FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We have both outdoor and indoor facilities at our nature preserve. The Caterpillar Nursery, Butterfly House, and Amazing Garden Plant Science Center are in separate greenhouses throughout the grounds. The Amazing Garden and Caterpillar Nursery are completely enclosed. The Butterfly House is covered in the middle and netted on the sides, so some rain can get through on the sides. The nature playground is outdoors, but has a small pavilion and treehouse that are covered. The Visitor Center & Nature Store are in an air-conditioned building. The Woodland Pavilion is outdoors with a covered roof. The Secret Garden is outdoors shaded by trees. All the botanical gardens are outdoors throughout the grounds. Everything is located within a short walking distance. From the Visitor Center, it takes about 30 seconds to walk to the Amazing Garden, one minute to walk to the Butterfly House and Caterpillar Nursery, and two minutes to walk to the nature playground.
A family membership is $60 and it includes everyone who lives in your household up to 6 people, $5 per additional person per year (additional people must also live in the household). For grandparents, the family membership includes everyone who lives in your household plus your grandchildren under the age of 18 (even if they do not live in your household). There is no limit to the number of grandchildren included on a family membership. It is valid for an entire year from the date you purchase it.
A membership grants you free unlimited general admission, which includes all areas of Beech Creek Gardens. You also get discounts on special events (like Spooky Science, the annual Garden Symposium, the annual Garden Tea), discounts on workshops, summer camp, facility rentals, and 10% off gift shop and plant purchases. Events that are free with the membership include the Butterfly Release Celebration, Bird in Hand, Art in Bloom, Critter Tuesdays, Member Outdoor Movie Nights, and Christmas at Beech Creek (please note that this information is subject to change). Members also have access to the playgrounds and hiking trails from dawn to dusk year-round, so they have access to the grounds beyond our normal operating hours.
A membership grants you free unlimited general admission for an entire year, which includes all areas of Beech Creek Gardens. You also get discounts on special events (like Spooky Science, the annual Garden Symposium, the annual Garden Tea), discounts on workshops, summer camp, facility rentals, and 10% off gift shop and plant purchases. Events that are free with the membership include the Butterfly Release Celebration, Bird in Hand, Art in Bloom, Critter Tuesdays, Member Outdoor Movie Nights, and Christmas at Beech Creek (please note that this information is subject to change). Members also have access to the playgrounds and hiking trails from dawn to dusk year-round, so they have access to the grounds beyond our normal operating hours.
No. A Beech Creek membership, whether a family or individual membership, grants you free unlimited admission to all the areas of Beech Creek, including the botanical gardens, hiking trails, nature playgrounds, as well as seasonal exhibits, such as the Butterfly House, Amazing Garden, Caterpillar Nursery, Art In Bloom, and Christmas. Members receive a discount on tickets for special events, including Spooky Science, workshops, garden teas, and galas.
Special events that are free with a membership are the Butterfly Release Celebration, Bird in Hand, Art in Bloom, Critter Tuesdays, Member Outdoor Movie Nights, and Christmas at Beech Creek. Events that are discounted with a membership are Spooky Science, the annual Garden Symposium, the annual Garden Tea, Evening in the Garden Fundraising Gala, Summer Camp, Furry Friend Fest, and workshops. Please note that this information is subject to change.
Unfortunately, we are not offering times designated for high risks patrons for Nature's A Glow. Most of the exploration areas are outside. However, we are limiting the number of people that can attend each evening, as well as requiring attendees to wear a mask while inside all facilities. Multiple sanitation stations are located throughout the grounds and we ask that all visitors mantain a 6' social distance from other families.
Marketing / Public Relations Internship (2021 summer semester)
Position Summary
This internship position will assist the Marketing Director with developing and implementing a marketing strategy. The candidate must be prepared to commute to Beech Creek Gardens for all shifts (the candidate will mostly be working in an office with only two other employees who are both fully vaccinated). This internship is for credit only, or may be completed as a volunteer experience.
The Marketing / Public Relations Intern may be responsible for assisting the Marketing Director with the following tasks:
In general, work that is focused on writing, networking, administrative tasks, and overall marketing strategy.
Submit event information to online event calendars, magazines, news, and tourism publications.
Write, edit, and publish press releases, event descriptions, web copy, ad copy, etc.
Attend occasional community outreach, networking, and tourism events as schedule allows.
Suggest ways to improve the organization’s digital and print marketing collateral to help achieve marketing objectives.
Implement big-picture marketing initiatives by researching and pursuing new and creative avenues of connecting with audiences and forming marketing collaborations.
