Who We Are
Our Mission
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, a woodland sanctuary on the James Madison University campus, is a public urban garden and forested greenspace that preserves native plant species, provides opportunities for research, and promotes knowledge of the botanical and natural world for people of all ages.
Our Vision
To inspire outdoor engagement in a woodland sanctuary.
May the Forest Be Your Sanctuary
Dear Friends of the Arboretum,
It has been a very exciting, beautiful, and full fall here at the Arboretum!
With the return of JMU student workers and interns, bus-loads of grade school children here for active learning tours, JMU classes gathering daily, and lots of leaf peepers visiting, the season has kicked into high gear with squeals heard across the pond. Forest birdsong has mingled with the percussive sounds of a JMU performing arts class in the understory at the swinging bridge. Much is afoot in the Arboretum these days.
There is a calm excitement felt daily in the At Home in the Woods Family Garden, especially in the mornings, when multiple families gather and play on the features, explore the woods, and learn at the activity cart stationed in the garden. There is such gratitude from families for the new garden. Grandchildren can be seen regularly leading their grandparents by the hand, excited to show-off their new-found fun play space and exploratorium garden.
The Family Garden was dedicated on a beautiful day in early October. We welcomed project contributors to thank and show our appreciation for their hard work. It is with Aimee and Frank Batten’s generosity and caring that this new garden has been made possible. We cannot thank them enough. (See below photos of many who contributed to the garden project.)
Guess what? Changes to the Family Garden continue through the end of this year! Please excuse our new construction, again. We are building a stone-faced small land bridge that children can run under/through by way of the Bramble Scramble dry bed stream. A new rock edged pad was installed to house a very large wooden troll that will be installed in early December, a feature that children and adults alike will love. The garden remains open to be enjoyed while this work ensues. Look for the new changes over the holidays and into the winter.
In addition, new signage has been added at the Family Garden that is colorful and engaging. Be sure to spot the new kiosks at two entrances and one trail entrance that will be completed in early November. We hope the new maps there will make visitor's navigation easy and smooth. Look for our new brochures with the updated maps in them as well. Sandy Hanger at Frazier Signage has done a wonderful job working with us to create these easy-to-read visuals.
Along with the new Family Garden project there is a new sidewalk from the Education Center down to the Plecker Pond Loop that will make navigation less messy. New curbing added at our entrances will make maintenance less labor-intensive during snow season. We are feeling extremely grateful for the improvements that will enhance visitor experience and make spaces easier to care for.
Our annual Harvest Fest event took place on October 22 and provided over 500 visitors and families with a day of wonderful seasonal-based learning, fun activities, and play.
Fall colors continue for a little longer. I am so happy the arboretum can provide such beauty, with so many visitors, who are grateful for the outdoor spaces here. Come be a part of the beauty at the EJC Arboretum,
Jan Sievers Mahon, Arboretum Director
Thank you to our donors!
Each Fall we have the wonderful opportunity to take a look back on the last fiscal year (July 2021 - June 2022), and recognize all of our donor contributions, big and small. Each gift is greatly appreciated and keeps the Arboretum moving forward with our mission of serving as a public garden that preserves native plants species, provides opportunities for research, and promotes knowledge of the botanical and natural world for people of all ages.
