Events

Upcoming Events for 2026-2027

  • A workshop on the principles and practices of therapeutic horticulture (TH) will be held at the National Botanical Garden of Georgia (NBGG) in Tbilisi October 20-21, 2026. Partnerships for Nature (PN) is leading the workshop together with NBGG, with expertise provided by TH practitioners from the US, Ukraine, and Armenia. Site visits to local organizations hoping to launch TH programs will take place October 22-23. The workshop’s attendees will be primarily from Georgia and Armenia.

  • In 2027 PN plans to work with Ukrainian botanical garden leaders on developing practical strategic plans centered on public programs to help make their work sustainable as well as critically important for their country. A culminating workshop is planned in Warsaw, Poland in May, 2027.

  • Regular online Round Tables, webinars, and workshops with Ukrainian, Georgian, and Armenian botanical gardens and other organizations will take place throughout 2026 and 2027.

Past Events

  • Throughout 2025 and 2026 PN has been supporting and funding a range of projects at Ukrainian botanical gardens to provide nature healing (primarily therapeutic) horticulture and nature education to the public of wartime Ukraine. See PN’s website for more information: https://www.partnerships-for-nature.org

  • In-person workshops in Armenia and southern Poland (for Ukrainian botanical gardens) on Therapeutic Horticulture in the fall of 2024.

  • Site visits and training in London for Ukrainian environmental educators from botanical gardens in the fall of 2024.

  • Regular online Round Table seminars and workshops with educators from Ukrainian, Georgian, and Armenian botanical gardens and other organizations throughout 2024.

  • Workshop for Ukrainian botanical garden educators in southern Poland in October, 2023.

  • Trainings and site visits to environmental education organizations in the Seattle (USA) area by educators from Ukrainian, Georgian, and Armenian botanical gardens September 10-22, 2023.

  • Participation and presentations with partners from Ukraine and Armenia at the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) Annual Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, June 5-8, 2023, followed by visits and presentations at San Diego Botanic Garden and The Hutchinson Botanical Gardens.

  • 2022-present: Online Round Table seminars with Ukrainian botanical gardens on topics relating to environmental education.

  • 2022: Financial assistance to Ukrainian Botanical Gardens in a time of war and recovery.

  • 2022: Workshops in Georgia (Tbilisi and Batumi) for educators in botanical gardens and other organizations, including representatives from Ukraine and Armenia.

  • 2019 - 2021: Workshops in Ukraine and online for educators based in Ukrainian botanical gardens and national parks.

  • 2011 - 2021: Seminars and workshops in Eastern Russia for environmental educators.

  • 2010 - 2019: Working visits to the US by environmental educators from Eastern Russia.

Seminars and workshop topics include:

  • Environmental education techniques and lesson plans for diverse audiences.

  • Therapeutic Horticulture introduction and development of pilot programs.

  • Natural History Interpretation strategies and goals, including signage.

  • Working with volunteers.

  • Development of educational eco-trails.

  • Nature restoration as an environmental and educational activity.

  • Evaluation of environmental education programs.

Note: PN’s exchange with Russia has been placed on hold owing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions.

PN Special Project to Aid Ukrainian Botanical Gardens in a Time of War and Recovery

In May 2022, PN initiated a fundraising campaign to assist Ukrainian botanical gardens in a time of war and recovery by donating $10,000 to four gardens. The campaign was led by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) with PN’s assistance, and expanded to ten gardens featured in BGCI’s outreach materials. Based on strong support from its international members, BGCI increased the funding goal of the campaign to 100,000 British pounds., which the campaign came close to reaching by the end of 2022. The focus of funding was on public programs, retaining staff, and maintenance of collections of Ukrainian botanical gardens. The gardens have been, and still are, serving as critical places of refuge and learning for large numbers of internal refugees and local citizens during this extremely difficult time. BGCI’s Ukraine Appeal is described on pp 16-17 of its Year in Review.


PN continues to work directly with Ukraine botanical gardens and national parks, providing multi-dimensional support for their public programs and goals, and offering input and expertise from international experts in the area of environmental education and outreach.