WAUSAU–Six butterfly benches, three coneflowers, and other metal botanical sculptures found their home in Sara’s Storybook Garden at Monk Botanical Gardens on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. These pieces are the result of a partnership with the Northcentral Technical College Alternative High School (NTC AHS).
NTC AHS students designed, welded, and painted these whimsical metal pieces. The project incorporated welding classes, cross-curricular hands-on activities, and service-learning.
Sara’s Storybook Garden is currently under development and honors the memory of Sara Quirt-Sann, a local attorney who lost her life in 2017 due to a domestic violence tragedy. The husband of Dianne Look, another community member whose life was also cut short that day, donated a book written by his late wife to Sprouts Garden Preschool, a nature-based preschool serving 3-5-year-olds at Monk Botanical Gardens. The book is titled Memory Garden: Bebe the Tiny Beast and was published by a D.C. Everest Senior High School.
One of the latest features underway in Sara’s Storybook Garden is a hobbit house to be enjoyed by children of all ages. It will be completed this summer.
The NTC AHS serves students at risk of not completing high school in a traditional setting. More information about the program can be found at
www.ntc.edu/about/locations-facilities/alternative-high-school.
This project was made possible, in part, by The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin.