2026 Conference Schedule

October 15–18, 2026

Join the American Horticultural Therapy Association for three days of learning, connection, and community in San Francisco, CA.

Conference at a Glance

Theme

Thriving in the Grove

This year's conference brings us together in California, a state shaped by resilience. Its landscapes embody the strength, renewal, and adaptability at the core of our work. This year’s conference invites us to explore how horticultural therapy helps individuals and communities grow, heal, and thrive.

Dates

October 15–18, 2026

Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Jewell

Jennifer Jewell is an award-winning gardening expert, author, and creator of the public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place, where she highlights the powerful connections between people, plants, and the natural world. Through her writing, speaking, and storytelling, she has  inspired audiences across the country to see gardening as a meaningful, inclusive, and transformative practice.

Conference Hotel (Wednesday – Sunday Conference base)

Marriott Union Square

Saturday Venue

San Francisco Botanical Garden & AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park

Locations

Sunday Tour

Alcatraz Island & Historic Gardens

Thursday, October 15

The Gathering Grove

Late Afternoon / Evening – Welcome Reception

  • Location: Marriott Union Square
  • Welcome reception with light dinner
  • Moth Hour storytelling event to open the conference in community

Friday, October 16

Voices & Vision

Logistics

  • All Friday sessions will take place at the Marriott Union Square.
  • Registration/check-in and badge pick-up will be available at the hotel.


Morning

  • Keynote Address: Jennifer Jewell, Cultivating Place
  • Opening remarks and welcome


Midday–Afternoon

  • Concurrent sessions: presentations, panels, and workshops
  • Get your professional headshot taken
  • Relax and recharge with puppies and sensory plants in the Plants & Paws area
  • Awards presentation
  • Association meeting
  • Time to connect with peers, programs, and partners.
  • Regional HT group gathering.

Saturday, October 17

Thriving Together

Logistics:

  • Full day in Golden Gate Park at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens & AIDS Memorial Grove
  • Indoors and outdoors. Wear supportive shoes and plan for variable weather
  • Bus transportation from the SF Marriott hotel and back


Morning:

  • Opening address by Gardens of Golden Gate Park CEO Stephanie Linder.
  • Stephanie Linder is the CEO of Gardens of Golden Gate Park, where she led the landmark merger of the Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden, creating one of the most visited public garden destinations in the United States. With over 25 years of nonprofit leadership, she has been a dedicated advocate for parks and conservation, holding key roles with organizations like the Sierra Club and the Trust for Public Land.


Midday–Afternoon:

  • Hands-on workshops and engaging presentations
  • Horticultural Therapy certificate programs from across the country
  • Tours of the beautiful San Francisco Botanical Gardens
  • Pioneers and Pathways Interactive Exhibit:
  • A Pathways Timeline tracks the evolution of horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture, with the added feature of a Board Certification Station for conference attendees to learn more about this opportunity.
  • An Internship & Mentorship Exchange Hub creates intentional space for connection between seasoned professionals and the next generation:
  • Provides guidance and direction to emerging professionals as they enter the field. Supports internship experience through shared expectations and mentorship
  • Resilience Lab Exhibit
  • Resilience Exchange: This zone serves as the research-grounded hub of the Resilience Lab, featuring evidence-based research, interdisciplinary perspectives, and thought leadership testimonials on the healing power of resilience in health and well-being.
  • Seeds of Strength: This zone explores the science of seeds—germination, dormancy, viability, adaptation, and responsiveness to environmental conditions—drawing from plant physiology and ecological research. These biological principles are translated metaphorically to illuminate how resilience can be cultivated in people, communities, and systems of care.
  • Setting the Standard: The New HT-BC Credential
  • Explore an interactive exhibit introducing the brand new HT-BC exam and what it means to become a board-certified horticultural therapist. Discover how the HT-BC credential is establishing the gold standard for excellence in horticultural therapy and advancing the profession forward.


Late Afternoon – Closing Circle

  • Walk together in a reflective procession and gather within the sacred space of the AIDS Memorial Grove, surrounded by towering redwood trees and natural beauty.
  • Learn from the Grove’s Executive Director John Cunningham who will share the history, purpose, and deep significance of this living memorial
  • Honor HT pioneer Clare Cooper Marcus, whom we lost earlier this year, with a tribute to her profound contributions to the field and a heartfelt presentation from her family
  • Join in a guided closing circle led by Jennifer Jewell, offering space for reflection, connection, and honoring both the journeys we’ve shared and the paths that lie ahead


Sunday, October 18

Honoring Land and Legacy

Logistics & Events

  • Midmorning together we’ll take the ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz Island
  • Plan for walking, stairs, and outdoor conditions; layers, hat and comfortable shoes recommended. Mobility assistance available.
  • Option to stay longer and take the audio tour of the prison if desired
  • Refreshments served on the return ferry

Morning & Early Afternoon – Alcatraz Gardens Tour

  • Presentation by Shelagh Fritz, Senior Program Manager at Alcatraz & Black Point Historic Gardens.
  • Ms. Fritz will explore the rich and layered history of the gardens on Alcatraz Island, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge, the labor of incarcerated individuals, and ongoing stewardship have shaped the landscape over time. Her presentation weaves these perspectives together to reveal the gardens as living spaces of resilience, memory, and care.
  • Guided tour of the historic Alcatraz Gardens by Shelagh Fritz and docents