This combined cohort is provided both in English and American Sign Language (ASL), by two experienced ANFT trainers, in collaboration with a certified Deaf Forest Therapy Guide. ASL Interpreters will be present to facilitate communication for all the participants in this cohort.
This Cohort will explore ways to offer an inclusive approach to Forest Therapy that includes different ways of communication, relationship and resources for health and wellbeing between guides, participants, and the More than Human World.
This exciting opportunity will also include some innovative ways of incorporating the deaf perspective into the traditional training programs, such as exploring the meaning of silence, language, embodiment, and acceptance of the diverse ways to be human in the Forest.
The goal of this cohort is to expand the possibilities of the practice of Forest Therapy both by deaf and hard-of-hearing guides and hearing guides, so that all guides can return to their communities and share the benefits and gifts of this practice with both signing and non-signing people.
The training is designed in a way that will gently guide you through all the steps and processes to integrate and deepen the embodied learning. Upon completion of this course you will be able to successfully guide forest therapy walks within the framework of ANFT's guide certification training.