Experience Level: All Levels 

Get outside and express your creativity at Plein Air Painting on Friday through Sunday, May 22 to 24 from 12 to 4 p.m. in Evergreen Lodge 7 (May 22) and the Studio (May 23-24). 

Students will start with a brief discussion each day at the designated meeting location then head outdoors to paint with their preferred medium. Instructor Deb Marett will guide students in this unique opportunity to capture the true colors, light, and atmosphere of the park as it changes in real time. Working directly in nature will challenge artists to respond quickly to shifting light and weather leading to dynamic and expressive brushwork. Not only will students grow in their technique, but plein air painting often lends itself to a restorative and calming practice. 

All painting mediums are welcome including oils, acrylics, watercolor, and pastel. 

$175/person* (ages 15+). Regististration will close May 15 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

*Students should bring: 

— Medium of their choice (i.e. oils, acrylics, watercolor, pastel) in a portable palette 
— Plein Air easel suitable for the medium of choice (the easel needs to be flat for watercolors) 
— Brushes in various sizes suitable for the medium of choice 
— Canvas panels, Watercolor paper, or other paper suitable for medium of choice in a block or on a board taped down. Please have enough for several paintings 
— Small Sketch pad and pencil 
— Rags/paper towels as you use in your practice and trash bags for disposal 
— Water bottle and container for rinsing brushes  
— Tote bag for easy carrying  

Other suggested items: 

— Sunscreen & bug spray 
— Brimmed Hat 
— Folding chair or stool 
— Refillable water bottle & snacks 
— Gloves if you use them in your practice  

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 

Deb Marrett is a professional artist whose work focuses on equestrian and figurative scenes as well as portraiture. She always travels with her watercolors and a travel journal. 

“It is an amazing way to remember moments of the trip, and spend time soaking up the places I visit,” she said. 

Deb loves sharing her knowledge by teaching and finding ways to make painting and drawing fun and accessible to those wanting to explore their creative side. 

About The Farms 

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

Experience Level: Beginner 

Get a first-hand look at how honey bees manage hive activity at Beehive Observation on Sundays, April 12 & 26, May 10 & 24, June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19, Aug. 2, 16 & 30 and Sept. 13 & 27 in The Studio and outside at the beehives.  

Instructor Maggie Wachter will provide an overview of seasonal influences, followed by a peek inside the hives to observe honey bees at work. Traditional and Flow Hives will also be discussed. Each two-hour session may be attended as a standalone or combined with any or all other classes. 

$200/person* for the entire series or $30/class at the links below. Registration will close April 9 for the entire series or three days before each subsequent class. All sales are final. 

*Students should wear loose-fitting long sleeves and pants, close-toed shoes and bring a protective bee veil and unscented rubber gloves.  

— April 12 
— April 26 
— May 10 
— May 24 
— June 7 
— June 21 
— July 5 
— July 19 
— Aug. 2 
— Aug. 16 
— Sept. 13 
— Sept. 27 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia at 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 

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.

Experience Level: Beginner (Ages 13+)

Learn about crocheting at Granny Squares 101: Crochet for Beginners on Sunday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Studio.

Led by fiber artist Billie Theide, students will learn the basics of crochet, how to chain, create basic stitches, change colors, read work, fix mistakes and bind off.

Each student will leave with at least one uniquely designed crocheted “granny square” that can serve as a start for a bigger blanket, scarf, bag, and more!

$95/person* (Ages 13+; 13-15-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult, who does not need to register.) Registration will close May 28 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:

OPTION 1
— 2 skeins Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn. 1 each of two contrasting colors. (This yarn is 100% mercerized cotton, results in a beautiful aesthetic, and holds its sheen and structure through repeated washings.) 
— 1 4mm U.S. G/6 crochet hook
— Embroidery scissors

OPTION 2
— 2 skeins Loops & Threads Impeccable Solid Yarn. 1 each of two different contrasting solid colors. (This yarn is 100% acrylic, is super soft and easily worked. Ideal for afghans, sweaters, hats, and scarves.) 
— 5 mm US H/8 crochet hook 
— Embroidery scissors

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations participate, please email Olivia at 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

Billie Theide is a former chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she is 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.

She is the recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and five Artists Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council. Theide has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and is a Distinguished Member and Past-President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

About The Farms

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

Experience Level: Beginner (All Ages 16+) 

Learn how to quilt in one class at Quilt-As-You-Go Potholders on Saturday, June 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. in The Studio.  

Instructor Jennie Ingram will introduce students to commonly used quilting terms, helpful tools like rotary cutters and mats, and heat proof materials used in sewing items like potholders. Then, students will use their sewing machines to both piece and quilt their quilt block at the same time. Finally, students will bind their pieces to have a pair of finished potholders by the end of class. 

Students should bring a sewing machine they are comfortable using.* Closed-toe shoes are recommended. 

$80/person. Register here. Registration will close May 30 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

*A limited number of sewing machines are available for rent. Please contact Olivia Bunting to secure a machine. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at 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 

Jennie Ingram is a lifelong crafter who has been sewing, costuming, quilting, crocheting, and making jewelry since childhood. She received her MFA in Costume Design from UIUC in 2007 and has worked in costume shops across the country including Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Williamstown Theatre Festival. 

