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President's Message	News & Events	Horticultural Therapy Certification	HT Activity	Sponsorship

As we close out the year, I have been reflecting on the meaningful connections we have built with members, the wider community, and emerging partners — and on what makes our association so unique. We are the professional home and standard-setting body for the impactful field of horticultural therapy. AHTA is rooted in high standards, historical leadership, trailblazing growth, and sustained professional development. Our 2025 Member Survey affirmed these strengths and offered valuable insights that will continue to guide our work ahead.

Since October 2025, we have seen increases in membership. There is new involvement, shared energy, and growing recognition of the impactful role our profession has in today’s world.

We are especially energized as we look to the new year and the launch of board certification — an extraordinary milestone that will elevate practice, strengthen recognition, and advance the field in meaningful ways. We are grateful to everyone whose vision, voice, and dedication is helping to shape it.

Our Conference Work Team is also deeply engaged in preparations for the 2026 Annual Conference in San Francisco. You can expect diverse professional topics, gorgeous plant-rich venues, and high quality content for this one-of-a-kind event. Look for Request for Proposals soon, and consider sharing your expertise as a presenter.

Our ‘Growing Impact’ Youth Wellness Campaign continues to make significant strides, building new collaborations, growing public awareness, and providing a demographic expansion to our member base. Alongside this effort, a sponsorship outreach initiative is about to begin, focused on fueling increased visibility and engagement with AHTA.

As we step into the holiday season, many may be heading to the theaters for the highly anticipated Wicked movie sequel. A featured song, For Good, teaches us that people cross our paths for a purpose, offering lessons we are meant to carry forward. Their influence becomes a lasting imprint– a handprint on our hearts, as the lyrics so poignantly express.

May this beautiful message remind us of the importance of our professional work. The people we work alongside may grow from our guidance, and we, in turn, learn from their courage, perspectives, and stories. These shared experiences bring moments that resonate deeply – teaching resilience, humility, humor, connection, and the quiet ways growth and healing unfold. They stay with us like handprints on our hearts and inspire our ongoing work.

Wishing each of you a peaceful, restorative, and joyful holiday season. Let’s carry this spirit forward and continue making an impactful difference in 2026 — for good, and for growth.

With gratitude,

Kelly Warnick, HTR, JD

President, American Horticultural Therapy Association

Save the Date: AHTA 2026 Annual Conference — San Francisco!

We’re absolutely delighted to share that the 2026 AHTA Annual Conference will be held in person in beautiful San Francisco, California!

Our Conference Work Team is already hard at work creating an inspiring, hands-on, and welcoming conference experience. You can look forward to engaging educational sessions, interactive workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, and special events that showcase the rich diversity of horticultural therapy programs and gardens throughout the Bay Area. From iconic botanical spaces to innovative community-based programs, San Francisco offers a truly special setting to learn, connect, and grow together.

We’d also love your involvement. If you have ideas, suggestions, or interest in joining the Conference Work Team, your creativity and perspective are always welcome.

📧 Reach out to aprilellislcsw@gmail.com to get involved.

Looking ahead, our Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released later in December. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about the presentation you’d like to share with the horticultural therapy community—whether it’s a program, research, practice-based skills, or a story of growth and resilience. This is a conference built with our community, and we hope you’ll be part of it.

We can’t wait to gather in San Francisco and cultivate connection, learning, and inspiration together in 2026!

We encourage all members to check out the fascinating results from our 2025 Membership Survey! Your responses helped us paint a clear picture of our community. Did you know that 101 members (representing 20% of our total membership) responded, with 80% identifying as female? The survey also showed that a strong 53% of responders have a Master's degree or higher, and 59% have completed an AHTA Accredited Certificate Program. This data is vital for guiding our future initiatives, especially since 85% of you support efforts for future certification. Take a look at the full infographic to better understand the demographics and expertise shaping the future of Horticultural Therapy!

🌿 Upcoming Free Regional Webinar – Tuesday, January 13 at 12pm EST

Hosted by Florida Horticulture for Health Network & Nova Scotia Horticulture for Health Network

Psychological Health Domain Focus: Applications from Therapeutic Horticulture Activities Database

Presenters:

 Lesley Fleming, HTR &

Maureen Bethel, DEC, BA, BEd, CAE

Through exploration and engaging activities, attendees will gain knowledge about setting goals/ objectives in the psychological domain and explore the role of plant-based activities as a tool within the therapeutic process. Using the Therapeutic Horticulture Activities Database (THAD) to identify and explore goals, activities and outcomes in the psychological domain provides HT/TH practitioners and health professionals with proven practice ideas and methods across populations. Examples of these activities include Bent Out of Shape (assessing conditions/circumstances that cause mood disruptions), Forcing Blooms in Winter (delayed gratification/passage of time), and Waiting for Water Chant (self-regulation) + 20 more THADs.

