Jim and Jennifer Lyons have supported Asbury Woods for many years, finding the Woods soon after moving to Erie 16 years ago from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jim and Jennifer live in Fairview with their two children, Noah, age 17, and Amelia, age 14. From spending time on the trails, at Walnut Creek, and exploring new places for vacations, the Lyons family are nature lovers at heart. Jennifer has chaired the annual Wine and Dine in the Woods fundraiser for the last two years (and has been on the committee since 2014), and Jim has sponsored the event through his business, Edward Jones Financial Advisors. Any given weekend, you’ll spot the Lyons family exploring nature on their “Sunday Funday” tradition.
Jim and Jennifer Lyons reflect on why nature is so meaningful to their family and why they support Asbury Woods:
As the kids get older, family time is a commodity, and getting out of the house, especially outside in nature, was typically something we could all agree upon. Everyone can relax, have fun, share laughs, and have a conversation. This past 18 months or so with the pandemic, this was even more necessary!
One of my favorite memories that has now become a tradition was the first birthday of our now eight-year-old dog. We spent her “puppy birthday party” at Walnut Creek and had so much fun; we now do it yearly. Friends and their dogs meet up; even the teenage kids love it! Going exploring in the creek and watching all the dogs swim is so great. One year we had 3 dogs and 15 kids! Spending time in nature is special to our family, and we like to explore new places. We love hiking, finding majestic views, spending time out on the water, and being near beaches are always a favorite. We’re so lucky to have beautiful places in our area like Asbury Woods, Presque Isle, Erie Bluffs State Park, and Panama Rocks.
Asbury Woods is a real gem in Erie. It has something for everyone at every age and ability level. The camps and programs for children are incredible; Asbury Woods summer camp was a driving force in establishing our kids’ love of nature, getting dirty, and being outside! They are going to carry that with them into adulthood.
Exploring the outdoors and spending time in nature has helped develop Noah's love of the environment and giving back to the community. Time in nature has spurred his interest in exploring scouting and Noah just completed his Eagle Court of Honor.
The community and scouting programs are terrific and affordable. The boardwalk is a beautiful, safe way to enjoy nature with older family members, as well as to keep young kiddos contained! The longer we live in Erie, the more we see maintaining and consistently improving Asbury Woods as a true necessity, especially as more activities become digital or virtual, or we become disconnected. We’re happy to support Asbury Woods through the Wine and Dine fundraiser; we know the support helps Asbury Woods continue to be a meaningful and relevant asset to our community.
Spending time outdoors has shaped Amelia to have an appreciation and respect for nature. She has fond memories of nature camp in the Woods and decided to volunteer and spend her time outdoors this summer to help with nature art camp.
By far, my favorite part of volunteering is being able to work with kids. I want to work as a camp counselor someday, and besides providing valuable experience, it’s also really fun!
If you want to get involved in the community, you should find something you enjoy doing and then look for volunteer opportunities that utilize it. I enjoy drawing and art as a hobby, so one of my best experiences was volunteering at the art camp at Asbury Woods.