Growing Community - one tree, one Soil Sister, one hope at a time
With Robin Macy

Birdie Bartlett wears many hats; no stranger to a tractor seat, insulated clothing or a sharp chain saw. Still, she maintains a detailed data base of a volunteer army, organizes/teaches environmental education classes and produces an annual concert and art series while regularly hosting weddings, garden clubs and organizational retreats. Robin, a career educator, also writes and performs original music – compositions inspired by her work at this historic Kansas landmark. Her life’s work may seem varied, but she is clearly focused upon one overriding
mission: honoring and conserving the good Earth. The multitude of activities that occur on these hallowed grounds all happen in harmony with the Arb’s mission: to serve as a haven for trees, food, flowers, wildlife, artists and anyone seeking respite from hectic, harried modern life.

In her retirement years, Kay has become an artist! She uses native prairie grasses, wildflowers, and leaves to do a variety of printing, including cyanotypes.

In this workshop, participants will collect leaves, flowers, grasses, layout, process in the sun and rinse with water for beautiful persian blue and white art pieces.

*Space in this workshop is limited - please register in advance here.

Jenny Brown is the creative force behind 316 Dye Studio in Wichita. She brings a wealth of experience with nearly two decades in fiber arts and has an unyielding passion for her craft. When not in her dye studio, you can find Jenny out in her dye garden, knitting, spinning, or likely participating in some other niche craft.

Discover the enchanting world of eco-printing and transform an ordinary bandana into a unique, one-of-a-kind, wearable work of art! In this engaging workshop, participants will learn the process of how to create vibrant and stunning imprints of botanicals onto fabric that will withstand washing and wear. No prior experience is necessary for this workshop, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned crafters. Participants will not only take home a beautifully designed bandana, but will also gain a deeper understanding of natural dyeing and the magic it has to offer. Join us for a hands-on exploration of color, creativity, and sustainability, and walk away with a wearable masterpiece that reflects your connection to nature.

Kelsi Depew is in the middle of fixing up and moving to an old farmstead just south of Arlington, KS. She is still deciding whether or not to grow up or get a 'real' job. She is food-motivated and cares deeply about salad quality. She is likely to tell you to buy local and drink more water.

In Kelsi's poetry workshop, we will lean into the belief that anyone can be a poet. We will practice literary tools that the master poets use and do some exercises to get your creativity up and running. Come for tips on writing great poetry, and leave with some practice tapping into your creative potential.

Jess is Bartlett Arboretum's resident Yogi and has her very own studio - Yoga State - in downtown Augusta, KS. She finds joy in deep breath, grounding movement, food from the Earth, and Ayurvedic lifestyle. She is the co-creator of the Wellness Kula, an offering for women to find balance and restoration through community retreats, yoga, and nutrition.

Jess will host yoga on the lawn each morning from 9am-10am. Awaken your senses to the changing season and ground into this weekend of community.

Jess is also hosting a sound bath on Saturday evening before dinner. 

Pete has worked at the Ferrell Ranch (established by his great-grandfather in 1888) all his life. He now devotes his time to mentoring and teaching regenerative ranch practices.

Join Pete for a conversation in conservation. He calls it "Dances With Hooves" and poses the question, "How might we create an eco-centric (nature-based) society?

Annie's relationship with Nature is informed by a core belief that Land is Teacher, Healer, Sustainer. Years spent working with dirt-covered hands in forest, field, mountain and plain have led to ever-deepening kinship with the flora and fauna of diverse ecosystems. Annie has been tending the food, fruit and medicine gardens at Bartlett Arboretum since 2021, working to build upon permaculture practices to create resilient food systems.

Annie's joy is found in creating from the gifts of the land. In this broom making workshop, we will use broomcorn that we grew at Bartlett Arboretum in 2026 to craft Turkey Wing whisk brooms.

*Space is limited in this class -- please register in advance.

Longtime Bluegrass and Country Music DJ, Orin Friesen’s most-recent book is called
Honky-Tonkers & Western Swingers: Stories of Country Music in Wichita. Orin will share
stories and photos of Wichita’s rich history of Country Music during the 20th Century. He
has first-hand knowledge of the subject, having worked in radio in Wichita, as well as
performing in bands for 60 years.

Among the awards Orin has received over the years are Broadcaster of the Year from
the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Academy of Western Music. He
has been inducted into Halls of Fame five times. He has performed his music on close
to 30 albums, and live, from coast to coast, including twice at Carnegie Hall, and a tour
of China. For 18 years, during the 1970s and ‘80s, Orin was a member of Kansas’ first
Bluegrass band, led by Belle Plaine natives, Jack and Mike Theobald.

