Sea Turtle Cohort: Guide Training in Sign Language

The Sea Turtle Cohort training program, a joint collaboration between Wild Cypress, an inclusive Deaf-operated guiding and nature retreat business, and the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), offers an inclusive path to becoming a certified Nature & Forest Therapy guide. This six-month immersive program is designed for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and signing nature enthusiasts, as well as allies seeking to make nature therapy accessible to all. The language of this training cohort will be offered in American Sign Language. The training emphasizes accessibility, deep listening, and reciprocal relationships with nature. Participants will experience hands-on guidance in immersive nature settings in Colorado and North Florida and will receive mentorship from Deaf-certified trainers.

At its core, this program aligns with Wild Cypress’ mission:
"Through Nature Therapy, we bridge the gap between humans and nature—restoring harmony, healing the spirit, and embracing communication beyond words."

Like the sea turtle’s slow and steady journey through the ocean, this training invites you to take your time, deepen your roots, and embrace the power of slowness. In a world that moves quickly, we honor the pace of Nature, where healing and connection unfold at their own rhythm. Together, we’ll explore inclusive, sensory-based practices that foster connection to the earth, deepening healing and community in a culturally diverse and supportive environment.

Overview of the Journey

The training program for Certified Forest Therapy Guide

  • 1

    Bulletin Board

    • Zoom Link for ALL Live Webinar, Walks, and Discussions

    • Recordings of Live Sessions

    • Schedule of Live Sessions

    • Communicating with the training team

    • Cohort Book and Resource Recommendations

    • Video: How to use this course (Thinkific Tutorial)

    • Troubleshooting and FAQ's

    • How to download the Thinkific Mobile App
  • 2

    Training Details & Resources

    • Orientation to the Elements of this Training Program

    • Assignments, Prerequisites for Guiding & Requirements for Course Completion

    • Zoom Attendance & Etiquette

    • Recommended Reading

    • Wilderness First Aid

    • Insurance

    • Guiding in Winter

    • Sign up for the ANFT Newsletter

    • Completing This Training Program
  • 3

    Soil: Pre Course Learning Activities

  • 4

    Module 1 (Fire): What is Forest Therapy?

    • Learning Objectives: Fire

    • Fun Facts

    • Live Session: Welcome!

    • Video: Self Directed Learning in this Course with Ben Page

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

    • Assignment Checklist

    • Glossary of Terms

    • Video: What do we mean by Story? with Manuela Siegfried

    • The Wild Tending Land Ethic with Carlos Collado

    • Video: Introduction to Sit Spot with Stana Luxford-Oddie

    • Watch: How Forests Heal People

    • Module 01 Reflections on the Journey (Fire)
  • 5

    Module 2 (Mycelia): What is a Forest Therapy Guide?

    • Learning Objectives: Mycelia

    • Fun Facts (Module 1 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 1: Patience

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

    • Video: The Forest is the Therapist, the Guide Opens the Doors with Geeta Stilwell

    • Watch: Take a Five Minute Forest Therapy Break

    • Forbes: Forest Bathing During the Corona Virus

    • Assignment: Sit Spot Base Map

    • Assignment: Draft of Introduction to a Forest Therapy Walk

    • Assignment: History of the Land

    • Module 02: Reflections on the Journey (Mycelia)
  • 6

    Module 3 (Seed): The Way of the Guide

    • Learning Objectives: Seed

    • Fun Facts (Module 2 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 2: Trust

    • Introductory Exploration: Pleasures of Presence

    • A POP Script with Comments by Amos Clifford

    • An Audio Library of POPs

    • Assignment: Written Invitations- Pleasures of Presence

    • Facilitation: Pleasures of Presence

    • Video: The Way of the Guide with Ben Page

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

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

    • Watch: Voices in Between with Youmin Yap

    • VIDEO: Introduction to the Web of Interbeing Assignment

    • Web of Interbeing Examples

    • Module 03: Reflections on the Journey (Seed)
  • 7

    Module 4 (Roots): The Standard Sequence and the Liminal Journey

    • Learning Objectives: Roots

    • Fun Facts (Module 3 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 3: Acceptance

    • Introductory Exploration: Wander and 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

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

    • Video: The Standard Sequence with Nadine Mazzola

    • Video: Tam Willey on Liminality

    • Exploration: Wander

    • PBS: Windows to the Wild

    • Diagram: 2 Ways of Guiding

    • Optional: Join Private Guide Facebook Page

    • Amos' Lineages Behind ANFT

    • Module 4: Reflection on the Journey (Roots)

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

  • 8

    Module 5 (Seedling): Language of Invitation

    • Learning Objectives: Seedling

    • Fun Facts (Module 4 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 4: Sensuousness

