CBEEN Events Calendar

VanDusen Botanical Garden Horticultural Therapy Certificate
VanDusen’s Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program provides training for professionals to add Horticultural Therapy (HT) to their existing skill set, and for those wishing to pursue a career in HT. This program is ideal for recreation and occupational therapists, activity workers, counsellors, healthcare workers, teachers, landscape designers, and more.

Date: Saturday, September 18th, 2010
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden - Vancouver
Cost: $550 per course (4 total) for Garden members / $580 non-members. Price includes all instruction, textbook, class supplies, and HST

Details: 
Program Learning Objectives
The overall objectives of the program are for students to

develop a wide repertoire of therapeutic methods for engaging with plants and nature, adapt activities and gardens according to clients’ functional abilities and therapeutic goals,develop a systems approach to HT, meaning a client-centered approach situated within a social and ecological context.

Successful completion of all four courses in this certificate program provides 2 points towards professional registration with the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (pending approval, which is expected summer 2010.)

Interested, but would like a preview of the program?

Introduction to Horticultural Therapy Workshop
This workshop is for anyone who may be interested in pursuing HT or VanDusen's Certificate Program, and would like to put their toe in the water. Shelagh will introduce you to the versatility and effectiveness of using plants, gardening and nature-based activities to meet the therapeutic goals of a variety of client groups, and to the career possibilities with HT. Participants will take part in adapted hands-on activities.

Sat. Aug 14 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Member: $50 / Non-member: $60
Instructor: Shelagh Smith

You may register for this course via regular adult course registration.

Instructor Shelagh Smith
The lead instructor is Shelagh Smith, a professionally registered horticultural therapist who has worked with a variety of client groups and healing gardens over the last sixteen years. She is a long time professional gardener with training in counseling skills and a recent Master of Arts degree in Environmental Education and Communication. She presently instructs for the HT diploma program at Vancouver Island University and works for Vancouver Coastal Health. She previously taught HT courses at Providence Farm, Langara College, and University of the Fraser Valley. Shelagh is joined by guest instructors.

HT Course 1: Introduction to Horticultural Therapy (HT)
5 days: Sat & Sun Sept 18-19, Fri-Sun Oct 1-3

This course provides a broad introduction to the profession and practice of horticultural therapy and the client groups served. Students will discover the versatility and effectiveness of using plants, gardening and nature-based activities to meet therapeutic goals, and learn the basics of choosing client-centered activities from a myriad of options. We will situate HT within historical, social and ecological contexts, discuss a variety of program models, actively analyze tools for their appropriateness for various functional abilities and examine the professional registration process.

HT Course 2: HT Professional Practice
5 days: Sat & Sun Nov 6-7, Fri-Sun Nov 19-21

Using plants to establish therapeutically effective relationships with clients and between clients and nature is the essence of HT. We will explore HT professional practice in-depth, including assessing clients’ interests, needs and skills, planning client goals and objectives with measurable outcomes, adapting activities and tools according to clients’ functional abilities, using a task analysis process for effective program delivery, facilitating HT sessions, evaluating and documenting client progress and participating in a multidisciplinary team.

HT Course 3: Garden Design and Plants for HT Programs
5 days: Sat & Sun Jan 15-16, Fri-Sun Jan 28-30

Indoor and outdoor gardens and the plants that enliven them are essential components of HT programs. We will explore types and purposes of healing gardens and the design features and plants that make HT gardens therapeutically effective, as well as appropriate plant choices for HT programs. Students will be introduced to participatory design processes, the healing garden design team process, and post occupancy evaluations, as well as principles of ecological sustainability applicable to HT programs and garden designs.

HT Course 4: HT Program Development
5 days: Sat & Sun March 5-6, Fri-Sun March 18-20

Developing an HT program from the ground up requires specific skills and resources. We will consider how to develop program proposals specific to client groups and agency mandates, employ relevant research findings, promote HT services as an employee or self-employed entrepreneur, assess onsite resources, create a job description, manage financial aspects, identify potential safety issues, and incorporate community resources, including recruiting and supervising volunteers.

Program Instruction
Instructional methods are based on learner-centered and collaborative approaches. Students will actively simulate horticultural and nature-related activities adapted for clients with various functional abilities. Basic horticultural skills are developed through hands-on participation in a variety of activities within each course.

Classroom time will be combined with field trips and use of VanDusen Botanical Garden and its extensive library. All courses will take place at VanDusen Botanical Garden, 9:00 am – 5:00pm

Courses are best taken in order since topics build on learning from the previous course, but exceptions can be requested.

Pricing and Registration
To register, please download registration form ( PDF, 106kg)

Cost per course:
$550 for Garden members / $580 non-members.
Price includes all instruction, textbook, class supplies, and HST.

$50.00 deposit per course is required to secure position.

Mail completed registration form with payment to:
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Education Department
5151 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6M 4H1

Fax completed registration form to: 604.263.1777

For general information contact the Education Director: educate@vandusen.org

Contact: 
For general information contact the Education Director: educate@vandusen.org