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Horticultural therapy education and training in Vancouver and Nanaimo, BC: Explore the fields of horticultural therapy (HT) and therapeutic horticulture (TH) in an exciting inter-disciplinary program. Courses will appeal to healthcare professionals, educators and interpreters, horticulturists, landscape designers and others wishing to learn more about connecting people and plants; or to those exploring career opportunities in horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture. Four courses, each of which can be taken independently, provide up to 160 hours of lively classroom instruction and tutorials and a further 40 to 60 hours of fieldtrips and supervised study projects. For a short summary of the courses in the HT Certificate and Spring 2012 dates in Vancouver and Nanaimo, please download the PDF file below. The course rotation will continue in both the spring and the fall of 2012 with courses in both Vancouver and Nanaimo. Please see the Calendar of Workshops & Courses for specific dates and locations. Update: Registration well in advance of closing dates is advised both to secure a place in the course and to allow time to review pre-reading materials. Contact Ann at ann@catkingardens.ca Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's: Where are Horticultural Therapy Certificate classes held? In Vancouver, horticulture, nature studies, and design modules are held in the heart of the UBC Botanical Garden at the lovely Pavilion adjacent the fruit and vegetable demonstration gardens and the medicinal herb garden. Students also have instruction at local residential care facilities with active HT programs and therapeutic gardens and at community centres with access to adjacent parks and community gardens. In Nanaimo, instruction is based at a residential care facility with active HT programs and therapeutic gardens and which provides quick access to local community gardens and therapeutic farming programs. Whether in Nanaimo or Vancouver, students also visit local habitat or conservation areas and consider the importance of access to nature and the natural landscape for TH and HT programs. What about TH and HT programs for specific populations? Content in each course focuses on evidence-based literature about therapeutic horticulture and gardening activities that serve the needs of specific populations. Hands-on activities explore adaptations that can be made for various horticulture, gardening, nature, and botanical craft programs. Mentored study projects foster a connection with local therapeutic horticulture and gardening programs and provide each student with the opportunity to explore new knowledge and skill sets pertinent to his or her background, employment, or career aspirations. For those considering work as a horticultural therapist in a clinical setting or for anyone intending to pursue an internship in HT, the Horticultural Therapy Techniques and Practice of Horticultural Therapy courses include units on how to identify program and treatment goals and how to generate specific objectives and measurable outcomes for individual clients. What is included in each course fee? The course fee includes instruction; a comprehensive, evidence-based research and reference binder specific to each course; TH/HT program planning and assessment templates; all plant material and other supplies required for hands-on TH activities; and any entry fees for botanical gardens or other facilities. The teaching team is led by Ann Kent HTM, a registered horticultural therapist, who works in the Vancouver area and teaches in both Vancouver and Nanaimo. Are statements of completion provided? Yes. A detailed statement of completion is provided for each separate course to assist those who are completing continuing education requirements for professional associations in horticultural therapy and related disciplines. The documentation is also helpful to those who apply for funding support to develop TH and HT programs. An HT Certificate is provided following completion of requirements for all four courses. Courses in the Horticultural Therapy Professional Development Program adhere to the HT Core Skills & Knowledge document published by the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA). Courses are eligible for up to 2.0 points toward professional registration with the CHTA. Please see the CHTA Education and Registration pages for more information. Ann is a professional member of the CHTA, the AHTA, and Thrive. All HT courses instructed by Ann abide by the CHTA's education and registration guidelines and instructional hours exceed the minimum required for accreditation by the CHTA. How big are the classes? Class size is limited to 12 and early application is advised as courses often sell out. For more detailed information about courses or for registration information, contact Ann at ann@catkingardens.ca Is there a professional association for HT in Canada, or a local network group? Nationally, the website of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association provides information about association membership, horticultural therapy education programs, the CHTA's annual conference and workshop day, and interesting links to research and world wide news about TH and HT. The CHTA has more than 40 members in BC, most of them located in the metro Vancouver area or on Vancouver Island. Exciting News! The CHTA will hold its 2012 conference in BC. A full day of presentations and workshops on Saturday, September 29, 2012, in Nanaimo, will be preceded by two days of tours to gardens and TH program sites on southern and central Vancouver Island. Anyone interested in therapeutic gardening is welcome. Locally, networking is informal and dependent on the initiative of volunteers. Contact Ann Kent at horticulture@catkingardens.ca or Dr Aimee Taylor at aimee@horticulturaltherapist.com for details about interest group meetings or TH education programs in the Vancouver area. Where can I find more information about therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy? Start with the information and links provided on the About Horticultural Therapy page on this website and on the Interesting Links page. They will provide you with hours of exploration.
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Ann Kent, HTM ©2012, Ann Kent, HTM |
