Who Should Participate?
The Chicago Botanic Garden Horticultural Therapy Certificate (HTC) Program is designed primarily for health and human services professionals such as occupational, activity, physical, and art therapists; social workers; and horticulturists and educators who work with special needs populations.
Students are interested in being direct service practitioners competent in both the theory and delivery techniques unique to horticultural therapy.
Program Overview
The focus of this professional development program is on the integration of horticultural therapy with your current vocation, expanding your repertoire of therapeutic techniques available to clients. Horticultural therapists practice in hospitals, rehabilitation and vocational facilities, nursing homes and senior centers, community gardens, botanic gardens, schools, farms, horticultural businesses, prisons and other settings.
The HTC program is a single course centered on five real-world HT contracts. It must be taken in its entirety, as the subject matter is based in real-life situations and there are no "separate" courses. The program content focuses immediately on the development of HT skills and methodology. Therefore, students are required to have completed college coursework in five prerequisite areas.
The HTC program combines on-site training with distance learning. The three on-site sessions are based at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The distance learning components of the HTC program are Web-based, utilizing WebCT. WebCT is a course management system (software program). HTC students will have access to WebCT through the Garden’s partnership with Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Benefits
Complete the Chicago Botanic Garden’s horticultural therapy program and grow your career opportunities! Learn new therapeutic activities and expand into new practice areas. Enjoy the unique rewards of working with people and plants, and the satisfaction of becoming a better practitioner.
The CEUs earned through the HTC program and Southern Illinois University Carbondale may be applied toward licensing or certification renewal requirements. The educational points you receive from the American Horticultural Therapy Association will count toward HTR or HTA credentials.
Learning Objectives
Upon completing the program, you will be able to do the following:
- Upon completing the program, you will be able to do the following:
- Explain the efficacy and unique benefits of horticultural therapy and the development of the horticultural therapy profession
- Integrate horticultural therapy activities into your current or future practice
- Analyze the critical issues that horticulture therapists consider when planning programs, activities and site design
- Create and implement horticultural therapy activities for individuals and groups
- Plan programs (activities, curriculum, materials and timelines) to meet goals and match each participant’s abilities and interests
- Select plants that will support the goals and activities of the program and its spaces
- Generate equipment and supply lists, estimate costs and provide necessary documentation
- Design (or advise how to design) indoor and outdoor spaces that address universal design, safety and maintenance, support programming and meet the facility's needs
- Develop and refine methods to evaluate the effectiveness of activities, programs and spaces
- Establish an entrepreneurial business or further improve existing business performance
- Understand funding mechanisms and secure financial resources for programs in both for-profit and nonprofit settings
Program Dates 2006 – 2007
Feb. 13, 2006: Application deadline
Feb. 20, 2006: Registration and fee payment deadline
April 3-June 6, 2006: First distance-learning session
June 7-11, 2006: First face-to-face learning session*
June 12-Oct. 4, 2006: Second distance-learning session
Oct. 5-8, 2006: Second face-to-face learning session*
Oct. 9, 2006-Feb. 22, 2007: Third distance-learning session
Feb. 23-25, 2007: Final face-to-face session and program conclusion*
*Face-to-face learning sessions and program conclusion are conducted at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
What Makes This Program Unique?
Expertise
For more than 20 years, the Chicago Botanic Garden has been at the forefront of the horticultural therapy field, providing both direct services and training to more than 150 health and human service agencies. Its HT program serves as an example to other institutions throughout the country and around the world. The certificate program benefits from the experiences and partnerships that the HT staff has had with hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers, special need programs, psychiatric programs and sheltered workshops. Click here for information about your instructors.
Problem-based learning
The HTC curriculum focuses on the development and application of practical skills required of a horticultural therapist. By working on real-world scenarios independently and in groups, students are exposed to the issues and concerns unique to horticultural therapy, framed in circumstances they will likely encounter in their professional practice. Additionally, project-based learning enhances the ability to self-assess and correct, which is an essential component of developing and revising successful horticultural therapy treatment.
Accessibility for working professionals
The Horticultural Therapy Certificate (HTC) Program is designed for the working professional whose time is at a premium. The distance learning components are part-time, averaging 4-8 hours of on- and off-line activities per week. This is largely self-paced (due dates must be met), so you can complete the work when it fits your schedule.
The intensive on-site sessions provide efficient training with an emphasis on supervised practice in conducting HT activities with clients. By alternating distance learning with on-site training, participants have the opportunity to process and apply their learning as they progress through the program.
Program Entry Requirements, Application and Fee
Visit our application site for information on program application requirements, submission deadlines, and the course schedule.
For scholarship information click here.
Questions?
For additional information, write to the address below:
Wayne Becker, Ph.D.
Manager of Academic Programs
The School of the Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022 U.S.A.
Email: WBecker@chicagobotanic.org
Phone: (+01) (847) 835-8292
Fax: (+01) (847) 835-6865
The Chicago Botanic Garden offers other classes, symposia and special events on the therapeutic use of horticulture, including enabling gardens and horticultural therapy. Please consult the horticultural therapy calendar of events.
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