2024 was a BIG year and we thank you for being on the journey with us!
32 events reaching 1853 people - 520 being children.
285 students participated through 8 different schools.
Lee Tartt Nature Preserve management - 395 volunteer hours. 350 hours paid contractors.
FCS Events - more than 800 volunteer hours!
HIGHTLIGHTS INCLUDE pavilion concepts with Omar, Stephen and gang with the NEA Citizens Institute On Rural Design workshop, building a storage unit for tools, recovery from a flood event, 4th Annual Spring Wings, Grenada Tourism commercial footage, music video featuring Sally Vee, a new boardwalk and deck funded by the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust, an EPIC 4th Enchanted Forest with 15 creative workshops supporting the Enchanted Forest and funded by the Mississippi Arts Commission, funds to hire 2 weekly contractors through the Power of 10 donor program…just to name a few.
The Enchanted Forest was truly special in its 4th year! It was a “Community + Artist Collaboration Celebrating Nature and Imagination” - a pilot project for a new way of creating the hand made magic showcased during the event. 6 artists were hired to lead 15 community workshops across central Mississippi inviting the public to engage with artists to create components for the creative installations. 275 people participated! the event attracted 320 guests of all ages and many different communities. The following short video highlights the event and workshops.
“It all went together perfectly- art projects, guides, lights, exhibits - loved every bit of it! Just keep it going!!”
Ready to solve a crime?
Sign up for a slot February 14, 15 & 16
The ART HEIST is a new escape room designed by OutsideIN Mississippi which is coming to Grenada as a fundraiser for Lee Tartt Nature Preserve. This just might be the perfect valentine adventure…though we do recommend a double date. Solving this crime is difficult! Put together a team of 2 - 6 players and jump into the story of a stolen Davinci painting. Solve puzzles, find hidden clues and crack codes to discover where the stolen painting has been hidden. It’s up to you and your team to find it before the police!
Ages 15+ are recommended. 2 hour limit. $100 per team.
““If the Sun is the source of flow in the economy of nature, what is the “Sun” of a human gift economy, the source that consonantly replenishes the flow of gifts? Maybe it is love.”
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2024 Giving
Prothonotary Warbler / $10,000+ Wood Thrush/ $5,000+ White-Eyed Vireo / $100+
water oak on the Bottomland Trail
From the Executive Director:
2024 was a year of expansion - both in vision and accomplishments. None of it would have been possible without your support. The time and funding given with love, generosity and faith means everything to me and our Board. It is a beautiful demonstration of the power of connection and trusting in the process. I can feel that the sum is greater than the whole.
2025 has a lot in store. We continue to work on the Lee Tartt Nature Preserve Masterplan with Robert Poore, landscape archtiect ASLA Fellow and founding principal of Native Habitats Inc. Robert’s vision is leading us to celebrate the wonders of Bottomland Hardwood Forests with design and interpretation. We are so proud of Robert for being a recipient of the 2024 Mississippi Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2 weeks!
Phase one of the Masterplan is already in the works with a pavilion and restroom design in progress thanks to our awesome team including - the Citizens Institute on Rural Design, To Be Done Studio, Delta Design Build, Belinda Stewart Architects with funding from the Educational Foundation of America.
The Enchanted Forest is hereby a biennial event to maintain its artistic integrity, give us time to focus on the managment of Lee Tartt Nature Preserve and continue to build the capacity to serve our community. Looking forward to it’s return in 2026!
Thank you friends, for getting us here. Now - let’s see what beauty we can discover and share in 2025! I look forward to seeing each of you at Lee Tartt Nature Preserve.
2024 Board of Directors:
Sandra McCaulla / Chair, Amber Floyd,/ Vice Chair, Jay Hicks / Secretary Brad Garrett / Treasurer, Shirley Hamilton, Keith Tartt, Ron Okabe
Robin Whitfield, Executive Director
LTNP Maintenance Staff / James Harris, Hal Little