Friends of Scheig Center Gardens is an all-friend group dedicated to the preservation, sustainability and enhancement of the Gardens. The advisory committee meets the second Wednesday of every month at 1:00 p.m. at the Scheig Center except in December to plan and direct the group’s activities in cooperation with Parks staff. Interested individuals are welcome to attend these meetings. Like us on Facebook for all the most up to date information!
During the growing season, Friends gather under the guidance of Park staff to tend the gardens, planting, weeding, pruning, and updating the beds, shrubs and other features every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. sharp. They also work hard to help keep invasive plant species at bay. While many of the Friends are Master Gardeners, anyone who enjoys the company of fellow gardeners and who is willing to perform these tasks following the Parks’ plan is welcome and encouraged to join the Friends. If you have an interest in volunteering please scroll down and fill out the form below.
Current Opportunities for Friends Involvement at The Scheig Center & Gardens
- Gardens maintenance: weeding, mulching, deadheading, planting /transplanting, watering.
- Bed Diagramming and identification: drawing the plant locations in beds and identifying any with which you are familiar.
- Community Outreach: helping with garden tours or other educational programs.
- Social media content contributor: providing photos and/or short accounts of flowers, animals or events in the gardens for use on the Friends Facebook or web pages.
- Share Information: Do you have an area of expertise which would benefit the Gardens?
- Become active on the Friends Steering Committee.
- Education: Are you new to gardening and looking for a way to learn more? Our volunteers are very knowledgeable and happy to share with others. Join us and help make The Gardens a better place as you learn how to improve your own.
THE FRIENDS BENEFIT FROM LOCAL GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD PROJECT
Olivia Caravella, an Ambassador Girl Scout with Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, and a Junior at Appleton North High School, raised over $10,000 to construct a 16×20 garden storage shed for her Gold Award project at the Scheig Center Gardens in Appleton’s Memorial Park
The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. It represents the pinnacle of the Girl Scout leadership progression. The Gold Award challenges Girl Scouts to solve a community problem in a sustainable way.
Caravella partnered with Drexel Building Supplies and the City of Appleton Parks and Recreation Department to plan, design, and source materials for the 16×20 garden shed. She fundraised and recruited volunteers to build the shed and oversaw construction. When asked why she chose this project, she responded “My family has volunteered at the Scheig Gardens for many years. I participated in Marvin Gardens there as a child and have a connection to the gardens. Building a shed is a hands-on project that I feel provides a lasting, impactful benefit to the many volunteers who maintain the Scheig Gardens and supports preservation of green spaces within the City of Appleton”.
Here are a few pictures from the ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday, November 10th to celebrate the completion of the construction project. It was attended by Mayor Woodford, Girl Scout Executives, Appleton Parks and Recreation Staff, and many volunteers.
Thank you and congratulations Olivia! We appreciate all your hard work and your generous donation.
2022 Friends of the Scheig Center Year in Review
The Gardens had another beautiful year due to all the work put in by the committee and all the volunteers. To read about the committee and the work that was done in 2022 click here.
Congratulations to the 2022 Volunteer of the Year: Terry Abney-Bane
Please fill out the below form if you have an interest in a member of the Friends of the Scheig Gardens to contact you.