Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture for Children & Youth Course

Course Summary

Root in Nature’s virtual, self-paced Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture for Children & Youth course provides an overview of the principles and practices of therapeutic horticulture, including the physical, social and psychological benefits of working with plants.

Tailored for professionals working with children and youth, this course offers population-specific insights, best practices and adaptations for integrating plants, gardening and nature into your work. It is designed to empower educators, therapists and other youth leaders with specific techniques and tools to enhance the well-being of children and youth through therapeutic horticulture.

This course be completed in 4 – 8 hours and graduates will obtain a certificate and digital badge as a Therapeutic Horticulture Ally.

Join our Founder & CEO Alexis for a live 30-minute Information Session. Learn more about therapeutic horticulture and our Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture Course. One attendee will win a 50% off coupon code for the course!

Next Session: November 28
Time: 12:30 p.m. EDT

If you prefer, you can watch a recorded session anytime by clicking the button here.

Register for Live Session
Watch Recorded Session

Join our Founder & CEO Alexis for a live 30 minute Information Session on therapeutic horticulture and the Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture Course. One attendee will win a 50% off coupon code! Our next session is on: November 28 @ 12:30 PM ET

If you’d like to watch a recorded information session now, click the link below.

Register for Live Session
Watch Recorded Session

*Content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC for 8 hours as well as approved for PCC’s with TRO. This course is Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA) approved and worth .03 points towards registration.

Course Fees

$229 USD 
$179 USD for students and HT/TH volunteers

This course includes:

  • 5 Lessons
  • 63 Topics
  • 5 Quizzes
  • Primarily video content
  • Course Manual
  • Course Certificate with the title of Therapeutic Horticulture Ally
  • Digital Badge
  • CE Credits*
Register Here

*Content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC for 8 hours as well as approved for PCC’s with TRO. This course is Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA) approved and worth .03 points towards registration.

We love hearing from you!

"I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this course. I liked that I could work at my own pace and complete sections without feeling like I was going to forget what I learned. The quizzes at the end of each lesson were helpful. One of my favourite things about this course was being able to go through actual session plans as well as having the additional resources/readings available. I found all of the course material easy to understand and very beneficial. I will be recommending this course to colleagues!"
Jade C.Recreataional Therapist
"If you want an easily digestible AND quality understanding of the practice of therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy, this is the course! It was well organized, concise, easy to move through, and rich with information. The information is insightful and will help strengthen your skill sets in this field."
Chelsea KorzenkoTherapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
"I think that this training has been the best training in Therapeutic Horticulture that I have done. The course provides you with the necessary foundation to provide your clients with good quality Therapeutic Horticulture sessions. Even if you already have knowledge of horticulture therapy and are a practitioner, the training provides you with relevant information that could enhance your practice. I love the mindful moments because they allow me to take pauses and nurture myself. I found this training fantastic!"
Alejandra Vera VillamizarSocial Worker and Horticultural Therapy Practitioner
"This course has been exceptional and provides a wide array of information related to the practice of HT. It provides a unique opportunity to learn about and engage with the HT modalities. The information is laid out clearly and provides opportunity for reflection and application of what you are learning."
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
"I loved the diversity of people included in the videos of this course. It has been my own experience that very little breaks down barriers between people quite as well as horticulture activities."
Sarah BurchellVocational Instructor for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, The Ark
"Beautiful course that inspired and encouraged me to dig deeper and expand my horticulture therapy practice."
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
"Well planned course with excellent facilitation, great examples and resources such as videos, articles, documents and library."
Jenny McspaddenGerontologist / Activation therapist
"Clear, concise, with the ability to complete at your own pace, three of my favourite things in an online course! A great intro to TH/HT guided by experienced and knowledgeable instructors. Thank you for this course, I look forward to more of your offerings!"
Course GraduateSurvey Feedback
"The variety and expertise of Katie, Alexis and the guest speakers was fantastic. A very interesting, well designed course."
D.A.Retired Educator
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Meet Your Instructor

Katie McGillivray, HTR

Katie (she/her) is a Registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR) and a member of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association. A strong advocate of asset-based community development and reflective practice, Katie has been supporting therapeutic horticulture projects and programs for a wide variety of populations since 2014.

Katie completed her horticultural therapy certificate with Ann Kent and was proud to “build her own degree” in therapeutic horticulture, completing a minor in counselling and majoring in general studies, focusing on courses in horticulture, agriculture, psychology and research. Katie is passionate about increasing access to therapeutic horticulture in communities and facilitates regular in-person and virtual sessions. Her approach is collaborative, client-centred and strengths-based.

Katie is also a major foodie and her work in therapeutic horticulture often intersects with community food security and food justice work. When not in the garden, Katie loves cooking, entertaining and paddle boarding.

