Arts & Crafts
Events
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Nature Arts for Health: Plein Air Watercolor
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Experience the positive interaction between nature art and wellness in this fun, interactive art class. Led by University of Illinois-Extension.
Free • Registration Required -
Family Fishing Exploration Day
Rolling Knolls • Elgin, IL 60120Discover the wonders beneath the waters of the preserves. Learn to fish, examine specimens and create art with your family.
Free • Registration Required -
American Indian Summer Solstice
Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634Celebrate the solstice with dancing, drumming, storytelling and a sun-themed art activity. Presented by American Indian Center of Chicago. Grove 13.
Free -
Juneteenth Jubilee
FeaturedSand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Celebrate freedom, family and country with activities, refreshments and performances highlighting Black history. Juneteenth Jubilee transforms the Sand Ridge Nature Center Campus into a vibrant […]
Free -
Summer Artisan Series: Firefly Paint & Hike
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Get crafty on select evenings. New topics each month.
Free • Registration Required -
Nature’s Art Box
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Explore the wild side of creativity! Kids ages 3–6 with an adult can enjoy hands-on nature-inspired art and activities. Supplies provided.
Free • Registration Required -
International Mud Day
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Play and create with mud! Please dress for a muddy experience.
Free -
Printmaking 101: Linocuts Workshop
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Learn the art of cutting designs into linoleum blocks and inking prints. All skill levels welcomed. Ages 16 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
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Wee Wandering Wednesdays
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Read a story, make a craft and go on an adventure. Ages 2 to 6 with an adult. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served […]
Free -
Canceled Open Nature Play Day
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620Children can connect to nature and enjoy open nature play.
Free -
Wee Wonders: Pollinators
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Bird Painting Step-By-Step: Indigo Bunting
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Sketch and paint a bird on a 9x12 canvas. Cost: $5/person. All skill levels welcomed. Ages 13 & up.
$5 • Registration Required -
Kids’ Fest
FeaturedWampum Lake • Cook County, IL 60476 (near Thornton)Get ready to embrace the beauty of summer, the great outdoors and the wonders of nature at Kids' Fest 2026! This exciting festival is the […]
Free • Registration Required -
Wee Wonders: Pollinators
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Animal Enrichment Studio
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Join us for an ADA-accessible event where you’ll create new items for our ambassador animals and then watch how enrichment is used as an important […]
Free • Registration Required -
Nature Art Meetup
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Join us in sketching whatever intrigues us in nature that day. All art levels are welcome. The experience is self-guided and no instruction will be […]
Free -
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Insect Fest
FeaturedCummings Square • River Forest, IL 60305Join us for this all-things-insect event! Go on a bug hunt, experience an insect petting zoo and more!
Free -
Nature Arts for Health: Cyanotype Printing
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Experience the positive interaction between nature art and wellness in this fun, interactive art class. Led by University of Illinois-Extension.
Free • Registration Closed -
Canceled Crafternoon: Mosaics and Collages
Rubio Woods • Cook County, IL 60445 (near Midlothian)Discover the artistry of mosaics and collages by using nature to create a personal project.
Free -
Summer Nature Camp
Rolling Knolls • Elgin, IL 60120Learn the significance of summer in Native American culture while participating in various activities. Presented by Trickster Cultural Center.
Free • Registration Required -
Junior Naturalist Walk
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Earn a Junior Naturalist badge by taking a short walk, then doing an indoor activity book. Ages 6-12 w/ caregiver.
Free -
Nature Discovery Camp
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Join us from 9 am to noon each day for an adventure-packed day camp where kids explore the outdoors through hiking, fishing, field experiments and […]
$50 • Registration Required -
Summer Artisan Series: Papermaking
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Get crafty on select evenings. New topics each month.
Free • Registration Required