Jaime Green’s life motto is also the name of her favorite Childcraft Encyclopedia book - Make and DO. 

By day she’s a visual journalist at The Wichita Eagle and on nights and weekends she’s banging on drums with the Mudbugs, playing with fabric and, well, just making stuff. She’s not afraid to start a new hobby and has too many to count. 

Some of her current interests are screen printing and printmaking. She will have tools for you to try both. You can print the Chautauqua logo on fabric and she will have printmaking stamps you can print all over stuff. Bring whatever you want to print on (t-shirt, canvas bag, almost anything) and pop in anytime between 1-5 p.m. on Saturday and noon - 4 p.m. on Sunday. 

Vicky Hilgers is a lifelong teacher and student of Mother Earth. She was a high school biology teacher for 29 years with an emphasis on field biology. During that time one of her passions was to install food and native plant gardens at the schools and use them with the students. She then spent 3 years serving as the food security Americorps VISTA at Bartlett Arboretum, learning to listen to Mother Nature's wisdom about growing food to benefit all people. Now the Ozarks are her home and she is learning from the land through hiking and foraging.

Vicky and Krista will host a hands-on workshop where participants learn to collect, clean, and save seeds from food plants as well as native grasses and wildflowers. Concepts such as annual vs. perennials, open pollination, heirloom, hybrid and grafted plants will be addressed. This will also be a seed swap event and participants are encouraged but not required to bring seeds they would like to share. All participants will be welcome to take home available seeds. 

Ward Hilgers is a lifelong artist with an intriguing curiosity that blends music, art, and bonsai. He taught high school art classes in Rose Hill for 35 years and now lives in the Ozarks with his beloved wife, Vicky.

In this plein air painting workshop, Ward will demonstrate and teach the dance of loose, spontaneous landscape painting. Then, participants may choose to stay with instructor to paint or pick their own location in the Arboretum.

Jessica L. Provines, Ph.D., L.P., is the Assistant Vice President for Wellness and Chief Psychologist at Wichita State University. She is the co-creator of the nationally recognized Suspenders4Hope mental wellness and suicide prevention program, which equips individuals and communities with practical tools to build connection, resilience, and hope.

In this workshop, participants will create a Suspenders4Hope Kit, a simple, tangible tool that promotes emotional resilience, connection, and hope. Guided by a licensed psychologist, attendees will reflect on the power of small, meaningful items, words, and practices that support positive coping during times of distress. Each participant will receive a starter kit and engage in gentle discussion about how these tools can be used personally or shared with others in times of need.

Clare Vanderpool is children’s book author best known for her Newbery Award winning novel Moon Over Manifest. She grew up reading books in strange places, like dressing rooms, the bathroom, and church. (Like you never read a book in church!)    

"If you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I have a very strong connection to place. I live about four blocks from where I grew up, in an old neighborhood called College Hill. From my house I can walk my sister’s house, the school I went to, where my kids also attended, the pool, the sledding hill, and two bookstores! If I have a particular strength as a writer, this is it: I have a strong connection to place, and for me there is a story around every corner.”

Writing workshop: Writing in the Crossroads
Craft and Creativity. Doubt and Hope. Fits and Starts. Beginnings, Middles, and Ends. The writing life is full of crossroads, detours, and switchbacks. This talk is a reflection on the writing life from one midwesterner’s perspective.

"Drop the Needle - a romp through 20 th century American roots music with Maestro, Kentucky White

Raised on a steady diet of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and Tony Rice, this Kentucky native fell asleep many childhood nights with an ear next to the family hi-fi. As a result, Ken White cinched the Kentucky State Banjo Championship at age 14. At the University of Louisville Music School, he studied guitar with the late, great jazz icon Jimmy Raney while continuing to record, perform and tour with bluegrass luminaries such as Vassar Clements, Darrell Scott, Eugene Friesen, Darol Anger, and New Tradition. He has written arrangements for and performed with the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra, the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, and Symphony in the Flint Hills’ Woodfest. After stumbling into the Kansas prairie 30 years ago, he has been a featured performer with many regional groups such as Big Twang, Nouveau Quintet, The Cherokee Maidens and Sycamore Swing, Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Music Theater of Wichita. As he would say, “I play jazz for my head. I pick bluegrass for my heart.”