$50,000 & Up
The Estate of Dr. Ronald Carrier
$20,000 & Up
The Thomas E McNair Foundation
$10,000 & Up
Mrs. Emily and Dr. William Branscome
$5,000 & Up
Mr. Charles Wymer & Mrs. Diane Wymer | Dr. Pamela Ungar
$1,000 & Up
Dr. Deanna Bowman
Mrs. Meredith Tucker-Stuntz | Ms. Martha Clymer | Mrs. Sharon Jerlinski | Mr. Jeremiah Wilson | Mrs. Keren Adelaar & Mr. Stephen Adelaar | Mr. Douglas Hulvey | Ms. Gail Napora & Mr. Nicholas Napora | Mr. Roland Berg & Mrs. Elizabeth Berg | Mrs. Laura Dansby & Mr. H. Bishop Dansby | The David Family Foundation | Ms. Judith Ligon | Middle Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhodedendron Society | Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum
$300 & Up
Mrs. Towana Moore & Mr. Mack Moore III | Mrs. Susan Brown & Mr. Michael Brown | Ms. Lynn Whitmore | Ms. Sarah Domingus & Mr. Jeff Domingus | Ms. Kathy Thompson & Mr. Tommy Thompson | Ms. Barbara Shifflett & Mr. David Conley | Mr. Gary Broadwater & Mrs. Leshia Broadwater | Mr. Mac Hart
$100 & Up
Ms. Pam Brock & Mr. J. Chrisman Brock | Mrs. Susan Deputy & Dr. Glenn Deputy | Ms. Lucretia Lane | Mr. Thomas Mack & Mrs. Lesley Mack | Mr. M. Clay Moritz Jr. & Ms. Diane Moritz | Mrs. Susan Rabinowitz Esq. & Mr. Paul Rabinowitz | Mr. Philip Stokes | Mr. Wayne Wenger | Mr. Matthew Phillips & Mrs. Brigit Phillips | Dr. Roger Hall | The Honorable Thomas Horne | Ms. Barbara Lewis | Mrs. Phyllis Sonner | Ms. Cynthia Whalen | Ms. Toni Murray | Ms. Milla Wisecarver | Ms. Julia Stutzman Coronado & Mr. Carlos Coronado | Mr. Peter Salmon & Ms. Jane Salmon | Dr. Conley McMullen | Dr. Andrew Logan & Mrs. Noelle Logan | Dr. Ferwerdin AL Barzanji | Ms. Genevieve Carminati | Mr. Eugene Evans | Ms. Jeanne Hammer | Dr. Sandra McDonald | Ms. Anne Murphy | Mr. Andrew Rawdon | Ms. Jennifer Tullo | Ms. Robin Whittemore | Mr. Lloyd Willis & Mrs. Margaret Willis | Mrs. Violet Allain & Dr. Michael Allain | Mrs. Amy Belknap & Mr. Randall Belknap | Mr. Frederick Bourque & Mrs. Lorelei Bourque | Ms. Debby Boyle | Dr. Elizabeth Broderick | Ms. Rebecca Dickinson | Ms. Sandra Dutemple | Mr. David Forrer & Mrs. Patricia Neese | Mrs. Julie Frattarola & Dr. John Frattarola | Mr. William Fridley & Mrs. Peggy Fridley | Ms. Kathleen Green | Ms. Holly Haney & Dr. Bob Kolvoord | Mr. Weston Hatfield & Mrs. Julie Hatfield | Mrs. Janet Hough & Mr. C. Terry Hough | Ms. Barbara Jackson & Mr. William Jackson | Mrs. Avra Kaslow-Leigh & Mr. Kevin Leigh | Ms. Karen Kirk | Ms. Launie Lambert | Mrs. Sherry Leffel & Mr. Eugene Leffel Jr. | Mr. Brian Linger | Mr. James McElligott | Ms. Patricia Negron | Ms. Melinda Peters | Mrs. Lisa Reppert & Mr. Scott Reppert | Mrs. Laura Rinehart & Dr. Stephen Rinehart | Mr. Stephen Roethe | Mr. John Ryder & Mrs. Jane Ryder | Mrs. Pamela Sanders & Mr. Greg Sanders | Ms. Teresa Smith | Ms. Virginia Soden | Spotswood Garden Club
$50 & Up
Ms. Lois Johnson | Dr. Barbara Kreutzer & Dr. David Kreutzer | The Lisle Family Trust | Mr. Stephen Long & Mrs. Jennifer Long | Mr. John Daly & Mrs. Vicky Strickland | Mr. David Evans | Ms. Roberta Farrell | Dr. John Goetschius | Mr. Jason Heimberg | Ms. Barbara Jarvis | Ms. Marie Santiago | Ms. Janet Smith | Ms. Adrie Voors | Mr. Ronald Arehart & Mrs. Catherine Arehart | Mrs. Edith Bentley & Mr. George Bentley | Mr. Thomas Bowles & Mrs. Patricia Bowles | Mr. Edwin Bumbaugh & Ms. Jane Cox | Ms. Lynne Cordary & Mr. Darrell Cordary | Mrs. Karen Craun & Mr. William Craun Jr. | Mr. Michael Crone & Mrs. Claudia Crone | Mr. Randall Emry | Mr. Dale Gasque | Mr. Craig Hopson & Mrs. Sharon Hopson | Mrs. Laura Kuykendall & Mr. David Kuykendall | Ms. Elizabeth Lipps | Mrs. Geraldine Maloney & Mr. Edward Maloney | Ms. Joy Martin | Ms. Ramona Messenger | Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference | Ms. Karen Milne | Ms. Ellen Motley & Mr. Michael Motley | Dr. Lori Pyle | Mrs. Sarah Schrenk | Ms. Joan Schulze | Ms. Catherine Sennyey & Mr. Pongracz Sennyey | Ms. Janet Shifflett & Mr. Ron Shifflett | Mrs. Elisabeth Swanbery & Mr. Adam Swanbery | Mrs. Carolyn Swaney & Mr. Dennis Swaney | Mr. Taylor Troxell & Mrs. Kelly Troxell | Mrs. Denise Whitman | Mr. Robert Wood & Ms. Cheryl Wood | Mr. Robert Yeo
Under $50
Ms. Jan Sievers Mahon and Mr. Dan Mahon | Mrs. Martha Kidd & Mr. Donald Kidd | Dr. Cindy Klevickis & Mr. Stephen Klevickis | Mrs. Mary R. May | Ms. Kerry Mellette & Mr. Peter Mellette | Mr. Eric Miller & Mrs. Jennifer Miller | Mrs. Kimberly Seymour & Mr. Kevin Seymour | Mrs. Pamela Sponaugle | Ms. Sheree Will & Mr. Gregory Will | Mrs. Beth Scharlop | Ms. Elaine Smith | Mr. Christopher Arcangeli | Ms. Eleanor Baker | Ms. Emily Blake & Mr. Jonas Blake | Ms. Alison Bodkin | Ms. Valerie Bogan | Mrs. Sarah Boucher | Ms. Jennifer Branigan | Mr. Mark Briehl & Mrs. Pam Briehl | Ms. Cynthia Cline | Mr. John Daly & Ms. Ashley Daly | Mrs. Patricia Dickey & Mr. Frank Dickey | Mr. Timothy DiNapoli & Dr. Jessica Adolino | Mr. Damian Dirscherl | Ms. Svetlana Dmitrieva & Dr. Sergiy Dmytriyev | Mrs. Rosetta Donnenwirth & Mr. Robert Donnenwirth | Mrs. Robin Dyer & Mr. Tom Dyer | Ms. Marion Easter & Mr. John Easter | Ms. Joyce Edwards & Mr. George Edwards | Dr. Chiara Elmi | Mrs. Dana Fenner | Ms. Gail Fisher | Mrs. Marsha FitzGerald & Mr. Michael FitzGerald | Ms. Dana Flanders | Mr. Michael Frazier & Ms. Anne-Margaret Frazier | Ms. Diana Fritz | Ms. Rosemary Grace | Ms. Victoria Groene | Ms. Lisa Hamilton | Ms. Deborah Harriman | Mr. Aidan Harris | Ms. Iris Haseloff | Ms. Jewel Hertzler | Ms. Sara Hodges | Ms. Kathleen Holm | Ms. Cynthia Jenkins & Mr. Larry Jenkins | Mrs. Pamela Johnson & Mr. Michael Johnson | Ms. Sally Johnston & Mr. Keith Johnston | Ms. Rae Kasdan | Ms. Brenda Kepner | Ms. Jeannie Klemt & Mr. Paul Klemt | Ms. Katherine Lacharite | Ms. Elizabeth Lane & Mr. John Lane | Mrs. Karen Lee & Mr. Melvin Lee | Ms. Beth Lehman | Ms. Diane Lepkowski | Mr. Michael Loker & Ms. Montana Hill | Ms. Linda Matkins | Ms. Susan McClary & Mr. Jim McClary | Ms. Danielle McIntyre | Mrs. Sue McKown & Dr. Bob McKown | Mr. Brian McReynolds | Ms. Yolo Moonsh-Adow | Dr. Carole Nash & Mr. John Eckman | Ms. Sarah Pritchard | Ms. Roberta Reasoner & Dr. Cynthia Bauerle | Ms. Claire Reeger | Ms. Angeline Schmidt | Mrs. Denise Skladany & Mr. George Skladany | Ms. Shawnee Small | Ms. Autumn Smith | Ms. Debra Smith | Ms. Myra Sneed | Mr. Bruce Stambaugh & Ms. Neva Stambaugh | Ms. Scout Sullivan-Fielding | Ms. Lisa Sweeney & Mr. John Sweeney | Mr. Stephen Talley & Mrs. Emily Smith-Talley | Ms. Annett Tomlin Tobey | Mr. Phil Troska | Mr. Vince Ventimigua | Mr. Richard Walter | Mrs. Mary Warner & Mr. Kevin Warner | Ms. Valerie Washington | Ms. Cynthia Westley | Ms. Rebecca Whitmeyer | Dr. Jennifer Wiley | Ms. Kelli Williams | Ms. Jan Worthy | Brewbike | Ms. Kristi McDonnell | Mr. William Parker & Mrs. Margaret Parker | Mrs. June Stipic & Mr. John Stipic | Ms. Cathy Thomas & Mr. Jay Thomas | Ms. Donna Wampler | Mrs. Judith Allison & Mr. James Allison | Ms. Betty Barrack | Ms. Pamela Beverage | Mrs. Linda Chelmow & Mr. Don Welsh | Mr. Matthew Contento & Ms. Wah Wu | Ms. Janet Crowther | Mrs. Anna Rose Geary & Dr. Robert Geary Jr. | Mrs. Glenda Kohlhafer-Regan & Mr. Harvey