For Families

Discovery Backpacks
Families visiting the Garden can borrow Discovery Backpacks from the Information Desk in the Visitor Center. Backpacks include two magnifiers, two binoculars, field guides, and journals and golf pencils to record discoveries. Discovery Backpacks offer a highly interactive experience for individual families. Backpacks may be picked up in exchange for a driver’s license; they are available during Garden hours year-round, and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Model Railroad Garden

May 11 – October 27, 2013
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

June 5 – August 28, 2013
Extended hours on Wednesdays only until 8 p.m.

Click here for more info.

The 7,500-square-foot Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America exhibition features trains running on 1,600 feet of track. The garden-scale trains are 1/29th the size of life-size trains. Train and garden enthusiasts, young and old, return year after year for the delightful sights and sounds of the miniature trains traversing high and low through tunnels, across bridges, and around buildings.

Butterflies & Blooms Opens

Saturday, May 25, through Monday, September 2
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting
Children’s Learning Campus

The popular Butterflies & Blooms exhibition returns for its second season. Visitors are immersed in a tropical habitat full of hundreds of colorful butterflies interacting with plant life. Butterflies & Blooms features butterflies from around the world, including South America, Asia, North America, and Africa, as well as those native to Illinois. Volunteers are also on hand to answer questions. The 2,800-square-foot white mesh enclosure is located on the lawn of the Learning Campus. Cost is $6 for adults; $5 seniors; $4 children (3-12). Members receive $1 discount off these rates; Garden Plus members are free on Wednesdays.

Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden Family Drop-In Activities

Saturdays & Sundays, June 1 – September 2
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Monday – Friday
noon – 4 p.m.

Get close to nature at the Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden. Discover where food comes from and how plants grow . Pollinate flowers, dissect seeds, see roots growing, compost with worms, create a rainbow for healthy eating, and more. Activities vary from week to week. Weather permitting.

Kleinman Family Cove Family Drop-In Activities

Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays, June 1 – September 1, 2013
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Kleinman Family Cove

Enjoy fun, hands-on activities for families and children. Explore the plants and animals in aquatic habitats. Use scientific tools to look at tiny critters living under water, find out what makes water plants different from land plants, and more.

Nature Nights: Ready, Set, Garden!

June 1 or 15
5 – 7:30 p.m.

More information and to register

Children ages 4 – 10 and their families will explore different areas of the Garden and enjoy a variety of discovery-based activities. You’ll learn what plants need to grow and some gardening basics as you plan, plant, mulch, and water in the Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden. Each Nature Nights also includes a tram ride, a planting project, and s’mores around the campfire.

Malott Japanese Garden Family Sundays

June 2 & 16, July 7 & 21, August 4, September 1 & 15
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Drop by the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden for hands-on activities related to Japanese arts and culture. Practice using chopsticks, rake miniature dry gardens, make Japanese kites, and more. The free activities vary each time, and are subject to change.

June 2: Koinobori (mini carp kites)
June 16: Kendama (origami cup & ball)
July 7: Samurai Masks
July 21: Kabuto (samurai helmets)
August 4: Uchiwa (paper fans)
September 1: Kimono Paper Dolls
September 15: Gyotaku (fish prints)

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, June 5
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn-based Rolie Polie Guacamole presents an evening of funk, rock, and folk music mashed into original tunes about natural living, eating healthy, and staying active. This interactive show and high-energy sound create a dance party you won’t want to miss!

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, June 12
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Laura Doherty will acoustically rock your kid's world with her breezy folk-pop tunes for the whole family, using Chicago as her inspiration. Her treasured “Chicago Hot Dog” song and “El Train” song have become highly requested kid classics at her shows!

Father's Day Canoe Adventure

Saturday & Sunday, June 15 & 16
9 a.m., 11 a.m., or 1 p.m.

Maximum of three participants per boat.
Participants must be at least 5 years old and those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

You’re invited to partake in a rare opportunity to canoe the lakes of the Chicago Botanic Garden, in an event offered in partnership with Friends of the Chicago River. Bob Kirschner, the Garden’s aquatic biologist, will paddle along and explain the Garden's nationally recognized program to restore and enhance miles of lakeshore. Herons, ducks, small fish, and maybe even a few turtles and frogs will greet you as we explore their watery habitat. Your aquatic journey will include passing beneath the Garden's Trellis Bridge. No experience with canoeing is necessary as instruction, canoes, life jackets, and paddles will all be provided.

