2019 Classes and Events
February
February 12 -The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction
Glen Ellyn Garden Club
6:30-8 pm
Faith Lutheran Church
41 North Park Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL
Book signing follows
Free and open to the public; no registration required
February 16 --Stained Glass Stories
The Morton Arboretum
10:30am-noon, Founders Room
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
February 20--Don't Talk Like a Scientist
Wisconsin Wetlands Association
1:30-3:10 pm
Middleton, WI
February 21&28--History of Wilderness in America
Two consecutive Thursday evenings
6:30-9 p.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
February 23--Wild Things Conference
The Tallgrass Prairie: Grocery Store, Apothecary, and Love Shop
11:15am-noon
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, IL
Free with conference registration
February 26--Nature Writing
Discover your writing potential in this blend of online and three in-person evening classes. See website for all dates (through April 2)
March
March 2--Dragonfly Monitoring Workshop
Saturday, 9-11:30 a.m.
Nachusa Grasslands
Franklin Grove, Illinois
Open to new or experienced dragonfly monitors, stewards, or members of the public interested in knowing more about dragonfly monitoring. Free, but you must pre-register by February 25: Email phrelanzer@aol.com and details will be sent to you.
March 8--Dragonfly Monitoring Workshop
Friday, 9-11:30 a.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Open to new or experienced dragonfly monitors only. You must pre-register by emailing Cindy by February 25 at phrelanzer@aol.com. Details will be sent by e-mail.
March 13--Dragonflies and Damselflies--Frequent Flyers of the Garden
Pleasantdale Garden Club
Burr Ridge, IL
(closed event)
March 22--Dragonflies and Damselflies: Frequent Flyers of the Garden
Lombard Garden Club
Lombard, IL
(closed event)
March 27--Tallgrass Prairie Ecology Online
The Morton Arboretum
Online course (available to work at your own pace over 60 days)
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April
April 1--Dragonflies and Damselflies: Frequent Flyers of the Garden
LaGrange Garden Club
LaGrange, IL
(closed event)
April 18--Spring Woodland Wildflowers
Thursday, 8:30-11 a.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Learn stories and ID tips of spring woodland wildflowers.
April 22-Prairie Lights Bookstore
Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit
7-9 p.m.
Prairie Lights Bookstore
Iowa City, IA
Talk and booksigning with co-author Thomas Dean
Free and open to the public
April 23-TallGRASS CONVERSATIONS
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Villa Park Garden Club
320 East Wildwood Street
Villa Park, IL
Free and open to the public!
April 26--Spring Wildflowers
Friday, 8:30-11 am
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Learn stories and ID tips for spring woodland wildflowers.
April 27-Frequent Flyers: Dragonflies and Damselflies
360 Blue Financial Strategies
Saturday, 11 a.m.
Oak Brook Terrace, IL
(closed event)
May
May 4: Spring Wildflowers of Woods and Prairie
Saturday, 8:30-11 a.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
MAY 9--Dragonflies and Damselflies
Hilltop Garden Club
Thursday, 10-11 am
Oswego Public Library
32 W Jefferson St.
Oswego, IL
Free and open to the public!
May 13--Prairie Ethnobotany
7-8 p.m.
Wild Ones Native Plant Chapter
Normal, IL
Open to the public (Free)
May 16 & May 23--Cultural History of the Tallgrass Prairie
Two evenings 6:30-9 p.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Discover the history and ethnobotany of the tallgrass prairie, and explore how people have viewed it over time.
June
Special Event At Nachusa Grasslands
Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit
Cindy Crosby Book Talk and Signing
Saturday, June 1, 2019
1 to 4 pm
Nachusa Grasslands Headquarters Barn
On Saturday, June 1, Cindy Crosby, co-author of Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit, will give a talk and sign books at the Nachusa Grasslands Headquarters (8772 S Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031), followed by optional bison-viewing tours.
Cindy is the author, contributor to, or compiler of more than twenty books as well as the dragonfly steward coordinator at Nachusa Grasslands.
- The doors will open at 1 pm, and Cindy's talk will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 pm.
- Optional bison-viewing tours for those who purchase books will follow at 2:45 pm for 60 to 90 minutes.
- Books will be for sale for $24.95 before and after Cindy's presentation and after the tours. You can also purchase copies for the same price at Books on First, 202 West First Street, Dixon, Illinois.
- This is a free event, but attendees must buy or bring a copy of Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spiritto take a bison tour; one book per individual or couple.
- Children who purchase a book may also take a tour.
- A reservation by May 25 is required, as both barn seating and tour capacity are limited.
