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Chicago Botanic Garden

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.

Upcoming Classes (16)

Check each class below for its location or online format.

Monday, October 26th
6–7:30pm CT

$37

Wednesday, October 28th
10am–12:30pm CT (7 sessions)

$499

Wednesday, October 28th
6:30–8:30pm CT

$49

Tuesday, November 3rd
9:30am–12pm CT (3 sessions)

$187

Tuesday, November 3rd
1–3:30pm CT (6 sessions)

$349

Wednesday, November 4th
9:30am–12pm CT (6 sessions)

$349

Wednesday, November 4th
1–3:30pm CT (6 sessions)

$349

Sunday, November 8th
9:30am–12:30pm CT (5 sessions)

$412

Sunday, November 8th
10am–12pm CT

$57

Thursday, November 12th
6–9pm CT (4 sessions)

$362

Thursday, November 12th
6–8pm CT

$69

Monday, November 16th
6–7pm CT

$24

Tuesday, November 17th
6:30–8:30pm CT

$69

Tuesday, December 1st
9:30am–12pm CT (3 sessions)

$187

Tuesday, December 1st
6:30–8:30pm CT

$69

Thursday, December 3rd
6–7:30pm CT (2 sessions)

$82

About Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden opened a little more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world's great living museums and conservation science centers. In 2013, one million people visited the Garden's 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres on and around nine islands, with six miles of lake shoreline. The Garden also has a renowned Bonsai Collection.

The Chicago Botanic Garden has 50,000 members—one of the largest memberships of any U.S. botanic garden. People of all ages, interests, and abilities participate in programs, take classes, and stroll the grounds year-round. Within the nine laboratories of the Garden's Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, scientists and graduate students conduct a wide array of plant research. The Garden is one of only 17 public gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. Its Lenhardt Library contains 110,000 volumes — including one of the nation's best collections of rare botanical books.

HISTORY

The Chicago Botanic Garden traces its origins back to the Chicago Horticultural Society, founded in 1890. With the motto Urbs in Horto, meaning "city in a garden," the Society hosted nationally recognized flower and horticultural shows, its third the World's Columbian Exposition Chrysanthemum Show, held in conjunction with the world's fair in October 1893.

After a period of inactivity, the Chicago Horticultural Society was restarted in 1943. In 1962, its modern history began when the Society agreed to help create and manage a new public garden. With the groundbreaking for the Chicago Botanic Garden in 1965 and its opening in 1972, the Society created a permanent site on which to carry out its mission. The Garden today is an example of a successful public-private partnership. It is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society.

School location

Map showing 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022

Chicago Botanic Garden

Glencoe, Suburbs
1000 Lake Cook Road
Btwn Edens Exprsswy/Rt 41 & Green Bay Rd
Glencoe, Illinois 60022

Reviews of Chicago Botanic Garden

(4.4-star rating across 148 reviews)
  • Demonstration Baking: Challah Making and Shaping

    Michael S. • August 17, 2026
    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

    Michael S. • August 17, 2026
  • Spring Containers at the Garden

    Pam P. • April 24, 2026
  • Embroidery Basics: Onsite

    Anonymous • January 25, 2026
    The instructor was great. Good pace.
  • Painting the Natural World

    Helene H. • December 18, 2025
  • Needle-Felted Halloween Friend

    Anonymous • October 9, 2025
    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

    Anonymous • July 8, 2025
    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

    Phyllis R. • May 13, 2025
  • Spring Containers at the Garden

    Theresa C. • April 16, 2025
  • Painting the Natural World

    Mindy M. • April 9, 2025
    Judith was great! Can’t do next session, but will be back! M
  • Wet-Felted Rose Workshop

    Anonymous • March 12, 2025
    Enjoyed learning the art of wet felting. Will definitely sign up for another class.
  • Introduction to Houseplant Care

    Alicia S. • February 12, 2025
    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

    Anonymous • December 9, 2024
  • iPhone Photography

    Anonymous • December 9, 2024
    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

    Anthony R. • November 6, 2024
  • Hydrangeas for the Home Garden: Online

    Jewel M. • October 27, 2024
  • Creating a Garden Sanctuary: Online

    Rene C. • October 22, 2024
    Helpful. Good intro but not what I expected.
  • Needle-Felted Pumpkin

    Anonymous • October 17, 2024
    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

    Anonymous • May 27, 2024
    Loved this class!
  • Elements of the Garden: Patios

    John E. • May 23, 2024
    It was a good class. I learned a lot. The instructor was quite informative and obviously an expert in this field of study.

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