Children's Courses

Course List

  • Hiking Merit Badge
    Let miles of walking trails at The Morton Arboretum roll beneath your feet as you experience and discover the wonders of nature and earn your Hiking Merit Badge. Two Sundays, May 6, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and August 26, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Citizenship in the World Merit Badge
    Learn what it takes to be a good citizen in the world. Compare the rights we have in the United States with the rights of two other countries. Two Tuesdays, June 12 and July 17, 2018, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  • Mudpies and Swamp Soup (18-35 months)
    Enjoy stories, crafts, muddy games and play in this squishy, squashy, sensory based program at The Morton Arboretum. Thursday, June 7, Tuesday, June 12 or Wednesday, June 13, 2018, Times vary.

  • Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge
    How much do you know about your national government? In this merit badge class, held at The Morton Arboretum, explore the three branches of our national government. Two Wednesdays, June 13 and July 18, 2018, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  • Mudpies and Swamp Soup (3-5 years)
    Enjoy stories, crafts, muddy games and play in this squishy, squashy, sensory-based program at The Morton Arboretum. Tuesday, June 5, Wednesday, June 6 or Thursday, June 14, 2018, times vary.

  • Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge
    How much do you know about government where you live? Just as ecosystems within The Morton Arboretum are a complex web, you live in a complex web of government units. Two Thursdays, June 14 and July 19, 2018, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  • Tree Pose Family Yoga

    Experience nature from a new angle through fun animal and tree yoga poses at The Morton Arboretum! . Mondays, May through September, 2018, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

  • Children’s Garden Campout
    Join us for a campout designed especially for families! Pitch your tent on the lawn inside the Children’s Garden and get ready for a night filled with fun at The Morton Arboretum. Friday, June 22 through Saturday June 23, or July 20 through 21, or August 17 through 18, 2018, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

  • Darting Dragonflies (3–5 years)
    Investigate the lives of the fastest insect in the world. We will hike, splash and play in this sensory based program all about dragonflies at The Morton Arboretum. Wednesday July 11, Thursday July 12, or Tuesday July 17, 2018, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

  • Darting Dragonflies (18–35 months)

    Investigate the lives of the fastest insect in the world. We will hike, splash and play in this sensory based program all about dragonflies at The Morton Arboretum. Tuesday July 10 or Wednesday July 18, 2018, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

  • More Youth and Family Programs
    Please check our Calendar of events for more youth and family programs.

  • Forest Explorers: Forest Friends (18–35 months)
    Each day we will hike, read stories, and play in this 4–week sensory based outdoor adventure. Adults will also receive tips to continue exploration at home at The Morton Arboretum! Four Tuesdays, September 4 through 25, 2018, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

  • Children's Workshop: Bonsai
    The PSBS 2018 bonsai master, Frank Mihalic will work with the children to create their own Bonsai. Frank will help each child style and wire a Shimpaku Juniper at The Morton Arboretum. Saturday, August 4, 2018, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

  • Forest Explorers: Forest Friends (3–5 years)
    Each day we will hike, read stories, and play in this 4–week sensory based outdoor adventure. Adults will also receive tips to continue exploration at home at The Morton Arboretum! Four Thursdays, September 6 through 27, 2018, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

  • Wiggly Worms (3–5 years)
    Dig in the dirt, wiggle like worms and investigate the world under our feet in this interactive, sensory based program. We’ll also take a short hike and listen to stories and play in the dirt at The Morton Arboretum! Wednesday, August 8, Tuesday, August 14, or Thursday, August 16, 2018, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

  • Wiggly Worms (18–35 months)
    Dig in the dirt, wiggle like worms and investigate the world under our feet in this interactive, sensory based program. We’ll also take a short hike and listen to stories and play in the dirt at The Morton Arboretum! Tuesday August 7, or Wednesday, August 15, 2018, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

  • Hopping through Habitats- Pre-Kindergarten-Camp
    NEW! Some animals dig, some fly, and some swim! Join this adventure in animal movements as we explore how animals move around the Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 18 through 22, or July 16 through 20, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon.

  • Growing up Green- Pre-Kindergarten-Camp
    NEW! How do animals and plants grow up with roots, scales, or tails? Dive into the lifecycles of green creatures around the Arboretum and see them up close! Monday through Friday, June 25 through 29, or July 23 through July 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon

  • Splashing around with Science- Pre-Kindergarten-Camp
    NEW! Observe, guess, test, and splash your way through science experiments in this fun-filled outdoor lab adventure at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 11 through 15, or July 9 through 13, or July 30 through August 3, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon.

  • Squishy Squashy Art-kindergarten-Camp
    Put on your artist hat. Paint and sculpt squishy frogs, textured turtles, and slippery fish at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 4 through 8, or July 23 through 27, 2018, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or June 25 through 29, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon

  • Leaf Zoo-Kindergarten-Camp
    Leaves come in all shapes, sizes, and colors! Let your imagination run wild as you discover what you can create with leaves at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 18 through 22, August 6 through 10, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon, or July 16 through 20, 2018, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

  • Where the Wild Things Are-Kindergarten-Camp-Full Day
    Explore the woodlands of the Arboretum and discover all the wild things at The Morton Arboretum. August 13 through 17, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Fishing Fun-kindergarten-Camp
    Get ready for some boot-sloshin’ fun! Go fishing at the Arboretum. Play games, make crafts, and read stories about fish at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 11 through 15, or July 30 through August 3, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon, or July 9 through 13, 2018, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

  • Eric Carles Friends-Kindergarten-Camp
    Have you ever been as hungry as a caterpillar? Enter the whimsical world of Eric Carle as his characters come to life through stories, games, and crafts at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 4 through 8, or July 23 through 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or June 25 through 29, 2018, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

  • Turtles & Tadpoles-kindergarten-Camp
    How do tadpoles turn into frogs? How do turtles grow up? Together we’ll uncover fun facts, search for croaking frogs and basking turtles, play games, make crafts, and meet live turtles at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 11 through 15, or July 30 through August 3, 2018, 2018, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., or July 9 through 13, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon

  • Dinos, Ginkgos, and Me-kindergarten-Camp
    Travel back to the dinosaur age! Discover different dinosaurs. Learn what they ate, where they lived, and the trees that grew when dinosaurs were alive while exploring The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, Dates and times vary starting June 18, 2018. Multiple sections.

  • Hydro-Explorers-1st-2nd grade-Camp
    Rev up for a week of wet, hydrodynamic explorations! Slosh buckets and dip nets into Arboretum lakes to examine water-loving insects and plants. Monday through Friday, June 18 through 22, or July 16 through 20, or August 6 through 10, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Slippery Slimy Scaly-1st-2nd grade-Camp
    Dive into the slippery, slimy, scaly world of reptiles and amphibians. From tadpoles to snakes, salamanders to toads, find out what these cold-blooded creatures are all about at The Morton Arboretum! Monday through Friday, June 12 through 16 or July 17 through 21, 9:00 a.m. to noon, or July 24 through 28 or August 7 through 11,12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

  • Awesome Art-1st-2nd grade-Camp
    Become a nature artist! Use nature as your inspiration to explore texture, color, and dimension. Learn about different artists’ techniques and create your own nature-related artwork to take home at The Morton Arboretum. Monday through Friday, June 11 through 15, or July 9 through 13, or July 30 through August 3, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Stripes and Spots-1st-2nd grade-Camp
    Animals are experts at hide and seek. Use your skills to uncover patterns in nature and see how well you can camouflage in the woods at The Morton Arboretum. (SOLD OUT) Monday through Friday, July 23 through 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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