She spent six years as the Costume Shop Manager at Western Kentucky University, where she enjoyed expanding her student’s skill sets by offering workshops in quilting, corsetry and jewelry making. Since leaving academia she has run an Etsy shop selling handmade charm bracelets, and other gifts. 

Jennie is also a moderator and active member of LettuceCraft.com, a forum where members share their handmade creations. Her Halloween sampler quilt, titled Stitch ‘n Witch, was shown at the 20th Annual Festival of Quilts in Urbana.

Experience Level: Beginner 

Get a first-hand look at how honey bees manage hive activity at Beehive Observation on Sundays, April 12 & 26, May 10 & 24, June 7 & 21, July 5 & 19, Aug. 2, 16 & 30 and Sept. 13 & 27 in The Studio and outside at the beehives.  

Instructor Maggie Wachter will provide an overview of seasonal influences, followed by a peek inside the hives to observe honey bees at work. Traditional and Flow Hives will also be discussed. Each two-hour session may be attended as a standalone or combined with any or all other classes. 

$200/person* for the entire series or $30/class at the links below. Registration will close April 9 for the entire series or three days before each subsequent class. All sales are final. 

*Students should wear loose-fitting long sleeves and pants, close-toed shoes and bring a protective bee veil and unscented rubber gloves.  

— April 12 
— April 26 
— May 10 
— May 24 
— June 7 
— June 21 
— July 5 
— July 19 
— Aug. 2 
— Aug. 16 
— Sept. 13 
— Sept. 27 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia at 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 

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.

Experience Level: Beginner (All Ages 13+) 

Learn basic drawing and watercolor techniques at Watercolor Birds on Sunday, June 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Allerton Mansion Dining Room. 

Instructor Shannon Percoco will lead students in a simple drawing technique to create a graphic transfer of a bird. Students will then learn some basic watercolor techniques to give their drawings life. At the end of the class, students will leave with two completed watercolor birds 

Students are encouraged to bring the following items*: 
— a watercolor pallet 
— watercolor brushes in various sizes 
— pencil and ink pens 
— paper or sketchbook suitable for watercolor 

*Students can choose to use Allerton supplies for a $10 use fee at registration. 

$60/person. Register here. Registration closes June 7 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia at 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 

Shannon Percoco is a local art teacher with almost 30 years experience. She is a current UIUC professor who teaches aspiring art teachers. Shannon earned her BFA in Painting from UIUC and has experience painting with watercolors, acrylics, and oils. 

Experience Level: Beginner (All Ages 13+) 

Learn how a few common garden plants can be used to make simple and effective first aid preparations at Herbal First Aid: Oils & Salves on Tuesday, June 16 at 5 to 8 p.m. in the Evergreen Lodge. 

In this  class, Liz Faermark, an experienced herbalist, will teach students the three key species that are useful as first aid herbs. Then, students will explore ways to use these plants in salves and oils. Students will leave class with a healing salve and oil to use at home for scrapes and cuts. 

$50/person. Registration will close on June 9 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations 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 

Liz Faermark has been studying herbalism for over 10 years, nurturing a passion that started in her early 20s when living in Urbana, IL while contributing to many community projects and small businesses including The Red Herring Restaurant, Delight Flower Farm, Common Ground Food Co-op and many more. 

Faermark moved to Colorado to deepen her herbal studies and attend teh Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism where she completed over 1,000 hours of herbal study. Additionally, she worked for nearly seven years at an herbal apothecary making prducts and creating custom herbal formulas for her community. In 2021, Faermark was invted to become a faculty member at the School of Clinical Herbalism where she currently teaches advanced herbal studies. 

Her business, Talk Wild Herbs, offers accessible, exciting, and useful herbal education for beginner and advanced herbalists alike. She has taught hundreds of students about this incredible realm of study that connects individuals to their natural environment, our ancestors, and skills to help nurture our health sovereignty. 

Experience Level: Beginner (All Ages 13+) 

Learn how a few common garden plants can be used to make simple and effective first aid preparations at Herbal First Aid: Liniments, Washes & Poultices on Wednesday, June 17 at 5 to 8 p.m. in the Evergreen Lodge. 

In this class, Liz Faermark, an experienced herbalist, will teach students the three key species that are useful as first aid herbs. Then, students will explore ways to use these plants in liniments, disinfecting washes, and itch-relieving poultices. Students will leave class with a liniment to reduce bleeding and itch as well as speed up wound recovery time. 

$50/person. Registration will close on June 10 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final. 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations 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 

Liz Faermark has been studying herbalism for over 10 years, nurturing a passion that started in her early 20s when living in Urbana, IL while contributing to many community projects and small businesses including The Red Herring Restaurant, Delight Flower Farm, Common Ground Food Co-op and many more. 

Faermark moved to Colorado to deepen her herbal studies and attend teh Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism where she completed over 1,000 hours of herbal study. Additionally, she worked for nearly seven years at an herbal apothecary making prducts and creating custom herbal formulas for her community. In 2021, Faermark was invted to become a faculty member at the School of Clinical Herbalism where she currently teaches advanced herbal studies. 

Her business, Talk Wild Herbs, offers accessible, exciting, and useful herbal education for beginner and advanced herbalists alike. She has taught hundreds of students about this incredible realm of study that connects individuals to their natural environment, our ancestors, and skills to help nurture our health sovereignty.