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AHTA National Conference, Burlington, VT
September 8, 2017 - September 9, 2017
$270 – $435If you have an event you feel is of interest to our members and would like to advertise this event please email [email protected] so that we can incorporate it into our calendar schedule.
Join us in Burlington, Vermont for the 2017 AHTA Annual Conference. Hosted by the Northeast Horticultural Therapy Network, the Conference will bring together horticultural professionals from around the world. Pre-tours will feature local gardens and programs. Add in the bonus of the Fall “Leaf Peeper” season and you have the perfect combination of networking, education and fun! The conference will be held at the Burlington Hilton Hotel in the heart of the city.
AHTA has reserved a block of rooms at the Burlington Hilton Hotel located at 60 Battery Street in downtown Burlington which is now open and filling rapidly!
Registration Schedule
Check the AHTA website often and watch your email for more information.
Will Rapp Kenote Speaker
Charlie Nardozzi and Donna Covais, HTR
Plenary Speakers
Charlie Nardozzi, nationally recognized garden speaker, TV and radio show host, and Donna Covais, HTR, have worked in Vermont communities for many years bringing the benefits of horticulture as a therapeutic tool to groups such as veterans, children, and the aging population. In this talk they will highlight their unique approach to horticultural therapy where the keys to success are building partnerships, creative thinking and innovation. Using examples from their programs, Charlie and Donna will expand the traditional boundaries of HT delighting you with their positive attitudes, smiles, and a bit of Psychology, enabling them to bring the benefits of HT to a wide range of people.
View a presentation below…
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Contacts:
Lorraine Brisson at [email protected] or call (413) 268-3660(H)
Valerie Barrett at [email protected] or call (914) 954-8575(M)
New NEHTN Event
Lake Champlain Ferry Excursion
Although not as luxurious as a cruise ship, the view of the mountains and lake will be just as spectacular. Snack food can be purchased on the ferry; however, passengers are allowed to bring their own food and beverages on board if you so choose.
During the ride, NEHTN members who have made a significant contribution to the success of the conference will be recognized in an awards ceremony.
Please join us for a fun evening of sightseeing and socializing! We will depart the Hilton lobby at 4:10p.m. Please dress warmly, as the evenings on the water may be chilly at this time of year.
AHTA Site Visit Tour Agenda
Tours are now closed out. Self guided tour option information will be posted soon.
For additional information on many attractions in the Burlington, VT area please click here.
September 7, 2017
8:30 a.m. Depart Burlington Hilton, drive 1.5 miles
The Intervale – Tommy Thompson Community Garden
Carolina Lukac 860-391-3536 (m)
Carolina Lukac, Garden Education Manager and Teaching Garden Instructor will provide a tour of the Tommy Thompson Community Garden, the largest of the city of Burlington’s community gardens with 3 acres and 150+ individual garden plots. Hundreds of people grow food in this vibrant and diverse space. The garden is also home to the Community Teaching Garden, a 22-week garden education program of the nonprofit Vermont Community Garden Network. Adult students learn how to grow, preserve, and use fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers in a collaborative learning environment. More information is available at http://vcgn.org/what-we-do/community-teaching-garden/
9:45 a.m. Depart the Intervale, drive 3.3 miles
Grand Way Adult Day Center
Donna Covais 802-310-0608 (m)
Vermont Nursing Association’s Grand Way Adult Day Center is a special community that provides social activities, healthy meals and opportunities to meet new friends in a safe and homelike environment with nursing oversight. Clients receive comprehensive health, social and therapeutic services that help maintain their current level of activity and promote physical and mental health. Grand Way Memory Care Day program specializes in caring for persons with memory loss. Donna Covais, HTR, will provide a tour of Grand Ways’ Horticultural Therapy Program, one of the most popular activities. This is Vermont’s only formal horticultural therapy program. Donna facilitates this program and along with her crew of Master Gardeners helps maintain these gardens. A wide variety of activities using the garden bounty features growing favorite vegetables for clients, making a variety of floral and green products for drying, wreath making and much more.
11:00 a.m. Depart Grand Way, drive 2.7 miles
The University of Vermont Medical Center Rooftop Garden
Lisa Hoare, 802-598-5963 (m)
Servicing the Garden Atrium exclusively, the Rooftop Garden is maintained by the hospital’s gardener, Lisa Hoare, and a handful of dedicated volunteers. Growing lots of lettuces, tomatoes, fresh basil and other herbs, zucchini, tomatillos, eggplant and more, the Rooftop Garden supplied over 700 pounds of produce last year! The rooftop garden also provides fresh cut flowers for the tables in the café and has started working with a very small patient group to begin introducing some of the healing benefits of being in the garden to our patient community. Enjoyed by visitors, students, hospital employees and even patients, the garden provides a peaceful space to enjoy a healthy meal surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature under cultivation.
12:00 noon Walk short distance to UVM Campus Gardens
University of Vermont Campus Gardens & Raised Beds
Dr. Mark Starrett, 802-999-5467 (m)
Dr. Mark Starrett, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Horticulture and Dr. Stephanie Hurley’s lab group will provide a tour of the campus gardens and raised beds. The highlight of the raised beds will include scented plants, annuals and herbaceous perennials. Dr. Starrett will provide an overview of the plan to have a plant identification system include a QR code and braille tags. The garden tour will feature the sustainable landscaping, bioswales, the plant identification system and braille tags.
1:00 p.m. Depart UVM, drive 6.2 miles. Arrive at 1:30 p.m. for Garden of Eatin’ bag lunch
Gardener’s Supply Company
Avery Harris 802-660-3521 (m)
Avery Harris, Public Relations and Pure Play Coordinator will provide a tour. Founded in 1983, Gardeners Supply Company is an employee owned company selling high quality garden tested and earth friendly products for gardeners. Gardener’s Supply Company donates 8% of pre-sale profits to support programs and organizations that are using gardening to improve the quality of people’s lives and the health of our environment. In 2014, Gardens Supply Company became a certified B-corporation, a company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Local donations help support fifty community organizations. Gardener’s Supply Company is the founder and lead sponsor of the Intervale Center. Our visit to the Williston Garden Center and Outlet store will include time for shopping and strolling the display gardens.
Depart for the Burlington Hilton at 3:30 p.m.
2017 HT Activity Guide
This year will be an exciting year with NEHTN hosting the AHTA Annual Conference in Burlington, VT! This provides our regional group with an opportunity to do some fundraising, one of which will be an HT Activity Guide.
An easy way for you to support NEHTN is by submitting one or more of your favorite horticultural activities for inclusion in the HT Activity Guide.
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Burlington, VT 05401 United States + Google Map