    • Facilitation: POP & WIM

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

    • Video: SOSI (Simple Open Sensory Infinite) with Geeta Stilwell

    • Exploration: Partnership Invitation Library

    • Video: Catching and Crafting Invitations with Nadine Mazzola

    • To the Best of Our Knowledge: Bathing in the Beauty of Trees

    • Exploration: Noticing Sensory Pathways

    • Introducing Assignment: Crafting Partnership Invitations

    • VIDEO: Understanding the Difference: Prescriptive VS Descriptive

    • Language of Invitation: What to avoid

    • Assignment: Crafting Partnership Invitations Part 1

    • Exploration: Guide as "Permissionary"

    • Bare Bones of Tea

    • Assignment & Facilitation: Tea for Two

    • Module 05: Reflection on the Journey (Seedling)
  • 9

    Module 6 (Trunk): Bioregional Learning

    • Learning Objectives: Trunk

    • Fun Facts (Module 5 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 5: Playfulness

    • Video: Tea Ceremony with Jackie Kuang

    • Thinking about the term ‘Tea Ceremony'

    • Introducing Assignments: Bioregional Learning

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

    • Assignment: Watershed Map

    • Assignment: Awareness Journal

    • Video: Facts and Relationships: Two Ways of Knowing with Manuela Siegfried

    • Assignment: Scout a trail

    • Introducing Assignment: Tea Plant Identifications

    • Assignment: Tea Plant Identification #1

    • VIDEO: Safe and Ethical Foraging Practices

    • Video: Introducing Forest Therapy Prompts with Ben Page

    • Announcement: You're ready to begin guiding!

    • Module 06: Reflection on the Journey (Trunk)
  • 10

    A Note on Training Extensions

    • Minimum Requirements to be Considered for Extension

    • Extension Process - Forest Therapy Guide Training & WFA Extensions
  • 11

    Guided Walks (Complete Assignment Submissions Modules 1-6 to unlock)

    • Orientation to Guided Walks Module

    • Thinking about your learning adventure

    • Guiding in the age of Coronavirus

    • Before You Guide: Forms & Waivers

    • Before you start guiding: Self Assessment

    • Sample Walk Debrief Form

    • Assignment: Walk 1 Reflection Template

    • Assignment: Walk 2 Reflection Template

    • Assignment: Walk 3 Reflection Template

    • Assignment: Walk 4 Reflection Template

    • Report your Walks
  • 12

    Module 7 (Branch): Senses, Embodiment, and Relationships

    • Learning Objectives: Branch

    • Fun Facts (Module 6 review)

    • Personal Inquiry 6: Simplicity

    • Exploration: Revisit POP

    • Assignment: Crafting Partnership Invitations Part 2

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

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

    • Watch: The Lore Co. & Shinrin Yoku LA: Forest Therapy with Ben Page

    • VIDEO Exploration: Mindful Eating with Jackie Kuang

    • Video: Senses as the Gateway to Relationships with Manuela Siegfried

    • Video: Inner and Outer Journeys in Forest Therapy with Vicky Kyan

    • VIDEO: Liminality with Ben Page

    • Supplemental Reading: Encounters With Relationship

    • Exploration: Bodyfulness

    • Exploration: Nature Relation

    • What are you noticing?

    • Module 07: Reflection on the Journey (Branch)
  • 13

    Module 8 (Leaf): The Heart Sense

    • Learning Objectives: Leaf

    • Fun Facts (Module 7 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 7: Creativity

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

    • Exploration: The Heart Sense

    • Exploration: Plant a being in a slightly different way

    • Video: The Heart as a Sensory Organ with Ben Page

    • Video: The Heart Sense and Reciprocity with Manuela Siegfried

    • Assignment: Crafting Partnership Invitations Part 3

    • Introducing assignment: Solo Walk

    • What are you noticing?

    • Module 08: Reflection on the Journey (Leaf)
  • 14

    Module 9 (Flower): Edges and Headroom

    • Learning Objectives: Flower

    • Fun Facts (Module 8 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 8: Self Discovery

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

    • Video: What are Edges? With Vicky Kyan

    • Exploration: Encounter an edge

    • Assignment: Tracking our own edges

    • Assignment: Planning how to gain headroom

    • Assignment: Crafting Partnership Invitations Part 4

    • Introducing assignment: Harvest Project

    • Module 9: Reflection on the Journey (Flower)
  • 15

    Module 10 (Fruit): Gathering, Sharing and Listening

    • Learning Objectives: Fruit

    • Fun Facts (Module 9 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 9: Care

