Forest Therapy Certification REtreat
mountain Laurel Cohort
Thursday, June 10 - Sunday, June 13, 2027
Chimney Rock State Park in Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Join us for a four-day immersive training retreat: an in-person experience of learning, practicing, growing, and belonging.
Within the arc of this retreat, not only will you experience a deep somatic relationship with the landscape, but you will learn how to masterfully guide others in an embodied, relational, and trauma-informed way anchored in reciprocity with the land. You’ll leave with both personal transformation and professional growth: clearer and grounded in yourself, more confident as a guide, and more able to support the kind of connection you feel called to bring into the world.
Your Training Retreat Experience Includes:
Heartwood’s Forest Therapy Guide Certification Program
A copy of Heartwood’s Forest Therapy Guidebook
A 4-week mentored practicum following the retreat
Free admission to Chimney Rock State Park throughout the retreat
Daily guided forest bathing experiences
A community dinner on Saturday evening at La Strada
Lifetime access to program materials via our online learning hub
An invitation to the Heartwood Collective, our guide community
Bonus Gifts:
A copy of The Nature Reset by Kathleen McIntyre
A copy of The Forest Therapy School Guidebook co-authored by Julie Sczerbinski
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, about 25 miles southeast of Asheville…
Chimney Rock State Park offers a breathtaking setting for our Forest Therapy Guide Training Retreat.
Located in the heart of Hickory Nut Gorge, this remarkable landscape is home to towering rock formations, lush hardwood forests, cascading waterfalls, and an incredible diversity of plant and animal life. The park is perhaps best known for its iconic 315-foot granite monolith and sweeping mountain views, but there's so much more to discover along its forest trails.
Winding trails lead through stands of oak and hickory, past rhododendron thickets, moss-covered boulders, and flowing streams. The gorge's unique geography creates a variety of habitats that support a rich diversity of plants and wildlife. It's a landscape that invites exploration, curiosity, and a deeper connection with the natural world.
The surrounding communities of Chimney Rock Village and Lake Lure add to the charm of this mountain setting, with the Rocky Broad River winding through the village and the beautiful waters of Lake Lure framed by forested peaks. Together, these landscapes offer a wonderful setting for our four days of learning, practicing, and connecting, with the land as both our classroom and our teacher.
YOur Guides
Kathleen McIntyre, LCSWA
Co-Founder & Lead Instructor
Co-Founder & Lead Instructor
Julie Sczerbinski
The DeTails
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Each day begins with arrival at 9:00 am, allowing time to settle in our bodies and onto the land before learning begins. Evenings conclude at 6:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, at 8:00 pm on Saturday after a community dinner and at 3:00 pm on Sunday to support an easeful departure. We recommend planning travel with these times in mind so you can get the most out of your retreat experience.
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Accommodations are not included as part of this retreat. A range of Airbnb and lodge/inn options are available in the Chimney Rock, Bat Cave, and Lake Lure area, with additional lodging options in Hendersonville and Asheville, each approximately 30 - 45 minutes away.
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Meals are not included during the retreat, with the exception of a dinner on Saturday evening at La Strada in Lake Lure. For lunch, you’re welcome to bring your own meal to enjoy in the park, pick up a wrap or pizza at the park’s Sky Lounge Deli, or explore the dining options in nearby Chimney Rock Village during our hour long lunch break. Throughout each day, tea, coffee, water, and light snacks will be available to support your nourishment and comfort.
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Chimney Rock State Park is located at 174 Chimney Rock Park Road in Chimney Rock, North Carolina. The nearest airport is Asheville Regional Airport, approximately 27 miles from the retreat location, and offers the most convenient option for those traveling by air.
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Following the retreat, you will continue into a four-week mentored practicum that supports integration, confidence, and real-world guiding experience. During this time, you’ll gather weekly on Zoom for live classes, guide two forest therapy walks and complete a Harvest Offering inspired by your Nature Quest experience. Weekly Zoom classes take place on Tuesdays from October 20 through November 10 from 7:00–8:30 pm ET, and are recorded so you can stay connected even if you need to miss a session.
Your Investment In You
$2195
Includes certification program, access to Chimney Rock State Park, dinner on Saturday evening, and a month-long mentored practicum.
Travel, meals, and accommodations are not included.
Early Birds: Enroll by March 30th—Save $300 on tuition.
Registration: A $500 non-refundable deposit holds your spot. Tuition balance due by April 10th.
*Space is limited. Register today.
*Limited number of partial scholarships available, apply here.
NBHWC Health & Wellness Coaches earn 26 Continuing Education Credits upon successful completion of this immersive training.
Cancellation Policy
$500 non-refundable deposit guarantees your spot (unless the retreat is cancelled by the leaders, and then the deposit is fully refunded). No exceptions.
Cancellations after April 10, 2027: All tuition payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES: Heartwood cannot provide refunds or discounts for late arrivals, early departures, flight cancellations, travel delays, injury, or illness.
For additional protection, we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Providers include Travel Safe, Insuremytrip, Travel Guard, or similar companies.