Upcoming Events › Adults

Join blacksmithing instructor Lee Meilleur from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a one-day blacksmithing workshop at Dodge’s forge at Shepard Farm!  Get a taste of blacksmithing as it's been done throughout the ages in this introductory workshop, designed with newcomers in mind. You'll learn about traditional methods and equipment, including the coal forge, hammer, tongs, and anvil. Practice your technique by forging an S hook, a J hook, or a shape that has yet to be invented. Feel the force when shaping molten metal!  No experience necessary.…

Join blacksmithing instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for an eight-session dive into the basics of blacksmithing at Dodge’s forge at Shepard Farm! This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of shaping iron with fire and hammer. You’ll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging using a coal forge, and the ability to safely shape iron.  By the end of this class, you’ll have covered the basic forging processes,…

Join blacksmithing instructor Lee Meilleur from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a one-day blacksmithing workshop at Dodge’s forge at Shepard Farm!  Transform a piece of raw metal into an artistic yet functional fire poker for your fireplace or fire pit. You'll learn about traditional methods and equipment, including the coal forge, hammer, tongs, and anvil. To create your custom hand-forged piece, you'll practice essential skills: taper, bend, twist, forge weld, and collar.  Open to beginners, though some forging experience will be helpful. All materials and consumables included in class…

Join Silvae Spiritus Nature & Forest Therapy, certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, for a guided forest bathing experience!  Forest bathing is a slow-moving, deeply sensory, mindful and “bodyful” walk in nature that has shown to result in measurable physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Much like walking meditation or yoga, these activities can be practiced on one’s own, almost anywhere, and yet the benefits greatly increase with regular practice. Forest bathing is significantly more immersive when facilitated by properly trained and…

Create your own butterfly-inspired masterpiece in this guided painting class! Naturalist and artist Ashley Johnson will provide all the materials, step-by-step instruction, and a butterfly template that you can personalize with your own creative flair. Along the way, discover the fascinating story of the iconic monarch butterfly and its incredible migration, and get inspired by real butterfly specimens. 

This program is sold out. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. Learn how to make a simple yet satisfying honey whole wheat yeast bread in this fun and informative 3-hour class!  We’ll lead you through the entire process, from explaining the differences in flour and yeast to guiding you as you mix and shape a beautiful loaf. While the dough rises and bakes, delve into the art of making butter and simple jams to perfectly complement your homemade bread.  Learning was never…

What’s the buzz about bees? Join naturalist Pam Welisevich and other women interested in the natural world to dive into the hive and discover the fascinating lives of honeybees! With a drink in hand, learn how bees communicate, work together, and support the plants and foods we depend on.  Women, female-identifying, and non-binary adults age 21+ are all welcome at Women in the Woods. 

Build your own bead loom using scrap wood and hardware you may already have around the house! You'll use an electric hand drill to assemble the loom, string it, and prepare it for beading. Then, learn the basics of bead weaving as you use a beading needle to begin your very first project. At the end of the program, you'll take home the loom you built, a beading needle and beads, and the start of your first beading project. 

Learn how to turn wild edibles into simple syrups for delicious cocktails! Hike to discover foraged foods that can be collected in Minnesota and mixed into your next favorite drink. 

Join Silvae Spiritus Nature & Forest Therapy, certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, for a guided forest bathing experience!  Forest bathing is a slow-moving, deeply sensory, mindful and “bodyful” walk in nature that has shown to result in measurable physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Much like walking meditation or yoga, these activities can be practiced on one’s own, almost anywhere, and yet the benefits greatly increase with regular practice. Forest bathing is significantly more immersive when facilitated by properly trained and certified…

Impress your friends and loved ones with an elegant charcuterie board in this Taste and Learn program!   Learn about the history of charcuterie, which types of foods are commonly used, how to create a charcuterie board to match a specific theme, and the art of arranging foods in creative, eye-catching displays. You’ll not only get to sample a variety of bites but also learn how to use foods to form flowers and other decorative features. Learning was never so delicious!   Each participant…

Join us for a 3-hour, hands-on baking class where you’ll learn how to mix, scoop, and bake delicious apple cider cookies and biscochitos, a traditional New Mexican sugar cookie. Our instructors will guide you through each step as you create these tasty treats. We’ll provide all the necessary baking supplies, so just bring your holiday spirit and love of cookies!  Recipes include eggs, gluten, and lard.