15 minute read
Education Spotlight
GUIDED SCAVENGER HUNTS, SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ADVENTURE PACKS
Why not make a day of it? Once you’ve booked your Adventure Pack, consider one of our other great visit options:
Indoor and Outdoor Guided and Self-Guided Tours
School Programs
Visit myriadgardens.org for more information and to book your visit today. Adventure Packs are not available on weekends. Adventure Packs are limited. Consider booking in advance. Call (405) 835-6789.
Education Spotlight By Dr. Ann Fleener, Director of Education
We’re very excited to announce the launch of our Adventure Packs program. This program is for both school groups and families and was made possible by a grant from the Hogan Taylor Foundation. Thanks to this great grant, the Adventure Packs are available for FREE until July of 2017.
The packs are designed to provide a selfguided adventure and get kids and parents to interact with the Children’s Garden in a way they might not otherwise. We were first inspired to create these packs when we saw that many people come into the Children’s Garden and hang out primarily on the playground side. While we want families to make use of our great playground space, we also want to see them utilizing the gardens and learning about the amazing plants and animals it contains. The adventure packs are designed to encourage kids, teachers and families to do just that.
Each pack comes with a scavenger hunt, coloring sheet, binoculars, and adventure sheets that guide kiddos through the many parts of the garden. For instance, one part of the Children’s Garden is for pollinators. It has lots of friendly pollinator visitors every year! The pollinator adventure sheet teaches
kids how to do “The Bee Waggle Dance” and encourages them to try on our bug glasses and see what a bee sees when they look at a flower. The Children’s Garden also has a giant bird nest, a wildlife pond and an edible garden. There are adventure sheets on each of these areas as well that discuss birds being builders, the life cycle of a frog, and much more. The adventure packs address each of the learning styles as children read, write, dance, sing, build, look, listen and draw.
The packs are geared towards 2nd to 4th grade students but with a little help can be adaptable down to Kindergarten and up to 6th grade. They are available for checkout Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm. Walkups are welcome and can check out a pack with our Guest Services Representatives in the Crystal Bridge South Lobby. Groups of 10 or more must book in advance.
Our very own Education Assistant, Awen Clifford, created these amazing packs and is managing the program. Call her at (405) 835-6789 to book your own adventure today.
We hope to see you here soon, binoculars in hand!
Volunteers At the Gardens By Lori Coats, Volunteer Coordinator
Summer VolunTEENs Serve Nearly 550 Hours After ten weeks of volunteerism, the 2016 staff, arts and crafts, assisting with public events, VolunTEEN Program concluded August 15 with office and clerical assistance plus a variety of an End-of-the-Summer pizza party. This team of miscellaneous jobs at the Gardens. Together, eleven high school students represented nine these students gave a total of 542.5 volunteer different high schools across the OKC Metro and hours! We would like to thank each of them for ranged from freshmen to seniors. This summer, their hard work and for bringing so much joy to the our VolunTEENS assisted with a variety of duties Gardens. We have really appreciated and enjoyed including: helping in the Children’s Garden during these kids. We’ll begin accepting applications for Weekly Walk-Ups, greeting guests in the Crystal the 2017 VolunTEENs program on November 1, Bridge Conservatory, working with our horticulture 2016; find the application at myriadgardens.org
Front Row: Jada Evans, Katelynn Potts, Jacquelyne Hernandez, Lillebeth Backes, Kailey O’Connor. Back Row: Carson Schlittler, and Johnathan Taylor .
Become a Partner Volunteer
Myriad Gardens’ Partner Volunteers make a commitment, and in return receive a wonderful list of benefits for their time and effort.
Requirements • Must agree to volunteer a minimum of 36 hours per year • Must be 18 years of age or older • Complete a simple application and background check
Benefits • Receive a free parking pass to use while volunteering at the Gardens • $20 off Myriad Botanical Gardens Membership • Reduced/Complimentary access to various Myriad Gardens’ special events, including all education programs at staff price • Receive free, instructional orientation and trainings • Receive free admission plus 10 free passes to our Spring and Fall
Festivals to share with your family & friends • Invitation to our Annual Appreciation Banquet and Holiday Party • Opportunities to guide indoor and outdoor garden tours
Splendor
IN THE GARDENS It’s a wrap!
Photo by Carl Shortt Jr.