Regan | Ms. Amanda LeFranc | Ms. Ann Leith | Ms. Barbara Panigot & Mr. Joseph Panigot | Mr. Judson Potter | Mrs. Connie Reitz & Mr. John Reitz | Mrs. Lisa Shindler | Mrs. Mary Shisler & Mr. Kirk Shisler | Mrs. Janice Snyder & Mr. Jeffrey Snyder | Mrs. Bridgette Walsh & Mr. Patrick Walsh | Mr. Eric Nickel & Mrs. Jaclyn Nickel | Ms. Anita Brown | Dr. Tehani Finch | Mrs. Kathryn Mulvihill & Mr. Douglas Mulvihill | Mr. Benjamin Blake | Mr. Ryan Luckay & Ms. Erin Clancy | Ms. Michelle Patrick | Dr. Scott Hammond & Ms. Cheree Hammond | Ms. Lindsay Aldrich & Mr. Jeremy Aldrich | Ms. Nora Sutton & Mr. Kyle Rothemich
Celebrating 18 Years of Service
This August, we celebrated the retirement of Lisa Bauer after 22 years of service with the state, 18 of those at the EJC Arboretum. Lisa has contributed greatly to expanding our greenhouse/nursery area, the health of arboretum plants and trees, and overall beauty found within the arboretum. A horticulturist, arborist, nature enthusiast, and leading woman in the industry, Lisa not only grew hundreds of plants, trees, shrubs, etc. each year, she developed new strategies and has been a major contributor to many arboretum projects. Lisa will be missed at the arboretum. We welcome visitors to come view the beauty she worked so hard to cultivate within the arboretum.
A Special Tree Dedication
A Day of Celebration and Thanks
On October 6, staff gathered to thank our At Home in the Woods Family Garden project contributors during a special dedication ceremony. The designers, donors, collaborators, and contractors were all thanked for their many efforts and expertise, along with the volunteers who helped get the garden planted and continue helping weekly.
Click on any photo to view slideshow.
The At Home in the Woods Family Garden is dedicated to this community and to all who come here to play and discover in these spaces. May it be a source of joy to many. And may those who grow up in the garden come to know, in their bodies, how powerful outdoor play and nature immersion is for their well-being. May they come to truly feel, "At Home in the Woods".
May all creatures, whose home the Family Garden truly is, adapt to the increased volume of humans sharing their home with them.
A Poem About the At Home in the Woods Family Garden by Simeon Warner
I write in my nature book with a pen
I do not live in that skunk den
There might be a mouse
I just love that house
The water is wet
The steps are steep
The web is wobbly
Watch your feet!
You can read
You can write
You can do whatever you like
-Simeon Warner
Kind Words
“I just want to say how much I LOVE the updated family play area! My daughter absolutely adores it. Also, the restrooms and water fountain addition on that side is tremendous as well. Some terrific thought and planning went into the updated area and it is so appreciated.” - Lisa Schneider
"Thank you for this Garden." - Simeon Warner
"The Garden is such a wonderful place to be, thank you for creating this for our community." - Anonymous
Volunteer Highlight
Become a Family Garden Activity Cart Volunteer
Our brand new Activity Cart is here! Crafted by local Rocktown Urban Wood, our activity cart is full of environmental education opportunities that families may enjoy during their visit to the At Home in the Woods Family Garden. Volunteers are needed to present activities to visitors in 2 hour shifts. If you are interested in being an Activity Cart Volunteer, please contact Janis Traas at traasjm@jmu.edu or click here to sign up!
Enhancing our Visitor Experience
View the new EJC Arboretum Map!