Camp CBG Begins

June 17 – August 16

More information and to register

Camp CBG provides exciting and enriching learning experiences for your child, with programs for children ages 2 to 15. The Chicago Botanic Garden offers weeklong camps each summer with morning, afternoon, and all-day options (including before- after-camp care) from June 17 through August 16. All camps include nature exploration, inquiry-based activities, games, hands-on projects, and planting.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, June 19
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Karen Banks-Lubicz brings interactive, danceable music to young children and their families. Her easygoing, folk-rock style will have the audience singing along to old familiars and learning new ones. This is sure to be an evening of fun for the whole family.

Biz! Bam! Bugs! Family Program

Saturday, June 22
10 – 11:30 a.m.

Ages 4 – 10 with adult
$30 per nonmember child
Garden Plus members receive 20 percent off
Learning Center

Join forces with award-winning children’s author and educator, Patricia J. Murphy, for a hands-on reading, writing, art, and science exploration of the superheroes of nature — bugs! Help spread the word why bugs are super and how we can save them and their habitats! You’ll design a poster, take home a plant, and go on a tour of our exhibition, Butterflies & Blooms!

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, June 26
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Join Rebecca Stoelinga, a Deerfield native, for an engaging, high-energy show for the entire family. Super Stolie encourages children to embrace their own uniqueness by singing, dancing, hopping, balancing, and trying an awesome rock star jump! Super Stolie's captivating show will engage kids of all ages, getting the whole family to sing along and skip away with tunes in their heads and positive messages!

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, July 3
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

With his outrageously clever tunes, Duke Otherwise is a children's musician unlike any you've heard before. The Duke won't sing about wheels on a bus unless they're flat, square, or coming off. He will instead sing about love-struck third graders, a multi-cultural bowling team, or a forlorn king of the jungle.

Nature Nights: Abounding Butterflies

July 6 or 20
5 – 7:30 p.m.

More information and to register

Children ages 4 to 10 and their families will explore the Butterflies & Blooms exhibition and enjoy a variety of discovery-based activities. Learn how butterflies sense the world around them, find out about the butterfly life cycle, and discover how to attract butterflies to your garden. Each Nature Nights also includes a tram ride, planting project to take home, and s’mores around the campfire.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, July 10
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Istvan & His Imaginary Band present an irresistible mix of interactive rock ‘n’ roll, country, pop, punk, and sing-alongs that get heads bobbing. Audience members are often invited to participate, whether by playing freeze dance, singing along from the stage, or ringing out the rhythm on a tambourine. From strumming a solo on the acoustic guitar to dynamic duos and trios or to the full, five-piece rocking band, it's not surprising why Istvan & His Imaginary Band have become kid and family music favorites.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, July 17
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Dreamtree Shakers are a Chicago-based band of musicians and educators making music for kids and families. The live show features up to eight people and includes creative movement and visuals. Expect joyful harmony and lyrics that parents and kids can enjoy together.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, July 24
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Human Tim + Robot-Tim have been making music for small humans and their grown-ups since 2009. Human-Tim mostly plays the guitar and sings, while Robot-Tim mostly pushes buttons and dances. Aided by some talented friends, they play family-friendly, indie-rockin', slightly twangy electro-folk music.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, July 31
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

This Parents' Choice Award-winning family musician performs original songs and traditional favorites that entertain, educate, and empower audiences of all ages and abilities. The high-energy, interactive concert is a celebration of possibilities. With fun props and a colorful set, this concert is a pep rally, rock 'n' roll show, and beach party all on one stage.

Nature Nights: Aquatic Adventure

August 3 or 17
5 – 7:30 p.m.

More information and to register

Gather your own water sample and look at plants, insects, and animals that live in the water at the Kleinman Family Cove using scientific tools. You'll even make an aquatic garden to take home.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, August 7
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

At this kids concert, families can experience the unique live music of Chicago's Little Miss Ann Band — led by a mother, Old Town School of Folk Music teacher, and one of Chicago's Most Influential Kids Musicians as voted by the readers of Time Out Chicago. The Little Miss Ann Band performs a mix of folk-rock music — both traditional songs and new ones, filled with rich vocals and a beautiful mix of simple instrumentation.

