Course Outline

The program consists of 160 hours of study with an anticipated 100 hours of homework and will appeal to:

• teachers
• health care professionals
• horticulturists and
• anyone currently working in human service organizations dealing with those suffering from work place injuries, learning or physical disabilities, substance abuse, mental health issues, ADD or PTSD.

This course has 5 main components

1. 1. An Introduction: Feb 9th – 13thThis course will define Horticultural Therapy and the Horticultural Therapist. The student will learn how HT has evolved, how HT is used today, how its versatility makes it accessible to all and how HT can be a part of an interdisciplinary team.

      Graduates will understand how a horticultural activity becomes HT, the benefits of HT and how HT relates to basic human needs. The relationship between plants and people will be covered as well as the types and settings of HT programs.

   2. Techniques: March 15th – 19th
      The key elements of effective HT program in a safe environment are:
   3. effective communication skills
   4. ethics
   5. professionalism
   6. motivational techniques
   7. the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship; and
   8. group facilitation skills

This course will look at the accessible garden and the adaptive tools needed for the participant in an HT program to feel comfortable and capable in the garden. The student will consider horticultural activities from the point of view of their participant population and how to make the activities enticing and interesting. Students will also learn risk management and the infrastructure and safety measures needed to protect the participant, volunteers and staff.

1. Program Planning: May 31st – June 5thUsing task analysis the student will learn to interview, plan, document, access and evaluate the participant, the facility, the horticultural therapist, and the horticultural activity. Graduates will also be able to evaluate, through ongoing participatory evaluation, a program’s ability to meet the needs of the individual.
2. Horticultural Therapy in the Community: June 14th – June 18thIn order to successfully utilize community resources, the student will learn how to
3. Write proposals
4. Make presentations to funding agencies and facilities contemplating HT
5. Solicit, interview and retain volunteers
6. Access and use research
7. Build a research component into an HT program
9. Horticultural Therapy for Special Populations: Oct 13th – Oct 17thThe individual needs, interests and current skills of the participants in an HT program is the driving force for all decisions regarding that program. Each participant is an individual first with talents, passions and dreams. Each participant will have needs, goals for the future and barriers that may influence the outcomes of their goals.

   Students will learn the broad needs of 8 special populations, possible goals and objectives, possible therapeutic outcomes and how the therapeutic values of the HT activities can lead to those therapeutic outcomes.

---

Classes run from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Participants must have proper work attire including steel toed shoes.

There are no on site food facilities so participants are encouraged to “brown bag it”. Refrigerators and microwaves are available.

Cost of the program is $2500

A non-refundable deposit of $150 is required upon registration.

Instructor Christine Pollard, BSc (Agri) HTM

For the past 22 years Christine has combined her community development expertise with her knowledge of horticulture to develop Horticultural Therapy (HT) programs. The HT Certificate offered by Providence Farm in Duncan BC is the first transportable Home Farm HT Certificate. The first HT Diploma program in Canada is at Malaspina University College in Nanaimo, BC.

In 2006 the American Horticultural Therapy Association awarded her the Rhea McCandliss Professional Service Award, recognizing her significant contribution to the field of HT.

Christine is distinguished by her length of service in HT as an instructor, supervisor, director and administrator. The AHTA recognized her distinctive service toward the promotion, organization, and development of HT programs and for her contribution to the philosophy and practice of HT. Public appearances, extensive research and articles written on HT have ensured an increasing awareness of the benefits HT programs.

Christine continues to consult with Malaspina University and to operate her Home Farm in Duncan. She is a founding member of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association.