[Communications] Growing Into 2025: Fresh Starts & Exciting Updates!

[Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance]

Email from Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance January 2025 Newsletter You are receiving this because you subscribe to our e-newsletter. January 2025 Connecting People to Nature on Chicago's West Side New Year, New Growth at Garfield Park Conservatory & Gardens! As we step into 2025, we extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our Winter Flower Show: Snowflakes. Your visits brought warmth and joy the gardens, making the show a magical experience to end the year.  We invite you to join us in embracing a season of growth and transformation. Just as the seeds in our gardens lie in quiet preparation for spring’s arrival, we continue to nurture our goals with care and intention.  Together, we can continue to foster the next generation of nature champions, enhance our public nature-based programming, and expand the reach of our goal to become the most inclusive campus for nature education in the nation.  May this year bring you growth, joy, and countless moments of connection with the wonders of plants and each other. Warm wishes,  The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance BOOK YOUR VISIT   Updates & Announcements   2024 Giving Season Goal We're nearly halfway to our winter fundraising goal! Thanks to our generous donors, we've raised over $42,000 so far! But we're not done yet; help us meet our winter fundraising goal by joining, renewing or, gifting a membership, or by making a one-time donation to Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. With your help, we can expand our nature access and education programming for all visitors! For a limited time, any new or increased gifts from last year will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to an anonymous donor!  DONATE TODAY   75K and growing! We’re thrilled to share that we’ve reached a major milestone – 75,000 followers on Instagram! Thank you for being part of our community and helping us celebrate the beauty of plants and nature. This year, our goal is to reach 100K followers! Let’s keep growing together! Follow us @gpconservatory for your daily dose of greenery and inspiration. (In photo: 16 On Center Chicago) 2025 Volunteer Group Opportunities Now Open!   We’re excited to partner with corporate teams and non-profits, for impactful volunteer projects in 2025!   From seasonal tasks in our gardens to behind-the-scenes work in our production greenhouses; your group can help maintain and enhance our vibrant 12-acre space. Ready to get involved? Click here to submit a group volunteer request form for 2025 and start planning your experience.   For more details, reach out to Emma Congdon, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteering at garfieldpark.org or call 773.638.1766 x26.  A special shoutout to 16 On Center, pictured above, for their generous support in making a difference! Join Our Team: We are hiring a Director of Visitor Experience! Are you passionate about creating unforgettable guest experiences? The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance is seeking a full-time Director of Visitor Experience to lead our front-of-house operations, including visitor services, retail, and more. If you’re excited to bring your enthusiasm and skills to our vibrant team, apply by completing an application here: Join us in shaping the most inclusive campus for nature education in the U.S.! LEARN MORE Shop Local at the Gift Shop and Enjoy 30% off! Start the new year with unique finds from our Gift Shop! Whether you’re shopping for cozy hoodies, aromatic candles, lush plants, engaging puzzles, or our beloved Garfield Park Conservatory honey (available in 5oz, 10oz, and 18oz jars), there’s something special waiting for you. Every purchase directly supports our exhibits and free nature education programs for the Garfield Park and Chicago communities. Plus, members save an extra 10% Show your card in-store or use your discount code online to enjoy even more savings. SHOP GPC   EVENTS & PROGRAMS Autogenerated Closed Captioning is Available at GPCA Virtual Programs   Start the year with yoga at The Conservatory! In honor of Mental Wellness Awareness Month, we’re excited to offer two in-person yoga classes in January.  Join us for an in-person session with instructor Natalie on Wednesday, January 15th at 6 PM or join DuShaun on Wednesday, January 28 at 6PM.      Both classes are in-person only in Horticulture Hall. Register For In-person Yoga w/ Natalie Register For In-person Yoga w/ DuShaun Music Under Glass: Open Call for Performance Artists The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance is seeking performers for the Summer 2025 Music Under Glass series! This live music performance series highlights a diverse range of musicians, vocalists, and performers, with a special focus on artists from the Garfield Park community and Chicago’s West Side. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until January 31, 2025. Apply Origami Open House 2nd Saturdays Saturday, January 11,12pm - 3pm Free On the 2nd Saturday of the month, Chicago Area Origami Society presents a free drop-in Origami Open House to our visitors. Adults and kids accompanied by an adult are welcome. Free and open to the public. Registration is not required. If you’d like to visit the Conservatory before or after joining this program, please book a reservation. Learn More Ask a Master Gardener Saturdays January 11 and January 25,10:30am-1pm Free Alternating Saturdays, there's a University of Illinois Extension Ask a Master Gardener table in Horticulture Hall to answer your plant questions. Make a reservation to GPC to visit them. Virtual Beginning Beekeeping January 23 & February 6, 6pm-8:30pm Cost: $50 $40 Members/Volunteers Learn the fundamentals of beekeeping from our expert Head Beekeeper, Marcin Matelski, in this two-part virtual class. Explore hive design, bee biology, management, and products in an interactive format. A prerequisite for joining the GPCA volunteer beekeeper program. Pre-registration required. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today and be part of our mission to cultivate environmental stewardship. Learn More Honey Extraction Workshop February 15,10AM -12PM Cost: $55  $45 Members/Volunteers Sweeten Your Valentine’s Day Weekend!  Join us for a hands-on Honey Extraction Workshop and discover the magic behind turning honeycomb into golden jars of deliciousness. Under the guidance of Head Beekeeper Marcin Matelski, you’ll learn the ins and outs of honey extraction, work with tools like centrifuges, and take home your own jar of GPCA honey! Spaces are limited. Register by February 13th at 5:00 pm. Learn More   NATURE EDUCATION PROGRAMS Inspiring Children & Caretakers with The Power of Nature Urban Roots: Leading The Charge Urban Roots Teens Bring Holiday Magic! This past month, our Urban Roots Teens shined as young docents, leading holiday tours and sharing insights about seasonal flowers in each room. Their passion and expertise created a warm, memorable experience for our guests, showcasing the beauty of nature during the holidays. We’re so proud of their dedication to nature education and can’t wait to see what they’ll do next! Principal funding for Urban Roots has been provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) [MA20-16-0031-16]. Additional funding provided in part by: After School Matters, Bank of America Foundation, Anonymous Fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation, IMC Chicago Charitable Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., PNC Foundation. Winter Wonderland January 18th, March 1st & 15th 12pm-3pm Free with Reservation Fun for all ages! Learn More FAMILY PROGRAMS Art after Dark Every Wednesday from 4pm - 7:30pm Get creative with our nature educators! Stop by Horticulture Hall to explore nature through art—fun for kids and adults of all ages.   Morning Glories Every Friday from 10am- 12pm Perfect for tiny nature explorers ages 0-3 and their caregivers! Join us for gentle, sensory-filled activities that spark curiosity and joy. Budding Botanist Every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm Hands-on experiments and nature discoveries await! Each session is packed with interactive fun and learning for young botanists. Family Programs are made possible in part by The Dr. Scholl Foundation, Peoples Gas Community Fund and PNC Full Calendar Of Events OPEN WEDNESDAY FROM 10AM - 8PM ; THURSDAY- SUNDAY FROM 10AM - 5PM VISIT US | PHONE: 773.638.1766 Membership: Why Our Members Give? What inspires members to give? We recently asked a few of our new members to share what motivated them to support equitable nature access and education this winter and were moved by some of their responses! Check out what Darren B. had to say, read more testimonials from our recent Instagram Post, and learn more about becoming a member at the link below. Join/ Renew Today Momentum Coffee At GPC Wednesday-Sunday: 10am-3pm In Horticulture Hall Warm up this season with our refreshing and delicious Mo Spice Latte—the perfect complement to your Conservatory visit. Stop by Momentum Coffee during your next trip and savor the flavors It's the cozy treat you deserve! Book a Reservation COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Chicago HolidayTree Recycling Saturday, January 11 - January 25 Don't let your tree die with the Holiday Season! The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation partner to collect holiday trees at 27 park locations. Each year, thousands of trees are mulched through the program, diverting trees from landfills and creating mulch for city residents, local parks and forests.  Live and natural holiday trees can be dropped off inside the tree recycling corrals at the designated 27 locations citywide. All ornaments, lights, tinsel, and tree stands must be removed before the tree is dropped off, and plastic bags used for transport should also be removed prior to placing the trees in the corrals.  Click here to see a list of sites that will collect holiday trees.   A Night of Stepping Friday, January 10, 4pm - 6pm 1150 N. Lamon Ave, Chicago, IL Dance the night away while enjoying free food, drinks, and parking! Come party, relax, and connect with the community. Vendor tables are available for $25, and there’s a 50/50 raffle to add to the fun. Contact Marcia at 773-887-3630 for details.  Green Teacher Gathering: Cultivating Connections with Nature (Save The Date) Saturday, April 5, 9am - 4pm 4942 W. 44th Street, Chicago, IL Join educators and nature enthusiasts in cultivating meaningful connections with the environment. Interested in leading a workshop? Apply by January 12th here: Workshop Application Link. This event is brought to you by the Green Teacher Network, a partnership between Openland Chicago Botanic Garden, and Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. Mark your calendars and don’t miss these opportunities to celebrate community and connection!  LET'S BE FRIENDS           Follow @garfieldparkconservatory On Tik Tok! The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance changes lives through the power of nature. We are a non-profit organization that works in partnership with the Chicago Park District. The Garfield Park Conservatory is owned and managed by the Chicago Park District and has showcased "landscape art under glass" for over 100 years on the West Side of Chicago.  Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance | 300 N. Central Park Ave. | Chicago, IL 60624 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
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