The Morton Arb

Education

The Arboretum is here to help!
Have questions about
school programs?
Contact Taryn Chaifetz, Associate Manager of School Programs at tchaifetz@mortonarb.org or 630-719-7947.
When you attend our Education Programs, you support the Arboretum's mission to plant and protect trees.

High School

Restore

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR SPRING PROGRAMS

Register online here: registration form 

The Arboretum offers tailored programs for 9th-12th grade teachers to meet your curricular needs. We'll design a guided or self-guided program uniquely made for your class. Join us for a 1.5 hour or full day experience. For more information contact Taryn Chaifetz, Associate Manager of School Programs, at 630-719-7947 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Restoration Stewards

1.5 hours (or 3 hours with a lunch break)
60 students maximum
This is a great opportunity for Ecology Clubs! Help us with natural areas management and conservation work here at The Morton Arboretum. Education guides will lead your group of students as they do an educational service project in restoration. Activities can include pulling invasive plants, collecting seeds, hiking off the trail and in heavily vegetated areas, and more. Students learn about ecological restoration while doing restoration!  For more information contact Taryn Chaifetz, Associate Manager of School Programs, at 630-719-7947 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it prior to sending in a registration form.

In the photo above, high school teachers participating in the 2010 Teachers Institute program experience a Restoration Stewards program as their students would.

This program is generously supported by a grants from the Exelon Foundation and REI

Exelon Foundation logo  REI logo

 

Leave No Child Inside

1.5 hours
180 students maximum
A growing body of research is telling us that unstructured time spent outdoors in nature is critical to children's physical, social, and emotional development. Such outdoor experiences can foster creativity, emotional well-being, independent learning, and problem solving. The beauty of the Arboretum changes daily, and your students will have an opportunity to explore whatever is most interesting on the day of your visit. One of our guides will be on hand to answer questions and guide students to exciting questions and observations, but the focus is on free exploration of nature.(This program is not meant to address any specific Illinois Learning Standards.)

NEW!  Tree Identification SELF-GUIDED Backpack Program

60 students maximum (15 students per backpack)
Use a teacher guide, activity backpack, and map to explore plants up-close.  Through this map-reading scavenger hunt students are given the task of locating and identifying different tree species.  Each student will create a series of sketches of Illinois trees.  Each student should bring a notebook or sketchpad and pen/pencil for this activity.