This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Bro. Don Geiger, SM Eastern Tallgrass Prairie in the heart of the Marianist Nature Preserve at Mount Saint John. On October 2 and 3, we invite you to two days of remembering Bro. Don, celebrating his legacy, and being inspired for the future. Archival materials from Don's life will be on display both days, and participants will be able to record their memories of him. Unless otherwise noted, all events and sessions will take place in, or leave from, the Madeleine Room in the Chaminade Center at Mount Saint John. For a map and directions, click here. Most events simply require an RSVP; the Friday reception and the Saturday lunch require regisration. Use the button at the bottom of this page for both.
Friday, October 2
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Guided tour of the Geiger Prairie with Mary Klunk
Prairie grass seed collection with Michele Banker
5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Opening reception, remarks, film Fire, Rain, Wind, Snow and Fire, discussion with filmmaker Suki Kwon (Registration required.)
Saturday October 3
Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Keynote address by Dave Nolin: Mount Saint John and Greater Dayton Living Landscapes: History, restoration and hopes
10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Morning hikes and activities
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Lunch (Registration required)
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon hikes and activities
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Mass with Marianist Brothers' Directors and other members of the Dayton-area Marianist Family in Queen of Apostles Chapel at Mount Saint John.
5:15 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Closing reception and comments from MEEC staff, Marianist Brothers and others
About our special guests:
Suki Kwon is a professor of art and design at the University of Dayton (UD) whose interdisciplinary practice brings together art, spirituality, culture, and environmental sustainability. She is the current Graul Endowed Chair in Arts and Languages. As her Hanley Scholarship project, she wrote and directed "Fire, Rain, Wind, Snow and Fire: The Story of A Prairie" which captured Don's transformative vision that ultimately led him to found MEEC. She holds M.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Design from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in Theological Studies from UD. Kwon is a Fullbright Scholar whose work reflects a sustained interest in using art and visual storytelling to foster deeper connections among people, place, and the natural environment.
We are grateful she is willing to lead us in a conversation about the film and sharing our memories of Don. Donations will benefit the Bro. Don Geiger, SM, Intern Fund.
David Nolin is a restorationist and longtime collaborator with Bro. Don Geiger. He will speak about his research into the land history of Mount Saint John that guided Don's ecological restoration, his recollections of the "early" days of restoration in Greater Dayton and those whose willingness to experiment led to best practices that still guide land managers today. He will also share what he thinks restoration priorities are for the next forty years
Dave spent his 30-year career with Five Rivers MetroParks leading the agency's conservation and land acquisition efforts. He grew up in Fairborn, Ohio and obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology from Wright State University. He has authored two books, Discovery and Renewal on Huffman Prairie and Forests, and Wetlands and Flamescapes - Wildlands of the Dayton, Ohio Region in 1800…and.
He is enjoying retirement with his wife, Catherine Queener, and son Jacob and volunteering with conservation projects including Beavercreek Wetlands Association, Huffman Prairie and ODNR digital mapping of Ohio vegetation from 1800 survey records.