AHTA Board of Directors
Name Lastname
President
Matthew Janson, HTR, CTRS
Matthew Janson is a registered horticulture therapist and certified therapeutic recreation specialist. He received his certificate from the Horticulture Therapy Institute and holds a BS from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, with a degree in parks and recreation management-therapeutic recreation and exercise science. Matt has therapeutic experience working in behavioral health and with veterans in hospice, long term care, and physical rehabilitation on a range of therapeutic issues integrating both recreation therapy and therapeutic horticulture.
Name Lastname
President-Elect
Kelly Warnick, HTR, JD
Based in the Midwest, Kelly has a multi-faceted background in greenhouse/garden center, design and floriculture settings, horticultural therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and legal advocacy. As owner of Horticulture 4 Health, LLC, Kelly delivers therapeutic horticulture sessions to many populations, including Veterans, youth, older adults, and individuals with physical, developmental, cognitive, and sensory challenges. She also is experienced in providing mobile horticultural therapy sessions to hospitals and older adult care facilities. Kelly is an Adjunct Instructor at College of DuPage and serves on the AHTA Board of Directors and work teams. She is committed to writing, speaking, practicing, and teaching to nurture the people-plant connection and further the impact of the horticultural therapy profession.
Name Lastname
Secretary
VACANT
Name Lastname
Treasurer
Nicole Giron, CTRS, HTR, MPH
she / her / hers
Nicole is a registered horticultural therapist, receiving her certificate from the Horticulture Therapy Institute, as well as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. Nicole holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she works as the Director of the Recreation Therapy program at UNMC’s Munroe Meyer Institute. Nicole works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and incorporates horticultural therapy into her practice with the primary focus being on a farm to fork cultivation.
Name Lastname
Immediate Past President
Lana Dreyfuss, LPCC, LCADC, SEP, HTR
she / her / they / them
Lana is a licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, somatic experiencing practitioner, and horticultural therapist registered. She/they holds a MA from the University of Maryland in counseling. Currently working at United Indian Health Services in northern California, living gratefully on Tolowa Dee-ni’ land and serving Native American community members providing behavioral health services to include the modality of horticultural therapy. Lana has been serving on the AHTA Board of Directors and work teams since 2004.
Name Lastname
Linda Brown-Kuhn, HTR
Linda is a New Jersey-based registered horticultural therapist and a certified forest therapy guide. She received her certificate in horticultural therapy from Rutgers University. Linda is currently an independent contractor. She has worked with various populations of Veterans at two VA Medical Centers: those with substance abuse issues, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health issues, homeless veterans, those in hospice care, those with spinal cord injuries and female veterans who experienced sexual abuse in the military. She also works with young women coping with substance use issues.
Name Lastname
Donna Hunt
Donna Hunt graduated from St Martin's University with a degree in Biology. She has a MA in Political Science from Webster University and a MA in Adult Education from Loyola Marymount University. She was in the first class of the Horticultural Therapy program at the University of Florida. Donna currently coordinates the maintenance and events at Hope Garden on Robins AFB GA. She is also working towards achieving her HTR.
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Our team
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Why Join AHTA?
The American Horticultural Therapy Association is the leading U.S. organization dedicated to advancing and promoting the practice of horticulture as therapy. The AHTA membership is comprised of individuals who are passionate about the unique benefits of horticultural therapy as a therapeutic modality. Members are committed to the growth of the profession.
Your membership will help support the AHTA's mission to educate others about horticultural therapy, ensuring greater public awareness of, and access to, horticultural therapy. Membership in the AHTA will keep you up to date on the latest in horticultural therapy news, as well as give you access to outstanding educational and networking opportunities. Your membership will contribute to ensuring a solid and secure future for AHTA and horticultural therapy professionals.
What Level of Membership are You?
To accommodate the needs of a varied membership base, AHTA now offers seven membership categories: Professional, Associate I, Associate II, Student, Retired Professional, Organizational, and Affiliate.
The following outlines membership qualifications and benefits. All amounts are in U.S. dollars and memberships are effective for one year from the date you join. Membership Dues are voluntary and non-refundable.
| Professional Membership (includes a $75 credential fee) | $250 |
| Associate Level 1 Membership | $175 |
| Associate Level 2 Membership, Year 2 | $130 |
| Associate Level 2 Membership, Year 1 | $80 |
| Student Membership | $65 |
| Retired Professional Member | $65 |
| Affiliate Membership | $250 |
| Organizational Membership | $400 |
Member Term Details
Professional Membership (HTR, HTM, & HTA only)
Professional Membership (HTR, HTM, & HTA only): Open to members who have fulfilled requirements for AHTA professional registration. Professional members are required to renew annually at the professional level to maintain their professional registration. Annual Dues: $250 (includes a $75 credential fee). After three (3) months of a lapsed membership, a reinstatement fee ($75) in addition to their annual membership dues is applied to be reinstated. After two (2) years of a lapsed membership, a registrant will be required to reapply for registration status. ($75 reinstatement fee is currently waived until December 31, 2024.)
Membership includes:
- Access to online Members-Only resources including research materials, job postings, and more
- Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture (published 2x yearly) and AHTA Magazine (published 3x yearly)
- Receive AHTA email updates
- Discounted registration fees for the AHTA Annual Conference
- Qualify for GEICO Insurance Programs
- Access to searchable Members Directory
- Vote in AHTA elections and/or hold office
Associate Level 1 Membership
Associate Level 1 Membership: Open to all individuals not professionally registered with the AHTA. Annual Dues: $175
Membership includes:
- Access to online Members-Only resources including research materials, job postings, and more
- Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture (published 2x yearly) and AHTA Magazine (published 3x yearly)
- Receive AHTA email updates
- Discounted registration fees for the AHTA Annual Conference
- Qualify for GEICO Insurance Programs
- Access to searchable Members Directory
- Vote in AHTA elections and/or hold office
Associate Level 2 Membership (First Year and Second Year)
Associate Level 2 Membership (First Year and Second Year): Associate Level 2 is open to those individuals seeking professional registration. This membership level is designed to encourage and engage members at the beginning of their training and/or education in horticultural therapy. Members receive the same benefits as Associate Level 1 members, but may not vote or hold office. Annual dues are graduated over three years: first year $80; second year $130; third year (Associate Level 1) $175. To be eligible for this category, Associate Level 2 members are required to be involved in one or more of the following:
- Currently enrolled in an AHTA accredited horticultural therapy certificate program OR
- Be attending classes part-time to meet AHTA professional registration requirements OR
- Have initiated a horticultural therapy internship with an AHTA-approved supervisor, to be completed within the next 2 years.
Documentation will be required first and second years to verify eligibility (an unofficial college transcript, proof of enrollment in an HT certificate program, or a letter from an approved internship supervisor). Reduced rates for first and second years are available only once and must be used in two consecutive years.
Individuals seeking to apply for professional registration as an Associate Level 2 member may apply during the third year of membership at this level.
Individuals seeking to apply for professional registration within one year are encouraged to join at the Associate Level 1 membership.
Student Membership
Student Membership: Open to full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in 12 credits in a university or college degree program or to graduate students enrolled in 9 credits (any curriculum). Members must document current full-time enrollment by providing proof of status to AHTA before membership can be confirmed. Students should include a letter from a faculty advisor or a copy of a current unofficial transcript documenting full-time student status during the application process. Annual dues: $65
Membership includes:
- Access to online Members-Only resources including research materials, job postings, and more
- Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture (published 2x yearly) and the AHTA Magazine (published 3x yearly)
- Receive AHTA email updates
- Discounted registration fees for the AHTA Annual Conference
- Qualify for GEICO Insurance Programs
- Access to searchable Members Directory
Retired Professional Membership
Retired Professional Membership: Open to all Professional Members 62 years and older who have retired from the active practice of HT. Member must provide proof of status to AHTA at the time of application before membership can be confirmed. Annual Dues: $65
Membership includes:
- All benefits afforded to Professional Members
Organizational Membership
Organizational Membership: Open to healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and foundations. Organizational members must designate a single point of contact at the time of application to receive membership benefits. Annual dues: $400
Membership includes:
- Access to online Members-Only resources including research materials, job postings, and more
- Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture (published 2x yearly) and the AHTA Magazine (published 3x yearly)
- Opportunity to submit an article describing your organization for the AHTA Magazine
- Receive AHTA email updates
- Qualify for GEICO Insurance Programs
- One discounted registration fee for the AHTA Annual Conference
- Exhibit space for one tabletop informational display board at the AHTA Annual Conference
- Opportunity to include information in the onsite registration packets at the Annual Conference
- One quarter-page ad in the AHTA Annual Conference program
- Access to searchable Members Directory
- *AHTA Accredited Certificate Programs additional benefits - Listing of your program course schedule on the AHTA Education web page, updated twice yearly
Affiliate Membership
Affiliate Membership: Open to nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other organized groups. Affiliate members must designate a single point of contact at the time of application to receive membership benefits. Annual dues: $250
Membership includes:
- Access to the online Members Only resources including research materials, job postings, and more
- Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture (published 2x yearly) and the AHTA Magazine (published 3x yearly)
- Opportunity to submit an article describing your organization/business for the AHTA Magazine
- Opportunity to highlight a product or service on the AHTA website twice a year
- Receive AHTA email updates
- Qualify for GEICO Insurance Programs
- One discounted registration fee for the AHTA Annual Conference
- Opportunity to include information in the onsite registration packets at the Annual Conference
- Access to searchable Members Directory