Overview of the Journey

The training program for Certified Forest Therapy Guide

  • 1

    About Using Thinkific (Available on Enrolment Date)

    • Video: How to use Thinkific (Tutorial)

    • Download the Thinkific Mobile App

  • 2

    Cohort Bulletin Board (Available on Enrolment Date)

    • Zoom Links for ALL Live Sessions and Trainer Walks

    • Recordings of Live Sessions

    • Schedule of Live Sessions

    • Communicating with the Training Team
  • 3

    Training Details & Resources (Available on Enrolment Date)

    • Logistics of this Training

    • How to Approach this Training

    • Sketching in this Training

    • Language Note and Acknowledgement

    • Assignment Checklist

    • How to Prepare for a Remotely Guided Walk

    • Recommended Reading and Watching

    • Theoretical Foundations and Key Concepts: A Reference Guide for Forest Therapy

    • Troubleshooting and FAQ's

    • Sign up for the ANFT Newsletter
  • 4

    Wilderness First Aid Certification Requirement (Available on Enrolment Date)

    • Wilderness First Aid Certification

    • Submit your Wilderness First Aid Certificate
  • 5

    A Note on Training Extensions (Available on Enrolment Date)

    • Minimum Requirements to be Considered for Extension

    • Extension Process - Forest Therapy Guide Training & WFA Extensions
  • 6

    Soil: Pre Course Learning Activities (Available on Enrolment Date)

    • Research Survey: Please participate: Your Experience Matters. Your Contribution Shapes Discovery.

    • Video: Welcome to the journey with Amos Clifford

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Words of Gratitude

    • Video: Amos Clifford Introduces Your Guide to Forest Bathing

    • Assigment: Read Your Guide to Forest Bathing by M. Amos Clifford

    • Watch: Take a Five Minute Forest Therapy Break

    • Watch: How Forests Heal People
  • 7

    Module 1 (Fire): What is Forest Therapy? (Available January 15th)

    • Learning Objectives: Fire

    • Fun Facts

    • Live Session: Welcome!

    • Assignment: Introduce Yourself

    • Co-emergence: Patience & Presence

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Fire Module)

    • Video: What do we mean by Story? with Giovanna Raineri

    • Glossary of Terms

    • Audio: Amos Clifford Interviewed by Ariana Candell (28:46)

    • Video: What is Shinrin Yoku? with Makiko Sugishita

    • Learning from Indigenous Land Stewardship Wisdom with Christine Hoyer

    • Video: Trusting Our Innate Capacity to Learn with Amanda Yik

    • Video: Introduction to Sit Spot with Darlene Rooney

    • Find Your Sit Spot!

    • Collecting your Stories: The Sit Spot Journal

    • Sit Spot Practice: Pleasures of Presence

    • Assignment: Sit Spot Base Map

    • Assignment: Scout a trail and build relationship with it

    • Assignment: History of the Land

    • Self Assessment Part 1: Review
  • 8

    Module 2 (Mycelia): The Standard Sequence and Liminal Space/Time (Available January 29th)

    • Learning Objectives: Mycelia

    • Fun Facts (Module 1 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Trust

    • Chapter from the Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Mycelia Module)

    • Video: The Standard Sequence with Geeta Stilwell

    • Amos' Lineages Influencing the Standard Sequence

    • Exploration: Pleasures of Presence

    • Exploration: Different Styles of POP

    • A Script for POP

    • Assignment: Written Invitation - Pleasures of Presence

    • Facilitation: Pleasures of Presence

    • Video: Tam Willey on Liminality

    • PBS: Windows to the Wild

    • Exploration: What are you noticing?
  • 9

    Module 3 (Seed): Threshold of Incorporation (Available February 12th)

    • Learning Objectives: Seed

    • Fun Facts (Module 2 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Hospitality

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Seed Module )

    • Video: Tea Ceremony with Youmin Yap

    • Thinking about the term ‘Tea Ceremony'

    • VIDEO: Alternative Methods for Threshold of Incorporation with Nadine Mazzola

    • VIDEO: Safe and Ethical Foraging Practices

    • Introducing Assignment: Tea Plant Identifications

    • Assignment: Tea Plant Identification #1
  • 10

    Module 4 (Roots): To Be a Guide and Our Scope of Practice (Available February 19th)

    • Learning Objectives: Roots

    • Fun Facts (Module 3 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Embodied Knowing

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Roots Module )

    • Video: To Be a Guide with Amos Clifford

    • Video: The Forest is the Therapist, the Guide Opens the Doors with Caitlin Williams

    • Yoga Journal: We Tried Forest Bathing and Now We See Magic Everywhere

    • Watch: Voices in Between with Youmin Yap

    • Wander and Explore - What's In Motion?

    • A Library of WIMs

    • Some additional WIM techniques for specific challenges

    • Assignment: Written Invitations- What's In Motion?

