Forest Therapy Guide Training
Waterfall
- Cohort 190
- June 15, 2027
- to
- December 14, 2027
A remarkable journey into the heart of the forest; an encounter with the heart of humanity
This course is for anyone who wants to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. No prior knowledge or training required.
In this training, you will learn:
- Learn how to guide ANFT’s Standard Sequence – A Powerful approach to nature connection
- Sequencing forest therapy invitations for maximum impact and benefit
- The heart-centered Way of the Guide approach
- The Language of Invitation to help create powerful connections with self and nature
- Somatic techniques for embodied awareness
- The pedagogy and fundamentals of nature connection
- Nature and forest therapy research and knowledge
- Trail awareness and safety -how to choose a forest therapy trail
- Getting to know your bioregion, its history, watershed, awarenesses and more
- Facilitation skills that promote an open environment for group sharing
- Expressive arts activities for forest therapy
- Competency standards: what a Forest Therapy Guide should know and be able to do
- Tips for successfully promoting your forest therapy offerings
Schedule for Live Events
- Enrollment Deadline:
- June 15, 2027
- 3:30 pm
- (PST)
- First Call Date & Language:
- June 15, 2027
- English
- To access the detailed schedule please click
- HERE
For your local time check HERE
What is Included in the Training?
14 modules, over 120 lessons
Over 14 live calls with your trainers and cohort
Small group discussion calls with trainers
Downloadable manual
30+ short videos, recorded by different trainers
40+ assignments / self exploration activities
20+ nature connection activities
Access to research papers and studies
Fun Facts and Reflections
Remote Forest Therapy walks guided by trainers
Guide your own walks and debrief them
Access to the largest forest therapy guide's community
Tuition
The tuition for the six month core guide training program is $3350 (USD).
The tuition for the four-day immersion is $495 (USD). Wait to pay until you are ready to register for a specific immersion. You will have two years from the completion of your core guide training to do the immersion. This price does not include lodging, meals nor transportation.
Other costs include payment for Wilderness First Aid training, which is required for Certification, and is provided by third parties. Prices range from $100 to $300.
Tuition figures are subject to change.
Training Team
- Stana Luxford Oddie
- Based in Canada, Stana has been working for the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority for over twenty-five years as the Senior Conservation Educator. Her passion is supporting people to build their relationship with all beings with their heads, heart and hands. Stana is a certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) in cohort 6 in 2016. In 2017 she took on a mentor role and has been a train since 2018. Through Cataraqui Conservation, Stana brings Forest Therapy walk experiences to all ages in the community from private and public organizations in all seasons! She is a dedicated mindfulness practitioner and a recently certified Qi Gong Teacher. You will most likely find her in the outdoors in her garden or in wild places often with her adventurous, Cockapoo pup, Theo, sometimes in the good company of her partner, Lachlan and occasionally with their 17-year-old son, Asher.
- Giovanna Raineri
- Giovanna Raineri was born and raised in Chile. Her love for nature and being outside led her to work as an outdoor guide for 10 years, having the chance to work and live at Torres del Paine National Park (Patagonia) and the Atacama Desert . She lived in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) for 8 years where she was in the hotel management and travel company and later she became an Ontological Coach spending 8 years working with people and organizations .She came across the concept of Shinrin-Yoku in 2014 while she was settling in her new place in a forest in the south of Chile . She kept looking for training until she found the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and immediately felt touched by the words: ""The forest is the therapist, the guide opens the door"". Giovanna was trained in 2019 and certified in march 2020. She quit her job as a coach and she has been advocating full time to Forest Therapy. She has been guiding and facilitating experiences since then. She works with Fundacion Bayos where she facilitates Forest Therapy to Families, teenagers and Children and she is also guiding experiences for a Lodge in the island of Chiloé. She is fluent in Spanish and English.
Certification Pathway
STEP 1
6-Month Remote Training
You will start with a 6-month remote training, covering the content on live calls with the support of your trainers, fellow students, a very user friendly learning platform, many self exploration and nature connection activities that are done outside. After completing this training you get a provisional certification as a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. To view the available trainings scroll down
STEP 2
4-Day In-Person Immersion
After completing module 4 you can apply to attend a 4-day in-person immersion, for hands on forest therapy guiding experience with trainers and fellow students. You have two years time to complete this step.
STEP 3
Get Your Certification
After completing the 6-month remote training and the 4-day in- person immersion, you will receive your permanent certification as an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide and be part of the largest Forest Therapy Guide Community Worldwide.