We're Glad You're Our Neighbor:
Extending the Invitation and Expanding Access to the Greater Community at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
In efforts to reach the greater community and enhance the experience of limited English proficient visitors, staff participated in the IDEA Grant made available through the JMU Office of Access & Inclusion. The Arboretum was awarded funds to create various translated promotional materials in Spanish and Arabic, and some programming offered in Spanish. Although it is difficult to accomplish these efforts in all languages, we are excited about the opportunity to reach more than yesterday, and build in the future.
Welcome Brochure
Coming soon:
- Youth Scavenger Hunt rack cards, offered in Spanish and Arabic languages, available at the Frances Plecker Education Center
- Bilingual Storytime in the Understory
- Gnome Home/Fairy House Making program offered in the Spanish language
If you or someone you know is interested in leading a program in the Spanish language, please contact Katie Rankin at rankinkt@jmu.edu or call 540-568-3194.
Destination Marketing
The fusion of Jarrell’s brand, Nomarama, and Heidi Joy’s brand, High Joy Love, support living life to the fullest by visiting and becoming familiar with creative people and small businesses/organizations throughout Virginia. Through various promotional channels and participation in community events, they communicate the power of play and build enthusiasm behind experiencing outdoor destinations, to become healthier, happier people. Jarrell Williams has been selected by the Virginia Tourism Corporation as their November feature of their Heart and Soul Campaign. He selected the City of Harrisonburg to be the featured VA destination for his campaign and the EJC Arboretum as one of the 5 Harrisonburg destinations to be represented! The arboretum thanks the staff at Harrisonburg Tourism for connecting us with Jarrell and Heidi Joy and looks forward to future representation through their brand and through VTC promotions.
Did You Know?
Fun Facts
- Frost - For a hard frost to form on plants it must drop to 28 degrees for 5 or more hours before frost will kill them. This explains why most plants are tolerant to cold morning hours in the spring and fall.
- Flooding in the Arboretum - It has been over 3 years since the arboretum has experienced a large flood event. Knock on wood but a few of us are suspecting that time and mitigation efforts have created a situation where the larger flood events are not happening so frequently; a wonderful surprise, if it turns out to be true! The arboretum will still flood, just not the across-the-pond, up-the-trails, over-the-bridge flood events that are hard on the gardens. Look for more on why we be avoiding such extreme flooding in our winter newsletter.
Homegrown National Park with Doug Tallamy
This October presentation is now available on YouTube! Many have heard Dr. Tallamy speak and understand how potent his presentations can be. Even if you've heard him before, we highly recommend you view this very compelling program offered through Blue Ridge PRISM last month.
Leave the Leaves by Sarah Hatfield
The treetops are fiery. The ground is starting to glow with the golds, browns, and tans of autumn. Goldenrod is waning and the hickories and beeches are taking their turn adding that particular hue to the landscape. As all of this color starts a riot in the forests, hedgerows, and lawns, the great “war on leaves” begins.
People with rakes, leaf blowers, and lawn tractors that pile and suck up all those glorious leaves are ramping up for victory… a lawn clear of leaves! I view this as tragic, for so many reasons. Nutrient loss, habitat loss, compromised shelter, depletion of resources, waste.
I mean, let’s think about it for a minute. The trees use water and sunlight and carbon dioxide and minerals and nutrients from the soil. With these they make leaves, new twigs, sugar, and wood. As fall approaches, those leaves fall, no longer needed for the winter for photosynthesis. They are still filled with nutrients and minerals. If those leaves stay on the ground, they decompose (with the help of some fantastic bacteria, fungi, and microscopic and macroscopic critters) and return those nutrients to the soil where the tree and other plants can reuse them.
If you remove those leaves — pack them neatly into yard waste bags and send them to the dump, rake them to the curb for the leaf truck to suck up, pile them into the ditch and burn them – you have just removed a significant amount of nutrients from your lawn, landscaping, and trees. Rather than adding fertilizer, which is what most people do for their landscaping, you are actually removing it. Why? . . .
To read the whole article click the link below:
Did you know? Many pollinator bees overwinter in leaves and we encourage you to provide secure shelter for the winter seasons. You may do this by leaving the leaves for our winged friends.
Visit www.leaveleavesalone.org for more information about what you can do in your yard.
This Fall & Winter...
