• Families

Families

Families! Get Ready! Get Set! Grow!

Garfield Park Conservatory is a fantastic place to bring family members of all ages. Something’s always growing, and there’s always something new to discover! To make your “growing” experience here even more enjoyable, we offer a number of special educational opportunities FREE for kids and families! Come visit the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden, which is open during normal Conservatory hours, the Play and Grow Garden, which is open Noon to 4:30 pm daily from March 15 to November 15, or visit us during one of our scheduled activity times. Please note: all scheduled activities are subject to change.

 

  • Are you bringing a Birthday Party or Community Group to the Conservatory?
    • Please refer to our Children's Birthday Parties & Community Group Visits section below for more details about participating in our weekend programs with your group.
    • Family meetup groups consisting of over 10 adults and children wishing to visit the Conservatory and/or participate in our programs must contact the School and Group Program Coordinator at 773-638-1766 x.25 at least three weeks prior to their visit.

Morning Glories

morning glories

Morning Glories
Every Monday Morning
Hours: 10:00 am – Noon (drop in anytime)
Cost: Free, donations appreciated

Enjoy learning together with your little one during this weekly drop-in session. Activities are fun, interactive, and encourage children’s curiosity about the natural world. Children and their care-givers rotate to different stations around the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden. Stations include planting projects, soil digging stations, tours, story-time, and more. Participation is free, but donations for material costs are appreciated.. Learn More ‣

Wild Wednesdays

wild wednesdays

Wild Wednesdays
Wednesdays of Every Month
Hours: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (drop in anytime!)
Cost: Free, donations appreciated

Join us Wednesday evenings and let your kids get a little wild! Whether we’re inside or out, we will be exploring nature, getting our hands dirty and discovering new things about plants, animals and nature. In addition to our dig pit and spray bottles, we’ll be inviting a wild animal guest several times a month. Drop in with your young one and enjoy this free family programming. Learn More ‣

Fiddleheads

plant party

Fiddleheads
Saturdays & Sundays Year Round
Hours: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (drop in anytime!)
Cost: Free, donations appreciated

Each weekend we explore the natural world through the lenses of biology, anthropology, art, and history. Bring your children to this exploratory programming and introduce them to the Conservatory and the plant world through hands-on activities and play. Learn More ‣

Conservatory Kids: Busy Bees

busy bees

Conservatory Kids: Busy Bees
Thursdays, February 5 through March 12
Hours: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Cost: $120 per child, $90 GPCA Family-level Members

This winter we will debut “Conservatory Kids: Busy Bees” a six-week science-focused program for children ages 3-6 and an accompanying adult. Busy Bees is designed to teach young children about biology and ecology through a combination of hands-on activities, stories, and songs. Kids will develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills as they discover how and why bees do what they do. Learn More ‣

Register

Conservatory Scavenger Hunts

scavenger hunts

Conservatory Scavenger Hunts
Everyday
Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Wednesdays 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Cost: Free, donations appreciated

Try one of our FREE Conservatory Scavenger Hunts on your next visit! Enhance your adventure at the Conservatory by using one of our free scavenger hunts to explore. Themes will vary throughout the year and include: Backyard Bingo (outside), Candyland, African American History, and more! Learn More ‣

Children's Birthday Parties and Community Group Visits

visit

Children's Birthday Parties and Community Group Visits
Cost: Call 773-638-1766 ext. 23

Have you visited the Conservatory and thought it would be a great place for your child’s birthday party or to bring your community group? Great idea! We welcome birthday parties and community groups here at the Conservatory, however there are a few details you need to know to make your trip more successful for everyone. Learn More ‣

Origami Open House Presented by the Chicago Area Origami Society

origami

Origami Open House
Second Saturday of Each Month
Hours: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (drop in anytime)
Cost: Free

Origami is a fascinating, fun-filled creative activity for children as well as adults. With a minimum of folds and creases, you can transform a flat sheet of paper into a three-dimensional form like a swan, a boat, a flower or even a hat. So, if you're interested in creating animals, dinosaurs, flowers, decorative boxes and various other models, please join us. Learn More ‣