Kite Festival

Saturday and Sunday
August 10 and 11, 2013
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kite-Flying Performances and Kite-Making Workshops

In the open area near Evening Island, enjoy soaring stunt kite performances set to music by members of the Chicago Fire Kite Team and members of the Kite Society of Wisconsin & Illinois.

These high-flying professionals demonstrate awesome feats of beauty and great skill. The Chicago Fire Kite Team has been competing and demonstrating team sport kite ballet and precision since 1986. Invited to kite festivals around the world, they have flown in front of friendly crowds in England, France, Japan, and Canada as well as the United States.

Walk or take the free tram to the festival. Ice cream, beverages, and many lunch options will be available for purchase on the West Meadow.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, August 14
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Chicago’s favorite family band makes super-rockin’, positive music at family friendly volumes. Their repertoire includes outstanding originals and a trove of classic tunes, bridging genres from swing to rock to samba. Be prepared for memorable sing-a-longs, thumping rhythms and high energy call and response!

More information

Malott Japanese Garden Summer Festival

Saturday, August 17 & Sunday, August 18, 2013
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Learn about the summer festivals (matsura) celebrated in Japan during this special weekend of activities. Listen to taiko drum and koto harp music, enjoy traditional folktales, and watch a tea ceremony. Kids of all ages can make projects to celebrate summer — fold origami, create a paper fan, make a kite, and more at family-friendly hands-on stations.

10:30 a.m. Students of Dr. Nakashima: Tea Ceremony
11:30 a.m. Anne Shimojima: Traditonal Storytelling
12:30 p.m. Kokyo Taiko: Taiko Drumming
1:30 p.m. Chicago Koto Group: Koto Harp

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, August 21
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

With a background in children’s literature plus a GRAMMY® nomination for his children's music, Zak Morgan brings all of his life experiences and a simple delight in words and music to his live performances.

His songs share an exuberant celebration of wordplay and humorous storytelling. He aims to inspire his listeners to enjoy learning for its own sake while providing nonstop entertainment via catchy music and lyrics that make all ages hoot with delight.

Dancin' Sprouts

Wednesday, August 28
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Miss Aimee Leigh has been thrilling audiences with her hilarious, high-energy children's songs for over a decade. A talented guitar player with a beautiful voice, she will get the crowd moving with her American folk/roots, jazz, and bluegrass music. She has a huge repertoire of original and traditional children's music that will have the whole family dancing and singing along!

Family Drop-In Activities

Saturdays & Sundays, September 7 – September 29
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden

Pollinate flowers, dissect seeds, see roots growing, compost with worms, create a rainbow for healthy eating, and more. Activities vary from week to week and are subject to change.

Nature Nights: Prairie Prowl

September 7 or 21
5 – 7:30 p.m.

More information and to register

Explore the Dixon Prairie to learn about how prairies grow, find the plants and animals that call it home, and pot up a prairie plant to take home.

Sukkot Family Activities

Sunday, September 22
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate the Jewish harvest holiday Sukkot! Families are invited to help decorate the branch-covered sukkah, which will be on display from September 18 - 26 at the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden. These activities are provided by the National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore Section.

Click here for more information on the Sukkah Display.

Trains, Tricks & Treats

Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 to 12. Members save $1.

Families are invited to come in costume and trick-or-treat throughout the Model Railroad Garden to celebrate Halloween and the end of the railroad's season at Trains, Tricks & Treats.

The Model Railroad Garden will be decorated with spider webs, spiders, ghosts, goblins, and pumpkins, as well as seasonal plant materials. Visitors will see figurines of trick-or-treaters on Main Street, bats and crawly creatures, a graveyard, and more, all tucked among miniature scenes of America's best-loved landmarks and beautiful gardens planted to scale.

An array of small treats and treasures can be picked up throughout the Model Railroad Garden. Children will have the opportunity to pot up a Halloween plant.

Standard parking fees apply. Event is held weather permitting.

HallowFest

October 26 & 27, 2013
Saturday: 6 – 9 p.m.
Earlier hours on Sunday: 4 – 7 p.m.

More information

Celebrate Halloween, if you dare, at the Garden! Take either the "friendly" or "spooky" path to activities in the Regenstein Center and McGinley Pavilion. Experience family-friendly thrills and chills this year including Mysterious Magic with Dracula, a live show-and-tell of creepy, crawly creatures and then get in the Halloween spirit with Face Painting festivities!