Forest Therapy Guide Certification Training Retreat
April 28 - May 1, 2027
Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Forest Therapy Guide Certification Training Retreat
Brandywine Valley
of Pennsylvania & Delaware
Experience the beauty of world-renowned gardens and lush forests in America’s Garden Capital.
Wednesday, April 28 through
May 1, 2027
6-Week Practicum May 5 through June 9, 2027
Your retreat experience includes:
The Forest Therapy Guide Certification Program
A 6-week mentored practicum
Admission tickets to the following destinations:
1 Day Exploring Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
2 Days Exploring Winterthur Museum & Gardens, Winterthur, DE
Lifetime access to our program’s course content upon certification.
The Location
Less than an hour from Philadelphia, the Brandywine Valley is home to world-class museums and gardens. Known as America's Garden Capital, the area offers breathtaking scenery, miles of trails, historical landmarks, and more, nestled in the valleys of southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.
Each day of your retreat, we will meet up at one of 2 nearby destinations — Longwood Gardens & Winterthur — where you’ll learn to guide in the built environment as well as the forest.
Longwood Gardens
Showcasing more than 9,000 species and varieties of plants, Longwood Gardens is one of the world's best horticultural gardens.
“Explore nearly 200 acres of lush, formal gardens, open meadows, and winding paths to breathtaking Brandywine Valley vistas. Together, mesmerizing displays, feats of engineering, and science-based research and conservation work harmoniously toward the overarching goal to unite and inspire our guests in appreciation of beauty—as only Longwood can.”
Learn more about Longwood Gardens, located in Kennett Square, PA, here.
Winterthur
A premier museum and one of America's best gardens, Winterthur is nestled in the heart of Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley.
“Spend the day enjoying our famous 60-acre naturalistic garden and the estate’s 1,000 acres of rolling hills, meadows, and woodlands. Winterthur has 25 miles of well-marked paths and trails, and lush gardens for you to explore.”
Learn more about Winterthur, located in Winterthur, DE, here.
The Curriculum
Whether you are taking this training for personal growth or to share the life-changing benefits of forest therapy with others, the curriculum is thoughtfully designed to give you a deeper understanding of the emerging field of forest therapy. You’ll walk away with the skills and confidence to guide participants in meaningful and restorative forest bathing experiences.
Over the course of this 3.5-day retreat, you will learn:
What it means to be a forest therapy guide
The history of forest therapy and forest bathing
The holistic benefits of the practice along with the science to back it up
Mindfulness in nature and embodiment practices
How to offer guided nature meditations
The importance of the senses in connecting to nature and ourselves
A reliable and trusted walk sequence for guiding your clients
How to craft nature-based invitations for client engagement
How to personally style a forest bathing walk
Group facilitation and effective communication skills
The psycho-spiritual dimension of the human-nature connection
Following the in-person training, you will enter into a 6-week mentored practicum where you will participate in weekly Zoom class meetups that cover additional content and offer group mentorship as you complete certification requirements.
The weekly meetups will be held on Wednesdays (May 5 - June 9) at 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm ET. The meetups are recorded, so if you have to miss one, you can watch the recording.
Join like-hearted people committed to reconnecting humans to nature.
The Details
An Immersive Forest Therapy Guide Training Retreat in the Brandywine Valley
Arrive: Wednesday, April 28th at 4:00 pm ET
Depart: Saturday, May 1st at 5:30 pm ET
6-Week Practicum: Wednesdays May 5 - June 9 @ 7:oo - 8:15 pm ET
Optional mindful movement and breathwork sessions: Mondays on May 10, 17, 24 and June 7 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm ET
Your retreat experience includes:
The Forest Therapy Guide Certification Program
Admission ticket to Longwood Gardens
Admission tickets to Winterthur Museum and Gardens
A printed Guidebook, journal, folder, and wooden bookmark.
