The Chicago Botanic Garden Healthcare Garden Design Certificate Program – Register now!

Tulips at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Tulips at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Photo by Naomi Sachs

Registration is now open for the Chicago Botanic Garden Healthcare Garden Design Certificate Program, and for the seminar, “Gardens That Heal: A Prescription for Wellness.”

Eight-day professional development certificate
May 14 – 21, 2014
Wednesday – Wednesday
Early registration fee paid/postmarked by April 4, 2014: $2,995
Fee after April 4, 2014: $3,495

Gardens That Heal: A Prescription for Wellness
One-Day Seminar
May 14, 2014
Wednesday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Member fee $129
Nonmember fee $149, or $129 before April 4, 2014

Online registration is unavailable 24 hours prior to the class start date. You may still register by calling (847) 835-8261.

The eight-day Certificate Program includes case studies, group projects, field trips, lectures, and instruction from experts from healthcare garden-related professions. Working in multidisciplinary teams that reflect the real world of healthcare garden design, your learning will be reinforced through tours of healthcare facilities in greater Chicago.

The program begins with a special full-day seminar on “Gardens That Heal: A Prescription for Wellness,” designed as a starting point for those participating in the full program, and as an introduction for professionals not requiring full certification.

Program overview
Healthcare garden design is an emerging area of specialization in which several professions converge to create environments of care. In this professional development program, attendees will discover the many ways gardens provide verifiable health benefits for their patients, staff, and visitors. The multidisciplinary program introduces the latest research in healthcare garden design, demonstrating the benefits of healthcare gardens while providing participants with the expertise, knowledge, and tools to effectively design, manage, and evaluate such gardens. These garden environments of care maximize the effectiveness of clinical treatments for illness and disabilities, and create passive garden experiences that significantly reduce staff stress and absenteeism, improve patient health, increase client satisfaction, and strengthen the bottom line.

Who should participate?
Landscape architects, garden designers, architects, and interior designers; healthcare executives, program administrators, development and marketing directors, and consultants; nurses, therapists, extended care providers, and activity and recreation directors; graduate students in related fields.

Specific Content Elements

  • Types of healthcare gardens and their defining characteristics
  • Research, evidence-based design, and post-occupancy evaluation
  • Passive and active garden experiences for positive health outcomes
  • Characteristics of user groups (patients, family, visitors, and staff) and how they benefit
  • How to reduce staff stress and increase satisfaction, retention, and recruitment
  • Universal design, ADA, barrier-free design, regulations, codes, and specifications
  • Integration of gardens into new and existing healthcare campus landscapes
  • Connection of outdoor gardens to indoor spaces and therapeutic activities
  • Plant selection and use, equipment, materials, safety, security, and privacy
  • Construction and maintenance of new projects; performing renovations and redirecting uses of indoor and outdoor spaces, including rooftops
  • How to build winning healthcare garden design teams
  • How to succeed in the client-centered marketplace
  • Marketing, project proposals, and management; funding and resources

Visit the website for more information, including the list of stellar instructors.

Here are just a few of the many great comments the course has received over the years:

“Content was incredible. No repetition. Each speaker was valuable.”

“Course renewed my spirit!”

“Exceeded my expectations. Excellent management. Excellent location. Excellent instruction.”

“This program reminded me of my zeal for designing…”

Chicago Botanic Garden design charrette

Design charrette at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Photo by Naomi Sachs