Maintain the organization's participation in ongoing collaborative projects.
Apply search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve the search authority of the website, event listings, social media pages, Google listing, and other digital properties.
Gather, analyze, and report audience information and demographics.
Respond to customer reviews on various websites, such as Google, Yelp, Trip Advisor, etc.
Develop a marketing plan to maximize revenue growth through audience development.
Assist with Visitor Center operations related to marketing and sales, such as helping manage event registrations, point-of-sale software, and the online store system, and suggest ways to improve the customer shopping/visitor registration experience.
Adhere to current brand guidelines and assist with additional brand development.
Administrative Assistance (as needed)
Answer and return phone calls.
Assist visitors in the Visitor Center or on the grounds.
Skills & Abilities
Strong ‘people person’—sensitivity to interpersonal interactions with program participants, visitors, staff, volunteers, other interns, and external organizations with whom we collaborate, with the ability to act proactively to ensure good relations between all.
Enthusiastic and energetic, with the physical ability to quickly navigate all areas of Beech Creek Gardens.
Must be willing to serve all visitors equally regardless of their age, disability, national origin, religious belief, race/color, gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
Strong written skills are essential to this position with a high level of accuracy and attention to details.
High standards, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects at a time and accurately follow instructions.
Able to work independently to organize tasks and meet deadlines.
Able to provide excellent customer service both online and in-person.
Positive attitude, willingness to succeed, and represents Beech Creek Gardens in a professional manner.
Willing to be a part of the staff with openness, honesty, care and use clear communication skills.
Must be adaptable, open-minded, flexible, and willing to learn new programs and new methods of completing tasks.
Experience
Pursuing a degree in marketing, public relations, communications, or related field preferred.
Previous office or customer service experience helpful.
Needs the ability to quickly learn and work with new software.
Should be acquainted with standard office technology.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint) and Google programs (Docs, Sheets, Drive).
Must own personal laptop that can be used for this work.
To Apply
Please submit an application with resume through Indeed or apply on Handshake by searching job ID 4890234.
Be prepared to upload samples of your work if you have it, including a sample of your writing abilities, such as a press release, blog article, journalism story, etc. and if you have it, a sample of your marketing experience, such as a marketing plan, SWOT analysis, PowerPoint presentation created for a class project, etc. and please disclose what your role was in the submitted sample.
Beech Creek Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve provides equal employment and volunteer opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.
No. There is no specific subject matter that is required, even though many artists do submit works that are nature-based, but in the past, we've had metal sculptures, photography and other works with subject matters that were not nature-related. The only restriction on subject matter is that the art must be appropriate for public viewing.
Yes. Members have access to the grounds from dawn to dusk every day of the year, so that includes access to the playgrounds, gardens, picnic areas, and hiking trails. For members, our operating hours apply to the buildings only - The Butterfly House, Amazing Garden, Caterpillar Nursery, greenhouses, and Visitor Center. When you arrive, pull your vehicle up to the pin pad located on the left side of the driveway before the security gate. Please enter your pin code slowly and wait for the beep after pressing each number. If you enter the code too quickly, it may not work. Even though you are visiting outside of public operating hours, please park in the main parking lot (do not drive back to the nature playground), except for handicapped visitors or visitors who have mobility issues. All the small parking lots throughout the grounds are reserved for handicapped visitors and anyone who has difficulty walking even if they don’t have a handicapped placard.
SCENARIO #1: If you visit outside of public operating hours and the Visitor Center is unlocked (check the door), go inside, sign in at the member self-serve area, and get wristbands for everyone included with your membership. Please have your Member ID Badge visible. Then you’re free to explore!
SCENARIO #2: If you visit outside of public operating hours and the Visitor Center is locked, you do not have to sign in. Just please make sure your Member ID Badge is visible as you explore the grounds.
SCENARIO #3: If you arrive in the morning before the Visitor Center is unlocked for the day, you do not have to sign in. Just please make sure your Member ID Badge is visible as you explore the grounds. However, if you’re still on the grounds once the building is unlocked for the day, we ask that you stop back and sign in. If you’re finished exploring, you may leave after signing in. If you are remaining on the grounds for a while after signing in, please get wristbands for everyone included with your membership.
SCENARIO #4: If you wish to bring guests not included on your membership outside of the public operating hours, this is permitted, but the guests must purchase general admission passes inside the Visitor Center. Please call ahead to ensure a staff member will be available to facilitate this transaction. Otherwise, please do not bring guests outside of the public operating hours if they are unable to purchase general admission passes.
