2009 MHTA 31st ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 13-14, 2009
HORTICULTURAL THERAPY: CONNECTING PEOPLE AND PLANTS
Sensory Gardens for the Young and Young at Heart
Saturday Workshop ~ Therapeutic Sensory Gardening Activities
MSU Plant and Soil Sciences Building Auditorium
We want to thank everyone who registered for our conference
Please join us next year - date still be determined
The Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association held its 31st annual conference, "Horticultural Therapy: Connecting People & Plants," on Friday, March 13, 2009 at Michigan State University. The conference was held at the Plant & Soil Sciences Building in conjunction with Agriculture and Natural Resources week.
The keynote address, "Sensory Gardens for the Young and Young at Heart" was presented by Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, HTR, CAPS. The MHTA conference also featured informative breakout sessions, book sales, hands-on workshops, displays, refreshments, door prizes, Seedy Character contest, and optional visit to the MSU Indoor/Outdoor Children's Garden. This event was useful to anyone interested in learning how the people-plant interaction brings therapeutic change and improves well-being in a variety of settings. Aspects of horticultural therapy can enhance occupational and recreational therapy programs, adult day services, children's programs, school gardens, community and healing gardens, corrections, hospice, medical care/mental health and rehabilitation settings.
Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, HTR, CAPS has over 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist and developmental specialist. She is Owner of The Thymely Gardener (www.thethymelygardener.com), a unique organization committed to blending principles of universal design with innovative strategies and solutions to provide a personalized approach to making gardens and gardening practices accessible to all adults and children. In addition to her work with The Thymely Gardener, Amy is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Lasell College in Newton, MA. One of the classes that Amy designed and continues to teach is; Plants and People. Amy is the author of three books, a CD, and numerous articles. As a master gardener, Amy has been able to nurture and fulfill the "green" side of her life. Amy's interests in gardening include universal, therapeutic, and sensory garden design and practices, organic gardening practices, children's gardens, growing and using herbs, and herbal cosmetics and tea making.
If you'd like information about the 2010 Annual Conference, please contact:
Cathy Flinton, HTR, 517-332-1616 x 238, Cathy@mhtachapter.org
Kathy Carroll, Kathy@mhtachapter.org
John Murphy, 269/345-6039 - evenings
SATURDAY WORKSHOP
Therapeutic Sensory Gardening Activities
March 14, 2009
MSU Plant and Soil Sciences Building
This workshop was only available to MHTA members (non-members were encouraged to join for only $20 - membership form).
A second event was held on Saturday, March 14, "Therapeutic Sensory Gardening Activities," was facilitated by Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, HTR, CAPS. This workshop provided in-depth information on the therapeutic benefits of sensory gardening, how to develop and implement a therapeutic sensory gardening activity for target populations, group discussion and hands-on experience of sensory gardening activities. Refreshments and a book sale were available to participants.
If you'd like information about the 2010 Annual Conference, please contact:
Cathy Flinton, HTR, 517-332-1616 x 238, Cathy@mhtachapter.org
Kathy Carroll, Kathy@mhtachapter.org
John Murphy, 269/345-6039 - evenings