Angela Fitzgerald heads to Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha. This natural beauty has 450 acres of diverse ecosystems outdoors, hands-on exhibits and a planetarium indoors. Located at the western border of the city, the nature center offers views for miles and a variety of trails for visitors to explore.
Next, meet Dini Dowd, a social media influencer and in her words “a stay-outside mom.” She travels the state with her husband and their daughter exploring Wisconsin’s lakes, parks and trails. She shares their trips on social media, helping other families plan their own expeditions and encouraging everyone to get outdoors.
In Milwaukee, Camille Mays seeks to combat gun violence, with what she calls “Peace Garden Project MKE.” She takes memorials and turns them into beautiful gardens to spread joy among her community. Mays is on a mission to sow seeds of hope with gardens instead of guns and flowers instead of fear.
Housed in a historic old auto dealership in Lodi, the Spring Creek Art Works is home to Kipp Inglis a botanical dyer, who creates color from nature. She displays her wares at art shows around Wisconsin. Inglis is also a teacher, sharing her craft with others young and old. She loves to connect and foster creativity in others through her classes.
Finally, head to Columbus to catch up with Gene Frey, an 80-something-year-old whose one-of-a-kind metal garden art is garnering a lot of attention. Every piece is made by hand including flowers, birds, ducks, geese, and pheasants. Frey does it all without any formal art training and the industrial metal art he creates is built to last.
