Italy·September 2026 - November 2026
Forest Therapy & Nature-Based Learning
A 5-day (25h) course in forest therapy, sensory nature connection, seasonal rhythms and outdoor facilitation, for educators and trainers.
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Overview
The green transition calls on educators to reconnect learners with the natural world , yet few have training in how to do so safely and meaningfully. Rooted equips professionals to bring nature into their practice with confidence. Set in the forests and lakeshores of the French Alps, this 5-day structured learning mobility course (25 hours over five days) builds competence across four areas , Forest Therapy & Sensory Nature Connection, Seasonal & Biological Rhythms, Nature-Based Learning Design, and Outdoor Facilitation & Safety , grounded in Shinrin-yoku research and the science of nature's effect on attention and stress. Participants develop transferable facilitation skills they apply directly with their learners: leading safe, restorative outdoor sessions and using nature as a co-educator. The final outcome is a nature-based session plan ready to run at home. The methodology is non-formal and experiential, consistent with Erasmus+ quality standards. Delivered by Inesto SRL SB, Erasmus+ accredited in Adult Education (KA1), with lead facilitator Amy Charnay; open to accredited sending organisations and self-funded staff. No prior outdoor experience required.
Highlights
Foundations of Forest Therapy
The research behind Shinrin-yoku: phytoncides, cortisol, attention restoration and autonomic balance; what the evidence does and doesn't show.
The Sensory Invitation
Guided practices that open the senses and shift the nervous system toward calm; the standard sequence of a forest-therapy walk.
Reading the Seasons
Circadian, ultradian and seasonal rhythms; designing learning that works with participants' physiology across the year.
Nature as Co-Educator
How to structure outdoor learning: thresholds, invitations, wandering, sharing circles and closing.
Outdoor Facilitation & Safety
Group management outdoors, risk assessment, weather, accessibility, and the boundary between facilitation and therapy.
Your Nature-Based Session
Each participant designs and micro-facilitates a nature-based activity for their own context, with structured peer feedback.
Hosts
Amy Charnay (MS, CNS, RYT)
Clinical herbalist, nutritionist, somatic practitioner and registered yoga teacher based in Annecy, France, who designs evidence-informed, nature-based wellbeing programmes. She has delivered corporate retreats, team-building and hands-on nature workshops across France and the United States.
Schedule
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Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Describe the research base for forest therapy and nature connection (Shinrin-yoku, attention restoration, autonomic effects).
Apply sensory-awareness and forest-therapy practices for personal regulation and wellbeing.
Explain how seasonal and biological rhythms shape learning capacity and design accordingly.
Demonstrate the structure and sequence of a facilitated nature-based learning activity.
Apply outdoor facilitation, risk-assessment and accessibility practices with adult groups.
Describe the boundary between nature-based facilitation and therapy, and apply appropriate referral.
Engage in structured intercultural peer exchange across European contexts.
Produce a nature-based session plan for their sending organisation.
The Five-Day
Day 1 · Why Nature Works , The research base; a first guided forest-therapy walk; setting personal and professional intentions.
Day 2 · The Sensory Invitation , Opening the senses; the standard sequence of a forest-therapy walk; personal regulation practice.
Day 3 · Rhythms & Design , Circadian, ultradian and seasonal rhythms; designing nature-based learning across the year.
Day 4 · Facilitation & Safety , Structuring outdoor learning; risk assessment, weather and accessibility; the boundary with therapy.
Day 5 · Your Session , Each participant micro-facilitates a nature-based activity with peer feedback; individual session plan to take home.
Methodology
Grounded in non-formal education and experiential learning, consistent with Erasmus+ quality standards. No passive lectures: hands-on workshops, guided experimentation with real tools, structured debate and reflective practice. Every idea is tested in practice and connected to participants' own teaching or organisational context.
What's Included
What's Included
5 days of structured learning (25 hours, 5 hours per day)
all course materials and a digital resource pack
certificate of attendance and completion
Europass Mobility document (on request)
guided outdoor sessions
What's Not Included
accommodation
meals
travel
travel insurance
personal expenses
Tickets
Forest Therapy & Nature-Based Learning
Training Course
FROM$943.22/pp
Gallery
Trip Tips
For Erasmus+ Coordinators
Inesto SRL SB is an Erasmus+ accredited receiving organisation in Adult Education (KA1 – Learning Mobility of Individuals). This course qualifies as a structured course activity under KA1 staff mobility. We issue all documentation required for Individual Reports: Letter of Confirmation, certificate of attendance and completion, and Europass Mobility document upon request. Pro-forma invoices are available upon request for grant applications to your National Agency.
For HR & Training Managers
This course addresses a documented organisational need: professional burnout, reduced performance, and poor team wellbeing are among the leading causes of staff turnover and absenteeism in knowledge-sector organisations. The Wellbeing Toolkit equips participants with evidence-based personal regulation strategies and a concrete post-mobility action plan, producing measurable competency outcomes applicable to organisational learning culture, team facilitation, and leadership practice.
Reviews
FAQs
Who is this course for?
Adult educators, trainers, youth workers and community practitioners who want to bring nature and outdoor learning into their professional practice.
Can my organisation use an Erasmus+ grant to fund participation?
Yes. This course is delivered by an Erasmus+ accredited organisation in Adult Education (KA1), making it eligible for staff mobility grants. Participants from accredited sending organisations can apply for funding through their National Agency to cover course fees, travel, and subsistence. We are happy to provide a pro-forma invoice and Letter of Confirmation for your application.
(OID E10365283)
How many participants does the course take?
Each cohort is limited to a maximum of 12 participants. This ensures adequate facilitation quality, meaningful peer exchange, and compliance with the experiential and non-formal education methodology used throughout the programme.
What is included in the course fee?
The fee covers the full 5-day programme (minimum 25 hours of guided content), all course materials and a digital resource pack, guided meditation audio recordings, a guided nature activity in Ibiza's landscapes, cultural and social programme, coffee, tea and herbal infusions during breaks, and an official certificate of completion.
Accommodation, flights, and meals are not included.
What language is the course delivered in?
The course is delivered in English, but if required, can be delivered in Spanish or Italian. All written materials and documentation are provided in English. Participants are expected to have a working level of English sufficient for group learning and reflection.
Do I need any technical or coding background?
No. The course is designed for professionals with no technical background.
What documentation is issued for Erasmus+ reporting?
Inesto SRL SB issues an official certificate of attendance and completion upon successful participation in the full programme. A Europass Mobility document can be provided upon request. Both documents are accepted for Erasmus+ Individual Reports and organisational quality reporting to National Agencies.
Can we book the course for a group or team?
Yes. We can organise a dedicated edition for a minimum of 12 participants from a single organisation or consortium, including customised dates and programme adaptations.
Contact us at info@inesto.it to discuss.
How do I book, and what is the cancellation policy?
Bookings are confirmed via our Easol listing. A deposit is required to secure a place. Full cancellation terms are provided at the time of booking. Sending organisations whose participants are awaiting a grant decision from their National Agency are encouraged to contact us directly to discuss provisional booking arrangements.