Los Alamos Launches Certified Forest Therapy Guide Training Program

On November 25, 2025 Los Alamos County Social Services unveiled a new opportunity for residents to become Certified Forest Therapy Guides in partnership with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. The program, free and open to community members ages 18 and older, requires a letter of interest submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025. Applicants will be reviewed and scored by a committee and notified of acceptance on Friday, December 19, 2025.

The training begins January 26, 2026 and runs for six months in a remote format, with weekly sessions held from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants will complete weekly assignments, practice hands on experiential lessons, lead small groups into local natural areas, and report experiences through an online learning platform. The virtual training will culminate in an in person immersion in Los Alamos with the full cohort in late May 2026. The County describes the initiative as a train the trainer model designed to build local expertise in guided nature experiences rooted in mindfulness and connection to nature.

For residents interested in sampling the approach before committing to the certification, Forest Bathing An Introduction led by Kristie Coblentz will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Mesa Library. More information and application details are available on the Social Services webpage. For direct inquiries contact Social Services Manager Jessica Strong at jessica.strong@losalamosnm.gov or 505.662.8312.

Locally the program has practical implications for public health and community services. By training residents to lead structured nature based sessions, the County can broaden nonclinical supports for stress reduction and mental wellbeing while leveraging existing outdoor assets. The program aligns with broader trends in preventive health that emphasize community led interventions and low cost alternatives to formal clinical care. Partnering with ANFT, a global leader in Forest Therapy Guide training, also signals an investment in recognized standards that could support future collaborations with schools, senior services, and parks programs. For residents, participation offers skills to facilitate accessible nature experiences, and for the County it builds local capacity to promote wellbeing across Los Alamos neighborhoods.