Please join us for breakfast at Weldon’s Museum Hill Café on Wednesday, April 8th, for an engaging discussion on the Garden’s exciting next phase of growth.
Begin the morning with Christie Collins, our Director of Education, who will frame the vision for how the future Children’s Discovery Garden will foster hands-on learning, curiosity, and meaningful connections to nature. Designers from Surroundings Studio will then share the creative process behind the Garden’s interactive and interpretive features, grounded in science and play. After breakfast, step onto the actual site—currently undeveloped and on the cusp of transformation—for a guided walk through the future Children’s Discovery Garden ahead of this summer’s groundbreaking. Reservations required; garden admission included.
Christie Collins is a naturalist with over 15 years of experience in environmental education, interpretation, and conservation. She serves as Vice Chair of the Global Entomology Coalition and represents New Mexico within the National Association for Interpretation. Her career has included leadership roles in science education, habitat restoration, and public programming across the country. Christie holds degrees in Biology and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management and is passionate about advancing invertebrate conservation.
Kenneth Francis, FASLA, is the founding principal of Surroundings, a New Mexico–based multidisciplinary design studio. He holds degrees in architecture from The Cooper Union and landscape architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, where he researched the historic acequia landscapes of Northern New Mexico. His work explores the cultural and ecological dimensions of water, shaping innovative designs recognized regionally and nationally.
Abby Feldman holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, where she received the Jacob Weidenman Prize for design excellence. After more than a decade with award-winning firms and leading a Post-Katrina recovery project in New Orleans, she returned to Santa Fe to join Surroundings. Her work spans community gardens, public parks, and private landscapes, with a focus on community-centered design that bridges wild landscapes and the infrastructure that supports them.
Member Presale Date (February 13); Public Sale Date (March 1)
Date and Time
- April 8, 2026
- 8:30am – 11:00am
Location
Weldon’s Museum Hill Cafe, 710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Pricing
- Member $32
- Not-yet-member $40
**SFBG Members** You must sign in to take advantage of the presale. If you already have an account, click the “Sign in” button at the top of this page. If you do not have an account, click the “Register” button to create an account. If you receive an error or have questions, email [email protected].
Not yet a member? Join/renew here for discounts and benefits all year long!
Refund and Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. We do not offer refunds. If you must cancel, please consider the program fee a donation to the Garden.
We reserve the right to cancel programs at our discretion. Participants will be contacted via email as early as possible in the event of a program cancellation.
