Start In Person Forest
Therapy Guide Training
Start your certification with a 7 day hands on experiential training on the
land, followed by four months of online integration and consolidation
This pathway offers the same full Forest Therapy Guide certification, starting with an in-person training and continuing online. It is designed for those who value immediate connection, hands-on experience, and learning through presence from the very beginning.
Beginning in person allows you to step directly into the forest, the practice, and the community — building relationships with peers and trainers from day one. The online phase that follows continues with the same cohort, offering shared continuity as you deepen your understanding, integrate the practice into daily life, and keep learning together over time
Your Certification Pathway
Step 1
7 Day In-person Training
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→
Step 2
4-Month Remote Training
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→
Step 3
Get Your Certification
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→
Who it's for
This training is for anyone who wants to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. No prior training or nature background required.
What you'll experience
Part 1: 7 days In-Person
What actually happens during your first seven days.
– Practice in real time: apply what you’re learning through live, in-person forest therapy walks from day one.
– Meet your trainers and your cohort face to face: building the foundation for the four months you’ll spend learning together online.
– Learn ANFT’s Standard Sequence hands-on: guided by your trainers, learning the structured methodology and the stylistic adaptations.
– Guide your first walk: with direct feedback and debrief.
– Deepen into the practice itself, with the time and space that only in-person training allows.
– Deepen your relationship with the more-than-human-world and start developing your co-emergence guiding skills.
– Ask the questions that only surface in person: the ones that come up once you’re actually standing in the forest, guiding.
What You will Learn
Part 2: 4 months Online
– Continue building fluency in ANFT’s Standard Sequence, now applying it independently between live calls.
– Embody the Way of the Guide, the heart-centered approach you began practicing in person.
– Continue to learn and apply Language for Relational Forest Therapy. Words that open the door for relationship with the more-than-human world.
– Practice somatic techniques for embodied awareness, continuing what you started on the land.
– Develop facilitation skills that create real hospitality for group sharing.
– Get to know your bioregion, its history, its watershed, the sense of belonging that comes from truly knowing a place.
– Ground your practice in nature and forest therapy research.
– Know the competency standards of what a Forest Therapy Guide should know and be able to do.
– Learn to promote your forest therapy offerings, building this into a sustainable
Certification & Requirements
Certificate:
Certificate: Completing both the 7-day in-person training and the 4-month online journey grants you full certification as an ANFT Forest Therapy Guide.
Requirements:
Wilderness First Aid certification with CPR, arranged independently.
Investment & Enrollment
Tuition: $3,600 USD
Payment plan:
Pay in full at registration, or spread the cost over 5 monthly installments of $720 (the first payment serves as your deposit). Buy Now, Pay Later options (Klarna and Afterpay) are also available at checkout.
Financial aid:
Attend a free ANFT Training Q&A Call and enroll within two weeks to receive a 10% discount code.
Not included:
Travel, accommodation, and food for the 7-day in-person portion are arranged and paid for separately by each trainee.
Refund policy:
Tuition figures are subject to change.
Start In-Person FAQs
Who is eligible to enroll?
Anyone. No prior training or nature background required.
What does completing this training give me?
Full certification as an ANFT Forest Therapy Guide. This track doesn’t require a separate immersion afterward.
What's included?
The full 7-day in-person program plus the 4-month online journey. Live calls, guided walks, coursework, and community access. See What’s Included above for details
What's the tuition, and what's not included?
$3,600 USD, with a 5-month payment plan and Buy Now, Pay Later options available. It doesn’t include travel, accommodation, or food for the 7-day in-person portion.Certification as an ANFT Forest Therapy Guide requires Wilderness First Aid Certification that the trainee must seek outside the guide training program.
When are the online live calls?
Once a week, same day and time for the entire 4 month duration. Check that it fits your schedule and time zone before enrolling.
What timezone do ANFT training times follow?
All ANFT training times follow UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This website shows the time in your local time zone.
When can I book travel for the in-person week?
Wait until you receive enrollment confirmation before booking flights or lodging.
Can I meet the trainers before enrolling?
Yes. Join the Meet the trainers call. Register for the call above.
What's the cancellation policy?
Refund terms vary — see the refund policy linked below.
Have more questions?
Some Things Can’t Be Explained.
