The Brenton Arboretum has thousands of trees and miles of trails just waiting to be explored!

Kids these days just don’t get enough time in nature! One of the most popular spaces at The Brenton Arboretum is the O’Brien Nature Play Area. Be sure you plan plenty of time to burn off some playful energy during your visit. Click below to learn more about “Nature Play.”

The Labyrinth at The Brenton Arboretum

The Brenton Arboretum is home to a labyrinth. You’ll find it on the west side of the Arboretum near the main road, marked with a small sign. The walking path is made of grass, outlined with brick.

You may wonder: What is a labyrinth? How should I walk it?

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol of journeys, both physical and metaphorical. It’s been used for at least 4,000 years across a wide variety of traditions and cultures around the world.

A labyrinth is different from a maze because it has only one way in and the same way out.

How do you walk it?

There really is no right or wrong way.

At its most basic, you can just enjoy the experience of the rhythmic movement while walking the maze. Or, you can use it as a meditative or quieting practice. If you see someone quietly walking the labyrinth, please honor their experience by remaining quiet. It’s fine to share the labyrinth, as long as you respect others using it.

But if no one else is there, and you feel like laughing, shouting, or talking, go right ahead!

Labyrinth walking can be used for spiritual centering, contemplation, and prayer. One way to begin this type of practice is to focus on a spiritual question or prayer. In this way, the labyrinth symbolizes a journey to a destination, almost as if you are on a pilgrimage to a holy site. A labyrinth can represent our journey through life. You may want to bring a prayer or spiritual question to contemplate as you walk to the center.

You may also enter with no specific purpose. Before you begin, simply relax. Exhale and quiet your mind. Let go of any stress or worry. You may wish to use a prayer or a chant. As you walk, continue to be relaxed and open to whatever message you may receive.

Open your senses and focus on the process of taking slow and deliberate steps. Allow everything else, except your questions or prayers, to fall away.

Once you reach the center of the labyrinth, pause to reflect, pray, and listen for an answer or deeper revelation. Go ahead and sit down in the center if you wish. It’s fine. Stay as long or as short a time as you like. You’ll know when it’s time to begin the journey back.

On your return, consider that you are traveling back to where you physically began, but perhaps you now have a new thought or fresh insight.

Walking a labyrinth in this way can be surprisingly calming and clarifying, even if you’re not spiritual. Slow, intentional walking in a quiet place on a set path is a freeing experience during a time of stress or busyness.

The path of the traditional medieval design, like the kind used at the Brenton Arboretum, weaves back and forth. You’ll notice that the experience seems to take you close to the center, but then moves away. These twists and turns may represent unexpected events in your life. If you meet someone else on the path and pass one another, it may represent how people come into, then leave, your own life.

Kids and the Labyrinth

Labyrinths can be used by children, as with adults, any way you want.

Kids will enjoy simply following the path. If there’s more than one person in your group at the labyrinth, try spacing the time between people by 10 or 15 seconds. That way, as you walk the labyrinth pathway, you’ll enjoy coming closer, closer, closer, then farther, farther, farther away from another person. Someone will be the first one to the center. At some point, you’ll meet up! Different kids may take different speeds to enjoy this serpentine experience.

Remember, though: It’s not a race. Walking a labyrinth isn’t about winning. It’s about enjoying the journey.

Remember, too: There’s no right or wrong way to walk a labyrinth.

Learn More About Labyrinths

There are many online resources for learning about labyrinths, including activities for kids. One is www.labyrinthsociety.org. For a search term, try “walk a labyrinth.”

To learn more about one journalist’s labyrinth experience at the Arboretum, visit the blog post linked below:

The Brenton Arboretum’s Horticulture Library is housed in the Vista Room at the Administration Building. Anyone can browse the books, but only members have lending privileges. The library is open by appointment only; call 515-992-4211 to schedule your visit.

Coming Soon!

• Leaf Walk
• Storm Water Walk

Guided Tours are booked through our Rental department.

For inquiries or to book T.R.E.E Adventures or Private Guided Tours contact Laura Myers Hooten at Rentals@TheBrentonArboretum.org.

T.R.E.E. Adventures

Tireless. Retired. Energetic. Explorers! Our T.R.E.E. Adventure tours are crafted to enable retirement communities, church groups, bus tours, and more the opportunity to visit the Arboretum with the use of an activity- or mini-bus or van.

Base Tour, $50 per bus/van plus $5 per passenger. Bring your bus or van to The Brenton Arboretum. Your tour guide will board the bus at the main gate for a one-hour interactive driving tour featuring our collections, research, and arboretum history.

“Walk & Talk” Add-on Option, an additional $3 per person. After your driving tour, you will stop at Overlook Pond for a 30-minute interactive “walk & talk” along an ADA accessible paved 1/4 mile looped path. Your tour guide will discuss wildlife, tree collections, native prairie, and more. For similar guided tours without the bus/van component, see “Private Guided Tours” below.

Brown Bag Lunch Add-on Option, an additional $75 per hour. Finish your adventure with an picnic lunch in either our open-air Pavilion or indoor Vista Room. You can bring your own lunches or you can purchase a brown bag lunch through the Arboretum for $10 each.

“Lunch & Learn” Add-on Option, an additional $75 per hour plus $50 for up to 20 participants. Groups who just can’t get enough knowledge can add a 30-minute educational lecture to their lunch program. Topics will depend on the season and expertise of your group’s assigned lecturer.

For inquiries or to book T.R.E.E Adventures Tours contact Laura Myers Hooten at Rentals@TheBrentonArboretum.org.

Private Guided Tours

$50 per group plus $3 per person for up to 10 people. Book a 30-minute private guided walking tour with one of our Arboretum experts. The route, fitness level, and content of the tours will be tailored to your group’s interests.

For inquiries or to book Private Guided Tours contact Laura Myers Hooten at Rentals@TheBrentonArboretum.org.