Gifts in Action Now
Nature's Classroom: Dr. David Philpott and Robert Power's gift to the Botanical Garden
Nature is one of the greatest classrooms. That檚 certainly how Dr. David Philpott and his husband Robert Power see it. As lifelong educators who champion outdoor learning, they wanted a way to support opportunities for young learners to get hands-on out in the open air. To do this, they created the David and Robert Children檚 Education Endowment Fund at the Botanical Garden.
David and Robert both worked as teachers when they met in 1997 and shared a passion for youth education. Robert, who grew up in St. John檚, began teaching at Immaculate Conception in St. Thomas Line, before moving over to Holy Family school in the mid-1980s. David, who grew up in rural Newfoundland, worked as a teacher for 15 years before completing his PhD and becoming a professor in 91亚色's Faculty of Education in 2000.
David and Robert have been together nearly thirty years, marrying in 2003. Without children of their own, they wanted a plan for their estate that would honour their lifelong dedication to teaching and learning, and that could benefit young students in perpetuity. 淩obert spent his career in the regular classroom. I dealt with vulnerable learners who struggled in that environment, said David. 淚 had a clinical practice for years dealing with children with developmental or learning challenges. We both know the value of experiences like the Botanical Garden - field trips, taking the class out into the community, out into the environment. Robert had many field trips with his students, so we know what the kids get from those experiences.
淲e wanted to do something for children. We love the Garden. Robert檚 a gardener. I'm an outdoors guy. So, it was an easy decision for us to support the quality of programs and the experience that these children will get when they visit the Botanical Garden. When we met with the team at the Garden to discuss an estate gift, they helped us realize the potential of an endowment that would create an immersive experience for children to play, learn, and explore with their friends.
By establishing the David and Robert Children檚 Education Endowment Fund, the couple have created a lasting gift that will deliver on their dedication to outdoor education for generations to come. The gift includes an initial investment so that the fund can be established now, allowing David and Robert to see the fruit of their investment during their retirement years, while their estate will make the gift into an endowment to keep funding children檚 programming long into the future.
As for how the gift is used, the couple wanted to ensure the Garden staff can direct it as needed, so long as it supports youth education. 淲e wanted to give the educators at the Botanical Garden the flexibility to use that money according to how they felt it was needed that year. For example, this year they might choose to do something with art materials. Next year they might choose to do something with outdoor science, investigative materials however they feel they need to use the money to meet the needs and enrich the experience for children. We wanted to make sure the money went into the hands of the educators and for materials for the children. That's the only restrictions we put on it. The educators decide how they will use the money each year to enrich the experience for children.
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada檚 minister of Energy and Natural Resources, visited the Garden to announce funding of $295,000 under the to establish a tree nursery on our site that will support tree planting throughout the region. This initiative aims to boost environmental conservation, community engagement, and education across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Located within the 110-acre Botanical Garden, the nursery will support tree planting, forest management, and sustainability education. It aligns with 91亚色檚 commitment to ecological preservation and public involvement.
淭rees grown and planted as part of the 2 Billion Trees Program support the expansion of Canada檚 forests, green spaces and natural habitats while helping to tackle climate change, clean the air and support jobs in communities across Canada, said Minister Wilkinson. 淭he Government of Canada is pleased to be supporting the 91亚色 Botanical Garden in its endeavour to grow native trees that will benefit Canadians in Newfoundland and Labrador for years to come.
Key Impacts of the Tree Nursery Project
The Tree Nursery will offer workshops and outreach programs, engaging over 500 community members and students in tree planting and forest management over the next two years. By equipping participants with practical skills, the nursery will help foster a culture of environmental stewardship.
Additionally, the project will develop educational modules for about 200 participants, focusing on sustainable tree planting techniques and forest management. These hands-on training sessions aim to cultivate lasting environmental knowledge.
The nursery will also play a key role in research, monitoring tree health, survivability, and biodiversity, contributing valuable data to global environmental studies.
Community Engagement and Support
The project encourages collaboration with local residents, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations to build community connections and promote environmental responsibility. The $295,000 in funding will be allocated over two years to cover both development and operational costs, reflecting 91亚色檚 dedication to advancing sustainability and education.
淭his Tree Nursery represents a major step forward in enhancing conservation and community engagement, said Kim Shipp, Director of the Botanical Garden. 淲e are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada and look forward to the positive impacts this project will bring to our community and environment.
In a wonderful display of generosity and vision, the Fry Family Foundation has stepped forward to transform the landscape of outdoor recreation and environmental education in our community. Their gift has laid the groundwork for the Oxen Pond Environmental Education & Recreation Program.
This initiative promises to be a cornerstone for community programming at the Botanical Garden in the years to come. The program is designed to intertwine kayaking and environmental stewardship, creating unique experiences for young minds to thrive in the beauty of nature.