Only Experienced
Stories from Our Students
“I experience nature in a totally different way. I also feel different and have a new perception when I am part of a group. I feel I matured so much throughout these learning experiences. I learned to listen, guide without pushing, help without directing, support but not solve for others, understand how resilient we all are, and trust myself, others in their own journey, and the Forest. Beautiful experience all around. Much gratitude”
– EmilianoChico Cohort
“Big thanks to my trainers for the ongoing support and for modelling trust, openness, gentleness, love, patience, inclusivity and hospitality (and so much more)… This has been one of the best programs I’ve ever been on where I’vediscovered more about myself (my being) and deepened my connections with self,others, nature and other beings before my time…It has been a wonderful learning journey of discovery and unfolding, as I begin to find and step into my place in nature, and to connect with a community of nature-lovers with big hearts forthe more-than-human-world. When I started the program, I thought I was going to learn what the guide does (Doing), but what I really took away was learning howto be a guide (Being) in nature. There were many highlights from the program,but a key one was learning that I’m not alone, and that the Forest has my back.As a guide, the idea of trusting and partnering the Forest/Nature is veryliberating for me and allows me to be my authentic, playful self, and to be onewith the Forest/Nature. While the coursework/assignments feel a bit overwhelmingat times, they have helped me deepen my learning as a guide as well as todiscover and confront some of my learning edges.”
– Gho Phek SuanGingko Cohort
“Since finding out that I was accepted into this program, I have found nothing but support and encouragement along the way. It’s challenging in all the authentic and good ways challenge can present itself, and usually that means needing to grow and understand yourself as you take on new possibilities. This was a beautiful course, rife with meaning, and something that has changed me in both complex and subtle ways. Rediscovery of the lost parts of yourself isn’t always electric and profound, it’s sometimes quiet and soothing…a river you always knew you were made of and can just jump back in again.”
– KateChico Cohort
“Nature has always been incredibly important to me, I always knew how therapeutic spending time in nature could be but never had the framework or words to express what I felt. This training allowed me the space to find the words, framework and so much more. This training has fundamentally changed the way I see and experience nature, and consequently how I see myself and all beings. As a Child and Family therapist I believe growth can come in many forms. I have always wanted to incorporate nature into my clinical practice and treatment goals with my clients and never felt confident in how to do this. This training has given me the knowledge, tools and confidence to look outside the therapy room in nature, with nature to support my clients and greater community in ways I never could before.”
– Gabriel RischallHummingbird Cohort
“I was very tentative about joining a 6-month virtual course but I have to say the time we spent together as a cohort learning alongside our mentors was incredible. The time, effort, dedication,and careful shepherding by my mentors has allowed me to grow as a new guide and embrace the way of a guide as a lifelong journey.”
– AaronForest Therapy Guide
“My trainers could not have been more helpful. During the unfolding of the course material they were supportive while allowing space to think for ourselves and were skilled at consolidating the information. I did not feel unsupported or left unsure any time, quite the opposite. And what a journey this has been! I am so grateful that I was somehowsteered in the direction of ANFT. I am so grateful for my trainers and fellow trainees and the safe space created by them. I loved the gentle unfolding of this course;how we seemed to learn everything at just the right time to learn it. I loved the complete acceptance of our trainers demonstrating as well as explaining the Way of the Guide. The impact on my life in particular was being shown a practical path that fitted with my belief system about theearth, while extending my knowledge and vision. ANFT has given me a directionto help our earth and its human and other-than-human beings.”
– ClaireGingko Cohort
“The ANFT curriculum is very well thought out and comes from a strong lineage of wisdom. The online mode of training moves at a seamless pace and allows time to digest and integrate the material presented. The majority of the learning occurs outside, in the student’s own watershed. While the practice incorporates the best aspects of Shinrin Yoku, it goes beyond it in a way that touches the human soul, and facilitates personal discovery and an authentic relationship with who we are as nature, which is so needed for the healing of our planet.”
– Brandee
“As I’ve gone deeper into my experience of Forest Therapy, I noticed a healing taking place around belonging. Spending time in the forest feels like coming home, and it has been opening up the awareness ofhow interconnected everything is. I feel a similar feeling of belonging andcoming home to myself. In my family I’ve carried this narrative of beingdifferent, not fully seen, and not supported in the ways that I needed. That narrativehad been projected into other areas of my life. But lately I’ve been noticing ashift taking place. I’ve been feeling a sense of belonging around work. I’vealso been feeling a sense of belonging around what I consider are my uniquetalents and gifts. Like I don’t have to guard them, but instead they have aplace in this world.”
– PatrickBluebells Cohort
“This course met every one of my objectives. I was looking for a rigorous learning experience that would embody the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (ForestBathing) that resonated with a western audience. I researched several programs and selected the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) and have not been disappointed. The program’s motto of “The Forest is the Therapist and the Guide opens the Door” is emphasized throughout the program. We learned how to help our participants open themselves to the natural environment, whether it was a forest, desert, wet land, or city park. We learned important information about the areas we would guide. We learned about what made a good trail, potential hazards, and how to deal with challenges. Our instructors were knowledgeable and guided us through a lot of material with a gentleness and kindness that totally amazed me. I come from a technical background of Information Technology, Project Management, Process Engineering and Financial Planning; and the course allowed me to slow my pace and change my way of thinking. If you are looking for a way to improve people’s relationship with themselves, others, and the more-than-human-world; I would recommend it.”
– Hummingbird Cohort 2021Grant Lucas