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 8. 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.

$20/class. Register 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.

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 1: Jun 9-13

Ages: 5-7 (Acorns)

Allerton provides endless inspiration for artists using fine art media. Drawing, printmaking, painting, collage, and sculpture are all ways that campers will explore their fine arts skills and the wonderful world of Allerton Park!

Camp hours are 8am to 3pm. Early Arrivers and After Care extended day options are available for an additional fee, with earliest drop off at 7am and latest pickup at 5:30pm.  Extended day option - $15/AM; $35/PM (includes an afternoon snack)

Two snacks, a camp 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.Lunch can be purchased for the week as an add-on to the registration or a lunch can be sent from home.  Lunch - $25/week

A limited number of partial scholarships will be available this year. Scholarships will be awarded as a percentage of camp fees, based on need, as decided by Allerton. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the application here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1676504062

Week 1: Jun 9-13

Ages: 8-11 (Adventurers)

Allerton provides endless inspiration for artists using fine art media. Drawing, printmaking, painting, collage, and sculpture are all ways that campers will explore their fine arts skills and the wonderful world of Allerton Park!

Camp hours are 8am to 3pm. Early Arrivers and After Care extended day options are available for an additional fee, with earliest drop off at 7am and latest pickup at 5:30pm. Extended day option - $15/AM; $35/PM (includes an afternoon snack)

Two snacks, a camp 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.Lunch can be purchased for the week as an add-on to the registration or a lunch can be sent from home. Lunch - $25/week

Adventurers 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.

A limited number of partial scholarships will be available this year. Scholarships will be awarded as a percentage of camp fees, based on need, as decided by Allerton. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the application here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1676504062

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basic mechanics of using a spinning wheel to make your own yarn at Learn to Spin Yarn on Tuesday, June 10th in The Studio. 

After a brief introduction from instructor Stephanie Block, students will have time for hands-on spinning practice and the opportunity to spin alpaca fiber into yarn using Ashford scotch tension Traditional or Traveler wheels. Discussion of fiber production and preparation methods will also be included.

$130/person. Register by June 6th. All sales are final.

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

About the instructor

Stephanie Block is the co-owner of Sundrop Alpacas near Bement. She has been producing popular yarn from her own alpacas for more than eight years. Stephanie’s spinning style is self-taught, and she is continuously learning so that she can share that knowledge with others.

Experience Level: Beginner

Expand your musical horizons at Afro-Brazilian Traditions: Samba-Reggae on Tuesdays, May 20 through June 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Music Barn.

Instructor Mark Becker will introduce students to the fundamentals of Samba-Reggae, a vibrant musical genre that blends traditional samba rhythms with reggae, creating an energetic and distinct sound. Students will get hands-on exposure to the diversity of percussion instruments that give this tradition its swing and beauty.

Samba-Reggae originated in Salvador, Bahia, in the 1980s, from the work of Mestre Neguinho do Samba and the musical groups Ilê Aiyê and Olodum.

$120 for the entire season or $35 per class. Register by June 13 or one week prior to subsequent classes*. All sales are final.

*Students should wear pants and a shirt that allows for comfortable movement as well as exercise shoes.

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

About the instructor

Lead instructor Mark Becker, a student of Capoeira Angola in the tradition of Mestre João Grande who has studied under Contramestre Denis Chiaramonte for 8 years, with 19 years of experience in the art of Capoeira. He is also a student of traditional Samba Chula, an art form from the Recôncavo region of Bahia, Brazil while also serving as the Director of the Bloco Gavião, a community drum ensemble focused on Afro-Brazilian drumming traditions such as samba-reggae, maracatu and afoxé. Mark has a master’s degree in education from the University of Illinois and enjoys designing learning experiences for all ages to feel belonging in the exploration of Brazilian culture.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of macramé at Make a Macrame Plant Hanger on Friday, June 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.

Macy McCall of TwinFringe In this beginner-friendly class, students will learn some of the most common macramé knots and leave with a handmade plant hanger to take home. A variety of colors will be available to customize your piece.

$75/person. Register by June 12. All sales are final.

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor

Macy McCall, a fiber artist in Champaign, started her fiber art journey in 2018 when she first learned about macramé. By 2020 she started her small business, TwinFringe, in which she sells her artwork and teaches a variety of workshops.

She has taught in many different locations such as Parkland Community College, Allerton Park, local plant shops, and private events. Besides macramé, Macy is learning how to weave as well, which has been an exciting endeavor as she continues to explore the beautiful world of fiber art.

Experience Level: Beginner

No barn? No problem! Join the barn quilt movement by creating your own painted quilt block to use at your own home at Barn Quilt Painting on Saturday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Studio.

The workshop will start with a pre-primed board with a design already drafted (choose one of the 2 options). Students will tape and paint at their own pace, choosing from a wide variety of colors.

Instructor Jane Cade will also share history of barn quilts, techniques, tips, and discuss how to properly seal your finished piece after the paint has dried for 48 hours. Leave with a 20×20″ wooden ‘quilt block’ to keep for yourself or share your talents and give someone a handmade gift.

$90/person. Register by June 6. All sales are final.

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

About the Instructor

Jane Cade is a retired teacher from Clinton Junior High School. She has been painting barn quilts for eight years and sells her work online and at craft festivals. She teaches classes at Parkland Community College and will be teaching classes at her workshop beginning next year.

Week 2: June 16-20

Ages: 5-7 (Acorns)

Bugs are incredible! From building complex homes to their efforts to pollinate plants, bugs are an integral part of the natural environment. Learn about different kinds of bugs, why they’re unique, and why we are grateful for them at Allerton Park!

Camp hours are 8am to 3pm. Early Arrivers and After Care extended day options are available for an additional fee, with earliest drop off at 7am and latest pickup at 5:30pm. Extended day option - $15/AM; $35/PM (includes an afternoon snack)

Two snacks, a camp 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.Lunch can be purchased for the week as an add-on to the registration or a lunch can be sent from home. Lunch - $25/week

A limited number of partial scholarships will be available this year. Scholarships will be awarded as a percentage of camp fees, based on need, as decided by Allerton. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the application here: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1676504062