Register Here

Guest Speakers

Myriah Graham

Artist, Indigenous Healer

Chadwick Lewis

Owner & General Manager, Urban Fresh Produce

Matthew Johnson

Owner & Operator, Three Rabbit Farms

Sarah Shapiro HTR

Horticultural Therapist Lead, Root in Nature

Angie Girdham

Horticulturalist & Horticultural Therapist

Lynn Leach HTR

Horticultural Therapist & Landscape Designer, Bird’s Foot Design Studio

Daniela Silva-Rodriguez Bonazzi

Biologist & Horticultural Therapist

Benefits for Children & Youth

Register here

Benefits for Course Students

Specialized Knowledge

The Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture course provides specialized knowledge and skills related to using plants, gardening, and nature as therapeutic tools, which helps educators and youth leaders incorporate this into their teachings.

Professional Development

Training in therapeutic horticulture can be a valuable form of professional development which enhances skills and knowledge. You will receive the digital badge pictured below. 

Expanded Education Options

Through this course, educators can expand the range of teaching options they can offer their students and can provide children & youth with unique and effective learning experiences.

Improved Student Outcomes

Therapeutic horticulture has been shown to improve a range of outcomes for children, including mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. Educators can learn how to effectively use horticulture to improve their students’ outcomes.

FAQs

Yes – we have an Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course available here. Upon meeting the outlined criteria, this course culminates in the awarding of the title Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner – CTHP™.

Yes, this session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC for 8 hours and approved for PCC’s with TRO

When you complete the course you will receive a certificate and will be able to describe yourself as a Therapeutic Horticulture Ally. This course does not certify you to become a horticultural therapist or horticultural therapy practitioner. We will have an Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course available soon which will include a certification.

Yes! Please visit our For Organizations or For Educators pages for corporate group rates, or contact us at courses@rootinnature.ca.

Yes, Root in Nature is committed to enabling accessibility to its courses and community to all who share our passion for connecting people with plants and nature. We provide up to five reduced rate, 50% discount spots in our course each quarter to individuals whose financial circumstances are a barrier to enrolment. 

If you would like to access one of these spots, please fill in this form. You will be contacted by the end of each quarter with the results of your application (end of March, June, September and December).

Yes! Both the course and the community have significantly reduced rates for students and HT/ TH program volunteers.

We were hoping to have a Canadian price and an US price. However, our software (MemberPress) is only able to process one currency. Since the course is offered internationally, and the US dollar is widely recognized worldwide, we chose that currency and set the price at the US dollar equivalent of our intended Canadian price.

Yes – if you train a member of your team who leaves within one year of completing the course, we will offer the course to their replacement free of charge.

Join the Community

GrowTH – Grow Therapeutic Horticulture is a supportive online international community of horticultural therapists, practitioners, and other professionals delivering plant and nature-rooted sessions.
Learn more
1 Benefits for Clients
2 Benefits for Practitioners
Benefits for Clients

Benefits for Clients

Practitioners can benefit from using plants and nature in their therapeutic approach in several ways:

  1. Enhancing the environment: Plants and nature create a calming and relaxing environment that can promote wellness and enhance the overall atmosphere of a therapy session. 
  2. Reducing stress: Exposure to plants and nature has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels, which is beneficial for individuals who are experiencing mental health conditions or chronic illnesses.
  3. Improving physical health: Spending time in nature and around plants can promote physical activity and exercise. Recreation therapists can incorporate therapeutic horticulture activities into their therapy sessions to promote physical health.
  4. Boosting mood: Being in nature and around plants can boost mood and help individuals feel more positive and optimistic. This can be especially helpful for individuals who are experiencing depression or other mood disorders.
  5. Promoting social connections: Group therapeutic horticulture sessions can provide opportunities for social interaction and connection, as well as promote bonding and create a sense of community.
Benefits for Practitioners

Benefits for Practitioners

Practitioners such as recreation therapists may benefit from taking therapeutic horticulture training for several reasons: 

  1. Specialized knowledge: Root in Nature’s training program provides specialized knowledge and skills related to using plants, gardening, and nature as therapeutic tools. This can help recreation therapists better understand the therapeutic benefits of horticulture and how to effectively incorporate it into their therapy sessions.

  2. Professional development: Training in therapeutic horticulture can be a valuable form of professional development for practitioners. It can enhance their skills and knowledge, making them more effective in their role as a therapist.

  3. Expanded therapy options: With therapeutic horticulture training, recreation therapists can expand the range of therapy options they can offer their clients. Incorporating plants and nature into their sessions can provide clients with unique and effective therapeutic experiences.

  4. Improved client outcomes: Horticultural therapy has been shown to be effective in improving a range of outcomes for clients, including mental health, physical health, and overall quality of life. By taking Root in Nature’s training, recreation therapists can learn how to effectively use horticulture to improve their clients' outcomes.

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