October 2025 Newsletter

President's Message: Carrying the Momentum Forward

Reflecting on the 2025 virtual AHTA Annual Conference, I am filled with gratitude and renewed energy. Spanning time zones and connected through an innovative digital platform, our community came together with remarkable engagement, creativity, and heart. The discussions were rich, the presentations thought-provoking, and the sense of shared purpose unmistakable. Many of you have shared how energizing this year’s conference felt, and that momentum is something we can all carry forward—into our programs, our communities, and the year ahead.


A highlight for many was hearing the keynote address from renowned author and nature advocate Richard Louv, whose message continues to resonate: we have a special responsibility to facilitate a “human–nature reunion” at a time when disconnection and isolation are on the rise. In today’s world, that call feels more urgent than ever. Through every healing and restorative wellness garden, horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture program, and the collaborations that expand awareness and impact, we help bridge the essential connection between people, plants, and the natural world—an act that fuels not only individual wellness, but also strengthens collective resilience and ecological well-being.


This is also a time of exciting transition and growth within AHTA. I’m pleased to welcome our incoming Board of Directors, a group of talented and passionate professionals who bring fresh perspectives, diverse expertise, and a shared commitment to advancing our mission. Their leadership will be instrumental as we continue progressing toward board certification, maintaining our high professional standards, broadening our social media reach, welcoming new members, and expanding our national collaborations through initiatives such as the ‘Growing Impact’ Youth Wellness Campaign.


Let’s carry the energy and inspiration of the conference forward. Stay engaged, stay connected, and share your voice with AHTA—through work teams, professional forums, conference planning, certification preparation, and community-based programs. Every member contributes to shaping the direction and strength of our profession, and your participation truly makes the difference.


Together, we are cultivating a stronger, more visible, and more unified professional field—one deeply rooted in compassion, evidence, and purpose.


With appreciation,


Kelly Warnick, HTR, JD

President, American Horticultural Therapy Association

News and Events 

Thank You for an Incredible 2025 Virtual Conference!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended this year’s AHTA Virtual Conference! We are so grateful to our amazing keynote speaker, Richard Louv, for his inspiring words about the New Nature Movement, and to our incredible presenters from across the U.S. and around the world who shared their work, passion, and innovation in horticultural therapy.

This was our first year partnering with the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA)—their committee attended our conference, and in two weeks our conference team will attend their virtual event to continue the collaboration.

For the first time, our conference took place in a virtual garden—a more visual, interactive format than ever before. While a few tech gremlins made an appearance, many attendees enjoyed hopping from the picnic table to the fountain, chatting with colleagues, and even discovering how to access the coveted bridge!

Over three inspiring days, we shared learning, collaboration, and joy, with new features including program showcases, HT education programs, and Communities of Practice gatherings. Presentations from Derrick Stowell and Lana Dreyfuss beautifully opened and closed our first day, setting an uplifting tone for the entire event.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s conference a success—your energy and participation continue to grow our field and strengthen our community. Remember attendees, you have access to all the presentations now through January 2026.

We can’t wait to see you in person next year in San Francisco, October 15–17, 2026!

🌿 Upcoming Free Webinar – Tuesday, October 28


“Utilizing Therapeutic Horticulture for Veterans” with Dominique Stevens

Join us for an inspiring look at how Therapeutic Horticulture is enriching the lives of veterans through hands-on, healing work with plants. Dominique Stevens will share insights from the Veteran Internship Program and highlight impactful HT programming across the Chicagoland area.

Dominique is the Manager of Veteran Initiatives at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and a proud U.S. Navy veteran dedicated to empowering fellow veterans through innovative, community-based programs.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired by the meaningful intersection of horticulture and healing.
 Free for all– Tuesday, October 28th - Register today!

Thank You to the Sponsors of the AHTA conference 2025!

Virtual Book Club - Members Only


Join us on Thursday, November 6 at 7 pm EST for the next AHTA members online book club. We will be discussing The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, written by psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author Sue Stuart-Smith. This book takes a deep dive into the strong connections between gardening and mental health. The author includes many compelling anecdotes, and she is a master of metaphors.


Let’s discuss!

AHTA Annual Award Recipients 2025

Congratulations to the AHTA Annual Award Recipients!


This year AHTA was honored to announce the 2025 Annual Award recipients at the AHTA Annual Membership Meeting on October 10, 2025.

This year’s award recipients include:


Alice Burlingame Humanitarian Service Award:  Sarah Tanke HTR

John Walker Community Service Award:  Growing Grounds Enterprises  A Program of Transitions-Mental health Association

Ann Lane Mavromatis Scholarship Award:  Phasakorn Fungfoo PhD

Therapeutic Garden Design Award:  Maude’s Garden

Congratulations to all!

