Chicago Botanic Garden
Classes in Chicago
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum and conservation science center that offers multiple unique nature courses spread throughout 26 gardens and four natural areas on 385 acres.
67 classes with availability
Demonstration Cooking: Mastering Lentils
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Discover the comforting versatility of lentils in this flavorful cooking class. Learn traditional techniques for preparing creamy dal tadka, classic moong dal with spinach, and an aromatic one-pot chana dal pilaf. Packed with plant-based protein and vibrant spices, these approachable vegetarian dishes are perfect for creating satisfying, wholesome meals at home.
Thu. Nov 5th, 6–8pm CT
(2 hours)
Demo Cooking: Make-Ahead Holiday Appetizers
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Impress your guests with elegant, make-ahead appetizers perfect for holiday entertaining. Learn to prepare festive bites like French gougères, delicate salmon gravlax, and a stunning puff pastry garlic butter Christmas tree. These crowd-pleasers are designed to deliver big flavor without last-minute stress.
Sun. Dec 13th, 1–3pm CT
(2 hours)
Demo Cooking: Macro-Balanced Soups & Stews
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Warm up with nourishing soups and stews that offer both comfort and balanced nutrition. Learn to craft flavorful one-pot meals packed with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs for lasting energy. Featured recipes include dishes like bison meatballs, tomato quinoa stew, and chicken dumpling soup. Perfect for cozy, health-conscious cooking.
Sat. Nov 21st, 11am–1pm CT
(2 hours)
Hands-on Cooking: Pot Pie
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Warm up with the ultimate comfort food: homemade pot pie. Learn to create two hearty variations, including a savory chicken, leek, pea, and mushroom pie and a rich acorn squash and Roquefort pie with tender short ribs. Discover techniques for building flavorful, satisfying pies that are perfect for cozy winter meals.
Sun. Nov 22nd, 11am–1:30pm CT
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Demonstration Baking: Pâte à Choux
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Explore the versatility of classic French pâte à choux in this expert-led demonstration. Learn how to prepare, pipe, and cook this steam-leavened dough to create elegant éclairs, airy cream puffs, crisp crullers, and savory gougères. Gain pro tips for storing and serving these delicate pastries with confidence.
Mon. Dec 14th, 6–8:30pm CT
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Dried Flower Arrangement
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Preserve the beauty of the season with a custom dried floral bouquet designed to last through fall and beyond. Learn best practices for drying flowers at home, then explore how to combine color, texture, and height to create a balanced, eye-catching arrangement. Leave with a one-of-a-kind bouquet and practical skills for preserving your favorite blooms.
Wed. Nov 18th, 1–2:30pm CT
(90 minutes)
Dried Floral Wreath
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Create a timeless dried floral wreath designed to bring natural beauty to your home year-round. Work with a selection of preserved flowers while learning techniques for arranging dried materials and best practices for drying blooms from your own garden. Leave with a unique, lasting wreath and the skills to continue preserving your favorite flowers at home. All supplies are included.
Sun. Nov 22nd, 10–11:30am CT
(90 minutes)
Botanical Covers Bookbinding Workshop
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Step into the centuries-old craft of bookbinding and learn essential techniques that have been passed down through generations. Explore paper grain, stitching, and construction while customizing your own cover, spine color, and paper style. Create three unique booklets to take home, featuring handmade covers incorporating botanicals from the Garden. All skill levels are welcome and supplies are included.
Sat. Nov 14th, 1–3:30pm CT
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Forest Bathing Walk
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Step into a renewing journey through nature's embrace with our immersive forest experience. Settle into the therapeutic benefits of Shinrin-yoku as you engage all your senses in the healing influence of the forest. Join us for a mindful walk amid nature's quiet, finishing with a peaceful forest tea ceremony.
Sun. Nov 8th, 1–2:30pm CT
(90 minutes)
Pressed Floral Wall-Clock Workshop
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Turn pressed flowers into a beautiful, functional piece of botanical décor. Learn how to arrange blooms using the golden ratio for a balanced and visually striking clock face, then discover sealing techniques to help preserve their color and placement. Leave with a unique, battery-operated floral clock ready to hang and enjoy at home. All supplies are included.
Thu. Dec 3rd, 10am–1pm CT
(3 hours)
Pressed Floral Candles
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Celebrate the beauty of autumn through a nature-inspired collage workshop. Use found and foraged materials such as leaves, flowers, and bark to create layered designs on candles while exploring composition, texture, and form. Express your personal connection to the season and leave with two unique candles, perfect for gifting or adding a warm, natural touch to your winter home. All supplies are included.
Sun. Dec 6th, 3:30–6:30pm CT
(3 hours)
Macro Photography: The Unseen World
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Discover the hidden beauty of the small in this immersive macro photography class. Learn techniques like focus stacking, creative lighting, and close-up composition while capturing subjects such as flowers, water droplets, and insects. Gain hands-on experience in both studio and outdoor settings, plus post-processing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and Helicon.
Nov 10th
9am–12pm CT
Meets 5 Times
$469
10 Seats Left
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Tue. Nov 10th, 9am–12pm CT
(15 hours over 5 sessions)
Singing Bowl Meditation
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Settle into deep relaxation with the soothing vibrations of crystal singing bowls, easing you into a meditative state of acceptance. As you lie comfortably, the frequencies help you tune into your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, supporting profound calm. No prior experience is needed to enjoy this peaceful, restorative practice.
