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ontario parks association

Protecting Tomorrow Today®

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  • Horticultural Therapy Workshop

Horticultural Therapy WorkShop

Instructed By: 

 Guinevere Kern

Mutual Support: The Bridging of Horticultural Therapy and Green Spaces to Build Communal Health

“I cultivate my garden and my garden cultivates me”- Robert Breault

Urban green spaces are vital to the physical and mental health of communities. For municipal employees in parks, recreation, urban forestry, and conservation authorities, understanding the therapeutic potential of horticulture and green spaces can support enhancement of communal well-being while addressing multi-faceted health challenges of today. 

This two-part, interactive workshop delves into the principles and practices of Horticultural Therapy (HT), a purposeful approach to using plants and nature-related activities to achieve goals that promote well-being for participants.

This workshop is for professionals seeking to elevate their understanding to improving individual and community health through nature-based solutions. Be prepared to broaden your perspective about the spaces you manage and the lives they impact. 

Topics that will be covered include: 

  • The fundamentals of Horticultural Therapy

  • Current research supporting the therapeutic application of horticulture

  • Relevancy to pressing issues of today

  • Applications for green professions to support human health and well-being.

                                                                                                                                                    

Instructor Bio:

Guinevere Kern is a Registered Horticultural Therapist with extensive experience in integrating nature-based therapies into health and community settings. Her accomplishments include: 

  • Designing and implementing therapeutic gardening programs for mental health and long-term care facilities. 

  • Providing nature therapy services for individuals recovering from motor vehicle accidents and other trauma. 

  • Completing a 1,000-hour Horticultural Therapy Internship specializing in therapeutic gardening and community development. 

  • Conducting research in native wildflowers and ornamental plants at the University of Guelph’s Department of Plant Agriculture. 

  • Working in diverse horticulture settings, including nurseries, greenhouses, landscaping, and organic agriculture across Canada and the United States. 

As a passionate educator and advocate for green wellness, Guinevere brings a transdisciplinary perspective to equipping professionals to deepen their understanding of the healing potential of green spaces. 




Upcoming events

  • Indoor Plant Maintenance Webinar

    • 26 Mar 2026
    • 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Online - Zoom
    • 28
    Register

    INDOOR PLANT MAINTENANCE WEBINAR

    Ontario Parks Association is excited to announce that we have collaborated with Guinevere Kern to deliver a half-day webinar called Indoor Plant Maintenance.

    This presentation has been developed as an extensive guide to providing professional care to indoor plants in offices. Over the past few decades, we have gained greater insight into the detriments of a sterile indoor environment. Indoor plants help bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor environments, making inside spaces healthier places to be.

    Plants help to create warm and inviting atmospheres, reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, increase productivity, and even improve air quality. In today's world, biophilic design is of increasing importance to consider in the built environment. Indoor plants are a wonderful addition to any space, but can be difficult to properly maintain over time. It can be useful for organizations to designate indoor horticulturists to perform this work, which is why we are offering this training.

    This course will cover:

    ● The office environment and the benefits of biophilic design

    ● Project planning: how to create an inclusive, practical and professional space

    ● Plant, container, and soil selection

    ● Installation

    ● Plant maintenance and full service plan

    ● Plant nutrition

    ● Plant disease and pest management

    ● Pruning

    There will be a 30 minute quiz at the end of this course. Within 2 weeks of completing this course you will receive a letter from Ontario Parks Association acknowledging your participation in the course, advanced knowledge of indoor horticulture and efforts towards helping us achieve our mandate of Protecting Tomorrow Today®.


    DATE: March 26th, 2026

    TIME: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

    LOCATION:  Online - Zoom


    COURSE COST

    OPA Member: $185.00  

    OPA Potential Member: $285.00


    REGISTER HERE


    This course counts as 1 credit towards your Parks Practitioner Designation.


    Register above online. An invoice will be sent to you within 24hrs of registering. Payment can be made online through the invoice you will receive or via cheque (made payable to Ontario Parks Association).



    Show details

For more information on hosting or attending, please send an email referencing the course title to training@ontarioparksassociation.ca
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