Forest Therapy Guide Training

Costa Rica - Cohort 33

January 13, 2019
to
January 20, 2019

Enrollment Open

Week-long Intensive: 13 - 20 Jan 2019 | Practicum ends: 13 Jul 2019
The world's most experienced forest therapy guide trainers invite you join a growing global movement and an activist community that is making a difference by rebuilding the relationships between people and all other beings.

Registering for a training begins by completing an application which may take 20-30 minutes. This application is a way for us to get to know you and to determine if we think you will make a good forest therapy guide. Once your application is received, our admissions team will review it and, if you are accepted into the program, send an acceptance letter within three weeks. This letter will contain all the information for next steps, including a registration link to reserve your space in the training. To promote an optimal learning environment, we generally cap enrollment at 21 participants per training. Applications we receive after we have filled the training will be placed on a waitlist. If an accepted applicant drops out, we will contact the next applicant on the waitlist until the training is full again.

Who should attend

In this training, you will learn:

  • The Standard Sequence of Guided Forest Therapy Walks
  • Professional standards and competencies: what a Forest Therapy Guide should know and be able to do
  • The pedagogy and fundamentals of nature connection
  • Nature and forest therapy research and effects on health care and well-being
  • Our framework for the Way of the Guide, wisdom on the inner aspects of the art gained through decades of experience
  • The leadership skills and style of the Guide archetype
  • Creating space for others to find their own authentic nature connection
  • Accelerating connection to deep mindfulness and bodyfulness through simple sensory invitations
  • What makes a good setting for forest therapy
  • How to facilitate restorative human connection through storytelling and witnessing
  • Our theoretical framework of deep nature connection through embodiment, liminality, reciprocity and relationship
  • Sequencing forest therapy invitations for maximum impact and benefit
  • Expressive arts activities for forest therapy
  • Somatic techniques for embodied awareness
  • Our aim is simple: to train competent guides. However, many participants report that this training profoundly affects many aspects of their lives.

​Our Costa Rica  location is located at Vida Mountain Resort and Spa, in the Alajuela Province near San Ramon. This location is one of our premium destinations to visit and attend our Forest Therapy Guide Training program.

According to National Geographic’s article “The World’s Happiest Places” from November 2017, Costa Rica is ranked one of the three happiest countries in the world. Looking at its natural beauty and its vibrant culture, this really comes at no surprise. Vida Mountain Retreat Center is a luxury spa sitting upon a mountain top with breathtaking views. To the left you can watch a video made during a yoga retreat to get an idea of what it is like to study at this majestic location.

https://youtu.be/2gXSy9ogZu8


VENUE
Vida Mountain Resort & Spa
39QW+QW Salvador, Alajuela Province, San Ramón, Costa Rica
San Ramon
Costa Rica
https://vidamountain.com/
LODGING

Double occupancy rooms have 2 single beds and a private bathroom. They cost $124.99, including tax, per night per person.

Single occupancy rooms have 1 queen sized bed and a private bathroom. They cost $174.99, including tax, per night. Couples can share a single occupancy room, the total cost per night will be $224.99, including tax.

Deluxe single rooms have 1 queen sized bed, a private bathroom, and floor to ceiling windows with views of the mountains, valleys, sky, and Pacific Ocean. They cost $224.99, including tax.

All rates include meals, access to the grounds, linens, towels, and ground transportation to/from the airport. Included amenities include a steam sauna, yoga studio, tea room/library, medicinal garden, outdoor hot tub, an indoor salt water pool, and hiking trails. Extra spa services are not included with these prices.

Accommodation is booked directly through the venue by contacting Silvia Rojas at reservations@vidamountain.com.

Please note: this is a venue to book early. Discounts will be given on accommodation prices based on the month of reservation. Participants will receive a 15% discount for booking in September, 10% discount for those who book in October or November, and 5% discount for those who book in December.

MEALS

Organic, seasonal local produce will be prepared by the executive chef at Vida Mountain. They can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals. All dietary restrictions should be communicated to reservations@vidamountain.com. Meals are included in the price of accommodations.

TRANSPORTATION

Vida Mountain will provide a shuttle service for participants from the airport to the Spa.


Please make sure you talk to Silvia about the specific shuttle times on the day of arrival and the day of departure before booking your flights so that they will work with your travel arrangements or you are able to ask Silvia for guidance about making other arrangements if necessary.

GENERAL NOTES

Schedule for Live Events

​Our Costa Rica  location is located at Vida Mountain Resort and Spa, in the Alajuela Province near San Ramon. This location is one of our premium destinations to visit and attend our Forest Therapy Guide Training program.

According to National Geographic’s article “The World’s Happiest Places” from November 2017, Costa Rica is ranked one of the three happiest countries in the world. Looking at its natural beauty and its vibrant culture, this really comes at no surprise. Vida Mountain Retreat Center is a luxury spa sitting upon a mountain top with breathtaking views. To the left you can watch a video made during a yoga retreat to get an idea of what it is like to study at this majestic location.

https://youtu.be/2gXSy9ogZu8

Tuition

Registering for a training begins by completing an application which may take 20-30 minutes. This application is a way for us to get to know you and to determine if we think you will make a good forest therapy guide. Once your application is received, our admissions team will review it and, if you are accepted into the program, send an acceptance letter within three weeks. This letter will contain all the information for next steps, including a registration link to reserve your space in the training. To promote an optimal learning environment, we generally cap enrollment at 21 participants per training. Applications we receive after we have filled the training will be placed on a waitlist. If an accepted applicant drops out, we will contact the next applicant on the waitlist until the training is full again.

Apply Now
Who should attend

Trainers

Our trainers are among the most experienced guides in the world and each one undergoes a rigorous training process beyond their certification as guides. The trainers listed below are subject to change based on trainer availability. No matter which trainers you work with, you will be taught by the best in the field.

Entrenadores

Manuela Siegfried was born and raised in this beautiful, bio diverse country called Costa Rica. Having a biologist as a father, he made contact with nature an intrinsic part of her life. This passion led her to work as a naturalist tourism guide for 3 years. She came across the concept of Shinrin-Yoku and the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and immediately felt inspired and related to it. Manuela was trained and certified in 2018 and has been guiding very actively since then. She is passionate about helping people awaken their senses and slowing down in a natural setting so they can reconnect with themselves and the more than human world. Falling in love again with the natural world helps to rediscover our intimate, personal relationship with the forest and we become aware that we actually ARE nature. Manuela is also a mentor and trainer of guides with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and is absolutely committed and in love with her job.

Stana has been working for the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) for over twenty years as the Senior Conservation Educator.  Inspired by Earth Education, the Coyote’s Guide to Nature Connection and Forest schools, she aims to connect people with their head, heart and hands to nature. Through the CRCA, Stana brings Forest Therapy walk experiences to the community, private and public organizations and continues to pilot Forest Therapy to elementary and secondary school aged children and youth.  The CRCA was the first conservation authority in Ontario to offer Forest Therapy which is now rapidly spreading to other CAs. Stana received her BA from the University of Waterloo in 1998, in the Applied Studies Co-op program with Honours History. She earned her Bachelor of Education at Queen’s in 1999 from the Specialized Outdoor and Experiential Education Program. Her work related to Forest Therapy continues to open her heart and deepen her relationship with all beings.