Horticultural Therapy: Gardening is Healing Conference

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners and the Community Cancer Center will be presenting the "Horticultural Therapy: Gardening is Healing" conference on Saturday, June 10 at the Community Cancer Center in Normal. This daylong conference will provide information on modifying gardening practices for youth through aging individuals.

Mike Maddox, University of Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program Director, will begin the opening session using hands-on experiences that allow attendees to understand key concepts and theories for gardening therapy. Benefits of horticultural therapy have found the process of using plants in a garden setting helps people achieve more of an overall well-being across physical, mental or emotional barriers. We can develop practical horticultural activities for year-round clinical programs to help encourage and support an individual's therapeutic goals and foster developmental abilities.

Afternoon conference sessions will provide horticulture based educational workshops with therapeutic activities. The workshop programs include Floral Design to Music; Walking a Labyrinth; Sensory Gardening; Modifying the Garden Experience; Nature Journaling; and Dried Flower Cards. Each activity will conclude with a discussion of adaptations or modifications for individual clients of different populations and diverse clinical settings.

The all-day conference will provide educational resources for attendees with backgrounds in social work, occupational therapists, parents of children with special needs, classroom teachers, activities professionals, gardeners and other clinicians. This conference will be at the Community Cancer Center (407 East Vernon Avenue, Normal, IL 61761). The $40 registration fee covers in-depth instruction, hands-on activities, and a buffet lunch. Please register at go.illinois.edu/RegisterLMW or call the McLean County Extension Office at (309) 663-8306.

Please plan to attend this exciting event with us, but sign up early, as space is limited.