Splendor in the Gardens, is our biennial, alfresco-style fundraising The Glenn Rapp Foundation has pledged a total of $200,000 dinner for Myriad Botanical Gardens. towards this fund if the Gardens can raise an equal amount This year’s event, held on June 16, had 350 participants who matched, will reach $400,000 and help ensure that every spring, enjoyed cocktails in the Park House our gardens will dazzle the downtown with followed by a sunset walk through the thousands of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths Meinders Gardens and out to the Great to delight all visitors. Lawn where they enjoyed an elegant, farm-to-table style dinner. A dream team of top local chefs that included: Co-chairs Amy Harlow and Steve Mason, of Kam’s Kookery and Allison Darke of Brown along with cocktail party chairs Linda Egg Bakery, all donated their time and artistry Haneborg and Gail Huneryager and to this event. Joullian Vineyards and Winery the event planning committee, led our provided the wines. fundraising efforts. Thanks to the event’s presenting sponsor, The Chickasaw The Gardens relies on the generosity of Nation and the Dean A. McGee donors at all levels to keep the Gardens Visionary Tribute sponsor, Gardner beautiful and vibrant. Tannenbaum Holdings, along with all of our sponsors and attendees, netted Stewarding this wonderful treasure that is $150,000 for the Gardens’ annual operating costs. Splendor in the Gardens co-chairs Amy Harlow and Steve Mason. the Myriad Botanical Gardens indeed takes a village and we thank everyone involved for their generosity and commitment to the Gardens’ continual Of this amount, $50,000 will be used to receive a matching improvements. grant of $50,000 from The Glenn Rapp Foundation, to start a over the next three years. This endowment fund when fully Kurt Fleischfresser of Vast, Kamala Gamble permanent endowment fund for spring flowering bulb purchases. Splendor in the Gardens will return in all its splendor in 2018!
Thank you to our sponsors & chefs!
PRESENTING SPONSOR
GARDEN LEADER SPONSOR McGee Foundation
Gold Sponsors ADG, PC First Mortgage Company Mrs. Henry Freede Jean I. Everest Foundation Manhattan Construction Mason Realty Investors
Silver Sponsors Barkocy Construction Ben E. Keith Bob Moore Land Rover Crowe and Dunlevy Enable Midstream Partners First National Bank of Oklahoma Aimee and David Harlow
Bronze Sponsors Accel Financial Staffing American Fidelity Foundation Serena and Wesley Anderson BC Clark Jewelers Mr. and Mrs. Michael Belanger Annie Bohanon Gerry and Ken Bonds Tatianna Cannon Janie and Bill Comstock Delta Dental Downtown OKC, Inc. Hillary, Peter & Rowan Farrell Karen and Warren Filley First Liberty Bank Kris and Bill Frankfurt Joan Frates Ginny Greenberg Kirsten and David Griffin Jane Harlow Maureen Heffernan Stacy and Mark McDaniel Midtown Renaissance
In-Kind 110 Events Great Plains Coca Cola MidAmerica Roofing Midtown Renaissance Olive & Company Signs By Tomorrow Swat Mosquito Mist System Janeen Naifeh Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort Polly and Larry Nichols St. Anthony Hospital Beth and James Tolbert
HoganTaylor LLP Marta and Mark McCubbin Potts Family Foundation The Petroleum Club Presbyterian Health Foundation Tricia Everest Williams, Box, Forshee & Bullard, P.C.
Hedra and Harry Merson Mock Foundation Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau Camilla and David Ostrowe Gayle and Richard Parry Paycom Libby and Morton Payne Kent E. Phillips Joy and Roger Quinn Janice and Lee Segell Beth and Carl Shortt Anne and Gregory Skuta Shyla and John Slay Southwestern Stationery & Bank Supply Marnie and Clayton Taylor Total Enviroment UMB Bank Vicki Vanstavern and Don Narcomey Chefs & Winery Kurt Fleischfresser, Vast Kamala Gamble, Kam’s Kookery Allison Dake, Brown Egg Bakery John McBryde, Prairie Thunder Bakery Joullian Vineyards & Winery
Cocktail Party appetizers were generously provided by Diana Buthion of Bellinni’s and Bruce Rinehart of Rococo’s
SONIC Summer Movies
Father's Day 5K & Fun Run
Cat Internet Video Fest
Our most popular social media post!
Yoga Tuesdays
International Mud Day
Steven & Zheila Dennis From romantic dates to the proposal and the wedding, to yoga Tuesdays, the Gardens is truly Steven and Zhelia’s happy place!
By Erin Zehren, Membership Manager & Development Associate
Steven & Zheila Dennis both grew up in Oklahoma City. As young professionals, they now work downtown and have been members of Myriad Gardens since 2014. After Yoga in the Gardens on a Tuesday evening, we had a picnic on the Great Lawn where the couple told me about their experience with the Gardens. How did you decide to become a member?
What are some of your favorite programs and events at the Gardens?
