A Treehouse is Growing!
A treehouse is growing in the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape at Wesselman Woods!
The community can learn about the ecosystem from a bird’s eye view and explore nature in a new way with the introduction of this nature play feature.
Wesselman Woods (WW) is a 310-acre urban nature preserve in Evansville, Indiana – the largest tract of virgin forest within city limits in the United States. For over 50 years, WW has provided a place for people to connect with nature through fun events and traditional environmental education opportunities.
After years of planning and fundraising, Wesselman Woods will once again breathe life into the Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape with a brand-new treehouse.
Executive Director, Zach Garcia, says: “The Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape welcomes thousands of children, families, and adults each year. After introducing the Bernhardt Family Bird Sanctuary in 2022, we wanted to continue the momentum and develop more opportunities to explore, play, and connect with nature. We owe our gratitude to these generous donors: the Arwood Family, CenterPoint Energy Foundation, Crescent Cresline Wabash Plastics Foundation, Tom Magan, Old National Bank, and many other philanthropic friends.”
About the Treehouse
The treehouse will be established at the front of the Nature Playscape, surrounding the Eastern White Pines at the entrance. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the Nature Playscape on Wednesday, November 8, with construction to immediately follow.
The layout includes ramps throughout the treehouse, allowing people of all abilities to get to the highest points and safely observe the surrounding ecosystem from a bird’s eye view. WW worked with local designers to ensure that the treehouse is accessible to all, flows with the current environment, and accentuates our existing environmental education programming.
WW Director of Environmental Education, Payton Broshears, shares: “This addition opens new facets of exploration and interpretation in the Nature Playscape, allowing our environmental education department to advance our existing programming. Children will be able to explore the different ecosystems of the understory, mid-canopy, and upper canopy. With the elevated platform overlooking Odonata Pond, children will be able to observe turtles, herons, and fish from a safe distance, without disrupting wildlife. The treehouse will emphasize our encouragement for risk play and exploration, allowing children and adults to experience a new level of the ecosystem together.”
Garcia adds, “With this development, we can also remove invasive species in the area to ensure better growth of native understory trees. We will eliminate invasive species such as Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica), Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), and Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) to garner space for native species to thrive.”
Questions?
Contact our Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, Kristina Arwood, at 812-479-0771 or via email (kristina@wesselmanwoods.org).