Acer Symposium community is committed to accomplishing succinct, clear, current, and consistent knowledge exchange necessary for a heightened level of advocacy of this specialty as the subject of therapeutic garden design can be expansive and unrestrained.

Each year we aim to spotlight one or two client groups served by these outdoor venues of care.  Our goal is to build a knowledge community through the dynamic sharing of information and ideas, resulting in credible, convincing, evidence-based data that is organized and publishable.  Ultimately our mutual efforts will provide a platform from which we can influence decision-makers, insurers, and consumer advocates whereby the year 2009, we put forth Standards of Practice for Therapeutic Gardens to JACHO, CARF, National Institute of Health (NIH), healthcare insurers and providers, administrators, foundations and donors alike.

Portland, Oregon serves the operational headquarters for the Acer Institute and the site of our inaugural summit, the 2005 Acer Symposium, co-hosted/sponsored by Legacy Health System.  In an effort to link experts from across the country, whereby featuring commendable practice, research and therapeutic gardens, our yearly Acer Symposium summit will travel to various regions in the United States.  The Acer Institute looks forward to building this dynamic knowledge community and engaging regional co-hosts and sponsors.