To stay up-to-date on all the happenings at Beech Creek Gardens, visit our website regularly, especially the Calendar of Events page. We also suggest you sign up for our email list and follow us on social media. • Email List Sign Up • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • LinkedIn • YouTube
Yes, you can bring your dog to Nature's A-Glow! Dogs are welcome everywhere on the grounds, including inside buildings, except for two areas where our raptors from Raptor Hallow Sanctuary are kept. These areas include the Wild Wonders Trail off Oakview Trail (dogs are allowed on Oakview Trail) and one of our greenhouses where raptors are kept over the winter. Look for signs indicating dog-free zones. Enjoy your visit with your furry friend!
Yes, as long as there isn't ice or snow on the play surfaces. Throughout the winter, if there's a day you would like to visit and there’s any chance that the playground may have ice or snow on it, we suggest contacting us just to be sure it's safe to play on. For the fastest response, please call us at (330) 829-7050.
Yes, although all art must be able to be outside and withstand the weather for the entire 6-week exhibition period. So with paintings and photography, you could apply some kind of weather-proof coating to a canvas and then it could be displayed outside. We recommend using at least 5 coats of exterior polyurethane.
This year’s events will include a series of online auctions with the opportunity to win amazing prizes focused on unique experiences. Each Friday starting on July 29, we will open online bidding for 1-2 different items. Each auction will run for one week and then will conclude the following Thursday on each night of Evening in the Garden. Winners will be announced that evening.
Besides our ongoing summer exhibits (Butterfly House & Caterpillar Nursery) which are both interactive, educational and perfect for all ages, we do have a few other special events for children throughout the year. In the summer, we have a weekly nature day camp for ages 7-12 and we also have Critter Features where visitors can see live animals up close and sometimes touch. In August, we have special activities for the local Carnation Days Festival. In mid-September, we do our Butterfly Release Celebration where visitors can observe the tagging and releasing of our monarch butterflies. In October, we have our Spooky Science event, and in winter, we have Christmas activities and hand-feeding wild chickadees. For members, we have outdoor movie nights at the nature playground, Nature Playce. Also, our Amazing Garden Plant Science is open most times of the year and features hands-on, educational activities for all ages. For a complete list of all the events offered at Beech Creek Gardens, visit the Calendar of Events page.
Guests do not have to show up right at 7 pm. The live music will last all throughout the evening. There will also be an online auction occurring throughout the evening. Winners will be announced towards the end of the night, but they do not need to be present to win. The online auction will conclude at 9:30 pm each night of Evening in the Garden.
Besides our ongoing summer exhibits (Butterfly House & Caterpillar Nursery) which are both interactive, educational and perfect for all ages, we do offer a few adult-only events. In February, we have the annual Garden Symposium which is a one-day seminar of gardening classes and hands-on workshops. In June, we have our Evening in the Garden fundraising event where attendees can explore the beautiful gardens and trails at sunset, enjoy delicious food and adult beverages, listen to the soothing sounds of live music, and take part in the silent auction. In August, we have our annual Garden Tea which is geared toward adults. We also offer adult workshops throughout the year, with occasional workshops offered in the summer and several workshops offered during the winter holiday season. For a complete list of all the events offered at Beech Creek Gardens, visit the Calendar of Events page.
Some events are included with general admission, such as Critter Features. The general admission cost changes seasonally and ranges from $6-9. For a complete outline of how the general admission cost changes throughout the year, visit the Hours/Admission/Contact page: https://www.beechcreekgardens.org/hours-admission-contact. All other events vary in cost and some events are free and open to the public such as Carnation Days at Beech Creek Gardens. For a complete list of all the events offered at Beech Creek Gardens, visit the Calendar of Events page.
We offer adult workshops throughout the year, with occasional workshops offered in the summer and several workshops offered during the winter holiday season. Also, our annual Garden Symposium always includes a hands-on make & take workshop. For a complete list of all the events offered at Beech Creek Gardens, visit the Calendar of Events page. You can also sign up for our email list to be notified of upcoming workshops here. We can also do workshops on-site and off-site for private organizations, groups, and parties. Please contact us to schedule a private workshop.
The best way to purchase your membership is in-person at our Visitor Center. You can pay using check, cash, or credit card. Then we can give you your Member ID Badge and information letter right away and answer any questions you might have. We are located at 11929 Beech St NE, Alliance, OH 44601. You can also purchase a membership over the phone using a credit card. We'll get the information we need from you over the phone and then we can mail the Member ID Badge and letter to you. Our phone number is (330) 829-7050. You may also mail a check to pay for your membership (do not send cash through the mail). Download our Membership Form here http://bit.ly/BC-Mail-Membership-Form to sign up as a new member or renew your membership through the mail.