Board of Directors October newsletter


AHTA expresses gratitude for the AHTA Board of Directors who have completed their terms with the BOD!

AHTA wants to express heartfelt gratitude to the AHTA Board of Directors who have served on the board spending countless hours and providing their expertise and wisdom to the movement forward that AHTA is experiencing. Our gratitude to Rebecca Pulliam Francis EdD. HTM, Nicole Giron MPH CTRS HTR, Donna Hunt, and Brendan Yukins LSW who have completed their terms!



AHTA welcomes the returning and new AHTA Board of Directors for the coming year!


AHTA wants to express heartfelt gratitude to the incoming board members for 2025-2026! Our executive committee will include President Kelly Warnick HTR JD, President Elect Katie Ryzhikov HTR, Secretary Lana Dreyfuss LPCC SEP HTR, and Immediate Past President Matthew Janson CTRS HTR.


Our continuing board members at large include:


  • Linda Brown-Kuhn HTR,
  • April Ellis LCSW HTR
  • Holly Harrison HTR
  • Christina Kocol LPC NCC CGP
  • Jeanne Schultz M.Ed. CARES HTR,
  • Kamyshia Thompson
  • Binxia Xue PhD HTR.


Brand new to the board include:

  • Christopher Banke LMFT CCTP ASDCS HTR
  • Amy Fee Bruzzichesi MSW HTR
  • Kenneth Harvey HTR
  • Meghan McKiernan BS HTR
  • Brooke Moren CTRS HTR
  • Danielle Stojan HTR.

Welcome!


The AHTA Board of Directors does inspirational work with a mission of advancing the profession of horticultural therapy. Thanks for all you do!

Countdown to the HT-BC certification exam!

The countdown to the certification exam for the HT-BC credential has started! The American Horticultural Therapy Association is pleased to announce the launching of the first credentialing exam for the Horticultural Therapist-Board Certified HT-BC to happen one year from now in October 2026! While some details are still being finalized, we want to keep our members informed and share what you can expect as this important credentialing process moves forward.


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 requirements for education, professional experience, and the successful completion of a comprehensive examination. Certification is different than certificates. A certificate is for competition of an educational course, such as one from the AHTA accredited HT programs. Certification is a formal process of evaluation overseen by a professional body, involving testing, eligibility criteria and ethical guidelines. A certificate does not equate professional certification.


The exam, currently in development, is based on six key domains identified through the large-scale Job Task Analysis of 2022 involving input from the horticultural therapy community. These domains are:


  1. Horticulture
  2. Treatment Planning
  3. Program Planning and Activity Design
  4. Managing Human Resources
  5. Business Practices, Safety, and Ethics
  6. Professionalism and Scholarship


Who is the Certification for?


The certification—the Horticultural Therapist–Board Certified (HT–BC)—is designed for individuals seeking to be recognized as credentialed horticultural therapists. It is expected that HT–BC will eventually replace the current HTR designation as the primary credential in the field.


Why Certification Matters for Horticultural Therapists


Professional Credibility: Qualifying professionals with verified expertise!                                                     

Standardization of Practice: Ensures best practices and ethical guidelines!

Demonstrating Expertise and Skill Development: Combining knowledge, skills, and experience with continuing education!

Increased Public and Industry Recognition: Certification is the industry standard building a stronger professional community advocating for the field!

Continuing Education and Growth: Ongoing educational requirements ensuring professionals stay up to date with the latest research, techniques and advancements in the field! 


Frequently Asked Questions


What will happen to the HTR designation? AHTA will stop accepting new HTR applications approximately three months before the launch of the certification exam on July 1,2026. After that, all new applicants will apply for the HT–BC certification. AHTA will continue to honor current HTRs and HTMs who may continue to use their designation. Those who wish to obtain the HT–BC credential may take the certification exam, but it is not mandatory.

Will this affect the THP designation? No. The certification exam is not expected to be required for Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner (THP) applications. The THP designation will remain unchanged.


How do I know if I’m eligible to sit for the certification exam? Eligibility requirements will include specific education and experience criteria similar to what AHTA has in place for the HTR with an additional pathway for those already certified or licensed in an allied profession. This will be published well in advance of the exam launch. These will align with national standards for professional certification.


Will there be study materials or prep courses for the exam? AHTA plans to provide recommended resources, sample examination questions and some guidance on the examination. The exam will be based on what practitioners are expected to know so applicants’ education and training should be the best preparation.


How long is the certification valid, and what is required for renewal? The certification is expected to be valid for five years. To maintain certification, individuals will be required to complete continuing education and/or demonstrate ongoing professional activity, as defined in the recertification guidelines.


Stay tuned for more information regarding eligibility requirements, exam handbook, CE requirements and more to be posted on our website later this year!




Earn CEs from NCTRC - AHTA 2025 Virtual Conference is Pre-approved!

We’re excited to announce that the AHTA 2025 Annual Conference has been pre-approved for continuing education (CE) credit by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). Whether you're maintaining your certification or expanding your professional knowledge, this year’s conference offers high-quality, relevant content designed to support your growth as a therapeutic horticulture professional

A Season of Growth and Gratitude – From the AHTA Sponsorship Team

We always look forward to this time of year when the AHTA Annual Conference energizes our member community and inspires new growth, new ideas, and new paths forward! With keynote speaker Richard Louv as an energizing force, this year’s conference calls us to reaffirm our bond with nature, our shared purpose, and with one another – reminding us why our work continues to matter so deeply. We extend gratitude to our 2025 AHTA Conference Sponsors, Horticultural Therapy Institute and University of Florida, whose support grows this shared momentum.


We’re also inspired by the meaningful response to the ‘Growing Impact’ Youth Wellness Campaign, which has taken root thanks to the collaboration and creativity of so many. What began as an idea continues to expand—empowering youth to discover resilience, wellness, and connection through the transformative power of plants and thoughtfully designed green spaces and programming. In the process, many AHTA professionals and collaborative partners are finding themselves renewed—connecting and growing together in a shared mission to cultivate well-being and hope through horticulture.


A special thank-you to Ball Horticultural Company (2025 Youth Campaign Sponsor) and Rhea & Kaiser (2025 Youth Campaign Contributor), for their investment in the lives of young people and their belief in horticulture as a catalyst for growth and healing. 


We also recognize the many supportive organizations and professional allies whose collaborations with AHTA this year have strengthened the national conversation around youth wellness, horticultural therapy, and therapeutic horticulture.  

Caption: At the Portland Memory Garden on Grandparents Day, generations connected through the simple joy of touch, scent, and color – discovering how plants and people together nurture memory, wellness, and belonging. Part of AHTA’s Generations in Bloom Spotlight Series within the ‘Growing Impact’ Youth Wellness Campaign. 

Spooky Succulent Gardens


By Joanna Brown, 

From Florida Horticulture for Health Network

Excerpted from University of Florida Therapeutic Horticulture Activities Database 2025. For complete activity click here 


ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: Participants will create individual mini-Halloween-themed succulent gardens.


APPLICATIONS FOR POPULATIONS: Spooky Succulents activity offers a delightful escape into nature’s wonders of resilient succulents with a Halloween twist. This activity was designed specifically for botanic garden settings and for all ages; 2 years and up. It is a simple yet effective wellness activity that is easily adaptable to accommodate larger numbers of participants and requires minimal direction, the ideal combination for delivering wellness TH in an outdoor public garden. 


This activity can incorporate multiple therapeutic goals including a variety of emotional/psychological benefits such as embracing the present moment, exercising creativity, reducing stress levels, enhancing mood, and making social connections in a supportive and safe environment. Connections to nature in this outdoor setting - feeling stones, soil, touching plants, breathing fresh air, and dancing (exercising) to Halloween themed music is fun and healthy, where physical therapeutic goals can be incorporated. Refer to THAD Spooky Succulent Gardens for more detail re therapeutic goals. An article “Spooky Succulents: Halloween Market Fun at Vizcaya Village”, published in Sept. 2025 in FLHHN epub Cultivate offers ideas and tips on delivering this type of activity in a public garden setting. 


Materials: Popsicle stick/plant tags, eco-friendly 4” pots, markers/paints/stickers/glue, succulent cuttings or large succulent to propagate from, Halloween party favors, succulent soil, small stones/gravel for decoration, succulent care cards (optional), squirt bottles for watering supervision.


Tips for practice along with step-by-step instructions and safety considerations are available in the THAD version. References cover poisonous plant information, succulent species and Halloween ideas. 



Joanna Brown holds a certificate in horticultural therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute and a BA in humanities, social sciences, and environmental studies from the University of Central Florida. She is the founder of Horticulture For Healing, a nonprofit advocating for therapeutic horticulture in less privileged communities, and the owner of Restorative Horticultural Therapy. Joanna specializes in working with clients experiencing substance use and co-occurring disorders and collaborates with organizations related to this diverse population. She is currently pursuing a social work graduate degree at the University of Florida, and continues to be an advisory member of FLHHN.



Updates from AHTA

  •  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.

HTR Internship Sites and Intern Supervisors Information Updates

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

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! 

Supporting AHTA

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. 

AHTA HTR Database Search Option

AHTA HTR Database Search Option AHTA has a Horticultural TherapistRegistered(HTR) Directory feature on our website. This feature allows companies or the general public to search for HTRs near them. The beneHts for HTRs may include employment, consultation work, presentation /information sharing opportunities, advocacy for the profession of horticultural therapy and more!

Become a Member

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!