Wilderness Wisdom Series

These outdoor skills classes are designed for older student (14+) to adult participants. Each class will provide you with bushcraft knowledge and/or skills. Many of these classes are led by special guests who bring their own expertise to each topic!

See below for upcoming classes and fees:

Learn to ID trees from their bark, buds, and branching!

Class Date/Time: Saturday, January 25th at 1 – 2 pm

Program Fees:

  • $5/person. FREE for members.

Registration Required:

  • Yes

Herbalism 101 and Growing Medicinal Herbs

Crystal Stevens, owner of Flourish Folk School & School of Botanicals will give an introduction to herbalism and share some tips on growing and using medicinal herbs.

Bring your own mug to sample her homegrown herbal tea blends and take home your own tea bag with medicinal herbs. Crystal will have some of her books, homegrown herbs, and herbal products available for purchase.

The class is limited to 25 people, so be sure to sign up soon.

Class Date/Time: Saturday, February 22 from 1-3pm

Program Fees:

  • $15/person, receive 15% off with your membership.
  • You will have the opportunity to try some herbal tea blends, and will take home a bag of medinal herbs.

Registration Required:

  • Yes

Things to bring: 

  • Water Bottle
  • Mug for Warm Herbal Tea

Leather Sewing Class with Steve Bollini

Learn to work with leather in this class led by longtime taxidermist and volunteer Steve Bollini! Steve will walk you through the process of building your own small leather bag, market wallet, or anything else you can think up.

The class is limited to 20 people so reserve your spot soon!

Because of the nature of the awls, needles, and other tools, we suggest that the class is mostly for teenagers and adults. For those under 18, we ask that an adult attends with the participants.

Class Date/Time: Saturday, March 8th, 10 – 11:30 am

Program Fees:

  • $15/person, receive 15% off with your membership.
  • Cost of class provides all the materials needed to make a small bag.

Registration Required:

  • Yes

Things to bring: 

  • Water Bottle
  • Basic Sewing Skills
  • Creative Ideas for your Bag

Spring Bird Hike with Brian “Fox” Ellis

In mid-April spring migration is in full swing at TNI and we are hosting a hike with Brian “Fox” Ellis, Director of Membership and Outreach with the Illinois Audubon Society.  We will see our year-round resident woodpeckers and chickadees, but we might also be greeted by an array of neotropical migrants, warblers, and vireos, heading to the north woods. The hike will start promptly at 8:00, so come a little early. Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars and a friend. (Extra binoculars will be available and friends are always waiting to greet you!)

Class Date/Time: Saturday, April 12th, 8 – 10 am

Program Fees:

  • $10/person, receive 15% off with your membership.

Registration Required:

  • Yes

Things to bring: 

  • Water Bottle
  • Binoculars (some available to borrow)

Join our education staff for a leisurely hike to learn about the many edible plants out on the preserve. You’ll learn the basics of plant ID and then find some of the spring edibles out in the forest. Pre-registration is required and spaces are limited.

Class Date/Time: Saturday, May 3rd,  1 – 2 pm

Program Fees:

Registration Required:

  • Yes

*Please note: The Nature Institute is an Illinois nature preserve. While we have a permit to collect items during our educational program, visitors may not collect or forage items from TNI at any other times. See more information on our FAQ’s page.