    • Assignment Reminders

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

    • Exploration: Listening to Trees

    • Exploration: Decentering and Anti-Bias

    • Video: The Story of Stone Soup with Jackie Kuang

    • Video: Listening and Omnipartiality with Ben Page

    • Exploration: Practicing Listening

    • Module 10: Reflection on the Journey (Fruit)
  • 16

    Module 11 (Crown): Health Science in Forest Therapy

    • Learning Objectives: Crown

    • Fun Facts (Module 10 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 10: Deep Attention

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

    • Helpful resources to research and studies

    • Video: Forest Therapy and the Nervous System with Ronna Schneberger

    • BBC Podcast: People Fixing the World - The healing power of forests

    • Research: Shinrin Yoku and Nature Therapy: A State of the Art Review

    • Research: Dr Qing Li's most recent paper

    • Research: Forest Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Effects on Human Health: A State-of-the-Art Reviewon

    • Research: Ohlsson, Nature Connection as Wellbeing Practice and Subjective Activism

    • The Japanese approach of Shinrin Yoku and Forest Therapy by ANFT

    • Optional Assignment: Public Presentation

    • Module 11: Reflection on the Journey (Habitat)
  • 17

    Module 12 (Habitat): Business of Forest Therapy

    • Learning Objectives: Habitat

    • Fun Facts (Module 11 Review)

    • Personal Inquiry 11: Reciprocity

    • 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
  • 18

    Module 13 (Feast): Harvest

    • Learning Objectives: Feast

    • Personal Inquiry 12: Humility

    • Reading: Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing as Embodied Ecology

    • Submit your remaining assignments

    • Assignment: Rest!

    • Marking your Threshold
  • 19

    Assignment Submissions (Modules 1-6)

    • Uploading Assignments

    • Assignment Checklist

    • Submit your Sit Spot Base Map (Module 2)

    • Submit your History of the Land (Module 2)

    • Submit your Draft of Introduction to Forest Therapy Walk Upload (Module 2)

    • Submit your Written Invitations of Pleasures of Presence (Module 3)

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

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 1 (Module 5)

    • Submit your Tea for Two (Module 5)

    • Submit your 1st Tea Plant Identification (Module 6)

    • Submit your Watershed Map (Module 6)

    • Submit your Awareness Journal (Module 6)

    • Submit your Trail Assessment (Module 6)
  • 20

    Assignment Submissions (Modules 7-13)

    • Submit your remaining Tea Plant Identifications (Introduced in Module 6)

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 2 (Module 7)

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 3 (Module 8)

    • Submit your Partnership Invitations: Part 4 (Module 9)

    • Submit your Exploration: Tracking our Edges and Building Headroom (Module 9)

    • Submit your Vision Statement (Module 12)

    • Submit your Web of Interbeing: Visual Representation

    • Submit your Web of Interbeing: Written Explanation

    • Submit your Harvest Project

    • Fill out and Submit Final Self Assessment

    • Please participate in the Post-Survey for this important Research Project
  • 21

    Module 14 (Return): Threshold of Initiation

    • Learning Objectives: Return

    • Submit your Wilderness First Aid Certificate

    • Personal Inquiry 13: Belonging

    • The ANFT Way of Forest Therapy

    • Video: Threshold of Incorporation with Amos Clifford

    • Assignment: Threshold Ceremony and Celebration

    • ANFT Member Resources

    • Professional Development Courses

    • Become a Certified Trail Consultant with ANFT

    • Your Certification

    • Module 13: Reflection on the Journey (Return)

    • Congratulations!

    • Worldwide Guide Directory and Map
  • Several people sitting in a circle in a grassy area near an evergreen tree.
  • The Luna Moth Cohort and trainers making the ASL sign for moth.
  • Several people signing while sitting in a circle on logs in the forest.

Trainers for this course

Summer Crider

Summer Crider, founder of The Wild Cypress, formerly The Giving Cypress, a Nature and Forest Therapy guiding business, and a professor at Gallaudet University brings forth “access intimacy” in their transformative work. As a Deaf, Woman, and Queer guide, their insights illuminate the nexus of accessibility, intimacy, and Nature Therapy. Rooted in Disability Studies and Cultural Studies, Summer’s discourse reshapes paradigms of understanding how we navigate back to our most natural selves and care for one another and other living beings. Mindful of accessibility, they collaborate with marginalized communities, uniting mental and spiritual well-being with ‘shinrin yoku’. A global explorer, Summer explores and celebrates diverse cultures, unveiling and reshaping our connection to the natural world. This fusion of social justice, disability, and deaf cultural studies invites all to nature’s healing embrace, embodying the symphony between human perception and the natural world.

Pricing options

We offer pay-in-full, 6-month, and 9-month payment plans.