The Wesleyan offers more than just a place to live—it's a place where residents can connect deeply with their community and with nature.

The independent living facility's campus walking trail and outdoor amenities are designed to provide residents with relaxation, stress reduction, and cognitive stimulation.

Embracing nature on the trail

The Wesleyan’s walking trail winds through a mile of natural wooded areas, offering residents a chance to immerse themselves in the great outdoors. Often, walkers will find wildlife such as deer roaming in the area.

Janice Wilkins, a resident of The Wesleyan who enjoys taking daily walks, said the trail is designed with accessibility in mind. The mile-long trail features cut-throughs for shorter walks as well as benches for resting along the way.

“It’s wonderful to be on a campus that actually has natural wooded areas,” Wilkins said. “The spring is the most beautiful—all kinds of bluebonnets and flowers are blooming, and the rain lilies come out after the rain. It just lifts your spirits to be out in nature.”

Eva Carrizales, residential administrator at The Wesleyan, said in addition to getting physical exercise, residents can also use the walking trail as a form of meditation.

“Having a safe area to be able to walk by yourself or with friends, or just be able to enjoy the peacefulness that nature can bring is so important,” Carrizales said. “We also have prayers on rocks along the trail to help you get into a good headspace for serenity.”

The community garden

The outdoor amenities at The Wesleyan extend beyond the walking trail. The facility also provides raised garden beds that residents can use to grow flowers, herbs, vegetables and more.

Carrizales said the community gardens foster a sense of accomplishment while promoting physical activity and mental engagement.

“We provide the raised garden beds themselves, but residents buy the seeds and plant what they want,” Carrizales said. “They get to pick the fruits of their labor.”

The gardens gained so much popularity that the residents formed a grounds and gardens committee to preserve and protect the plants on the campus.

The committee also started a butterfly garden, and the beloved project is a testament to the community’s dedication to preserving and enhancing the natural environment. Resident Joe Urias is the chair of the committee and believes having a communal outdoor space is vital.

“Having an outdoor space like this is important for the Wesleyan community because there are a lot of people who appreciate being able to go out and enjoy the outdoors.”

Urias said the garden is a collaborative effort, and residents like Porter Click, the resident horticulturist, share their knowledge and passion for plants, which further enriches the community’s experience.

Carrizales said while the committee oversees the garden independently, The Wesleyan is committed to responding to their requests and providing whatever the committee needs for the success of the garden.

“We facilitate any requests from the committee,” Carrizales said. “Most recently, there was difficulty watering some wild flowers on the property, so we purchased a system that could give them better accessibility.”

Lifting spirits during dark times

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Wesleyan’s community spirit remained strong due in large part to having a safe space to go outside. To lift residents’ spirits, members of the on-site woodworking shop created little wooden birds for a scavenger hunt along the trail, and staff used chalk to write uplifting messages and draw flowers on fences.

These small acts of kindness brought joy and comfort to residents and reinforced the sense of support that defines The Wesleyan.

Ready to make the move?

Individuals who are interested in moving to The Wesleyan can visit the facility anytime to explore the walking trail and experience the natural beauty of the wooded area. To learn more about The Wesleyan, visit the website or visit the location at 139 Estrella Crossing, Georgetown.

The above story was produced by Senior Multi Platform Journalist Summer El-Shahawy with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of its "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.