Observe the beautiful summer wildflowers and grasses of The Morton Arboretum’s Schulenberg Prairie and marvel at its birds, butterflies, bees, and dragonflies. Practice using your five senses as you hike and take notes about what you can see and hear on the prairie. Then, the class will return indoors for dedicated writing time to bring your observations to life through words.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Cindy Crosby, author and naturalist
Age: 16 and older
Course number: A120
Instructor
Cindy Crosby, author and naturalist
Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler, or contributor to more than 20 books, including The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction, co-author of Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit and author of Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural and Cultural History (Northwestern University Press, 2020). She is a prairie steward at the Schulenberg Prairie and Nachusa Grasslands, and she coordinates dragonfly monitoring programs at both sites. She earned a master’s degree in natural resources at University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. She blogs each week at Tuesdays in the Tallgrass, and she teaches natural history and trains naturalists in the Chicago region. Learn more on her website.
What to Know
This program meets indoors and outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes with covered toes and plan to walk more than a mile on uneven terrain. Wear a hat and lightweight clothes with long pants and long sleeves. A water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen are recommended.
Participants should be able to hike over uneven ground for an hour and a half.
Bring a notebook and something to write with; a clipboard will also be useful.
If inclement weather occurs, the class will be held completely indoors with a slide presentation.
Program Schedule
Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Prairie Visitor Station (Parking Lot 25), West Side