Fall Forest Bathing
with Annette Naber
Wednesday, November 9 | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Free Admission
Forest Bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a form of preventative medicine with many scientific studies confirming its beneficial impacts on our sense of well-being and physical health. Experience some of the mindful and multi-sensory exercises that make forest bathing an enjoyable and beneficial nature therapy. Join Annette Naber of Emerald Mountain Sanctuary in this guided walk. Please dress for the weather. We will meet at the Arboretum Pavilion.
Park in the EJC Arboretum main parking lots, along University Blvd in our event overflow parking, or in the R5 lot at the top of the hill (Costco side).
Fall Sound Bathing
with Connie Magee
Tuesday, November 15 | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Registration Fee: $20
Using gongs, crystal and Tibetan bowls, voice, drums, shakers, and chimes, Connie Magee will take you on a sound journey that will relax and de-stress you and bring your whole being back into a state of harmony on all levels; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Connie Magee is a multi-modality massage therapist, medicine woman, Yoga Instructor, and meditation teacher.
Park in the EJC Arboretum main parking lots, along University Blvd in our event overflow parking, or in the R5 lot at the top of the hill (Costco side). This sound bathing program will take place in the Frances Plecker Education Center.
Bring a yoga mat and blanket or jacket.
November - December Art Exhibition
Featuring Kary Haun
In studying and working in ceramics for 30 years, I have always been fascinated by the complex problem of integrating three essential elements of ceramic design: form, surface, and function.
What I love most about creating functional pieces of art is the vision of their usefulness. The idea of the viewer or user having a relationship with the piece that speaks to their love of food and drink whether pouring, serving or sipping. While I am creating my work, I am very concerned with its function. At the same time, I wish to elevate the experience of everyday life to something extraordinary.
-Kary Haun
Upcoming Youth Programs
All Youth Programs are FREE admission unless otherwise specified.
Storytime in the Understory
Mondays, Nov 21, Dec 5, 19 | 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Pre-School - Elementary Age Suggested
Bring a blanket and come enjoy 30 minutes of nature-themed reading. We will meet in the At Home in the Woods Family Garden in our new Storytime area! In case of wet weather, Storytime will take place inside the Frances Plecker Education Center.
Fairy House/Gnome Home Building
Tuesday, November 8 | 10:00 AM
Pre-School - Elementary Age Suggested
We will meet in Fairy World in the At Home in the Woods Family Garden to explore the magic and wonder of the outdoors with a story together, then have free space to build a habitat out of found natural materials for our fairy and gnome friends!
Nature Study Series
Tuesdays, Nov 15, 29, Dec 13 | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
All Ages Welcome
Has wonder and curiosity about the natural world ever made you stop and look a little closer? What’s that called? How does it grow? Getting to know our flora is a rewarding life-long skill that just takes a little effort to cultivate. Drop in for our free nature study series for families: we’ll meet at the arboretum pavilion, take a short nature walk through the Arboretum, then hone in for a close look at one of our native plants! We will make careful observations, learn some facts and lore, and do a little relaxed sketching. Bring a notebook or paper and some colored pencils, but we’ll have extras on hand. Registration requested but not required.
Sound in Nature
A Forest Soundscape Program
Monday, November 7 | 4 PM
For Elementary Age Explorers
How does sound change in different environments? How do animals communicate through rhythms? Percussive instruments will be provided as we discover the workings of sound in the natural world and use what we learn as inspiration with our instruments.
Bird Wings
Wednesday, November 16 | 10:00 AM
For Pre-School Age Explorers
All birds have wings, but each bird has its own unique kind based on what it needs! Join us at the pavilion to explore how wings and feathers work. Our exploration will include making a model to take home.
Wondercraft: Create-A-Bird
Friday, December 9 | 10:00 AM
For Pre-School to Elementary Age Explorers
Join us at the arboretum pavilion as we explore the world of adaptations that birds use to live and thrive in the wild, as well as design our own birds and bird eggs!
What Have We Been Up To?
Enjoy a slideshow of photos from programs and events that took place this Summer and Fall 2022. Some events represented include the August Explorer Camp, Fall Wine & Cheese, Annual Harvest Fest, Fall Plant & Bulb Sale, and more! Click on any photo for slideshow mode.
Save the Date!
Festive Greens
December | (Exact Date/Time TBD)
Annual Litten Lecture
A Forest Soundscape Program
February 24 | Time TBD
We are excited to announce this year's Litten Lecture will be held at the
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts in the Recital Hall
Terrarium Workshop
with Instructor, Amanda Tutwiler, of Sparrow's Floral Design
Tuesday, February 28 | 5:30 PM
Saturday March 4 | 10 AM