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.
May 6th Walkthrough Call: 1:30pm EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QI8ApV_dTdmqec-jUZ6nAQ#/registration
May 15th Meet The Trainer Call: 8pm EST
https://gallaudet.zoom.us/meeting/register/oP1Xu5hFTIWl8wK-Tic-4w
Contact Summer with questions – www.thewildcypress.com/contact
30 minute Discovery Call can be scheduled with Summer to answer any questions you may have and to see if this program is a good fit 🙂
What's Included in the Program?
Trainers
Summer Crider is a cultural studies educator, certified Forest and Nature Therapy guide, and founder of Wild Cypress, dedicated to creating inclusive, healing experiences for Deaf, Disabled, and marginalized communities. With a background in Expressive Arts Therapy, Educational Media, and Cultural Studies, Summer combines academic depth with entrepreneurial creativity as a self-taught business owner, filmmaker, and media consultant.
Raised in the cypress swamps by a family rooted in environmental conservation, Summer developed a deep relationship with silence and nonverbal communication. Their work invites people from all walks of life to reconnect with nature, each other, and themselves—expressing the unspoken and healing through wonder, sensory awareness, and connection.
In addition to leading retreats and educational programs, Wild Cypress has partnered with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides (ANFT) to support Deaf and hearing guides on their certification path, incorporating culturally responsive approaches to forest bathing—restoring harmony, healing the spirit, and embracing communication beyond words.
Learn More HERE
Dr. Susan Abookire, BSEE, MD, MPH, FACP, is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and a senior executive with 22 years of experience leading healthcare organizations. She has served as Chief Medical Officer, System Chief Quality Officer, and Department Chair of the Department of Quality and Patient Safety at Mount Auburn. She founded and led the award-winning quality and patient safety program in this Harvard hospital. Dr. Abookire began her professional career as an electrical engineer in aviation systems design and brings a keen understanding of systems thinking and design to her work improving healthcare for everyone.
A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Abookire trained at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and practices Internal Medicine. She received a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and teaches nationally and internationally. Certified as a Forest Therapy Guide, Dr. Abookire offers nature-inspired individual coaching, group coaching, leadership development, training and retreats to healthcare professionals. Her programs help professionals and patients by delivering tools for lifelong physical, mental, and cognitive wellbeing. Dr. Abookire has also developed a curriculum for Harvard Medical School residents that incorporates Forest Therapy into learning about healthcare systems and leadership. Her rich background and experience in systems design influence all her work, including supporting healthcare organizations looking for culture transformation.
Ronna Schneberger has been a professional award winning naturalist, interpreter, and hiking guide in the Canadian Mountain Parks for 25 years. She is a yoga teacher of 20 years and in the last decade incorporated yoga, meditation, and coaching in nature. The results were profound. In her quest to understand why time in nature easily creates powerful experiences, she became a Forest Therapy Guide with the ANFT, one of the first in Canada. Ronna is a trainer and mentor for forest therapy guides. She is faculty with Leadership Development at the Banff Centre where she works with leaders, professionals and executives from all over the world using nature as the teacher to create powerful reflections and transformation. She is the Chair of the ANFT Canadian Council, along with her team; she looks forward to promoting Forest Therapy in Canada.