Dogwood and Forest Hill Students Bring “Home for the Holidays” to the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees

Dogwood and Forest Hill Elementary students didn’t just decorate a tree this year—they told a story.

At the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees, students from both schools joined art teacher Charli Ardrey, along with Reese Kougher and Ashley Lyendyk, to design the Habitat for Humanity tree. What began as a fun art project quickly turned into a lesson in community impact, creativity, and the power of student voice.

Ardrey had dreamed of taking part for years. As a mom who visited the festival with her own children, she always gravitated toward the kid-designed trees. This year, everything aligned. Habitat for Humanity, a longtime participant and the tree’s sponsor, was an easy match. Ardrey’s husband serves as the organization’s communications director, and Habitat is currently running its “Home for the Holidays” campaign, an effort to raise funds to build a home for a local family.

“It felt like the perfect moment,” Ardrey said. “The festival raises money for Le Bonheur, the sponsor highlights an important cause, and our students get to use art to lift up the work Habitat is doing. Art can be powerful, and this showed them how.”

The project stretched across both schools.
 • Forest Hill fifth graders built miniature playhouses.
 • Dogwood’s art club created a different style of playhouse.
 • Dogwood’s fifth graders made cardboard gingerbread houses.
 • Forest Hill’s art club painted paper tools that became a whimsical garland.
 • Pre-K and Specialized Instruction students at Dogwood painted the wrapping paper for the presents under the tree.

By the end, dozens of students had contributed—sometimes between larger projects, sometimes in small moments when they finished early. The result is a tree filled with tiny hammers, candy-colored houses, paintbrush ornaments, and handmade touches from students across abilities and grade levels.

“It became a true collaboration,” Ardrey said. “Kids at both schools now know they had a hand in something that brings awareness to a real need in our community. They saw how art can persuade, influence, and help others.”

The Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees runs through the holiday season at the Pink Palace Museum, with proceeds supporting Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Habitat for Humanity’s “Home for the Holidays” campaign is raising funds to build one home this season.