Nov 4th
6:30–7:45pm CT
$44
10 Seats Left
Nov 17th
6:30–7:45pm CT
$44
10 Seats Left
Dec 14th
6:30–7:45pm CT
$44
10 Seats Left
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Wed. Nov 4th, 6:30–7:45pm CT
(75 minutes)
Botany 2
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Investigate the captivating world of plant growth and development in this advanced botany course. Look at the intricate processes of seed germination, water movement, photosynthesis, and symbiotic relationships. Prerequisite: Botany 1.
Nov 2nd
6:30–8:30pm CT
Meets 7 Times
$462
10 Seats Left
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Mon. Nov 2nd, 6:30–8:30pm CT
(14 hours over 7 sessions)
Hands-on Baking: Fresh Breads
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Master the art of baking tender, flavorful breads with two delicious recipes. Create a savory focaccia with a crisp bottom, soft center, briny olives, fresh herbs, and pecorino Romano, then satisfy your sweet tooth with a strawberry tea bread filled with ripe berries and finished with a bright strawberry-lemon glaze. Leave with new techniques and irresistible breads to recreate at home.
Mon. Nov 2nd, 11am–1:30pm CT
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Hands on Cooking: Star Sides
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Turn classic side dishes into the stars of the table with this flavorful cooking class. Learn to make savory stuffing with caramelized mushrooms and fresh herbs, a bright cranberry sauce infused with orange and clove, and crispy Brussels sprouts with pancetta, shallots, and dried cranberries. Discover techniques for creating memorable sides that are sure to impress.
Wed. Nov 4th, 5–7:30pm CT
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Pruning for Professionals
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Master the art of pruning and elevate your landscaping skills with this immersive course at one of Chicago's finest botanical gardens. Learn essential techniques, explore the proper care of tools and equipment, and gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. Prepare to take your professional pruning expertise to the next level.
Thu. Nov 5th, 9:30am–3pm CT
(5 hours & 30 minutes)
Hands-on Cooking: Holiday Brunch
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Hosting a weekend brunch is an extra-special way to celebrate the holidays. Recipes that combine the best of breakfast and lunch include brown sugar orange bourbon mustard ham, asparagus with béarnaise sauce, and oeufs brouillés with cognac mushrooms.
Sun. Dec 6th, 11am–1:30pm CT
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Holiday Centerpiece Garden Workshop
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Bring festive charm to your home with a living tabletop garden designed for the holiday season. Create a colorful centerpiece featuring blooming plants, vibrant foliage, and seasonal accents while learning about plant selection, care, and creative design. Discover how to refresh your arrangement for Valentine’s Day and beyond, keeping your living display beautiful long after the holidays.
Tue. Dec 8th, 6–8pm CT
(2 hours)
Demonstration Cooking: Healthy Sheet Pan Dinners
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Reclaim your evening with quick, healthy recipes packed with bold flavors and minimal cleanup. Learn to prepare juicy steak fajitas, hearty cauliflower and chickpeas with tofu, and tender chicken shawarma paired with flavorful curried vegetables. Perfect for busy weeknights, this class will give you practical techniques and delicious recipes to make satisfying meals with ease.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$94
Reviews of Chicago Botanic Garden
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Demonstration Baking: Challah Making and Shaping
Excellent class from a knowledgeable baker. Exceeded my expectation as I'm hard of hearing and she wore a device so I was able to hear the demonstration. Pick up some good information for different challah shapes. -
Demonstration Baking: Challah Making and Shaping
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Spring Containers at the Garden
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Embroidery Basics: Onsite
The instructor was great. Good pace. -
Painting the Natural World
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Needle-Felted Halloween Friend
This is the second time I’ve taken a class with this instructor. She provides plenty of materials to fit everyone’s tastes and preferences and is positive, supportive and respectful in how she leads the group in learning new skills. The only reason that I have not given 5 stars is because she can be a little too soft spoken making it hard to hear everything she is saying. Otherwise, very fun, and her classes attract fun folks to spend a few hours with creating felted treasures. -
Beginning Digital Photography
Exceptional! The instructor was inspiring and being in the Chicago Botanic Gardens was inspiring and a perfect setting to hone my photo skills. I highly recommend this course and I will be taking the intermediate. -
iPhone Photography
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Spring Containers at the Garden
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Painting the Natural World
Judith was great! Can’t do next session, but will be back! M -
Wet-Felted Rose Workshop
Enjoyed learning the art of wet felting. Will definitely sign up for another class. -
Introduction to Houseplant Care
I loved the class, I learned a lot of things because I am a new learner in this subject, but I needed more time to take more notes -
Fiber Arts: Winter Bird Ornament
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iPhone Photography
I definitely learned from this class, although it was a bit disorganized. The instructor covered how to use the editing tools within the Camera app on the iPhone as well as an app called Snapseed. He also recommended a variety of other editing apps. He showed us examples of photos he had edited. The class was listed as 6 PM - 8:30 PM and actually was 6:30-8:30 PM. For the first class, I waited on Zoom from 6 PM wondering what was going on. The instructor would benefit from a planned curriculum. He seemed to meandered through tools and his own photos with a lot of repetition. -
Hands-on Baking: Cake Decorating
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Hydrangeas for the Home Garden: Online
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Creating a Garden Sanctuary: Online
Helpful. Good intro but not what I expected. -
Needle-Felted Pumpkin
The course was fun! Well organized, clear instructions and positive feedback. I love the pumpkin I made. My only criticism is that there is insufficient handicap parking at the learning center. In my opinion, all of the spaces right at the learning center should be reserved for handicapped people. -
Forest Bathing Experience
Loved this class! -
Elements of the Garden: Patios
It was a good class. I learned a lot. The instructor was quite informative and obviously an expert in this field of study.