If you are a nature-based practitioner providing nature-based services, such as equine-assisted counseling or horticulture therapy, we would like to invite you to participate in our research study. We are currently recruiting for a research study at Tulane University to learn more about your perspectives on integrating AI into nature-based services. This study is approved by the Institutional Review Board at Tulane University and is overseen by Dr. Kate Lufkin, DSW, LCSW-BACS.

Participation will involve a single 60-minute Zoom interview with a member of our research team.

Take this short survey to see if you are eligible.

The countdown to the certification exam for the Horticultural Therapist–Board Certified (HT–BC) credential continues. The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) is pleased to have announced the launch of its first professional credentialing exam, scheduled to take place 10 months from now — in October 2026.

While some details are still being finalized, we want to keep our community informed and share what you can expect as this important credentialing process takes shape.

🍃 What is the AHTA Certification?

The AHTA Certification is a formal recognition that an individual has met established professional standards in horticultural therapy. It assures employers, clients, and the public that certified professionals possess the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to practice effectively and ethically.

The certification process includes: - Defined education requirements - Verified professional experience - Successful completion of a comprehensive examination

Certification vs Certificate - A certificate is awarded upon completion of an educational program (e.g., AHTA-accredited horticultural therapy courses) - Certification is a formal, third-party evaluation process that includes eligibility requirements, testing, and ethical standards.
✅ A certificate does not equate to professional certification

🌱 Exam Content: Core Domains

The HT–BC examination is based on six key professional domains identified through the large-scale 2022 Job Task Analysis:

Horticulture
Treatment Planning
Program Planning & Activity Design
Managing Human Resources
Business Practices, Safety & Ethics
Professionalism & Scholarship

These domains reflect the essential knowledge areas for effective horticultural therapy practice.

🌼 Who is this Certification For?

The Horticultural Therapist–Board Certified (HT–BC) credential is designed for individuals seeking formal recognition as professional horticultural therapists.

It is expected that the HT–BC will eventually replace the current HTR designation as the primary credential in the field.

🌳 Why Certification Matters

Certification supports both individual professionals and the field as a whole:

Professional Credibility – Verifies expertise and ethical practice
Standardized Practice – Aligns professionals with best-practice guidelines
Demonstrated Competence – Combines education, skill development, and experience
Stronger Recognition – Builds public awareness and professional identity
Ongoing Growth – Requires continued learning and engagement

Together, certification strengthens the roots of horticultural therapy for future generations.

🌷 Frequently Asked Questions

What will happen to the HTR designation? AHTA will stop accepting new HTR applications approximately three months before the HT–BC exam launch (anticipated July 1, 2026). Current HTRs and HTMs may continue using their designations. The HT–BC credential is optional for existing professionals, but will be required for new applicants after that point.

Will this affect the THP designation? No. The Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner (THP) designation will remain unchanged.

How do I know if I’m eligible to sit for the certification exam? Eligibility will include education and experience criteria similar to HTR requirements, with an additional pathway for those in allied professions. These pathways align with national standards for professional certification.

Will there be study materials or prep courses for the exam? AHTA intends to provide recommended resources, sample questions, and guidance. The exam will be based on what qualified practitioners are expected to know through training and experience.

How long is the certification valid?
The HT–BC is expected to be valid for five years. Renewal will include continuing education and/or ongoing professional activity.

🍂 Stay Connected

More information regarding: - Eligibility requirements - The exam handbook - Continuing education expectations - Application timelines

…will be announced later this year. We encourage members to regularly visit the AHTA website for updates. https://www.ahta.org/certification

Thank you for being a vital part of the growing field of horticultural therapy.

As we close out 2025 and celebrate this season of gratitude and giving, we want to extend heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors, collaborating organizations, and donors who have supported AHTA this year. Your contributions have strengthened our outreach, expanded youth wellness initiatives, delivered a dynamic annual conference, and amplified the value of horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture across communities nationwide.

With the spirit of growing impact at the heart of our work, we are preparing our 2026 Sponsorship Prospectus, arriving in the coming months. The year ahead brings bright opportunities:

Elevate your brand at the in-person 2026 AHTA Annual Conference in San Francisco with high visibility and recognition among our national membership, regional organizations, and collaborating organizations.

Champion horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture by supporting our public awareness efforts and our ‘Growing Impact’ Youth Wellness Campaign — helping to bring plant-powered experiences into schools, healthcare systems, and community settings.

We would love your input!

What types of sponsorship opportunities or visibility would be most meaningful for potential partners next year?

Please reply directly to sponsorship@ahta.org.

Using walnuts to create Christmas ornaments that look like strawberries can be a fun, inclusive TH activity appropriate for most populations. Painting the walnut red with black dots for seeds and adding green jute and felt leaves requires fine motor skills and some attention to task. Transforming a walnut into a strawberry provides a platform for discussing creative expression, personal transformations, and using intellectual skills in humorous and productive ways. The THAD description identifies relevant goals in five health domains: improve proprioception, strengthen hand dexterity, and contribute to community service for example. Materials are budget friendly.