Make checks payable to Beech Creek Gardens
Mail to 11929 Beech St NE, Alliance, OH 44601
The hiking trails, nature playgrounds, Gravity Glue, and picnic areas are open year-round. If you are not a Beech Creek member, you are restricted to our public operating hours and your visit is subject to any applicable general admission costs. If you are a Beech Creek member, you have access to these four areas daily from dawn to dusk, outside of public operating hours, by using your pin code to the open the security gate and access the grounds. For a complete outline of how the general admission cost changes throughout the year, visit the Hours/Admission/Contact page. For information on becoming a Beech Creek member, visit the Membership page.
Artists may sell their pieces, but we request that buyers do not acquire the pieces until after the Art in Bloom exhibit concludes for the season. Beech Creek Gardens does not plan to take commissions on works sold in 2020, though donations are always welcomed. Prices for art pieces (if applicable) and a quantity of each artist’s business cards will be kept at our Visitor Center counter and made available to all buyer inquiries. Potential buyers will contact artists directly. We will not facilitate any sales of artwork.
The best way to purchase a gift membership is in-person at our Visitor Center. We will need the recipient’s name, address, email (optional), phone number, and the number of adults and children that will be included on the membership if purchasing a family membership. You can pay using check, cash, or credit card. We are located at 11929 Beech St NE, Alliance, OH 44601. By purchasing the membership in-person, we can give you the Member ID Badge and information letter which you can then give directly to the recipient. We also mail the Member ID Badge and information letter directly to the recipient. You can also purchase a membership over the phone using a credit card. We will get the recipient’s information from you over the phone and then we can either mail the Member ID Badge and letter to you for you to give it directly to the recipient, or we can mail the Member ID Badge and information letter directly to the recipient. If we do the latter, we will need your address as well to send you a copy of the information letter for tax deduction purposes since you would be the person paying for the membership. Our phone number is (330) 829-7050.
No. A family membership only includes those who live in your household, or if you are a grandparent, the family membership includes everyone who lives in your household plus your grandchildren under the age of 18 (even if they do not live in your household). Memberships do not include guests. To be fair to Beech Creek Gardens and support our revenue stream, guests should be prepared to pay our General Admission fee, or consider getting their own Family Membership.
All areas of Beech Creek Gardens are wheelchair/electric scooter accessible, except the hiking trails. Most of the exploration surfaces are compact gravel. We also have several small parking lots throughout the grounds that are reserved for handicapped visitors and anyone who has difficulty walking even if they don’t have a handicapped placard. These small parking lots are located directly outside the Visitor Center, Butterfly House, and Nature Playce. For visitors who plan to use one of these handicapped parking lots, we require that they first park outside the Visitor Center, purchase admission passes, then drive to the parking lot of their choice.
Please contact us via phone at (330) 829-7050 or via email at info@beechcreekgardens.org and inform us that you misplaced your Member ID Badge. Please provide us with the full name of the contact person associated with your membership. If you have a family membership, please provide the number of adults and children listed on the membership. Once we verify your membership information, we will mail you a new Member ID Badge and send it to the mailing address we have on file.
To access the security gate after hours, use the pin code provided when you became a member. You'll find it on your membership letter and the back of your Member ID Badge. When you arrive, pull up to the pin pad on the left side of the driveway before the gate. Enter your pin code slowly, waiting for the beep after each number. If you enter it too quickly, it might not work. Happy visiting!
No. If a child is included on a family membership (whether it is a parent or grandparent membership), the child’s general admission is always free regardless of who they are visiting with. For example, if a child is visiting Beech Creek Gardens with a grandparent, but the child is included in their parents’ family membership, then the child’s admission is free and the grandparent would pay the General Admission fee.
Yes. A babysitter may accompany one adult who is visiting with their family membership, for a total of 2 adults visiting at one time on one family membership. For example, if a family of 2 parents and 4 children has a family membership, whenever they visit, one parent plus the babysitter may attend, along with the 4 children. If both parents and all 4 children attend and they wish to bring the babysitter, the babysitter would be considered a guest and would pay the General Admission fee. The babysitter may also bring the children unaccompanied by the children’s parents and everyone would be free under the family membership. Just be sure the babysitter has the Member ID Badge or knows the first and last name of the membership contact person so we can verify the membership.
You have questions and we have answers! Click on the question category, then use the drop downs to find answers. If you still have questions, please call (330) 829-7050 or email info@beechcreekgardens.org.