Wellbeing in Nature Practitioner Certificate – Level 3
The Wellbeing in Nature (WIN) certificate will enable you to understand the principles of wellbeing, develop the skills of effective leadership and facilitation to more confidently lead nature based wellbeing groups.
The training is suitable for anyone who is currently working with groups who support improvements in health and wellbeing or anyone who has an interest in developing their skills in order to work in this sector.
The course costs £950.00 which includes assessement and certification.
Our current course is currently underway. Our next courses cohort 3 will begin in July 2022 please read through this page before signing up to our training.
Cohort 3 – July 2022 to March 2023 – apply to join via the form below.
Page Contents:
Course Background
The Agored Cymru Level 3 Certificate and Extended Certificate for Wellbeing in Nature Practitioners qualification is the result of a pan Wales partnership consultation of research and development. It recognises the skills and experience required for practitioners offering nature-based activities for health and wellbeing.
With the need for Social Prescribing increasing, this qualification enables those who have responsibility for making referrals to have confidence in the quality of service provided. It aims to give the students the confidence, knowledge and skills to engage with people who have health and wellbeing needs and to deliver appropriate sessions or programmes.
Reconnect in Nature has been a key partner in the development of this qualification and we are excited to be one of the pioneering organisations to deliver this innovative training course.
Course Content
The certificate consists of 3 mandatory units:
1. Principles of Wellbeing in Nature:
The purpose of this unit is to explore the factors which contribute to human wellbeing and to gain an appreciation of the multiple wellbeing benefits that being in nature can have. It looks at current health and initiatives and legislation, and theories of wellbeing and behaviour change, and how these can be used to inform practice.
2. Facilitating Wellbeing in Nature :
The focus of this unit is on developing the skills to enable effective facilitation and leadership of nature-based wellbeing groups. It has both a theoretical and practical element and requires the student to develop and run a 6 weeks wellbeing in nature programme with a relevant client group.
3. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources:
The aim of this unit is to develop an understanding of ecosystems and the sustainable management and use of natural resources in order to apply the principles to the students own site and practice. It focuses on developing an awareness of the wellbeing of the natural environment in which the practitioner is working.
*Please note: This course does not teach students the skills and knowledge of delivering the practical element and practical skills of their specific genres. They will need to have this practical skills set in place or will need to undertake further training. The optional units which form part of the extended certificate offer some practical training that may be of interest in this instance.
What standard of work is required?
This is an Agored Cymru Level 3 qualification which is equivalent to A-level standard. Some of the Optional units available for the Extended certificate are Level 2 which are taught at GCSE grades A*-C level.
How will you be assessed?
Written assessments
You will be required to provide a written portfolio of evidence to show your understanding of the Assessment Criteria for each unit. A workbook will be supplied for guidance for evidence required.
Practical Assessment Unit 2 (Facilitating Wellbeing in Nature) requires you to deliver a Nature based health and wellbeing programme, one session of which will be observed. The programme should involve at least 6 sessions of half a day each (so could be 3 whole days or 6 half days). Please note that some answers to questions for your written portfolio will require reference/linking to the actual site you will be using for session delivery.
For the practical delivery elements of the course there are 3 options:
- You deliver a programme as part of your existing work.
- If you are not currently working with an organisation delivering nature based health and wellbeing activities, you can deliver a programme for an organisation operating such sessions in your area.
- Reconnect in Nature may be able to facilitate you helping to deliver one of our programmes
Who is the qualification for?
This qualification is suitable for anyone who is currently working with groups who are focusing on improvements in health and wellbeing or anyone who has an interest in developing their skills in order to work in this sector.
Entry Requirements
- Age 18 or over for all qualifications at Level 3.
- Have a level 2 or above qualification in a relevant area OR be able to demonstrate experience of working with adults or young people in a leadership capacity.
- Appropriate insurance cover and permissions for delivering Learning in Natural Environments programmes with your client group.
Recommendations
- Relevant 1st Aid qualification.
- Food hygiene certificate if intending to cook food in the outdoors.
Course dates and delivery schedule
Cohort 3 course commences on 2nd July 2022.
