GREAT BEND, Kan. — The Center for Counseling & Consultation welcomed nearly 500 community members to Brit Spaugh Zoo on June 18 for its inaugural Wild About Wellness event, an evening dedicated to promoting mental wellness through fun, interactive experiences for children and families.
Designed to make conversations about mental health approachable and engaging, Wild About Wellness transformed the zoo into a wellness safari adventure featuring hands-on activities, community resources, animal encounters, food, music, and family entertainment.
Throughout the evening, families explored nine interactive wellness stations hosted by Center staff. Activities focused on practical coping skills and emotional well-being, including bubble breathing, sensory bottle creation, animal yoga, emotional regulation exercises, sensory play, and wellness-themed games.
One of the event’s most popular attractions was the Safari Shake Station, where 95 children created and took home their own sensory bottles. Additionally, 78 participants completed the event’s activity cards, which required guests to visit and engage with each wellness station throughout the zoo.
Event Coordinator Sara Arnberger said the event was designed to help families experience mental wellness in a way that felt approachable, interactive, and fun.
“One of the things I loved most about the evening was watching families learn and practice wellness skills together without it feeling like a lesson,” said Arnberger. “Children were making sensory bottles, blowing bubbles to practice mindful breathing, trying animal yoga, and exploring coping skills through play. Those are the kinds of experiences that stick with kids long after the event is over. We wanted to create a space where wellness felt exciting, and I think our community embraced that wholeheartedly.”
Arnberger also credited the event’s success to the dedicated planning committee that spent months bringing the vision to life.
“This event would not have been possible without our planning committee,” she said. “Their creativity, enthusiasm, and countless hours of work transformed an idea into an incredible community experience. Every activity, detail, and interaction was carefully planned with families in mind, and their efforts were evident throughout the evening.”
Executive Director Wendy Lockwood said the event reflects The Center’s commitment to creating opportunities for families to engage with mental wellness in positive and meaningful ways.
“Our goal was to create an event where families could experience mental wellness in a way that felt fun, positive, and accessible,” said Lockwood. “The response from the community exceeded our expectations, and it was wonderful to see children and adults learning, laughing, and connecting together.”
The Center extends its sincere appreciation to the many partners, sponsors, volunteers, and community organizations that helped make the event a success.
Guests enjoyed food from Brand 17 BBQ and specialty drinks from Soda Bop, while Tyler Morton of On Point Entertainment kept the atmosphere lively throughout the evening with music and entertainment. Local artist Becky Wasson delighted attendees with her face painting talents, creating colorful designs for children throughout the event.
The staff at Brit Spaugh Zoo played a key role in the evening’s success, providing unique opportunities for guests to interact with and learn about zoo animals in new and exciting ways.
Community partners also helped enhance the event experience, including:
Barton County Youth Crew
Heart of Kansas
The Family Crisis Center
Sunflower Early Education Center
The Center also extends a special thank you to the Great Bend Recreation Commission for providing the Imagination Playground blocks that created a popular hands-on play station for children. Additional family fun included a bounce house and numerous opportunities for creative play, exploration, and movement.
Wild About Wellness was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including Pryor Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Darin’s Auto Repair, Werth Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, and Nu Image Audio, as well as special contributions from Fastenal and Magna Dry.
The event reflects The Center’s ongoing commitment to cultivating help, hope, and healing throughout Barton, Pawnee, Rice, and Stafford counties while reducing stigma and increasing awareness surrounding mental health and wellness.
Based on the overwhelming community response and engagement, The Center anticipates making Wild About Wellness an annual event and looks forward to continuing to create opportunities for families to connect, learn, and grow together.
For more information about The Center for Counseling & Consultation and upcoming community events, visit www.thecentergb.org.
About The Centerfor Counseling & Consultation
The Center for Counseling & Consultation is the Community Mental Health Center and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic serving Barton, Pawnee, Rice, and Stafford counties. The Center provides a comprehensive range of mental health, substance use, crisis, and community support services while working to cultivate help, hope, and healing throughout central Kansas.