Habitat Park (Seasonal)

Underwritten by the Diana M. and Bruce V. Rauner Family. Sculpture Trail given by the Shaw Family in memory of Charles H. Shaw. Additional support provided by the Public Museum Capital Grants Program, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Museum; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the Souder Family Foundation; Anonymous; Tom and Louise Flickinger & the Edward E. and Marie L. Matthews Foundation; and the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.

Get in touch with nature in our two-acre, outdoor exhibit. Explore the unique interactive and sensory-focused activities that utilize the setting to enhance the experience.

Activities

Inner Courtyard

• Construct using natural materials in the imagination hut
• Watch for birds and small animals
• Go on a bug hunt to find ants, worms, or insects

Outer Courtyard

• Wander through winding paths to explore a 10-piece interactive sculpture collection
• Run up and roll down the gentle berms
• Go underground through a giant tunnel
• Ride trikes along the paths
• Find your way through the prairie grass maze
• Peer through binoculars to see how they change your view of the park
• Use your senses or sight, touch, hearing, and smell to examine characteristics of plants
• Climb and spin on unique structures
• Plant and tend to vegetables and other plants in our garden boxes with Master Gardeners during the Garden Buddies program
• Paint designs with water on slate walls and watch them evaporate

Hours

Inner Courtyard

• Open year-round as weather permits, except October and November in preparation for our Kohlights holiday lights display

Outer Courtyard

• Open late March through early October unless noted otherwise
• Closes 30 minutes before the rest of the Museum

Outer Habitat Park and the Butterfly Encounter may close under the following weather conditions: heat index of 90º, wet ground, air-quality advisory, threat of electrical storms.