    • Exploration and Practice: Record Yourself Self-Facilitating POP

    • Assignment & Facilitation: Tea for Two

    • VIDEO: Introduction to the Web of Interbeing Assignment

    • Web of Interbeing Examples

    • Optional: Join Private Guide Facebook Page

    • Immersions: You are ready and eligible to apply a 4-day in-person immersion

  • 11

    Module 5 (Seedling): Language for Relational Forest Therapy (Available March 5th)

    • Learning Objectives: Seedling

    • Fun Facts (Module 4 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Listening Deeply

    • Chapters from the Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Seedling Module)

    • Podcast: To the Best of Our Knowledge: Bathing in the Beauty of Trees with Amos Clifford

    • VIDEO: Understanding the Difference: Prescriptive VS Descriptive with Katarina Cuk

    • The Different Parts of an Invitation

    • Words and Phrases That Invite Choice

    • Exploration: Noticing Sensory Pathways

    • Exploration: Modeling sensory engagement/Permission to play

    • Facilitation: POP & WIM

    • Assignment: Draft Your Introduction to a Forest Therapy Walk
  • 12

    Module 6 (Trunk): Putting Language into Practice (Available March 12th)

    • Learning Objectives: Trunk

    • Fun Facts (Module 5 Review)*

    • Co-emergence: Playful Exchange

    • Chapters from the Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Trunk Module)

    • Video: Co-emergence with Amos Clifford

    • Video: Catching and Crafting Invitations with Katarina Cuk

    • "It Depends" Invitation Library

    • Introducing Assignment: Building Your Collection of Invitations

    • Tools for Drafting your Invitations

    • Considerations for Refining Language in “It Depends” Invitations

    • Assignment: Crafting "It Depends" Invitations Part 1

    • Assignment: Crafting "It Depends" Invitations Part 2

    • Assignment: Crafting "It Depends" Invitations Part 3
  • 13

    Module 7 (Branch): Sharing & Deep Listening (Available March 26th)

    • Learning Objectives: Branch

    • Fun Facts (Module 6 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Presence

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, BRANCH Module)

    • Video: The Story of Stone Soup with Ronna Schneberger

    • Exploration: Listening to Trees

    • Exploration: Decentering and Anti-Bias

    • Video: The Art of Listening with Jackie Kuang

    • Video: Introducing Forest Therapy Prompts with Carla Zorzanelli

    • Exploration: Practicing Listening

    • Introducing Assignment: Awareness Journal

    • Diagram: Different Types of Trails and Ways of Guiding

    • Announcement: You're ready to begin guiding!
  • 14

    Getting Ready to Guide (To unlock, submit assignments for Modules 1-7) (Available March 26th)

    • Orientation to Getting Ready to Guide Module

    • Considering your learning adventure

    • Guiding in a Post-Pandemic World

    • Before You Guide: Forms & Waivers

    • Insurance for Guides

    • Self Assessment - Part 2

    • What's in my Backpack?

    • Sample Walk Debrief Form

    • Assignment: Walk 1 Reflection Template

    • Assignment: Walk 2 Reflection Template

    • Assignment: Walk 3 Reflection Template

    • Assignment: Walk 4 Reflection Template

    • Guiding in Different Weather

    • Report your Walks
  • 15

    Module 8 (Leaf): Senses, Embodiment, and Relationships (Available April 9th)

    • Learning Objectives: Leaf

    • Fun Facts (Module 7 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Kinship

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy ((Required Reading, Leaf Module)

    • VIDEO Exploration: Mindful Eating with Stana Luxford-Oddie

    • Video: Senses as the Gateway to Relationships with Nadine Mazzola

    • Video: Inner and Outer Journeys in Forest Therapy with Geeta Stilwell

    • Exploration: Bodyfulness

    • Exploration: Nature Relation

    • Video: The Heart as a Sensory Organ with Nadine Mazzola

    • Video: The Heart Sense w/ Amos Clifford Part One

    • Video: The Heart Sense w/ Amos Clifford Part Two

    • Exploration: The Heart Sense

    • Exploration: Plant a being in a slightly different way

    • Exploration: Revisit POP

    • Guided Walks: What are you noticing?

    • VIDEO: A good reminder: Your sit spot can support you in your assignments with Amanda Yik

    • Introducing assignment: Solo Walk
  • 16

    Module 9 (Flower): Bioregional Learning and Relationships (Available April 23rd)

    • Learning Objectives: Flower

    • Fun Facts (Module 8 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Reciprocity

    • Video: Facts and Relationships: Two Ways of Knowing with Marcela Morales

    • Introducing Assignments: Bioregional Learning

    • Watershed and Relationship

    • Assignment: Getting to Know your Watershed

    • Assignment: Awarenesses Journal Part 2

    • Introducing Assignment: Harvest Project

    • Reminder: Schedule your Forest Therapy Walks
  • 17

    Module 10 (Fruit): Edges and Headroom (Available May 7th)

    • Learning Objectives: Fruit

    • Fun Facts (Module 9 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Vulnerability and Courage

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Fruit Module)

