Located in the educational wing of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Regenstein School offers multiple adult education courses to Chicago residents. The school holds multiple nature walks each month, where participants explore a local nature preserve while their guide shares information about local animals and plant life. There is also an Introduction to Bird-Watching class that teaches all of the beginner bird-watching basics, from using a field guide to working with binoculars. Budding horticulturists might be more interested in garden design or horticulture programs, which include classes like Summer Vegetable Gardening, Tree Measurements and Terminology, and a Home Garden Design Workshop.
Even if your primary interest lies outside of botany, you can still find a fascinating class at the Chicago Botanic Garden that meets your needs. You can enroll in one of the many fitness and wellness programs that take place in the beautiful gardens, like the Outdoor Walking Workout or a Tai Chi Fundamentals class. The school also offers an array of hands-on baking and cooking classes that teach students to make things like deep-dish pizza, French tarts, and souffles. Artistic students can take advantage of one of the many outdoor painting or photography courses, like the Creative Plant Photography course or Painting Colorful Flowers En Plein Air.
For the last 50 years, the Chicago Botanic Garden has been one of the premier conservation centers in the United States. It boasts over 25 gardens on nearly 400 acres of land, with six miles of beautiful lake shoreline. It is also home to the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, which conducts research related to habitat restoration and the protection of endangered plant species.
Courses at the Chicago Botanic Garden have received largely positive feedback from former students. Many people reported feeling that the classes were well-paced and informative, especially beginners who were concerned they might be intimidated by a lot of new information. Students also praise the instructors, stating they are helpful and engaging.
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