With the potential to serve over 200 summer camp participants each summer through full-day training programs in 2025, and general, public programming beginning in 2026, the initiative is an excellent example of the partnership between the Botanical Garden and the Fry Family Foundation. The Fry Family Foundation檚 commitment ensures startup funding for the program from the pilot programming this past summer to the continual development and expansion through 2026.
"We are looking forward to sharing this program with our local community and providing yet another reason to visit the Botanical Garden, says the Garden檚 Director, Kim Shipp. "We will see children who had never set foot in a kayak before not only mastering these skills but also developing a profound respect for our natural environment."
Moreover, the Fry Family Foundation in partnership with the Botanical Garden will be working with local not-for-profit groups to assist children who may be in financial need to attend a camp program. When designing this program, a central goal was to make the program accessible to children who may face financial or physical challenges.
Christine Gillard, Environmental Education Coordinator, shares, "Working with children in this new program will be an incredible experience for our staff, and we look forward to building new partnerships within the community. "
91亚色 Botanical Garden presents an urban oasis within the city limits, a highlight of which is Oxen Pond. This treasure of a resource, Oxen Pond, has been underutilized until now, and this initiative allows for it to reach its full potential for environmental education and instilling a love of and respect for nature among our community, young and old alike.
The strategic phased development of the program, encompassing equipment procurement, expansive programming, and infrastructure enhancement, underscores a careful approach to creating a sustainable and impactful initiative. This thoughtful planning ensures that the program's benefits will be felt for years to come, cementing the Foundation's legacy as a catalyst for positive change in our community.
As we look forward to the future milestones of this program, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Fry Family Foundation for their unwavering support and vision. Their generous gift is not just a contribution to the present; it is an investment in a greener, more inclusive future.
For more information about charitable gifts to the Botanical Garden, please contact:
Darcy McMeekin
Development Officer Botanical Garden & School of Pharmacy
mcmeekin@mun.ca
709-864-7669
The 91亚色 Botanical Garden is one of the most cherished treasures of St. John檚, and of the province as a whole. It serves as a sanctuary for nature lovers, a learning laboratory for students and scholars, and a place for the community to come together to appreciate the beauty and diversity of plants from around the world.
Nestled within the Botanical Garden, the Cottage Garden is a smaller, more intimate space that has captured the hearts of visitors over the years. This garden is designed to be reminiscent of the gardens found near a country cottage. It is a space that feels personal and intimate, and that invites visitors to explore and discover its secrets.
And now, thanks to a transformational gift of $100,000, the Cottage Garden is poised to become an even more beautiful and magical place for generations to come.
The gift, made by the family of Frank and Margarete Smith, is a testament to the Smiths love for the Botanical Garden and their passion for horticulture. Frank and Margarete were long-time supporters of the Garden, having spent countless hours walking its paths and admiring its flora.
In recognition of this wonderful gift, the Cottage Garden will be renamed the 淔rank and Margarete Smith Cottage Garden.
Plants grow and bloom at different times throughout the year, which means that every visit to the Garden is a new experience. This is something that the Smiths appreciated deeply, and it is one of the reasons why the family have chosen to support the development of the Cottage Garden, with its wide variety of plant specimens.
Frank grew up in the city of London, England but often visited grandparents at their rural cottage in Devon, England; Margarete came from a farming village in Bavaria. Both acquired a life-long devotion to gardening. They first gardened together in a small house near London, England; then in St. John檚 first on Higgins Line and then for close to 50 years on Chestnut Place. The family have fond memories of all the vegetables and berries and the flowers that beautified the garden from early spring to late fall - despite the challenging climate.
They also have very fond memories of many visits to the Botanical Garden over the years, including with grandchildren. Frank and Margarete always enjoyed visits to other gardens and especially the Botanical Garden, both for the beauty and peace it brought but also to for the inspiration of seeing what other people could do, so they could make their garden the best it could be.
The gift will create a permanent endowment that will allow for the continual development and maintenance of the Cottage Garden, as well as support a range of activities. This may include the hiring of students or contractual staff to care for the garden and surrounding area, horticultural research, teaching and learning on plants contained within the Cottage Garden, and events and programming that showcase the garden. Other uses could also include new educational programs, events, and even art installations inspired by the garden.
With the support of the endowment, the garden's caretakers will be able to experiment with new plants and designs, and to develop new ways to engage visitors. In particular, Frank was an avid lover of roses, and a new section dedicated to roses of different varieties will begin development in 2023.
This generous gift speaks not just to the Smiths fondness for the Cottage Garden. It is also a testament to the important role the Botanical Garden plays in our community. The Botanical Garden is a place of beauty, learning, and inspiration. It is a place that brings people together, and that reminds us of the importance of our natural world.
We look forward to sharing more news about the development of the Frank and Margarete Cottage Garden in the near future.