The Healing Forest Institute, Inc was founded in 1998, and incorporated in 2014 by its Founder and President, Dr. G. Hope Asterilla, a native Washingtonian, college professor, former teacher and school administrator. She has over 20 years of management experience with local social service and community based agencies, as well as regional and national non-profit organizations. As a consultant and director of a year round residential camp, she positively impacted the lives of thousands of children from marginalized communities. Her various leadership roles, locally and nationally with the American Camp Association (ACA), enabled her to understand the business of camping, and the principles of planning for youth development programs.