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.

Figure Drawing Open Studio

Artists of all levels and abilities are invited to experience drawing a live model at Figure Drawing Open Studio on Mondays, May 20, June 3 & 17, July 1 & 15 and Aug. 5 & 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes will be held in the Mansion Library (May-July) and in the Greenhouse Auditorium (August).

The open studio format will allow students to work independently, with minimal guidance from facilitator (instead of instructor?) Vivian Krishnan. Students should bring their own supplies, including pencils, charcoal and other medium as well as an easel or sawhorse to draw on. Classes will focus on quick gestures, long poses, and both costumed and nude models.

A cash bar will be available.

$35/class*. Register at least two days before each class. All sales are final.

Individual class links:

— May 20

— June 3

— June 17

— July 1

— July 15

— August 5

— August 19

*Use the discount code “Drawing10” to save 10 percent when registering for at least three classes

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

About the instructor

Vivian Krishnan is a multimedia artist with works that cross the vast stage of storytelling, from designing costumes for theatrical characters to writing and illustrating diverse children’s books. She received her bachelors in Durango, Colorado, focusing on Printmaking and Sculpture as well as earning her MFA at UIUC in Theatrical Design.

Experience Level: Beginner

Are you interested in learning more about being a screenwriter or filmmaker? Then register for Writing a Short Film from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, June 3 through June 24 in the Mansion Library. In this series, instructor Susan Muirhead will provide students with the skills to create their own short film. A portion of the classes will be held outdoors.

$60/person. Register by May 27. All sales are final.

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

About the instructor

Susan Muirhead enjoys screenwriting and teaches for the Media and Cinema Studies Department in the College of Media at the University of Illinois. She is also a script reader for CineStory Foundation and writes films of her own as well as freelances by writing ethical scenarios for organizations.

Susan grew up in Champaign-Urbana, worked in the media industry for years in various roles, and now works with the U of I with a focus on developing experiential learning programs and courses for students in the College of Media.

*This is a monthly class meeting June-August. Students should use this listing to register for all three classes

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of poetry at Exploring Nature & Life Through Mary Oliver’s Poetry from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, June 8, July 20 and Aug. 10. Instructor Kate Herald will help students explore allegory and meter using Oliver’s poetry, including “Wild Geese” and “How I Go to the Woods,” as

Participants will then be invited to write and share their own life poem based on their observations at Allerton Park. Register for the entire series at a discount or sign-up for individual classes.

Classes will be held in The Studio with time also being spent outdoors.

$85/person for the entire series or $30/classs. Register by June 5 or three days prior to subsequent classes*. All sales are final.

*Individual class links:

— June 8

— July 20

— Aug. 10

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

About the instructor

Kate Herald teaches people how to tell stories that change the world for good. She holds a Ph.D. in English and uses her background in storytelling research as a learning designer, gender studies professor and curator for TEDxNormal.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of poetry at Exploring Nature & Life Through Mary Oliver’s Poetry from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, June 8, July 20 and Aug. 10. Instructor Kate Herald will help students explore allegory and meter using Oliver’s poetry, including “Wild Geese” and “How I Go to the Woods,” as

Participants will then be invited to write and share their own life poem based on their observations at Allerton Park. Register for the entire series at a discount or sign-up for individual classes.

Classes will be held in The Studio with time also being spent outdoors.

$85/person for the entire series or $30/classs. Register by June 5 or three days prior to subsequent classes*. All sales are final.

*Individual class links:

— June 8

— July 20

— Aug. 10

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

About the instructor

Kate Herald teaches people how to tell stories that change the world for good. She holds a Ph.D. in English and uses her background in storytelling research as a learning designer, gender studies professor and curator for TEDxNormal.

Experience Level: Beginner

Experience the outdoors in a new and exciting way at Backpacking for Beginners from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, June 22 in The Studio and outdoors.

Backpacking is an extremely rewarding activity that requires skill, knowledge, preparation and physical conditioning. In this class, Kelly Tang will cover what equipment to use, route planning, safety and more. You will emerge from this session with the knowledge and desire to start your backpacking journey. This class will include an outdoor, hands-on portion (weather permitting).

$75/person. Register by June 15. All sales are final.

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

About the instructor

Growing up in Chicago, Kelly Tang lacked outdoor experiences as a youth. But as an adult, she embarked on a journey to explore outdoor recreation. A transformative camping experience in the Boundary Waters ignited her passion for camping and backpacking, leading her to seek out pristine and untouched natural settings.

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.