Experience Level: Beginner

Learn unique artistic techniques at Shibori Stitching & Natural Indigo Dyeing from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16 in the Mansion Dining Room. Led by Jenny Knavel, this workshop will familiarize participants with creative, multicultural practices that use predominantly plant-based materials.

Shibori is a Japanese, manual tie-dyeing technique that produces different patterns on a fabric. Students will learn the fundamentals of mokume (wood grain), shibori, guntai (military shibori) and karamatsu (Japanese larch shibori) to dye a cotton sampler and scarves.

Participants will also be instructed on the basics of natural indigo dyeing, one of the oldest dyes used for textiles and printing. Artists and craftspeople from many different countries have utilized this organic compound to create its distinctive blue color. An organic dye vat will be prepared using indigo powder (from the plant Indigofera tinctoria) and students will use it to dye fabric during this course.

$100/person (14+, 14 to 17-year-olds must be accompanied by a registered adult). Register by June 10. All sales are final.

Students will need to bring a clean, old bucket; kitchen gloves; water spray bottle; old, clean towels/rags; and a seam ripper. Students should also wear old clothes or aprons.

Complete your visit with an overnight stay during our Weekend Wind Down, which features discounted room rates ($110/night + tax). View rooms here and make a reservation online or by calling 217-333-2387.

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

About the instructor

Jenny Knavel received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997. She is a professor of art at Western Illinois University in Macomb, where she teaches primarily design and digital photography classes. In addition to teaching, she is an active artist. Her work has been juried into numerous regional and national and international juried exhibitions.

Join us on a bi-monthly basis as we observe how honey bees manage hive activity during the summer at Bee Hive Observation on June 2 & 15, July 7 & 21 and Aug. 4.* Classes will include an overview of seasonal influences, followed by a peek inside the hives to observe honey bees at work. Traditional and Flow Hives will be discussed.

Participants should wear long sleeves and pants, loose-fitting garments and no open shoes. You should also bring a protective bee veil and unscented rubber gloves.

$90/person for the entire series or $20/class. Register here for the entire series by May 31 or two days before each individual class.* All sales are final.

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

— Sunday, June 2, 1-3 p.m. in The Studio
— Saturday, June 15, 2:30-4:30 p.m. in The Studio
— Sunday, July 7: 1-3 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium
— Sunday, July 21, 1-3 p.m. in The Studio
— Sunday, Aug. 4, 1-3 p.m. in The Studio

About the instructor

When Maggie Wachter began her social work degree at the University of Illinois in 2008, she had no idea that she would become a beekeeper. As for honey, she kept a single jar in the back of her kitchen cabinet for recipes. Today she is a master beekeeper who never eats sugar.

Maggie received her first hive as a gift in 2008. By 2010, she was enrolled in the Master Beekeeper course at the University of Florida. From there, things happened quickly to turn her life around. In 2012, she started teaching beekeeping for Parkland Community Education and today she is a beekeeping teacher, honey judge, mead maker and master beekeeper.

She has also participated in honeybee research at the University of Illinois and the USDA.

About The Farms

The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, wellness, outdoor education, storytelling, and science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.

See the complete summer session here.

Week 3: June 17-21

Ages: 5-7

Welcome to the wonderful world of travel! Like Robert Allerton, campers will experience destinations from around the globe. Lucky for us, we don’t have to leave Illinois to do it. Remember your passport - you’re going to need it!

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.

Week 3: June 17-21

Ages: 8-12

Welcome to the wonderful world of travel! Like Robert Allerton, campers will experience destinations from around the globe. Lucky for us, we don’t have to leave Illinois to do it. Remember your passport - you’re going to need it!

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.

Week 4: June 24-28

Ages: 5-7

A classic at Allerton!  Fort Week is a camper favorite and for good reason.  Campers use natural materials to do what kids to best – make their own adult-free space!  Once built, they have a blast using it to enjoy snack time, play games, or just have some laughs!

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.

Week 4: June 24-28

Ages: 8-12

A classic at Allerton!  Fort Week is a camper favorite and for good reason.  Campers use natural materials to do what kids to best – make their own adult-free space!  Once built, they have a blast using it to enjoy snack time, play games, or just have some laughs!

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.

Ready to be a kid again?! Camp Lost Garden might just be the place for you! Disconnect for a weekend and take time for good old-fashioned fun, relaxation, and adventure!

Campers will enjoy classic camp activities like arts and crafts, group games/races, campfires (with stories and s’mores!), nature hikes, and more! In some cases, these kid-inspired activities come with an adult twist (e.g., bloody mary bar, cocktail crafting workshop, “boots and brews” hike, etc.)

Grab your gear and get ready for a packed weekend of fun! Whether you are an organization looking to boost team morale, a group of friends who want a good time, or an individual interested in meeting new people while finding time for self-reflection, there is something for all to enjoy!

We wouldn’t be a real summer camp without some ground rules! Be sure to check them out here.

PRE-REGISTRATION will be open February 1 - March 15. Campers are able to secure their spot with a non-refundable deposit of $175 during this time. The remaining balance will be due one month prior to camp arrival. After March 15, camp fees will be due in full at the time of registration.

$350/camper. All sales are final.
Registration includes all activities, meals, snacks, and drinks.

Overnight accommodations must be purchased separately:

— Hotel rooms are available at a discounted rate of $80/night + tax. Please call us at 217-333-3287 to make your reservation.

— Tent camping is available on the Bowling Lawn adjacent to the Mansion. Communal showers will be available on the third floor of the Mansion. You can sign up for a primitive tent camping spot ($50) as an add-on when registering for camp.

Interested in being a camp counselor? Fill-out an application here.

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

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn to work with 11/0 glass seed beads at Beaded Jewelry from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6 in The Studio. In this workshop led by Billie Theide, participants will focus on making a pair of beaded earrings. The same techniques can be applied to jewelry that functions as brooches, bracelets and necklaces. Participants will explore design process and color theory strategies. A variety of techniques and finishes will be presented and students will receive a folder of printed handouts.

$80/person. Register by June 29. All sales are final.

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

About the instructor

Billie Theide is a former chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was a Professor Emerita. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler and ceramicist. Her work is in public art collections around the world including the Smithsonian, Museum of Arts & Design in New York City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Racine Art Museum, among others.