New Leader, New Vibe for the Our-boretum
Jennifer Garcia is the new Executive Director of the East Texas Arboretum
(Post sponsored by Tinsley Law & Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy)
By Michael V. Hannigan
The welcome mat is out at the East Texas Arboretum.
The Arboretum has a new Executive Director, Jennifer Garcia, and she wants to share her love of nature with the community.
"The Arboretum is for anybody from 1 to 100," Jennifer said. "It's for anybody with any ability or past experience with gardens; anyone with any interest or appreciation of nature or history. It's literally Our-boretum. It's for everyone. We're going to celebrate anybody at where they're at."
Jennifer moved to Athens in July 2023 when her husband, Greg, became the Director of Animal Care at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison.
With Greg at work, Jennifer needed to find something to do.
"I was going stir crazy," she said. "I needed to find nature because that's where I get my mental health fix. I have a really hard time just sitting at a desk staring at a screen hour after hour after hour."
Jennifer searched on a hiking app and learned about the trails at the Arboretum.
"I started to come out here almost every day and hike on the trails just to get out of my house and to get active and to clear my head so that I can focus," she said.
She asked about volunteering. Her decade-plus experience in parks and zoos, plus her upcoming PhD in Parks and Recreation Management, quickly landed her on the Board of Directors.
And then came the question about the open Executive Director's position, which was a definite blessing.
"Couples and spouses in our field often live separately," she said, "because, there aren't many executive director jobs in zoos and aquariums."
Jennifer stepped into the role part-time in October and then went full-time after Thanksgiving.
"I think some divine intervention brought me to this role," she said.
Let's Play
Education and community are at the heart of the Arboretum's new vision.
"When I see this place, I see what we could be for the community of Athens and East Texas," Jennifer said. "This place could be a hub of social capital and for environmental learning and appreciation."
To clarify the organization’s new direction, the Arboretum's mission statement was recently rewritten by the Board of Directors to read: "To educate and celebrate our community through nature.”
Of course, the Arboretum has always been a place for education, but Jennifer is hoping to take it to another level, particularly for our community's children.
"We bubble wrap our kiddos," she said, "but my doctorate is looking at how places like zoos, aquariums, nature centers, and arboretums can provide that space back. We provide a curated space of intentionality where children are allowed to go play and we are losing those spaces. We are losing that sense of wild play, and our trails bring that back to life."
"Play is a very serious thing to me," she said. "I think it helps us to tap into health. I think it helps our children to develop into really awesome humans. It's part of our biology. The research behind play is no joke, it's important."
Come One, Come All
Jennifer said the first step is building connections with the community.
"I want to let everybody know that the Arboretum is truly for everybody," she said. "There's a small fee to come in, but everyone is welcome."
If you don't know about the Arboretum, you could join Jennifer on one of her guided nature hikes on Hickory and Dogwood trails. The next one is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17.
But if you can't wait that long for a little wild play, visit the Arboretum and see what nature has in store for you.
The Arboretum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry is $5 for adults and $4 for students.
Follow the Arboretum on Facebook here or call them at 903-675-5630 for more information.