Join us to craft festive, eco-friendly wreaths and bring holiday cheer to your home!
PVAS Host: Ellen Kinzer
$25/wreath (PVAS members receive a 10% discount). All ages are welcome, though youth must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required, as supplies are limited. Each session is limited to 8 wreaths.
Create beautiful wreaths to decorate your home this holiday season! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll help improve our ecosystem by using invasive honeysuckle vines and transforming them into unique holiday decorations.
Choose from one of three available time slots. Many of the materials will already have been foraged for you, but we’ll cover the basics of plant identification and foraging ethics so you can carry that knowledge with you. Then, craft your own festive wreath using the provided materials. You can also bring your own decorations (please avoid berries or seeds) to personalize your creation.
This workshop coincides with our Nature Center Open House, where you’re welcome to explore our touch table, enjoy a guided tour of the preserve, and more!
Bring a travel mug for a warm drink during the workshop (you can also use one of our regular mugs).
Don’t miss this fun, hands-on way for the whole family to celebrate the season while helping our preserve thrive!
- Walking Distance: Little to no walking.
- Restroom: Indoor, flushing restrooms are available in the Case Nature Center.
- Parking/Where to Meet: Check in at the back deck near the bottom of the stairs next to the Case Nature Center.
- What to Bring: Please dress warmly, wear comfortable shoes for walking the trails, and feel free to bring your own pruner shears (some will be provided) if you choose to forage for extra supplies.
Pre-register Here for 10-11:30 am!
Pre-register Here for 12:30-2 pm!
Registration will remain open until the start of the program.
Read our pricing structure & policies.
This event is made possible thanks to the support of volunteers! Here are ways you can help:
- Donate decorations: We would love to have a collection of: Christmas tree cuttings, pine branches, pinecones, broomgrass, and nandina (ONLY if berries are removed). You can drop them off at Cool Spring Preserve anytime the week of December 8-12 – we will have a trailer parked outside on the grass by the nature center where these items can be dropped off.
- Volunteer as a forager: Help us collect the honeysuckle vines (possible also Oriental bittersweet) that will be used as the base of the wreaths. We will host a volunteer workday Thursday, December 11, 1- 4 pm.
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- Sign up for 9:30-11:30 am
- Sign up for 12 – 2 pm
- Assist at the program: Sign up as a Program Assistant and help with the program! Under the guidance of Ellen Kinzer, assistants will help with setup and cleanup, keep the work area organized as much as possible throughout the program, and help the participants with their wreathmaking! No special training is required, except that the volunteers must have volunteered with PVAS at a program in the past and should be “crafty” enough to successfully help participants with their creations! Volunteers may sign up to assist at one or multiple time slots. Arrive 30 minutes prior to the program start.
About our Host: Ellen is the PVAS Fundraising and Communications Manager! She grew up in Illinois, before moving to Wisconsin, where she graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology. She has a wide range of professional experiences, including environmental educator, web-app developer, Maryland state park seasonal ranger, photographer, and for the past 4 years, fundraising and communications professional with nonprofits. Ellen is passionate about native plants, recycling, gardening, and animals big and small. She lives in Maryland with her nature-loving husband, Bob Schwartz.