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.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Combine a love of nature and needlefelting at River Otter: A Needlefelting Creation from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 7 in The Studio. In this course, instructor Stephanie Block will help students focus on the river otters as seen on Allerton trail cameras. Students will use alpaca and sheep fiber grown in Illinois to create their very own crafted river otter.

This is an intermediate course based on the length of the class but is also suitable for a determined beginner.

$65/person. Register by June 24. All sales are final.

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

About the instructor

Stephanie Block is the co-owner of Sundrop Alpacas near Bement, where she focuses on creating unique handmade items from alpaca fiber. Through the alpaca farm she collaborates with other local farms to share knowledge, resources and how to enjoy rural life.

Week 5: July 8-12

Ages: 8-12

Think you could survive on your own like Bear Grylls? We’ll learn how this week! Campers will learn skills such as how to navigate outdoors (without GPS), read the weather, and prepare our own campsite. Be prepared to welcome a survival expert back home!

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 5: July 8-12

Ages: 5-7

Think you could survive on your own like Bear Grylls? We’ll learn how this week! Campers will learn skills such as how to navigate outdoors (without GPS), read the weather, and prepare our own campsite. Be prepared to welcome a survival expert back home!

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.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of working with leather at Leather Working: Inlay and Overlay Techniques Saturday (9 to 2 p.m.) and Sunday (12 to 5 p.m.), July 13-14 in The Studio.

This course will introduce participants to the many tools and techniques involved in working with a variety of leathers, either for crafts or wearable pieces. The focus will be on projects incorporating leather inlay and overlay artistry.

$280/person*. Register by June 15. All sales are final.

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

*Participants will need to bring the following supplies:

— Hand sewing needles (not leather hand sewing needles)
— A pair of clean socks (new or used)
— X-ACTO knife and lots of blades
— Metal ruler, 12-18 inches long
— Sharp scissors
— Matte cutting board
— Flat, smooth ceramic tile or piece of marble 8-12 inches square (sometimes the IDEA Store has scrap tile for sale)
— Seam ripper
— Clear 2-inch wide fabric ruler (not required, but handy)

About the instructor

Adriane Binky Donley comes from a long line of artists, and crafting is her love language. Currently the Properties Director at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, she spends her time teaching graduate level prop artisans how to bring a designer’s vision to life. Her passion for leather working developed many years ago after attending a workshop at Penland School of craft. Following the workshop she developed a 16-week course for the Department of Theatre, where students learn about different types of leathers, how to prep them for hand or machine sewing, pattering, and inlay and overlay techniques.

Experience the joy of painting outside at Sun Singer Acrylic Painting on Saturday, July 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Bowling Lawn. (In case of rain, class will be in the Mansion Library.)

Melanie Brine Cox of Canvas & Corks will lead this all levels class - no painting experience is necessary! Your canvas will be templated with the design and all painting materials will be provided. Feel free to bring snacks. A cash bar will be available.

$55/person. Register by June 29. All sales are final.

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

About the instructor

Melanie Brine Cox is the owner of Canvas & Corks in Monticello and has taught painting classes in the area for nine years. She studied Fine Arts at Parkland College and enjoys working with acrylic paint, charcoal and ink. You can see her work on display at local businesses including Edward Jones and The Brown Bag.

Melanie resides in Bement with husband Kyle Cox and four children.

Week 6: July 15-19

Ages: 5-7

We get our hands in the dirt this week to discover just how complex growing plants can be. Soil, pollinators, compost… there is so much to discover! We will watch a bean plant attempt a maze, create a wormery, and of course, campers will come home with their own planted seeds, ready to germinate!

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 6: July 15-19

Ages: 8-12

We get our hands in the dirt this week to discover just how complex growing plants can be. Soil, pollinators, compost… there is so much to discover! We will watch a bean plant attempt a maze, create a wormery, and of course, campers will come home with their own planted seeds, ready to germinate!

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.