Education — Horticultural Therapy Services

Professional Training Opportunities and Programs

PHOTO: papermaking with flowers

Bringing gardens and horticultural therapy to people can be as rewarding for the practitioner as it is for the participants. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers unique opportunities for horticultural therapy students and professionals, healthcare providers, healthcare garden designers, teachers and all other professionals who serve people with therapeutic needs to learn the practice of horticultural therapy. Coursework and practical experiences teach participants how to maximize the therapeutic benefits of the plant world.

Training programs include information on the most current research-based plant and nature activities available. A range of program formats, from daylong workshops and study tours to internships and multiple course certificate programs are offered, covering horticultural therapy practices, universal garden design principles and sustainable horticultural therapy program management. Many of these experiences are accredited and may meet continuing education requirements.

Programs for Therapists-in-Training

Horticultural Therapy Internships
Join the Chicago Botanic Garden staff for a full-time six-month internship to gain valuable experiences with all aspects of a vibrant horticultural therapy program. Activities include presenting therapeutic programs for people with disabilities and older adults, maintaining plant displays and managing volunteers under the supervision of the Garden's registered horticultural therapists. Internships are available from May 1 to October 30. Opportunities are limited. An application and interview are required 90 days in advance. Internships are accredited with the American Horticultural Therapy Association. To obtain application information, view the Chicago Botanic Garden Student Intern Program.

Study Tours
Join an experienced horticultural therapist for two days to gain insight into the methods and benefits of horticultural therapy. These on-the-job shadow experiences are available to anyone interested in a brief but rich exposure to the practice. Participants will observe a variety of activities that may include presenting therapeutic programming to an agency, maintaining horticultural displays and leading programs at the Garden's Buehler Enabling Garden. Opportunities are available May to October only. Application and phone interview are required two months in advance. For more information, call (847) 835-8250 or email horttherapy@chicagobotanic.org.

Enrichment Programs for Professionals & Students

Workshops
Increase your repertoire of therapeutic programs. Daylong workshops, presenting therapeutically grounded plant and nature craft activities adaptable to a wide range of abilities, are periodically offered at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Workshops can be conducted at other locations upon arrangement.

Symposia and Conferences
Network with experts and other professionals in the field while learning the latest research, theories and applications of horticultural therapy and barrier-free garden design. Symposia and conferences are typically daylong or seven days of presentations focusing on a specific topic or application, such as programming for older adults or universal design principles for therapeutic gardens. These events are offered through the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Certificate Programs
Take an in-depth approach to training by pursuing a Certificate of Merit in Healthcare Garden Design or Horticultural Therapy. These multiple-course programs review research-based theories and provide practical training in the therapeutic uses of horticulture.

Healthcare Garden Design Certificate of Merit
Healthcare garden design is an emerging area of specialization in which several professions converge to create environments of care. In this two-part professional development program, discover effective ways to apply current research in evidence-based design to achieve patient health outcomes. Learn to design garden environments of care that maximize the effectiveness of clinical treatments for illness and disabilities, and to create passive garden experiences that significantly reduce staff stress and absenteeism, improve patient health, increase client satisfaction and strengthen the bottom line.

Horticultural Therapy Certificate of Merit
Horticultural therapy uses plants and gardens to help clients reduce stress and stay engaged in therapy. Horticultural therapists practice in hospitals, rehabilitation and vocational facilities, nursing homes, senior centers, community gardens and other settings. The Horticultural Therapy Certificate program is a professional development opportunity, enabling you to integrate horticultural therapy effectively into your therapeutic practice or educational program. Upon completion of this innovative program, you will be able to develop, implement and evaluate horticultural therapy activities that contribute to the health and wellness of your clients.

Tours for Professional Organizations

Are you interested in learning more about Healthcare and Enabling Garden design? Arrange a tour for yourself and your colleagues to take an in-depth look at the garden, highlighting the horticultural and programmatic considerations that influenced the design and the details of planning and construction. Arrangements are made by appointment only, through the Horticultural Therapy Services Department. The fee for this program depends on the number of participants.

Pre-registration is required for group tours to the Buehler Enabling Garden. To schedule a tour, call (847) 835-8250. Payment in full is required in advance. Ask about the cancellation and refund policies.