GAMBIER – The Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC) has a number of events planned.
Yoga in the Garden
May 2 through Sept. 28, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12:10 to 12:55 p.m.
Use your lunch break to destress with an outdoor yoga class. Bring your kids, grandkids, friends, etc. – open to all ages. Bring your own mat or use ours. Free! Meet in the BFEC garden (behind the white house).
Bird Walk: Migratory Birds
May 6, 8:30 a.m.
Join Khara Strum, director of Philander Chase Conservancy, on this spring stroll through grassland prairie and along woodland edges to observe birds that are migrating through the area. Some binoculars and field guides will be available. Meet in the Kokosing Nature Preserve parking lot, 10620 Quarry Chapel Rd., Gambier, Ohio 43022.
Family Nature Quest: A Day at the Ponds
May 6, 10:30 a.m.
Even the smallest bodies of water hold all kinds of life. Ever wonder what it’s like beneath the surface? Join us as we explore the ponds to discover which plants and animals call this unique habitat their home. Meet at the picnic pavilion, and dress to get wet!
Family Nature Quest: Build a Bug
May 13, 10:30 a.m.
What makes an insect an insect? Turns out, there are a lot of moving parts! Get to know some different insects around the property, and then take some time to “build” your own – thorax, abdomen, head and all. Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Paint Outside
May 16 through mid-October, every Tuesday, 4 to 7 p.m.
Plein Air Painters are invited to the BFEC to paint outdoors every Tuesday this summer. These are informal gatherings with no instruction. Bring your own supplies and meet other like-minded painters. Restrooms available in the Resource Center. These opportunities will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Meet at the picnic shelter.
Intro to Plein Air: Drawing and Perspective (Adults)
May 16, 4 to 6 p.m.
This program is designed for beginners. Participants will learn the basics of drawing, perspective, composition and easy setup. Enjoy the inspiration of the gardens at BFEC with Tim McGlothlin, longtime Plein Air painter. Reservations required. Call 740-427-5052 or email jordan2@kenyon.edu to reserve your seat.
Intro to Plein Air: Drawing and Perspective (Ages 10 to 16)
May 16, 4 to 6 p.m.
This program is designed for beginners. Participants will learn the basics of drawing, perspective, composition and easy setup. Enjoy the inspiration of the gardens at BFEC with Wendy Fetters, retired teacher and longtime Plein Air painter. Reservations required. Call 740-427-5052 or email jordan2@kenyon.edu to reserve your seat.
Forest Bathing: Nature Therapy Sampler
May 17, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
In Japan, the practice of “forest bathing” is decades old. Shinrin-yoku, or “taking in the forest atmosphere,” is the simple, but profound practice of walking through a forest and opening your senses. Experience for yourself what research has told us for years – that spending time under a forest canopy can boost your immune system, lower blood pressure, accelerate healing and so much more. Jill Emmelhainz, a certified forest therapy guide, will show us how to use our senses to connect with nature. Rain or shine! Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Family Nature Quest: The Colors of the Rainbow
May 20, 10:30 a.m.
Springtime brings all kinds of colors to the BFEC, including the rare and lucky spectacles of rainbows. Join us as we take a closer look at the science behind color. We will make our own rainbow from colorful items we find along the way. Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Family Nature Quest: Flower Forensics
May 27, 10:30 a.m.
April showers bring May flowers, especially at the BFEC! We will spend some time outside collecting flowers, and we will dissect them to learn about flower anatomy. We will finish by pressing and preserving some flowers. Meet at the picnic pavilion.
Fine Wine and Creative Design Painting Event by Christine Yoe
June 3, 2 to 4 p.m.
Pick a pal, pick some paints and pick up your spirits! Enjoy colorful, step-by-step instruction in a fun-filled environment. No art experience needed. Yoe provides everything you need to create a ready-to-hang 16” x 20” painting. Bring your own beverage and paint the afternoon away! Adults only. Go online to register and pre-pay ($37) at finewineandcreativedesign.com. Arrive early or stay late and enjoy the trails, ponds, garden and prairie at the Brown Family Environmental Center!
Yoe graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design. She had an extensive art career in advertising before teaching art for K-8 at St. Vincent de Paul School in Mount Vernon. She is the owner/designer of Pet Portraits and Murals by Christine, and she has been the owner/operator of Fine Wine and Creative Design for over 10 years.
Forest Bathing: The Full Experience
June 10, 2 to 4 p.m.
In Japan, the practice of “forest bathing” is decades old. Shinrin-yoku, or “taking in the forest atmosphere,” is the simple, but profound practice of walking through a forest and opening your senses. Experience for yourself what research has told us for years – that spending time under a forest canopy can boost your immune system, lower blood pressure, accelerate healing and so much more. Jill Emmelhainz, a certified forest therapy guide, will show us how to use our senses to connect with nature. Rain or shine! Meet at the picnic pavilion.
