Forest Therapy Guide Certification
in American Sign Language
Making forest therapy accessible to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
Nature is for everyone. Designed with inclusivity in mind, with the Deaf, Disabled, and signing communities at its heart, this special cohort welcomes anyone ready to learn alongside them and the forest. Together, we’ll prepare guides to offer nature and forest therapy where everyone participates fully, and every person belongs.
Online + In-Person
$3,845
USD
INCLUDES
- Duration: 6 months
- In-Person immersion retreat
- Monthly virtual sessions
- Access to online portal
- Video Lessons : In both ASL, Spoken English with Captions
- Nature connection activities
- Journaling prompts
Who it's for
- Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing people who want to become certified guides and lead nature experiences in their own language and culture
- Disabled people and neurodivergent people seeking a guide training where access is built in from the start
- Signing community members, including CODAs, family members, and fluent signers, who want to bring nature connection to the people they love and serve
- Sign language interpreters expanding into nature-based and therapeutic settings
- Hearing people open to cultural immersion who want to learn from Deaf and Disabled communities and guide with inclusivity in mind
- Educators, therapists, and healthcare professionals looking to offer accessible, sensory-based wellness practices
- Organizations, parks, and nature centers working to make their programs welcoming to everyone
What you'll experience
Over six months, you’ll learn through a blend of online study, live Zoom sessions, and in-person immersions, all taught in sign language and ProTactile access available. You’ll experience Forest Therapy walks, guided practice, sharing circles, and sensory-based learning while exploring ANFT’s Standard Sequence, the Language of Invitation, and the Way of the Guide. Along the way, experienced trainers and a community of peers will support you as you deepen your relationship with the land and discover your own way of guiding.
What makes this different
Traditional forest therapy often relies on spoken invitations and listening to the forest’s sounds. The Wildflower Cohort begins somewhere else: in silence. Taught in sign language and grounded in Deaf culture, this training explores how we connect through sight, touch, movement, and presence, communication beyond words. Access isn’t an accommodation added later; it shapes every walk, invitation, and circle. You’ll learn to guide with visual and tactile invitations, adapt to many bodies, minds, and languages, and create spaces where no one has to ask to be included. Here, silence is not absence. It’s a shared language, and a doorway to belonging.
Why join us
Join a first-of-its-kind cohort and help shape what forest therapy can become. You’ll work toward your ANFT Nature and Forest Therapy Guide certification while learning in a community where your language, culture, and way of being are at the center. For Deaf and Disabled participants, this means training without barriers. For hearing allies, it means learning from the community. Together, you’ll build lasting friendships, mentorship, and a network of guides committed to access and belonging. Like wildflowers taking root in new ground, you’ll grow at your own pace and carry this work into your community, because nature is for everyone.
Training Overview
Online adapted training (with ASL/LSP interpreters)
The training is delivered online with sign language interpretation to ensure full accessibility and understanding.
Visual and captioned materials
All content is provided in visual formats with captions to support clear and inclusive learning.
Mentorship with experienced guides
Participants are guided by experienced forest therapy professionals who provide support throughout the training.
Assessment and certification
Learners are assessed at the end of the program and receive certification upon successful completion.
Nature Needs You
Join the movement healing people and planet.
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