Online Forest Therapy Guide
Certification
Become a fully Certified Forest Therapy Guide from home.
Are you looking for a professional training program that deepens your nature connection and empowers you to be a competent and confident forest therapy guide?
You’ve found it.
Founder & Lead Instructor
Regan Stacey
A gentle, guided path to certification—built for real lives and real schedules.
Our online trainings meet you where you are—providing a supportive structure, practical tools, online community, and mentorship as you learn to guide mindful nature walks step by step with our expertly developed 10 module training program - all from the comfort of your own home.
Choose from one of our several 7-Week or 16-Week trainings throughout the year that fits your own style, pace, and schedule. With a Forest Therapy School Certification, you will be ready, knowledgeable, and feel confident to guide your own walks. clients and community.
Training is 100% online with no in-person requirement.
Online Training Offerings
Spring
2026
16-week Online Training
May 13- August 23, 2026
10 Weeks of Content + 6 Week Practicum | Wednesdays @ 12:00 - 1:15 PM ET
Summer
2026
7-week Online Training Retreat
July 8 - August 19, 2026
3.5 Days At-Home Retreat + 6 Week Practicum Wednesdays @ 7:00 - 8:15 pm ET
Fall
2026
7-week Online Training Retreat
September 30 - November 12, 2026
3.5 Days At-Home Retreat + 6 Week Practicum Thursdays @ 7:00 - 8:15 pm ET
Winter
2027
16-week Online Training
January 2027 Dates TBA
10 Weeks of Content + 6 Week Practicum
Enrollment is Now Open.
Be Part of a Growing Eco-Conscious Movement for People and Planet.
"Without a doubt, your program does the best job of preparing guides for taking people out on a walk. The gradual release of responsibility and the live sessions where you model each skill really resonates with me. “
— Kathy Simulcik, Nature Connection Educator
Meet the Team
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Regan Stacey
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
"Regan is an artist with a scientist’s mind, and her work wonderfully marries the two. Deeply intuitive and sensitive, Regan immediately puts you at ease and provides the necessary space to allow you to show up fully as yourself.”
— Kylea Asher
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Leah Manuel
INSTRUCTOR
“Leah enters everything with her full heart and attention, bringing an infectiously positive energy to her work. Her personal commitment to growth, authenticity, justice, community engagement, and building strong, positive relationships is evident in everything she does.”
—Amanda Fong
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Lara Laskowski
INSTRUCTOR
“Lara’s affinity for the outdoors and nature makes her a symbiotic fit for leading people on a forest therapy journey. Her gentle approach helps to ease participants into this relaxing and holistic experience.”
— Jennifer O’Day Ashworth
We believe more guides are needed to do the important work of reconnecting humans to nature for the betterment of ourselves, our communities, and the Earth.
The Curriculum
Whether you are taking this course 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.
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
FAQs
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We offer two online pathways. The 16-week training is slower paced and meets once a week for 75 minutes, whereas the 7-week training meets for 3.5 immersive days with “at home retreat” live trainings. Both have a 6-week practicum where you put what you have learned to work before your final certification. Choose the one that best suites your learning style and schedule!
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You will attend live instructional classes and 3 forest therapy walks before entering into a mentored 6-week practicum. All classes and walks take place virtually.
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Our trainings are not self-guided, as we feel learning is best embodied in a supportive community. Each training session is it’s own unique community or “cohort” who start and graduate at the same time. Our online trainings include scheduled ‘live meetups,’ where you will have the opportunity to join in discussion with our highly qualified instructors and your peers, bringing life to the online course materials. In addition, during the 6-week practicum you'll have access to your instructors via group mentor calls. Your entire class will receive certification together in a celebratory online graduation session.
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During your training, you will experience 3 virtual forest therapy walks—2 instructor-led walks and 1 student-led walk where you will get hands-on practice.
The forest therapy walks are held virtually over Zoom. All students and the instructor are outside on a mobile or wi-fi device, connected through Zoom. You are welcome to go to a trail, local park, or step outside your door. Weather and daylight depending, you may also participate from the comfort of your home. The instructor guides the experience and students take part each in their own location. It's a wonderful way to experience this practice with others around the world.
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Once certified, you’ll receive lifetime access to The Forest Therapy School’s collection of 100 invitations for use on your walks, a resources library of books, articles, websites, films, poetry, research studies, etc. to deepen your knowledge, and a fully customizable slide presentation to share with your community to grow your guiding practice.
In addition, you will receive an invitation to join our virtual community of Certified Forest Therapy Guides where you can connect, be inspired, and receive ongoing support.
As an FTS Certified Forest Therapy Guide, you receive lifetime access to our online training guidebook, which means as we update the program, you will have access to all the new training content.
Graduate a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and join a community of heart-centered guides across the globe.
Evolve in our educational program.
As a boutique school, our training program delivers a superb level of quality, personalized focus, and excellence.
We put our heart and soul into creating a nurturing and loving family atmosphere. You will be guided by passionate and dedicated instructors who live the work. We deeply value our relationship with our students—a dedicated community of guides—each doing our part to reconnect humans with nature for the health and well-being of all.
We are in this work together!
