Chicago Botanic Garden

Education

Since 1978, the Chicago Botanic Garden has had a Horticultural Therapy (HT) program widely regarded for excellence. Our on-site award-winning Enabling Garden display, outreach services to healthcare and human service agencies, and professional education programs and consulting services in healthcare garden design and HT programming are considered among the best in the nation and around the world.

In recent years, university extension offices with Master Gardener programs have requested workshops that teach practical aspects of barrier-free garden design, adaptive tools and equipment, along with the best sensory plant materials used in horticultural therapy activities. Many Master Gardener programs support horticultural therapy programs in their region; most are interested in helping anyone keep this important activity a safe and comfortable part of life when traditional “down on one’s hands and knees” gardening becomes too challenging.

As a result, we introduced a new workshop in 2008 at the Chicago Botanic Garden specifically tailored for Master Gardeners. Upon completion, participants will have the basic skills necessary to successfully guide the design, construction and programming of an Enabling Garden. The workshops are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a reservation basis Monday through Friday during the growing season, which extends roughly from mid-May through mid-October. Workshops are conducted outdoors in our Enabling Garden by Garden staff horticultural therapists.

AGENDA

10 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions
10:10 to 10:30 a.m.	Introduction to Horticultural Therapy Discover the basic principles of the HT profession and its roles in healthcare and human services.
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.	Enabling Garden Design and Construction Tour Learn about the features and design considerations with a detailed tour of the award-winning 11,000-square-foot Enabling Garden.
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.	Lunch and Free Time Bring sack lunch and enjoy in our Picnic Grove, or purchase lunch and enjoy in our Garden Café.
12:15 to 1 p.m.	Tools, Equipment and Techniques Explore the Enabling Garden adaptive tool collection and discover ways to adapt the gardener for safely, comfort and independence while gardening.
1 to 1:45 p.m.	Sensational Plants Identify plant selection criteria that maximize sensory appeal and produce materials useful for group activities while exploring the Enabling Garden's hundreds of plant varieties.
1:45 to 2:45 p.m.	Therapeutic Activities Experience and analyze a typical Horticultural Therapy activity designed to achieve physical, cognitive and social outcomes.
2:45 to 3 p.m.	Question and Answer Session
3 p.m.	Adjournment

The day’s agenda is short enough to allow participation without an overnight stay for those within reasonable travel distance. Alternatively, there are a number of nearby hotels.

These workshops are a great way of offering your Master Gardeners a professional continuing education opportunity, equipping them to help others keep gardening a vital part of life. And it's combined with a visit to one of America’s great public gardens!

Workshop fees are $60 per person with a minimum charge of $200. Fee includes handouts and all materials used.

For questions related to content call (847) 835-8248. For fee, availability and registration questions, please call (847) 835-8250.