Garvan Woodland Gardens may be your family's winter wonderland during the holiday season, but the natural space is also known for its year-round attractions—including the Evans Children's Adventure Garden, a 1.5 acre area where kids can splash in a waterfall, catch critters in the crawdad hole, explore wading pools, climb Arkansas-quarried boulders and discover a man-made cave. And soon, it will also be home to a $1 million treehouse!

It was recently announced that Sunny Evans of Hot Springs and her late husband, Bob, committed $500,000 of a previous estate gift to create matching funds for a new treehouse in the Evans Children's Adventure Garden. The additional $500,000 will be raised through private funds and donations.

Designed by Modus Studio in Fayetteville, the modern structure will inspire children of all ages to play and learn among the trees. The three-level treehouse will focus on the subject of dendrology, or the study of forest and trees, and will include experiment stations, forest overlooks and ladders that lead to a "loft." A theater seating area will be a gathering place for students on field trips, whose teachers can lead discussions based on the day's outdoor discoveries.

So, when can families expect to go on a treehouse adventure? If all funds are raised, Garvan is planning to begin construction in the summer of 2016! Of course, the treehouse's complex nature and site sensitivity are still in the design phase and will play a big part in how long it takes to finish building. We'll keep you posted on an official opening as it draws near!

Located in Hot Springs, Garvan Woodland Gardens is part of the University of Arkansas' Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. For more information, visit GarvanGardens.org.