Reopening Plan

(Effective starting June 8, 2020)

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Beech Creek Gardens remains open with modified operations.

 

Stark County Level 3 Status

(Updated 12/18/20)

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Yes, our Holiday Nights event is still happening! However extra precautions are being implemented due to our county's latest level 4 status. We believe that your family can still safely enjoy fun, quality family time while experiencing our outdoor Christmas activities. Our exhibits & engagement areas are spread out throughout the grounds allowing you to easily practice social distancing from others.

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Guidelines:

• Masks are required in all indoor areas.

• New! Please send only one person inside the Visitor Center to acquire admission passes for your group.

• Keep a 6' distance from other families or groups.

• Use hand sanitizer often.

 

Stay safe while getting outside & having some fun!

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Overall​

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• The number of visitors admitted to the grounds each day is limited.

• Hand sanitizer is available at high-contact locations.

• The use of hand sanitizer is required before entering some areas.

• There are timed entries, timed duration inside and a limit of the number of people inside some facilities.

• We are sanitizing our public restroom facilities daily.

• We are sanitizing our facilities more frequently, especially high-contact surfaces.

• Outdoor drinking fountains are not accessible; bottled water is available to purchase or please bring your own.

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Staff & Volunteers are following CDC guidelines: 

• Will wear masks when in contact with visitors and/or in closed areas.

• Will use disposable gloves whenever appropriate.

• Will maintain an appropriate social distance.

• Will have their body temperature taken daily upon arrival to Beech Creek Gardens.

• Will stay at home if symptomatic.

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Visitors & Members will be requested:

• To maintain proper social distancing of at least 6 feet from other visitors. 

• To sanitize their hands before and after in some exhibit areas.

• Not to touch some things.

• To wear a mask or face covering while inside the Visitor Center & other enclosed facilities.

• Stay at home if symptomatic.
   

 

Summer Exhibits, Grounds & Activity Areas

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Gardens
Please enjoy our beautiful gardens while maintaining an appropriate social distance from others.

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Visitor Center

• All visitors & members are required to stop in the Visitor Center to acquire a numbered wristband. 

• A maximum of 10 visitors are permitted at one time inside the Visitor Center. Please respect this protocol and wait outside in 6' distancing between parties as needed.

• To hasten things, we have modified our admissions process.

• Members continue to enjoy their self check-in area.

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Butterfly House

• Admittance inside this facility is limited.

• Time spent inside is limited to 20 minutes per session.

• Session times inside this facility begin at 10 am and a new session begins every 20 minutes (sessions begin at 12 pm on Sundays).

• Please keep the 6’ social distancing between parties while inside this facility.

• Upon arrival to the butterfly house, a docent will greet you and inform you of any wait time and monitor the timed sessions. 

• Visitors will be permitted to attend multiple sessions depending on the attendance at any given time.

 

Caterpillar Nursery

• Admittance inside this facility is limited.

• Time spent inside is limited to 10 minutes per session.

• Session times inside this facility begin at 10 am and a new session begins every 10 minutes (sessions begin at 12 pm on Sundays). 

• Please keep the 6’ social distancing between parties while inside this facility.

• Some hands-on activities normally available inside this facility have been removed temporarily for your safety.

• Visitors will be permitted to attend multiple sessions depending on the attendance at any given time.

 

Amazing Garden Environmental Science Center

• Admittance inside this facility is limited.

• Time spent inside is limited to 20 minutes per session.

• Session times inside this facility will begin at 10 am and a new session begins every 20 minutes (sessions begin at 12 pm on Sundays). 

• Please keep the 6’ social distancing between parties while inside this facility.

• Some hands-on activities normally available inside this facility have been modified or removed temporarily for your safety.

• Visitors will be permitted to attend multiple sessions depending on the attendance at any given time.

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Nature Playgrounds (Nature Playce & Logs o' Fun)

Please maintain an appropriate social distance from others while enjoying the playgrounds.

 

Hiking Trails

• All four woodland trails are open for your enjoyment.

• Please keep a safe social distance from other parties while on the trails.

 

Picnic Areas

• Picnic tables are available for you during your visit.

• Please plan to bring your own table covering or disinfectant cleaner as we do not have staff available to monitor and disinfect picnic tables between uses.

• Picnic tables are spread out to adhere to the 6’ minimum social distance requirements set by the state of Ohio.

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Scavenger Hunts

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We’ve designed a series of different, fun & creative scavenger hunts for all the different areas of Beech Creek Gardens!

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Download & print these scavenger hunts and grounds map before visiting and you're on your way to having some outdoor fun! Just remember to bring a pencil and maintain social distancing while you search for clues. We'll also have the scavenger hunt sheets available outside our Visitor Center. Check back often as we get all these unique scavenger hunts up and running! Come explore!

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Grounds + Hiking Trails Map

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• Garden Hoot Hunt - Secret Garden

• Seek Along the Creek - Creekside Trail

• Big Oaks & Froggy Croaks - Oakview Trail

• Skunk Cabbage Search - Spicebush Trail

• Snails & Trails - Fern Ridge Trail

• Beech Creek Gardens Bingo - All grounds

• Discover the Trees - All grounds

• Landmark Letter Hunt (multiple versions) - All grounds

• Riddle Challenge & Photo Scavenger Hunt - All grounds

• Spring Nature Look & Do - All grounds*

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* Can also be completed in your backyard! The other scavenger hunts can be modified for your backyard as well.

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We've designed some of the scavenger hunts to have alternative clues, so we'll be mixing things up every now and then to keep it fresh & exciting each time you visit.​

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Rental Sites

These areas are available for your special events. However, we are following the state mandated maximum capacities and seating configurations per area. 

 

Woodland Pavilion

• Maximum capacity is 56 guests at tables (Ex: Seven 60” round tables with 8 guests at each).

• If you utilize the open space area behind the pavilion for seating, you can increase this number as long as each table has no more than 10 people and tables are distanced 6’ from each other.

 

Wildlife Deck

• Maximum capacity is 19 guests (Ex: Four patio tables with 4 guests each plus 1 table with 3 guests).

 

Secret Garden

• Maximum capacity is 100 guests for ceremonies and/or receptions.

• Seating or table configuration must be designed for a 6’ social distance between groups of guests and no larger than 10 people per group.
   

 

Costs & Admission Fees

 

• General admission has resumed at our normal summer season rate of $8 per person for ages 3 & older, ages 2 & younger and members receive free admission.

• General admission grants access to the grounds, including all facilities, special exhibits, special presentations, gardens & hiking trails.

• As always members enjoy free general admission within your membership guidelines.

• Note: Due to COVID-19, our organization has faced many unforeseen expenses, including the cost of purchasing sanitation supplies, installing new signage throughout the grounds, and implementing extra cleaning and sanitation procedures, in addition to other financial strains. This has created an unexpected burden on our operating budget. Please consider making additional donations to help our nonprofit through this difficult time.

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Programs & Special Events

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Nature Day Camps

• Maximum of 10 campers per day.

• We will strictly follow the state of Ohio’s mandated guidelines for day camps.

 

Critter Features​

• We will limit the number of attendees per presentation and follow social distancing protocols.

• Attendees will be required to get a numbered ticket to the presentation time of their choice. 

 

Evening in the Garden Fundraising Gala

• More details TBA

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Member Movie Nights

• Are currently cancelled.

• We are exploring possible “Drive-in Movie Nights”.

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Carnation Days at Beech Creek Gardens – Cancelled for 2020

 

Furry Friends Fest

• More details TBA

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Butterfly Release Celebration

• More details TBA

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Please check our website often for changes and updates.
As we move forward with our reopening, we will continuously assess how our new procedures are working and make modifications as needed. That said, some changes may happen quickly and may affect your entry. To ensure the best experience during your visit, please check our website before visiting. We pledge to do all we can to minimize your risk while maximizing your enjoyment at Beech Creek Gardens.​