    • Video: What are Edges? With Ken Ouendag

    • Exploration: Explore and Be with an Edge

    • Assignment: Tracking our Edges & Gaining Headroom

    • Assignment Reminders
  • 18

    Module 11 (Crown): Health Science in Forest Therapy (Available May 21st)

    • Learning Objectives: Crown

    • Fun Facts (Module 10 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Multiple Ways of Knowing

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Crown Module)

    • Podcast: The Healing Power Of Nature - Florence Williams | Being Human #287 (1:00:48)

    • Outside Magazine: Take Two Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning

    • VIDEO: Ways of Knowing Related to Health Science in Forest Therapy with Tam Willey

    • Exploration Research Studies: Review Some Articles and Do Your Own Search

    • Exploration: Talking About the Health Impacts Your Way

    • Optional Assignment: Public Presentation
  • 19

    Module 12 (Habitat): Developing Your Guiding Practice (Available June 4th)

    • Learning Objectives: Habitat

    • Fun Facts (Module 11 Review)

    • Co-emergence: Community and Relationship

    • Assignment: Writing a Vision Statement

    • Chapters from The Guide's Handbook of Forest Therapy (Required Reading, Habitat Module)

    • The Guide's Press Kit

    • Community Guidelines for Establishing Thriving ANFT Communities

    • Why do I need a Guide? Research on the difference between a Guided versus an Unguided Forest Bathing walk

    • Exploration: Brainstorming Partnerships

    • Optional: Forest Bathing Finder

    • VIDEO Optional: Waivers Workshop with Nicole Roma Thurrell
  • 20

    Module 13 (Feast): Harvest (Available June 18th)

    • Learning Objectives: Feast

    • Co-emergence: Humility

    • Submit your remaining assignments

    • Assignment: Rest!

    • Marking your Threshold
  • 21

    Assignment Submissions (Modules 1-7)

    • Uploading Assignments

    • Assignment Checklist

    • Submit your Sit Spot Base Map (Module 1)

    • Submit your History of the Land (Module 1)

    • Submit your Trail Assessment (Module 1)

    • Submit your Written Invitations of Pleasures of Presence (Module 2)

    • Submit PART 1 of Tea Plant Identification (Module 3)

    • Submit your Tea for Two (Module 3)

    • Submit your Written Invitations of What's In Motion? (Module 4)

    • Submit your Draft of Introduction to Forest Therapy Walk Upload (Module 5)

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 1 (Module 6)

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 2 (Module 6)

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 3 (Module 6)

    • Submit List of Awarenesses (Module 7)
  • 22

    Assignment Submissions (Modules 8-12)

    • Submit your Watershed Map (Module 9)

    • Submit your Exploration: Tracking our Edges and Building Headroom (Module 10)

    • Submit your Vision Statement (Module 13)

    • Submit PART 2 of your Awarenesses Journal

    • Submit PART 2 of Plant Identifications (Introduced in Module 3)

    • Submit your Web of Interbeing: Visual Representation

    • Submit your Web of Interbeing: Written Explanation

    • Submit your Harvest Project

    • Self Assessment - Part 3

    • Post-Survey Important Research Project: Please participate in the post course survey!
  • 23

    Module 14 (Return): Threshold of Return, Graduation and Certification (Available June 18th)

    • Learning Objectives: Return

    • Personal Inquiry 13: Belonging

    • Video: Threshold of Incorporation with Amos Clifford

    • Assignment: Threshold Ceremony and Celebration - Your Graduation

    • ANFT Member Resources

    • Professional Development Courses

    • Become a Certified Trail Consultant with ANFT

    • Your Certification

    • Module 14: Reflection on the Journey (Return)

    • Congratulations!

    • Worldwide Guide Directory and Map
  • Two people sitting on a trail in a forest in Slovenia
  • A woman guides another woman on a forest therapy walk
  • A birch forest in Ireland

Trainers for this course

Mentor, Trainer

Geeta Stilwell

Geeta is a certified Forest Therapy Guide based in Portugal and the founder of the company Renature where she creates and facilitates restorative programs that promote wellbeing and health through Forest Therapy, nature connection practices, clean eating and self-care. She works all over the world with various populations that range from the general public, corporate senior and junior teams, schools, families, mental health populations and individuals recovering from situations of excess stress and resulting depression and anxiety. Her passion is to bring human beings back to nature and support the reconnection to the restorative potency of the natural world. She is trained in Forest Therapy, Embodied Mindfulness and Conscious Resting, Council and Active Meditation Techniques, and in the field of Healthcare as a Pharmacist. She holds a Masters in Business Management and is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.

Trainer

Ronna Schneberger

Ronna Schneberger, BRM, has been a professional guide and naturalist in Banff National Park for 25 years. She is a Forest Therapy guide and trainer and a yoga and meditation instructor. For the past 15 years she has been faculty with Leadership Development at the Banff Centre where she delivers powerful leadership experiences in nature. Currently, Ronna is an executive coach combining time in spectacular mountain landscapes with powerful conversations. She is proud to be the Chair of Nature and Forest Therapy of Canada and bring this practice to various sectors in Canada.

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