience for them is profound, and often transformative. The healing power of the forest is still strong and very present in this new approach. We are grateful that our team has found a way to continue growing this wonderful practice, even in times when COVID-19 has restricted our ability to travel and gather in large groups.
After you complete your 6 month remote Forest Therapy training, you will get a provisional certification for 2 years. Once you attend the 4 day in-person immersion, 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 and 1-2 trainers, you will get the permanent certification.
In this immersion, you will:
Get hands-on experience of what you learned in the remote training.
Get to know trainers personally.
Get to know and connect with other guides.
Learn from shared experiences with other guides.
Further develop your own practice of Forest Therapy.
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.
Apply & Register
To begin the process of attending an immersion, please choose an immersion and submit an application. Once the office approves it, you will get an email with more information about the venue and how to make a reservation for accommodation and food.
These immersions are only meant for guides in training (after completing certain modules and guiding walks), guides that have completed their 6 month remote forest therapy training and for certified guides. These immersions are not stand alone trainings for people who don't have any training yet.
