DEAR FRIEND OF THE BTG,

I am humbled and excited to be writing to you as the President of the BTG.  Whether you’re already a Life Member or thinking about becoming one, we welcome you to join us in the never-ending journey toward understanding the natural world around us. Our hope is that you will carry the things you learn in Chautauqua to your hometowns around the world.

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The 2023 Chautauqua season was a success for the BTG. We hosted 102 programs during the nine weeks and served over 4,400 attendees. In addition to our daily guided nature walks, we hosted an Open Garden twice a week at the Shipman Gardens at Miller Cottage, the home of Chautauqua Founder Lewis Miller. Designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman, the gardens were installed by his daughter, Mina Miller Edison, who was married to inventor Thomas Edison.

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We are now gearing up for the 2024 House and Garden Tour, which will be held on July 11, 2024. The tour, a biennial tradition since 1954, funds most of our programming for the two years following the tour. 

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Our One Thousand Tree Marker Campaign is going well. We have installed hundreds of tree markers around Chautauqua in an effort to match the One Thousand Tree Marker Campaign of the 1972 BTG. Our rich history sets a high bar for the present and future.

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Warmly,

Leslie Renjilian