| Unit | Delivery Mode | Dates - Saturdays |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 - Unit 1 principles | Day 1 , live delivery, woods | 2nd July - 9.30am-6pm |
| Session 2 - Unit 1 principles | Zoom 1 - online delivery | 9th July - 9:30 - 12:30 |
| Session 3 - Unit 2 facilitating | Day 2 , live delivery, woods | 23rd July - 9.30am-6pm |
| Session 4 - Unit 2 facilitating | Zoom 2 - online delivery | 30th July - 9:30 - 12:30 |
| Session 5 - Unit 3 Sustainable use of resources | Zoom 3 - online delivery | 13th August - 9:30 - 12:30 |
| Session 6 - Unit 3 Sustainable use of resources | Day 3 , live delivery, woods | 20th August 9.30am-6pm |
| Practical delivery nature based health and wellbeing programme. | The programme should involve at least 6 sessions of half a day each (so could be 3 whole days or 6 half days). One of the practical session will be observed. | To be completed by 1st March 2023 |
| Group mentoring session 1 | Zoom session to support students progress and complete the certificate. | Tuesday 27th September 7-8.30pm |
| Group mentoring session 2 | Zoom session to support students progress and complete the certificate. | Tuesday 8th November 7-8.30pm |
Unit 1 Written Assginment due by 1st October 2022
Unit 2 Written Assginment due by 1st November 2022
Unit 3 Written Assginment due by 1st December 2022
How long will the course take?
| Qualification Title | Credits | Estimated Guided Learning Hours / Taught Time | Estimated amount of self-study time (in hours) | Total Qualification Time (in hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Certificate for Wellbeing in Nature Practioners | 13 | 30 | 100 | 130 |
Extended Certificate for Wellbeing in Nature Practitioners | 21 | 76 | 134 | 210 |
Progression Routes
Lateral progression from the Outdoor Learning Training Network (OLTN) suite e.g. Level 3 Outdoor Learning Co-ordinator, Forest School or Coastal School Practitioner.
For those who wish to deliver this qualification in the future: Further guidelines on pre-requisites for being a trainer are available in the Outdoor Learning Training Network qualification guidelines documents.
In development – L4 Training the Trainer qualification.
Woodland Location
Fynonne Woodlands, Bwlchygroes, Pembrokeshire.
You will recieve detailed instructions on the location and meeting point once signed up to the course.
Note a significant portion of this course will be delivered online via Zoom.
Course Leaders
We have an experienced and skilled team of educators who will be delivering the course. Reconnect in Nature is a not for profit social enterprise and since 2009 we have been successfully leading groups in nature based wellbeing activities.
Andrew Dugmore MSc – Mental Health Recovery, Phd student. Mental health and wellbeing educator.
Andrew has worked successfully with many groups and individuals, leading people into a deep awareness and connection with the natural environment and each other, helping to improve their wellbeing and outlook. He is a very experienced mental health trainer and presenter, having delivered training to many national organisations and educational establishments across Wales, UK and overseas.
Suzi Tarrant MSc – Clinical Psychologist, Ecotherapist and Green Health Consultant.
Suzi has nearly 30 years’ experience within mental health and staff wellbeing services in the NHS and in private psychotherapy practice. She is an experienced trainer and group facilitator in the field of wellbeing, nature connection and leadership development and works with individuals, groups and leaders to deepen our relationship with the natural living world. www.suzitarrant.com
Jasmine Dale BA – Facilitator, Trainer, and Mentor specialsing in ecosystems and land stewardship.
Jasmine’s skills include many years of group facilitation, knowledge of landscape and ecosystems. She has trained over 1000 people in landscape regeneration, permaculture design natural building, sustainable living skills and strategies with a focus on deep ecological connection. She is also a qualified forest school leader.
Cost
£950 inclusive of assessments and certification.
There are extra costs for travel for the assessments if they are further than 50 miles.
Deposit of £250
Cancellation Policy
Please find our full cancellation policy here. http://pembrokeshirepaths.co.uk/wellbeing-in-nature-training/attachment/reconnect-in-nature-cancellation-policy/
These are the essentials:
Where a course is cancelled by Reconnect in Nature, we will refund all monies paid to us. In all cases liability will only extend to the refund of monies received in respect to course fees.
Where a participant cancels a course place more than one month prior to the commencement of the course (or where we are able to resell a course place cancelled less than one month prior to the start date) a refund of 75% of the course fee will be made.
Where a participant cancels a course place less than one month prior to the commencement of the course, Reconnect in Nature reserves the right to retain 75% of the course fee.
Register interest for the course
Suitable applicants with the relevant background and experience are invited to apply.
Cohort 3 Open (no closing date yet)
Please register your interest on Google Forms here
Extended Certificate for Wellbeing in Nature Practitioners – level 3
For those wishing to complete the Extended Certificate, who wish to specialise in a particular area or who may need to update specific skills the following optional units are available. These additional units are delivered between the partnership group of delivery partners across Wales:
- Level 2 – Coppice Products
- Level 2 – Outdoor Practical Skills
- Level 3 – Understanding Nature Connection and Using Nature Based Activities for Wellbeing
- Level 3 – Understanding Mental Health
- Level 3 – Positive Approaches to Understanding and Reducing Behaviours that Challenges
- Level 2 – Participate in land-based activity
- Level 2 – Participate in water-based activity
There are also additional units in development.
If you have any questions on issues with the form then please get in touch via email: