March 21, 2020                                  

Dear Beech Creek Gardens Supporters,

Many of you may think of Beech Creek Gardens as just an environmental education organization, however, central to our mission is the well-being of your physical and mental health. This focus has always been the driving force that motivates me personally to be passionate about my work and what we do here every day to offer experiences that positively impact your lives. Now more than ever, this focus is a priority for all of us.

While all of our normal programs and activities are currently cancelled and our exhibits and facilities are currently closed, we are diligently seeking ways to still serve you, especially to help with your physical and mental health. Research proves that taking a walk outside in nature has therapeutic benefits for both mind and body—physical activity, fresh air, sunlight and open spaces all have a calming effect on our minds. I believe now more than ever that places like Beech Creek Gardens need to step up their offerings to help you and your families through this difficult time.

 

We are offering the community free access to our hiking trails—it is a gift we feel is important to provide. Please practice the social distancing mandated by the CDC and Governor DeWine—this includes not coming in groups, not meeting up here in groups and keeping your distance from others that you may encounter while on a trail.

 

In addition, we have designed a few outdoor activities to help you engage your family in physical exercise while breathing in fresh air and stimulating your minds. These can be done in your own backyards or on our trails—they are available for print and download here. Watch for more activities like these to become available as we continue to design special activities to help boost your family's physical and mental health.

 

Please remember, we are an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and our funding comes from admissions, charitable donations, membership dues, and fundraisers. We do not receive any tax dollars. Funding is always a challenge and this pandemic has put us and other nonprofits into an operational funding crisis. Please consider being generous to help the nonprofits you care about during this critical time. One easy way anyone can help is by choosing your favorite charity when ordering supplies at smile.amazon.com and a portion of your purchase will be donated by Amazon.

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Stay calm, stay informed, stay optimistic,  and keep your family active & healthy.
 

Thank you for your support,

Melinda Carmichael

Executive Director
Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve