The calendar shows events we are part of and events we are sponsoring. Do you have an event we should know about? Send us a message.
Bluebell Valley Walk: A Springtime Hike to Reconnect and Renew 💙
Date: Sunday April 13, 2025
12600 E 98 St, Kansas City, MO 64138
Join us for our April Nature-Connected Event, a rejuvenating springtime walk through one of Kansas City’s most beautiful and serene landscapes—Bluebell Valley, located just off the Rock Island Trailhead. This rich, vibrant bottomland along the Little Blue River comes alive each spring, blanketed with the delicate hues of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and other stunning spring ephemerals. It’s a breathtaking celebration of nature’s renewal and the return of warmer days.
This walk offers more than just a scenic route—it’s an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature, and restore your own sense of balance and peace. We’ll take our time to enjoy the beauty around us, appreciating the wildflowers, the sounds of the river, and the quiet serenity that this area provides.
Highlights for the Walk
While the trail along the river is mostly flat, there is one short, steeper hill on the way down from the Rock Island Trail. Be prepared with sturdy shoes that can handle a little mud, and leave your worries behind as you engage fully with the natural world around you.
After the walk, take some time to reflect, chat with fellow participants, and absorb the peace of the surroundings. It’s not just a walk—it’s a chance to deepen your connection to nature, cultivate resilience in the face of life’s challenges, and foster a sense of community.
Details:
Location: Rock Island Trailhead, Bluebell Valley
Distance: Short but meaningful (with time to linger and connect)
Footwear: Sturdy shoes suitable for mud and uneven terrain
For more information or any questions, please contact Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org.
We hope to see you there for a walk that will nourish your spirit and deepen your connection to the natural world.
Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄🟫
We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.
In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.
Walk Leader
This event is led by Anna Graether, a dedicated The Resilient Activist board member who will guide you through this immersive experience, sharing her knowledge and appreciation of the land, its history, and its healing power. Whether you’re new to the area or a seasoned local, this walk offers a fresh perspective on the beauty of Kansas City’s spring landscape and provides the perfect opportunity to pause, breathe, and simply be present.
Photo Credit: Phoebe Lyn Pinkner
KC Farm School Work Day: A Morning of Gardening & Community 🌻
Date: Saturday May 3, 2025
4223 Gibbs Rd, Kansas City, KS
Join The Resilient Activist and the staff of KC Farm School for this work day event. Depending on weather, we’ll help with planting annuals or work in the greenhouse transplanting seedlings. Wear clothes that can get dirty (layers are recommended), bring some water and get ready to enjoy working as a community!
KC Farm School
“KC Farm School at Gibbs Road, established in 2018, is a 14.5-acre urban farm in southern Wyandotte County bringing the community on-farm, hands-on to connect to land and soil, food community and opportunity. Through educational opportunity and equitable access to local food for all, we create tomorrow better than today in our shared communities across KC. Our food and programming are always Pay What You’re Able. When we all share as we’re able, we all have what we need. The Farm School at Gibbs Road Inc., doing business as KC Farm School at Gibbs Road, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”
Highlights for the Day
Highlights for the DayDepending on the weather during our work day we could be inside of the Greenhouse or working outside in the sun. Be prepared with sturdy shoes that can handle a little mud, layers are a good idea as the greenhouse can heat up quick.
If it’s your first time at the Farm set aside some time after to take a tour of their beautiful and extensive plot. If you’re lucky enough someone from the Farm School might be able to give you a guided tour with history of the land and their plans for the future.
Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄🟫
We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.
In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.
Work Day Leader
This event is led by Sarah Mayerhofer, a board member of The Resilient Activist, Sustainability Consultant, and aspiring homesteader. She focuses on addressing climate change through education on food waste and composting, collaborating with nonprofits that are making a difference in the community, and inspiring individuals to make small, impactful changes in their lives for the environment.
Photo Credits: Sarah Mayerhofer
Yoga in the Park – Resilience in Our Community
Date: May 31, 7-8 PM
Location: 45th & Gillham, South End of Park
Join us for a special evening of resiliency and connection as Sarah Mayerhofer leads a sunset flow designed for all levels of yoga.
Whether you’re new to yoga or have been practicing for years, this class will offer a supportive space to cultivate resilience, both individually and as a community.
Bring your mat, some water, and a friend — and let’s come together in the beautiful outdoors to nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits.
Why we offer mindfulness events…
We live in a world that promotes chronic busyness, distraction, and negative news. Our mindfulness events offer people new perspectives, renewed energy, and enhanced clarity that empower them to show up better prepared to face life’s demands.
In times of change, yoga helps us build strength, balance, and connection to the world around us. Let’s embrace this moment of collective renewal.
We can’t wait to see you at Gillham Park! 🧘🏽
If you have questions, contact Sarah Mayerhofer at saamayerhofer@theresilientactivist.org.
Seeds of Life Garden Tour 🪻
Revitalizing Urban Land for People and Nature
Date: Sunday June 8th, 3-5 PM
Location: Seeds of Life Garden in Lee’s Summit
(exact address will be provided at the time of registration)
Register here!
Parking: Street parking available 🅿️
Restrooms: Not available on-site 🚻
At Seeds of Life Gardens, Linda Chubbuck and Stan Slaughter have created an inspiring space where nature and community thrive together. Located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, the garden stands as a living testament to what is possible when we reimagine vacant urban land not just as a space to be filled, but as a canvas for growth, resilience, and sustainability.
The project began with two residential lots that had been damaged by flooding from the nearby creek. Both homes and utilities were removed, leaving the area abandoned. In January 2022, ownership of these lots was transferred from the City of Lee’s Summit to Linda and Stan, marking the start of a transformative journey.
Seeds of Life Gardens was founded with a clear mission: to benefit nature, the Web of Life, and all creatures—including humans. This mission is deeply rooted in the belief that by healing the land, we heal ourselves. The garden has been designed as an educational space to showcase what can be achieved with urban, vacant ground, offering valuable lessons for the neighborhood, the city, and beyond.
Though the project faces unique challenges, including no water service and the prohibition of fencing due to FEMA flood regulations, Linda and Stan have turned these obstacles into opportunities. Situated on a heavily trafficked walking route, the garden is highly visible, allowing for meaningful engagement and learning. Since its inception, Seeds of Life Gardens has flourished, with hundreds of native perennials and grasses planted in the wildflower garden, 15 fruit trees added to establish a food forest, and a sizable vegetable bed created. The strategic use of berming and soil improvement techniques has allowed the garden to manage floodwaters effectively, while revitalizing the local habitat.
This garden is more than just a beautiful space—it’s a testament to the power of resilience. From two vacant patches of land, Linda and Stan have cultivated an ecosystem where both plants and people thrive. As part of The Resilient Activist’s mission to support sustainability and community-building, Seeds of Life Gardens exemplifies how we can take action on urban land to create something restorative and impactful.
We invite you to visit and witness the progress and life that has emerged from these once-vacant lots. Come and experience the buzzing energy of nature in action, and learn how small, thoughtful steps can create lasting change for both our environment and our communities.
Why we offer mindfulness events…
We live in a world that promotes chronic busyness, distraction, and negative news. Our mindfulness events offer people new perspectives, renewed energy, and enhanced clarity that empower them to show up better prepared to face life’s demands.
We can’t wait to see you at The Seeds of Life Garden on June 8th! 🌻
If you have questions, contact Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org
Labyrinth Walk at Unity Village 🌼
Date: June 28th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM CT
Location: Unity Village (1901 NW Blue Parkway, Unity Village, MO 64065)
Join The Resilient Activist community and our Board Member, Amy Schonhoff for a meditative walk through the Unity Village Labyrinth.
Welcome to the Unity Labyrinth, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. Spanning 6,358 square feet with a three-quarters-mile path, this 90-foot diameter labyrinth is the largest paver labyrinth in the United States. Designed in an 11-circuit medieval pattern, it features wide, wheelchair-accessible paths leading to three granite benches at its center. Created by a renowned stone artisan and completed in 2022, the labyrinth is a sanctuary for reflection and renewal.
Walking the labyrinth allows for focused contemplation on personal challenges, often leading to deep insights. The path inward and back fosters personal revelations. Beneath the stones lie messages and prayers from past visitors, enriching its contemplative atmosphere. This timeless addition, made possible with support from Unity donors, resonates deeply with the spirit of our times.
Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄🟫
We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.
In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.
Our Walk Leader: Amy Schonhoff
Amy Zoe Schonhoff is the founder of Mindfulness in the Heartland, a certified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, and a certified teacher of Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness.
Amy has also served as a nonprofit professional for over 20 years working in arts- and community-based organizations within Kansas City. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, hiking outdoors, and creating a sanctuary for pollinators in her garden.
As a mindfulness practitioner and teacher, I have found the natural world provides meaningful refuge from the “anxiety of our time” and a splendid setting to explore the magic inherent in being a living, breathing consciousness within this dynamic, interconnected web of life. Through The Resilient Activist, it’s my intention to foster and support a community of like-hearted individuals grounded in mindfulness, wisdom, deep care for the natural world, and commitment to compassionate action.
Contact TRA Board Member Amy Schonhoff at azschonhoff@gmail.com with questions.
Photo Credit: Unity Village Website
Roots & Remedies: An Exploration into Plant Medicine 🍄🟫
Date: July 12th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM CT
Location: Kansas City (full address available after you RSVP)
Join The Resilient Activist community and Luke Welsh for a native garden tour, discussion on local medicinal plants, community connection, and a chance to take some promising seedlings home!
While walking through the garden, Luke will share the physical and emotional benefits of utilizing the medicinal plants we find that are currently in season. Once you leave the event with a seedling or two of your own, you’ll come away with an enhanced understanding and appreciation of what these native plants can offer.
The event location will be available once you RSVP.
Native gardening can be a powerful form of self-care and activism. One of the best ways to support wildlife is to plant natives, because insects and birds have evolved alongside the plants they rely on. Without specific plants, we wouldn’t have specific insects. When we provide a healthy environment for insects to thrive, birds and pollinators get to eat, birds and pollinators pollinate, and humans are able to eat and be nourished!
Along with supporting ecosystem balance, the process of native gardening and connecting with the soil can lower our blood pressure, calm our mind, and nourish us on a deeper level.
Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄🟫
We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.
In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.
Contact TRA Board Member Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org with questions.
To learn more about how you can start your own native garden, read Anna’s informative blog post: “From Lawn to Wildlife Habitat: Conservation Starts in Your Own Backyard.”
“Using plants [facilitates] a biochemical conversation which is far beyond our comprehension or our understanding.” – Bevin Clare
Photo Credit: Sarah Mayerhofer