“It seemed like a natural next step to become members of the Gardens, as we spent so much of our free time here, enjoying the different events, and especially the Devon Ice Skating. We were married in the Gardens and we visited so often, it just made sense to become members”.
What was it that made you decide to be married at the Gardens?
“This place has been our favorite for years. During one date night, we walked around visiting all the places we liked to go in downtown. The last place was the water stage at the Myriad Gardens. Steven proposed to me there, and we were determined after that, we HAD to get married in that same place. We loved the look of a garden wedding while still having a city vibe. It was great to be in the middle of the city and outdoors while still capturing the cozy and intimate setting we had hoped for.” “We love the fitness and active events a lot; but we also LOVE the Sonic Summer Movie Nights. This is a great place to bring family. We take out-of-town guests to the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, and we take our young nephew to Pumpkinville & other children’s events.
How often are you able to use your Myriad Gardens Membership?
We probably use our membership about oneto-three times per week. We keep up with what is going on via social media as well as this newsletter. We try to make sure we are getting the most out of our membership!
Which membership benefit do you take advantage of the most?
Definitely the free yoga on Tuesdays!
Yoga Tuesdays, sponsored by Tinker Federal Credit Union, begins promptly at 5:45pm. Check-in in the south lobby. FREE for members, $10 nonmembers. Bring mat & water.
Susan Grossman Named Director of Development for the Gardens
Susan Grossman began her career as a journalist after earning a degree in Letters from the University of Oklahoma and has covered everything from crime to fashion on local, national and international levels. After a 10-year hiatus to raise kids and live in Europe, Susan returned to Oklahoma where she assumed the higher education and political beat for the Norman Transcript. From there she served as managing editor of Oklahoma Gazette, worked in marketing and public relations for the University of Oklahoma, and most recently spent six years as development officer for the 11 branch libraries in the Pioneer Library System headquartered in Norman. She is committed to producing good writing, reading great books, and is a firm believer in the transformative power of philanthropy and community engagement. In her spare time Susan writes feature stories for a regional sports magazine and the OU alumni magazine, and enjoys writing personal essays, cooking, fitness, adventure traveling, spending time with her young adult children, and maintaining what is left of her ability to speak French.
Bradley Fowler, Gardener Bradley Fowler has always been fascinated by the beauty and mysteries of nature. Born and residing in Oklahoma his whole life, he was first introduced to gardening at young age. His family’s vegetable garden as a child fascinated him and led him to garden as a hobby. This fascination with growing and learning about plants is what led him to pursue a career in Horticulture. Bradley is currently attending Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City for a General Studies Degree, and has plans to pursue an Associates of Applied Science in Horticulture from there as well. Bradley is excited for the opportunity to learn more as he helps maintain such a beautiful part of Oklahoma City.
Stephanie Lee, Public Events Associate Stephanie Lee joined the Gardens in July as Public Event Associate to the increasingly active Events Department. She grew up in South Texas where she found passion for event planning while working in the restaurant industry. Stephanie will assist with upcoming popular events such as Pumpkville, Saturdays with Santa and the Myriad Life Program. She loves being in Oklahoma City and is engaged to get married in April 2017. Before joining the Myriad Gardens, Stephanie started her event planning career with the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, where she learned the value of giving back to the community.
Olivia Tegeler, Children’s Garden Intern Olivia Tegeler has been a resident of Norman, Oklahoma her entire life. From her sophomore to senior year in high school, Olivia took horticulture classes, created numerous floral arrangements for State Fair competitions and school events, and participated in the Floriculture Career Development Event competition through FFA. It was during this time that her interest in pursuing a degree and career in horticulture grew. In August 2015, she began working in the Children’s Garden and pursuing a Horticulture Technology degree at Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City. Olivia loves the mix of gardening, creativity and education that comes with the job of working in the Children’s Garden, and she is excited to inspire children and adults of all ages through her work.
Photo provided by HRG Catering
Wedding? Corporate Dinner? Birthday? Book the Park House Events Center for Your Next Event
With beautifully landscaped acres of formal and natural gardens, the Myriad Botanical Gardens offers you a choice of so many striking places to gather for your next happening. The Park House Events Center is new in the lineup to rent for your special occasion. It’s perfect for corporate events, weddings, wedding receptions, networking events, birthday celebrations and more. With its natural light and striking panoramic views of the Gardens, breathtaking sunsets and nighttime glow of the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, the Events Center will make your next gathering a truly special occasion. The Events Center holds 120 people for a ceremony, 120 guests for dinner and 200 for a standing reception. Prices vary depending on day of the week and more.
Contact Jessica Rahill, (405) 200-1547 jrahill@myriadgardens.org
