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Check out this month’s spotlight events!
Stronger Together: Our Miami County Non-Profit Gathering
I truly believe we can achieve so much more when we all come together to learn from one another. I am so excited to personally invite our local Miami County non-profit organizations to a special gathering designed to build connections and strengthen our collective impact!
Please note: This event is held exclusively for our non-profits. This gathering offers a space to our local organizations to network, explore shared services, and forge the kind of relationships that help our county thrive.
We’ll have a “rapid-fire” introduction session where you’ll have one minute to share your mission, and I will also be sharing the results of our recent Community Survey.
I would love to see you there! Whether you bring your whole team or just one representative, please register the QR code on our “Save the Date” flyer so we can plan for appetizers.
Event Details
- 🗓️ Date: Thursday, April 16th, 2026
- 📍 Location: Town Square Events, Paola, KS
- 🕒 Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- 🎟️ Cost: FREE
If you have any questions, please reach out to me at tammy.booe@micocf.org or call me at 913-404-7287.
New Beginnings: Easter & Springtime Cheer
Springtime and Easter are two of my absolute favorites! To me, Easter is a beautiful reminder that every end is truly a new beginning. It is such a gorgeous time of year in Miami County, watching the fresh green grass emerge and the first flowers bloom.
I wish all of you a fresh start this April. I hope you take a moment to get outdoors, enjoy the warmer temperatures, and soak in all the beautiful colors! Whatever your holiday traditions may be – whether it’s a sunrise service or a family lunch – I hope your weekend is filled with joy and renewal.
Fund Spotlight: Wildwood Outdoor Education
Now that we’ve run out of Board Members… we want to introduce you to our amazing funds!
I am so proud to highlight one of our wonderful funds this month: Wildwood Outdoor Education Center. If you’ve ever spent time at their beautiful location in La Cygne, you know their motto rings true: Kids grow better outside.
Wildwood transforms summer into a season of adventure, leadership, and discovery. Speaking of summer – registrations are officially OPEN!
Whether you are new at camping or have experience outdoors, now is the time to secure a spot for the upcoming season at wildwoodctr.org.
💖 Local Recipe Spotlight: Wildwood S’mores Bars
Since we are spotlighting Wildwood, Robin was kind enough to share a legendary staple from their camp kitchen. These bars take that classic campfire flavor to a whole new level! This recipe yields about 16 s’mores bars.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 30-50 minutes
Total Time: 1.25-2 hours
Ingredients
GRAHAM CRACKER COOKIE LAYER:
- 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 16 full-sheet graham crackers)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
FILLING LAYER
- 2 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened, reserving 4 oz. for frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons All Purpose or Unbleached Flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups 72% cocoa chocolate chips
- FROSTING
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 oz. chocolate, (chocolate chips, bars, or baking chocolate.)
- Reserved cream cheese
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups marshmallows
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 11 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving enough overhang on the sides to easily remove the bars when they have cooled. Set aside.
- In a large bowl using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar together on medium-high speed, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you mix.
- Mix the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add the mixture to the wet ingredients and beat on medium speed until combined.
- Press the graham cookie dough into the prepared pan. Make sure it’s even and not raised on the corners. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine 12 oz. of the cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 4 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 eggs; beat 1 minute at medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Spread over the graham cookie mixture; sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips.
- Bake at 350°F. for 30 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven; immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to the oven; bake for an additional 2 minutes.
- While marshmallows are baking, in a large saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, milk, and 2oz. unsweetened chocolate and reserved 4 oz. cream cheese. Cook over low heat, stirring until well blended. Remove from heat; stir in powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until smooth. Immediately pour frosting over golden marshmallows and lightly swirl with a knife to marble. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Cut into bars.
Store in the refrigerator and serve at room temperature for maximum flavor. Enjoy these at home or in the great outdoors!
If you don’t know me
I am Tammy Booe, Executive Director of MICOCF. You can read about me in this article. I’m so excited to get to know you all better and continue making a difference together!
Stay Connected with Me and the MICOCF Family
I love getting to know more of you and seeing all the ways we can work together to make Miami County even better. Keep following along, sharing our updates, and letting me know what you want to see in future newsletters! We’re in this together, and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with you.
Have a local talent or small business you’d like to spotlight? Know a hidden gem in Miami County that everyone should visit? Or maybe you have a fall season tip or fun activity you love to do in the County?
Drop us a message, and we might just feature you in our next newsletter or social media!
Sending you all the love,
Tammy Booe