Your 6-week practicum experience includes:
Live meetups and group mentoring calls with special topics
Mental Health on the Trail workshop
Optional mindful movement and breathwork sessions
Lifetime access to our program’s course content upon graduation
Meet Your Guides on the Journey
-
Regan Stacey
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
-
Lara Laskowski
INSTRUCTOR
Your Investment:
Tuition:
$2495
Early-bird savings of $200 through March 21, 2027 - $2295
(Includes program, admission tickets for training locations, and the 6-week practicum. Meals and accommodations are not included.)
Hotel Option:
The Forest Therapy School has reserved a block of double deluxe rooms at a discounted rate at the Brandywine River Hotel (see info below). Located within 10 minutes of our training destinations, the hotel is tucked back from the main road for added privacy and has dining options within walking distance. The back lawn is open for guests to meander. A free continental breakfast is include with your room reservation.
Upon registration, we will send you an email confirmation with information to book your hotel reservation at the Brandywine River Hotel with a 10% discount code. Please book early for the best rate. If you are staying at another location during the training, please let us know.
Meal Options:
Breakfast: Free continental breakfast is included with a room reservation at the Brandywine River Hotel or walk over to Oso Sweet Bakery Café or to Hank’s Place for a down-home breakfast.
Lunch: Cafés are located at Longwood Gardens and Winterthur. Picnic lunches are welcome at Winterthur.
Dinner: Dine as you wish at local restaurants in the area.
Please see our cancellation policy below.
Registration deadline: April 9, 2027
Payment Plans:
Pay in Full, Pay in 4, or Pay in 6 are available at checkout. Pay in 6 option is available through January 9th. Payment in 4 is available through March 9th. Please note there is a small set-up fee for payment plans. Klarna and Afterpay are available for Pay in Full option.
Scholarships:
We offer a limited number of partial scholarships. If you are in need of scholarship assistance, please fill out the application here and we will get back to you shortly. Thank you.
Our Refund Policy:
Cancellations/refund requests made 60 days or more prior to retreat start date: Payment is 100% refundable (less payment processor and administrative fees reflective of the retreat cost).
Cancellations/refund requests made 59-31 days prior to retreat start date: Payment is 50% refundable (less payment processor and administrative fees reflective of the retreat cost). You may transfer your remaining tuition credit to a future training retreat held within one year or to any online certification course.
Cancellations/refund requests made 30 days or less prior to retreat start date: Tuition is non-refundable. You may transfer your tuition credit to a future training retreat or to any online certification held within one year.
Travel Insurance: For additional protection of your retreat investment, you may wish to purchase travel insurance through companies like Travel Safe,Insuremytrip,Travel Guard or other options listed here.
Please see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for more info.
Stay at the Brandywine River Hotel
An 18th-century Victorian-style hotel in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
“…a family-owned and operated, 18th-century Victorian-style hotel located just off U.S. Route 1. Minutes away from Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Winterthur, the Brandywine River Museum, and the Brandywine Battlefield State Park, we are your ideal central location for all of the most popular local destinations.”
Double Deluxe Rooms
Rooms feature ample natural light, quality wood furnishings, and a classic design.
Classic double-bed hotel setup
Large windows with garden or river views
Central heating and air conditioning
Comfortable linens and fluffy pillows
Sturdy wooden desk, entertainment console, and nightstands
Wi-Fi
TV
Mini-fridge
Free continental breakfast
Fitness room
All hotel rooms are nonsmoking
Getting Here
Please Note: Transportation is not included in the cost of the retreat.
By Car:
The Brandywine Valley is:
14 miles from Wilmington, DE
40 miles from Philadelphia, PA
112 miles from Washington DC
135 miles from New York, NY
By Air:
The Brandywine Valley is located near:
Wilmington Airport, DE (30 minutes)
Philadelphia Int’l Airport, PA (40 minutes)
Baltimore-Washington Int’l Airport, MD (2 hours)
“Thank you so much for this in-person forest bathing experience and certification course! It has always been about the trees for me. I have deepened my connection to the natural world and am looking forward to sharing the practice with others. My trees are happy and so am I. My mind is clear, and my heart is full. Standing in gratefulness to you!”
— Ginny Speaks, Health and Wellness Coach