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Allerton Park & Retreat Center

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Adult Programs

in Allerton Programs

Improve Your Improv (Full Series)

$100

with Kyle Tasch

Calendar Sep 10, 2026 at 6:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks

Experience Level: Beginner 

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv on Thursdays, Sept. 10 through Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Music Barn. 

Instructor Kyle Tasch returns to The Farms to teach this popular course, which will be jam-packed with improvisational fun that uses both short-form games and long-form scenes. 

Students will be performing as much as possible to emphasize the mechanics needed to act out an entertaining and meaningful scene on the spot with no lines. There are many elements of improv that are not only useful on stage, but also in everyday life, wherever you might be put on the spot! Students who have already completed this class are welcome to join again. Beginners and those experienced in improv are all encouraged to join! 

$100/person for the entire series or $25/class. Registration will close on Sept. 8 for the entire series or two days before each subsequent class. 

— Sept. 10
— Sept. 17  
— Sept. 24  
— Oct. 1
— Oct. 8  
— Oct. 15

Payment plan available: $50 deposit plus 1 payment of $50.00, paid every two weeks.

Improve Your Improv (Sept 10)

$25

with Kyle Tasch

Calendar Sep 10, 2026 at 6:30 pm

Experience Level: Beginner 

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv on Thursdays, Sept. 10 through Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Music Barn. 

Instructor Kyle Tasch returns to The Farms to teach this popular course, which will be jam-packed with improvisational fun that uses both short-form games and long-form scenes. 

Students will be performing as much as possible to emphasize the mechanics needed to act out an entertaining and meaningful scene on the spot with no lines. There are many elements of improv that are not only useful on stage, but also in everyday life, wherever you might be put on the spot! 

Students who have already completed this class are welcome to join again. Beginners and those experienced in improv are all encouraged to join! 

$25/class. Registration will two days before each class. 

— Sept. 10
— Sept. 17  
— Sept. 24  
— Oct. 1
— Oct. 8  
— Oct. 15

Cooking With Herbs

$50

with Kay Carnes

Calendar Sep 12, 2026 at 10 am

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn how to grow herbs in the Central Illinois climate, pot herbs in a container, and then taste how they are used in a meal at Cooking with Herbs on Saturday, Sept 12 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m in the Herb Garden and Evergreen Lodge.

Join Kay Karnes and Piatt County Master Gardeners in the Herb Garden to begin this workshop, where you will receive a tour of the garden, which is certified by the Illinois Herb Association.

Then, adjourn to the classroom in Evergreen Lodge to learn how to grow herbs and plant a container of herbs that do well in Central Illinois.  Finally, a buffet lunch prepared by Leah Bodine of the Greenhouse Cafè will be provided along with cooking tips to use herbs and spices in various recipes.

$50/person.Registration closes Sept. 5 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

 

Improve Your Improv (Sept 17)

$25

with Kyle Tasch

Calendar Sep 17, 2026 at 6:30 pm

Experience Level: Beginner 

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv on Thursdays, Sept. 10 through Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Music Barn. 

Instructor Kyle Tasch returns to The Farms to teach this popular course, which will be jam-packed with improvisational fun that uses both short-form games and long-form scenes. 

This will not be a class to sit down, hear lectures, and take notes.  Students will be performing as much as possible to emphasize the mechanics needed to act out an entertaining and meaningful scene on the spot with no lines. There are many elements of improv that are not only useful on stage, but also in everyday life – wherever you might be put on the spot! 

Students who have already completed this class are welcome to join again. Beginners and those experienced in improv are all encouraged to join! 

$25/class. Registration will close on Sept. 8 for the entire series or two days before each subsequent class. 

— Sept. 10
— Sept. 17  
— Sept. 24  
— Oct. 1
— Oct. 8  
— Oct. 15

 

Arboretum Dahlia Flower Arranging

$65

with Delight Flower Farm

Calendar Sep 19, 2026 at 2 pm

All skill levels (ages 16+)  

Learn how to arrange flowers like a pro at Dahlia Flower Arranging on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Arboretum Shed

Delight Flower Farm welcomes friends & friendly folks to learn about a variety of fall flowers and the bouquet-making elements as they play with fresh cut flowers grown on the Farm. There will be plenty of the season's star - dahlias! - as well as zinnias, amaranth, celosia and more.  

Vases are included so students can design their own bouquet to take home or gift to someone. 

$65/person*. Registration closes Sept. 12 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students should bring gardening gloves.  

Knitting Without Needles: French Tube Scarf

$95

with Billie Theide

Calendar Sep 20, 2026 at 10 am

Entry Level: Beginner

Create a unique decorative scarf, winter neck wrap, or modern necklace at Knitting Without Needles: French Tube Scarf on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in The Studio. 

Instructor Billie Theide will teach students how to knit in the round without juggling single or double pointed knitting needles as they design and knit a colorful, striped, tubular scarf. Students will learn how to make looms from readily available materials, as well learn about commercially available looms. 

All students will receive a tool kit to continue knitting at home.

$95/person*. Registration closes Sept. 13 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students should bring the following: 
--pencil 
--pair of embroidery scissors 
--2 or more skeins (any colorway) of locally available yarn:     
     --Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton or     
     --Loops & Threads Twist Love Cotton OR     
     --Lion Brand Made with Love The Cottony One OR     
     --Yarn Bee Fundamental Cotton OR     
     --I Love this Cotton Crafter’s Secret Cotton 

The following things are optional; bring them if you have them: 
--colored pencil set --bits of left over yarn in any fiber and weight 
--partial skeins of left over yarn in any fiber and weight 
--left over fabric scraps (linen, cotton gauze, cottons, and polyester with no right sides) 

Improve Your Improv (Sept 24)

$25

with Kyle Tasch

Calendar Sep 24, 2026 at 6:30 pm

Experience Level: Beginner 

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv on Thursdays, Sept. 10 through Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Music Barn. 

Instructor Kyle Tasch returns to The Farms to teach this popular course, which will be jam-packed with improvisational fun that uses both short-form games and long-form scenes. 

This will not be a class to sit down, hear lectures, and take notes.  Students will be performing as much as possible to emphasize the mechanics needed to act out an entertaining and meaningful scene on the spot with no lines. There are many elements of improv that are not only useful on stage, but also in everyday life – wherever you might be put on the spot! 

Students who have already completed this class are welcome to join again. Beginners and those experienced in improv are all encouraged to join! 

$25/class. Registration will close two days before each class. 

— Sept. 10
— Sept. 17  
— Sept. 24  
— Oct. 1
— Oct. 8  
— Oct. 15

Basket Weaving: The Organizer

$95

with Bonnie Rideout

Calendar Sep 25, 2026 at 10 am

Experience Level: All Levels

Learn the basics of basket weaving and take home a handmade basket at Basket Weaving: The Organizer on Friday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in The Studio.  

Instructor Bonnie Rideout will teach techniques such as setting up a base, twining, start/stop weaving, pairing triple twining with an arrow weave, and the use of overlays.  This handy basket can be used anywhere! Faster weavers may be done in less time. 

$95/person. Registration will close Sept 18 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Payment plan available: $50 deposit plus 1 payment of $45.00, paid every four weeks.




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