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Allerton Park & Retreat Center



Our Classes

(SOLD OUT) Adventurers: Wildlife Expedition 6/3-6/7

$220

with Adventurers Instructor Team

Calendar Jun 3, 2024 at 8 am, runs for 1 week

Week 1: June 3-7

Ages: 8-12

Allerton is home to so many animals! Have you seen turkey vultures circling overhead? Or heard the frogs croaking by the Reflecting Pond? Our goal this week is to find as many native animals as we can (or at least find signs of them). We’ll make animal track molds to take home, then go out in search of the animals that would make them outside.

Lunch, two snacks, a T-shirt and all necessary materials are included.  Campers will need to bring their own water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, and a change of clothes/shoes.

Adventurers also have the opportunity to go to the Monticello Family Aquatic Center twice a week.  Rider intake forms and payment directly to Piattran are required for pool transportation.  Pool entrance is included in camp registration fees.

Full Course

Acorns: Wildlife Expedition 6/3-6/7

$220

with Acorns Instructor Team

Calendar Jun 3, 2024 at 8 am, runs for 1 week

Week 1: June 3-7

Ages: 5-7

Allerton is home to so many animals! Have you seen turkey vultures circling overhead? Or heard the frogs croaking by the Reflecting Pond? Our goal this week is to find as many native animals as we can (or at least find signs of them). We’ll make animal track molds to take home, then go out in search of the animals that would make them outside.

Lunch, two snacks, a T-shirt and all necessary materials are included.  Campers will need to bring their own water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, and a change of clothes/shoes.

Payment plan available: $50 deposit plus 2 payments of $85.00, paid weekly.

Writing a Short Film

$65

with Susan Muirhead

Calendar Jun 3, 2024 at 6 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Experience Level: Beginner

Are you interested in learning more about being a screenwriter or filmmaker? Then register for Writing a Short Film from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, June 3 through June 24 in the Mansion Library. In this series, instructor Susan Muirhead will provide students with the skills to create their own short film. A portion of the classes will be held outdoors.

$60/person. Register by May 27. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Susan Muirhead enjoys screenwriting and teaches for the Media and Cinema Studies Department in the College of Media at the University of Illinois. She is also a script reader for CineStory Foundation and writes films of her own as well as freelances by writing ethical scenarios for organizations.

Susan grew up in Champaign-Urbana, worked in the media industry for years in various roles, and now works with the U of I with a focus on developing experiential learning programs and courses for students in the College of Media.

Exploring Nature & Life Through Mary Oliver's Poetry (Full Series)

$85

with Kate Herald

Calendar Jun 8, 2024 at 12 pm

*This is a monthly class meeting June-August. Students should use this listing to register for all three classes

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of poetry at Exploring Nature & Life Through Mary Oliver’s Poetry from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, June 8, July 20 and Aug. 10. Instructor Kate Herald will help students explore allegory and meter using Oliver’s poetry, including “Wild Geese” and “How I Go to the Woods,” as

Participants will then be invited to write and share their own life poem based on their observations at Allerton Park. Register for the entire series at a discount or sign-up for individual classes.

Classes will be held in The Studio with time also being spent outdoors.

$85/person for the entire series or $30/classs. Register by June 5 or three days prior to subsequent classes*. All sales are final.

*Individual class links:

— June 8

— July 20

— Aug. 10

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Kate Herald teaches people how to tell stories that change the world for good. She holds a Ph.D. in English and uses her background in storytelling research as a learning designer, gender studies professor and curator for TEDxNormal.

Exploring Nature & Life Through Mary Oliver's Poetry--June 8

$30

with Kate Herald

Calendar Jun 8, 2024 at 12 pm

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of poetry at Exploring Nature & Life Through Mary Oliver’s Poetry from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, June 8, July 20 and Aug. 10. Instructor Kate Herald will help students explore allegory and meter using Oliver’s poetry, including “Wild Geese” and “How I Go to the Woods,” as

Participants will then be invited to write and share their own life poem based on their observations at Allerton Park. Register for the entire series at a discount or sign-up for individual classes.

Classes will be held in The Studio with time also being spent outdoors.

$85/person for the entire series or $30/classs. Register by June 5 or three days prior to subsequent classes*. All sales are final.

*Individual class links:

— June 8

— July 20

— Aug. 10

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Kate Herald teaches people how to tell stories that change the world for good. She holds a Ph.D. in English and uses her background in storytelling research as a learning designer, gender studies professor and curator for TEDxNormal.

(SOLD OUT) Acorns: Art Adventure 6/10-6/14

$220

with Acorns Instructor Team

Calendar Jun 10, 2024 at 8 am, runs for 1 week

Week 2: June 10-14

Ages: 5-7

The art and nature found at Allerton is inspiring for artists of any age. Projects this week will take advantage of some of the natural materials available and include jewelry-making, weaving, collage, and printmaking.

Lunch, two snacks, a T-shirt and all necessary materials are included.  Campers will need to bring their own water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, and a change of clothes/shoes.

Full Course

(SOLD OUT) Adventurers: Art Adventure 6/10-6/14

$220

with Adventurers Instructor Team

Calendar Jun 10, 2024 at 8 am, runs for 1 week

Week 2: June 10-14

Ages: 8-12

The art and nature found at Allerton is inspiring for artists of any age. Projects this week will take advantage of some of the natural materials available and include jewelry-making, weaving, collage, and printmaking.

Lunch, two snacks, a T-shirt and all necessary materials are included.  Campers will need to bring their own water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, and a change of clothes/shoes.

Adventurers also have the opportunity to go to the Monticello Family Aquatic Center twice a week.  Rider intake forms and payment directly to Piattran are required for pool transportation.  Pool entrance is included in camp registration fees.

Full Course

Backpacking for Beginners

$75

with Kelly Tang

Calendar Jun 15, 2024 at 9 am

Experience Level: Beginner

Experience the outdoors in a new and exciting way at Backpacking for Beginners from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, June 22 in The Studio and outdoors.

Backpacking is an extremely rewarding activity that requires skill, knowledge, preparation and physical conditioning. In this class, Kelly Tang will cover what equipment to use, route planning, safety and more. You will emerge from this session with the knowledge and desire to start your backpacking journey. This class will include an outdoor, hands-on portion (weather permitting).

$75/person. Register by June 15. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Growing up in Chicago, Kelly Tang lacked outdoor experiences as a youth. But as an adult, she embarked on a journey to explore outdoor recreation. A transformative camping experience in the Boundary Waters ignited her passion for camping and backpacking, leading her to seek out pristine and untouched natural settings.





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