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.
65 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)
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 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)
Demonstration Cooking: French Fall Classics
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Experience the cozy flavors of autumn in France with a menu inspired by the charm of Paris. Learn to prepare comforting potato leek soup, rich and savory coq au vin, and a simple yet delicious gâteau au yaourt. Discover the warmth and elegance of French home cooking while enjoying a flavorful culinary journey through the season.
Sat. Nov 14th, 2–4pm CT
(2 hours)
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)
Winter Container Design Tips
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Learn how to design stunning winter containers with a focus on hardy perennials, evergreens, and seasonal accents. Explore key principles of container design, including balance, contrast, and effective use of height, filler, and trailing elements. Gain practical advice on troubleshooting and caring for your winter arrangements to keep them visually appealing throughout the colder months.
Thu. Nov 19th, 5:30–6:30pm CT
(1 hour)
The Business of Gardening & Landscaping
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Transform your passion for gardening and landscaping into a thriving business. This course offers essential insights into operating a successful landscape design and installation business, from accurate project pricing and estimating costs to sourcing materials and avoiding common pitfalls. Gain practical knowledge on managing overhead expenses and developing profitable operations.
Tue. Dec 8th, 6–9pm CT
(3 hours)
Beginner Bird Walk Main Island
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Embark on an evening adventure through the garden as we search for songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. Whether you're a seasoned bird-watcher or just starting out, this guided walk promises a delightful and educational experience. Binoculars are recommended but not required—come and enjoy the natural beauty and diverse birdlife.
Tue. Dec 1st, 3–4:30pm CT
(90 minutes)
Winter Bird Walk
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Take in the quiet beauty of winter on this engaging walk through the Chicago Botanic Garden. Expert guides lead you across the garden's striking landscapes while introducing you to the area's resident winter birds and the earliest spring migrants. Pack your binoculars and get ready for an inspiring look at nature in transition.
Sat. Dec 5th, 8–9:30am CT
(90 minutes)
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)
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)
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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Add to Wishlist
Wed. Nov 4th, 6:30–7:45pm CT
(75 minutes)
Nature-Inspired Ornaments
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Add a personal touch to your holiday décor with handmade ornaments crafted from velvet, decoupage, glitter, paper, and more. Create elegant velvet acorns, sparkling pinecones, and custom decoupage wood slices while exploring a variety of festive techniques. Leave with at least six unique ornaments and three William Morris-inspired gift tags, with multiple color palettes available. All supplies are included.
Sat. Dec 5th, 10am–12:30pm 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)
Hand-stitched Holiday Furoshiki Gift Wrap
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Combine Japanese-inspired textile traditions with festive creativity in this hands-on workshop. Learn fabric-wrapping techniques inspired by furoshiki while adding your own stitched patterns and decorative details. Create three reusable fabric wraps that are perfect for thoughtful holiday gifting or keeping for yourself. All supplies are included.
Sat. Dec 12th, 10am–1pm CT
(3 hours)
Unconventional Holiday Bowl
Chicago Botanic Garden See all classes by this school @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL
Rethink traditional holiday décor with a modern, living centerpiece featuring unexpected seasonal plants. Learn how to combine multiple plant varieties into a stylish composition designed for a reusable decorative bowl, while gaining practical care tips to keep your plants thriving long after the holidays. Create a fresh, contemporary display that brings lasting greenery into your home.
Sat. Dec 5th, 1–2:30pm CT
(90 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)
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.
