Bus Trip to Great Bend & Greensburg

May 4th, 2024 - May 4, 2024 7:00am - 6:00pm

Dyck Arboretum of the Plains
177 West Hickory
Hesston, Kansas 67062

Get Directions Register

Join Arboretum staff and board members for another “Visit a Favorite Place” bus trip, this time to the Kansas Wetland Education Center (KWEC), and to The Big Well Museum and other sites in Greensburg. The trip will take place on Saturday, May 4. We will depart in a charter bus from the Arboretum at 7 am and return by 6 pm.

Kansans live in one of the most important spots in the country for migrating birds. Our first stop, the Kansas Wetland Education Center (KWEC) near Great Bend, provides visitors a unique natural experience since it overlooks Cheyenne Bottoms; the largest inland marsh in the United States and a Ramsar designated “Wetland of International Importance”. In fact, 96% of North American migrating shorebirds pass through Cheyenne Bottoms.

KWEC has walk-through state-of-the-art exhibits that tell the story of Cheyenne Bottoms from its ancient geological formation to the management challenges of the future. Discover the magnificence of these wetlands and the animals and plants living there. If road conditions are favorable, we will be able to tour some of the pools with Curtis Wolf, site manager for KWEC.

The second stop on our trip will be The Big Well Museum. Following lunch in Greensburg, we will descend into the 109-foot deep and 32-foot diameter well completed in 1888. This marvel of engineering originally served as the town’s water supply. Explore the Museum, where exhibits showcase Greensburg’s rich history, recount the 2007 tornado, and highlight the town’s commitment to sustainability.

The Big Well Museum is also home to the “World’s Largest Pallasite Meteorite”, a captivating celestial wonder. This rare meteorite, with its unique blend of olivine crystals and metal, adds an intriguing cosmic dimension to this Greensburg attraction. Join us for a journey through time and space at The Big Well Museum. While in Greensburg, we will also walk a block to the Kiowa County Historical Museum and Soda Fountain.

Cost of registration is $75 for Arboretum members and $85 for non-members. Cost of food is not included.