Lecture Classes in Chicago, IL

Connect or rediscover with the influences of contemporary art, focusing on four major painters: Monet, van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse, and their influences. View their work, and we’ll discuss ideas related to how their focus on light, color and space transformed art from realism to abstraction.

Coping with Climate Change: How Plants and People Respond to Our Rapidly Changing World Can our forests cope with the impacts of climate change? Can human communities find hope and resilience to act and adapt? Grab a drink at the bar (one is included in the price of the program) and join us for an evening of science and inspiration with special guest...

Transform a small space into a beautiful and functional garden. This class will show you the best practices for keeping edible and ornamental plants happy and healthy in your container garden. It includes hands-on work and an informative lecture with plenty of time for questions.

This studio class is open to all levels. You may bring a project of your choice in any medium, or work with plant subjects to create a new art piece. Lectures and demonstrations illustrate principles that pertain to all media.  A supply list will be sent.  The School’s CEUs=12 hours

Expecting twins? Our twins classes will prepare you for everything you need to know BEFORE the twins arrive (including what you need to buy!) and AFTER the twins arrive through their first 6 months of life. It’s the perfect way to get ready to bring home your dynamic duo! The class is taught over two evenings. Day 1 covers preparing for your twins’...

Learn tips and techniques used by professional gardeners through a combination of lecture and hands-on activities. Acquire solid gardening skills, learn a variety of techniques, and determine best management practices in the field of horticulture.  Gain applicable skills in plant selection, perennial and annual care and maintenance, pruning...

If These Trees Could Talk: Untold Tales of The Morton Arboretum The Arboretum is famous for many things, including trees, trolls, and winter lights. However, in the years since The Arboretum was founded in 1922, and as Joy Morton's original 175 acres grew to 1700 acres, many less famous stories have been hidden in the landscape. This program will...

Learn Bondage and Domination techniques as taught by Ken Melvoin-Berg. Singles and couples will be introduced to the safe use of restraints, bondage implements,floggers, crops & more. Dungeon equipment will be discussed, including tables, Crosses, racks,and benches. Your instructors will acquaint students in how bondage and domination can be incorporated...

Conflicts are inevitable when people with different personalities and goals are put together to work in the same environment. Quite often, the clash that results leads to extreme anger and animosity, and this can have a very disruptive effect on the entire team. As a leader, you are often called upon to defuse the situation and resolve differences...

This course is for individuals seriously considering or already in the process of aquaponic food production on a commercial scale. This course is a comprehensive look at the design and build-out of a system, water quality, controlled-environment growing, daily operations, and growing techniques. Instruction will include hands-on work and lectures....

Whether or not you are a big college basketball fan, everyone should be allowed to experience the highs and lows of following your own bracket through a tournament. Participants will be able to see how our native plants and animals stack up to one another in a 64-team, single-elimination tournament. A panel of four experts will come up with 16 species...

Join us monthly for these fabulous lecture/demo presentations to learn the ins and outs of the Scan and Cut. You'll learn about the different kinds of materials & processes you can work with - vinyl, heat transferring, paper, fabric, glass etching, rhinestones, etc. More than just a cutting machine, it has a place in all your creative endeavors! ...