Tips for Practice

Making ornaments for personal use or as gifts for others can support role reversal (giving to someone instead of being the one receiving services), generosity and community service. People with visual impairment, fine motor skill challenges, hand injury, arthritis or people living with dementia (with tendencies to put items in mouths) will find this activity challenging. Accommodations can be made such as: using sense of touch to paint (areas where paint has been applied will feel sticky or slick), using hand on hand painting or partner holding walnut stationary, or volunteer working one on one with person living with dementia. Other holiday ornaments using walnuts can include Christmas mouse or reindeer - gluing eyes, ears, red nose and antlers onto nut.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS: Facilitators are responsible for knowing poisonous and toxic plants and plant parts (more detail in THAD). This activity will not be appropriate for people with nut allergies; this needs to be identified before session begins.

Materials: walnuts in shells, green felt, twine, red nontoxic paint, small paintbrushes, black marker, paper plates, wipes, non-latex gloves.

Lesley Fleming, HTR leads the Florida and the Nova Scotia Horticulture for Health Networks. Her recent work has included leading the collaborative THAD project, FLHHN’s Resource Hub, and 2024 Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture articles on TH Goals co-authored with Elizabeth Diehl and Kathryn Grimes and Positive Impacts from COVID-19 on Gardening and HT.

The AHTA Code of Ethics was updated to align with professional standards effective March 1, 2025! For more information Here
The THP Verification of Work Experience form has been updated expanding the direct client services to include direct client hours, documentation, program planning/preparation, client meetings, supervision meetings and non-supervision meetings!
The HTR Verification of Work Experience has been updated to requiring the equivalent of 1,500 hours work experience as an employee or independent contractor, supervised by either a HTR or general supervisor who can validate the horticultural therapy services provided.

AHTA receives numerous requests for information from students in Horticultural Therapy educational programs and applicants for the Horticultural Therapist – Registered regarding the internship requirements for registration. A list of internship sites that meet the requirements for HTR internships, as well as the list of approved Intern Supervisors, are available on the AHTA website. We ask for your help to update those lists.

If you are part of a program that is currently on the list of Intern Sites, AHTA members please check your program and contact information on the AHTA website Internship Sites. If you need to make updates, contact the AHTA office at info@ahta.org .

If you know of a program that is already hosting HTR interns and is not listed, or you are part of a program that would like to be listed as an internship site, please go to the Internship Site Questionnaire on the Horticultural Therapy Internship webpage, under the Professional Registration tab. If you have been a HTR for at least 1 year and would like to be listed on the website as an Intern Supervisor, please complete the application at Intern Supervisor Application.

If you have any questions, please contact the AHTA OFFICE.

AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture The AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture had been approved for the OpenAccess Model and is now available on Google Scholar. Did you know that you can access the copies of the AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture by going to Google Scholar, putting in the “AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture” in the search window and to narrow down your search add the volume number from the AHTA list of Journal. Click HERE to learn more. While considering publishing in the AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture consider that as members of AHTA there is no charge for the Article Processing Charge (APC) while nonmembers pay $300. Another great way to become a member! Hoping to see more submissions that will go out to all!

Your generous support makes it possible for our organization to grow and thrive. Your contributions help keep us going, including helping with the expenses of our annual conference, increasing our ability to work toward credentialing, offsetting the cost of our journal and other outreach publications, and connecting to colleges and universities, facilities, prisons, hospitals, and agencies that support the profession of horticultural therapy. Our 2025 Partnership Guide is now available!

In keeping with the forward growth of AHTA, we have redesigned our 2025 Partnership Guide to include new “á la carte” sponsorship opportunities! These options can be selected independently of AHTA sponsorship packages or added to enhance them. The goal is to offer sponsors greater flexibility in shaping their partnership opportunities to better align with their specific needs and objectives, resulting in a more tailored and impactful collaboration. Sign up to become a sponsor today! Your support fuels our mission to continue advancing the development of horticultural therapy and making an impact nationally and worldwide.

Not a member of AHTA? Join today! AHTA's membership is comprised of Individuals who are passionate about the unique beneHts of horticultural therapy as a therapeutic modality. Members are committed to the growth of the profession. 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.

Did you know? AHTA members beneHts include free webinars and free article processing fees for the AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture! Another two new reasons to join!

December 2025 Newsletter

News and Events

Webinar Work Team- Looking for Speakers

🌱 Dive into the 2025 Membership Survey Results!

🌿 Upcoming Free Regional Webinar – Tuesday, January 13 at 12pm EST

Congratulations to those who received their professional registration this fall!

Study Recruitment: Nature-Based Clinicians Perspectives

🌿 Countdown to the HT–BC Certification Exam

Xmas Ornament Walnut “Strawberry”

Updates from AHTA

HTR Internship Sites and Intern Supervisors Information Updates

AHTA Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture

Supporting AHTA

AHTA HTR Database Search Option

Become a Member

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