Youth and Community Programs

At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, we are committed to offering programs that educate participants about nature and the environment through fun, hands-on activities. Our programs are led by trained Museum educators and include a variety of topics and age levels.

From our Workshops on Demand for youth groups including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to our Nature Museum Summer Camp, children are encouraged to look at the nature in their own backyards. Our Bunking with the Butterflies Overnights encourage youth groups and their families to spend the night at the Museum attending a series of workshops and sleeping among the Chicago Academy of Sciences’ collections. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts can also get involved in educator-conducted badge workshops or the special scout only overnights scheduled throughout the year.

On Saturdays throughout the school year and for several weeks throughout the summer, high school age participants can get involved in our TEENS program. TEENS (Teenagers Exploring and Explaining Nature and Science) are seen in various parts of the Museum interacting with visitors within the Museum or participating in exciting activities to improve science knowledge or job skills. High school age students also have the opportunity to travel the Midwest by joining one of our Eco Edventure programs held the first Saturday of every month. Museum educators and scientists accompany the group of students as they visit a different environmental site each month. This is a great extension to high school environmental science classes.

Outside the Museum, our educators are partnered with groups and events in all area of Chicago. Programs are held in community centers schools, and parks brining nature education to the communities all year round.

Many of our youth and community programs are available in Spanish. For more information about our Spanish translated programs call 773-755-5111, extension 7.