June 2--Tallgrass ConVersations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit
Dinner, talk and book signing (Closed Event) Glen Ellyn, IL
June 6--The Tallgrass Prairie: A Conversation
Pied Beauty Farm
1390 Washington Road
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Social at 6 p.m. (bring a picnic dinner)
Lecture at 7:30 pm
Free and Open to the Public
June 9--Stories from the Tallgrass Prairie
Ikebana Ohara Teachers Association
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
(closed event)
June 14--Dragonfly and Damselfly ID
Friday, 8-11:30 a.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
June 20-Prairie Ethnobotany
Thursday, 7-8 p.m.
Wild Ones Rock Valley Chapter
Rockford, IL
Free and open to the public
June 21-Tallgrass Conversations
Northern Kane Book Club
Friday, 6 p.m.
Elgin, IL
(closed event)
June 26-Prairie Ecology Online
Offered through
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Learn more about the history, ecology, and restoration of the tallgrass prairie through this interactive online class. Work at your own pace.
June 27-Dragonflies and Damselflies
Children's Garden Training
(closed event for staff)
June 28--Dragonfly and Damselfly ID
8-11:30 a.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
August
August 29--Tallgrass Conversations
AUGUST 29--Tallgrass Conversations: On the Prairie with Author Cindy Crosby
7-8:30 p.m.
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Lecture and booksigning for "Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit" on the Schulenberg Prairie, the world's fourth oldest tallgrass prairie restoration. Bring a friend!
September
September 7--TALLGRASS CONVERSATIONS: IN SEARCH OF THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT--
2-4 p.m. Talk and Hike
Lost Valley Nature Center
McHenry County Conservation District
Glacial Park
Ringwood, IL
Free and Open to the Public
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED -- WATCH FOR NEW DATE!
SEPTEMBER 17--TALLGRASS PRAIRIE ECOLOGY ONLINE
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Learn more about the history, ecology, and restoration of the tallgrass prairie through this interactive online class. Work at your own pace.
October
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OCTOBER 5--PRAIRIE HABITATS AND THEIR WILDLIFE
8:30-11:30 am
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, IL
Split between classroom work and field time, you'll discover the amazing community of the tallgrass prairie; its insects, mammals, amphibians, birds, and more!
SPECIAL OCTOBER EVENT!
OCTOBER 16--NATURE WRITING ONLINE and IN PERSON
Wednesday, October 16, 2019: Online component begins
In-person on three alternate Wednesdays, October 23, 11/ 6, and 11/20, 6:30-9:00pm
In-person classes meet at The Morton Arboretum's Thornhill Education Center in Lisle, IL
Learn the nuts and bolts of excellent nature writing and improve your wordsmithing skills in this blended online and in-person course.
Whether you’re a blogger, a novelist, a poet, or simply enjoy keeping a personal journal, writing is a fun and meaningful way to deepen your connection to the natural world. In this class, you will:
- Learn from the masters by reading classic nature writing--non-fiction, fiction, poetry and more--and dig into it to see what makes it work.
- Learn to engage your audience through your choices as a writer and develop your personal voice.
- Hone your writing skills by practicing a variety of nature writing techniques.
- Cultivate the habit of writing regularly.
- Learn how to give and receive constructive critique.
The same qualities of good writing apply to everything from blogs to books. No matter your background or interest, join us, and become the writer you always dreamed you could be!
October 11--Frequent Flyers of the Garden: Dragonflies And Damselflies
Cress Creek Garden Club Naperville, IL
Dragonflies and Damselflies (Closed event)
October 18 -- Northern Kane Book Club
The Schulenberg Prairie
(closed event)
October 19-- Illinois Dragonfly Conference
Two Workshops-- 1) Resources for Dragonfly Monitors
2) Readings from the forthcoming Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History (Northwestern University Press 2020) Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Chicago, IL (Closed event)
NOVEMBER
November 8
A Brief History of Trees in America
Evanston, IL Book Club
(Closed Event)
November 11
"The Dragonfly Chasers"
EFPO Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon for US Fish & Wildlife
Lisle, IL (closed event)
DECEMBER
December 7
"Sterling Stories from the Arboretum Stacks"
(with Rita Hassert, Senior Collections Manager)
Uncover hidden treasures and learn secrets found in the stacks in this special program at the Sterling Morton Library. Sip a warm beverage as author Cindy Crosby and library collections manager Rita Hassert will trade off stories of the rich collection
hidden in the archives of the Sterling Morton Library. See registration button at the end of December's events.
December 8
"Tallgrass Conversations"
2-3:30 p.m. Prairieview Education Center
2112 Behan Road
Crystal Lake, IL
815-479-5779
Book signing after the talk!
Open and free to the public.