Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

The Flight of Butterflies has landed on Michigan Avenue! In addition to the 19 that are currently roosting at the Nature Museum, 10 beautiful sculptures are being installed on The Magnificent Mile®. Our partners at The Magnificent Mile® Association marked the occasion this morning with a reception, a sneak peek at 4 of the butterflies, and remarks from Englewood Arts Collective lead artists Jovonna Jackson and Janell Nelson. As you visit these beautiful pieces, be sure to scan the QR code and explore the augmented reality butterfly experience! We’re grateful for the support of Tullman Community Ventures who has helped bring this dream exhibit to life, as well as Cortney Lederer / CNL Projects for bringing all of these incredible artists together, and Ignite Glass Studios and ChiLab Studio for giving them the resources and space to make their butterfly sketches a reality. Thank you to SSA 76 and The Magnificent Mile® Association for welcoming these sculptures to Michigan Ave. Learn more about all of the butterflies, including the ones that have just landed on Michigan Avenue, on our site: https://lnkd.in/gdTkf78F

We're excited to share that our Teenagers Exploring and Explaining Nature and Science (TEENS) program is officially one of the first ever out-of-school time educational programs to be accredited by Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS). As a member of the STEM PUSH Network, a NSF-funded research project that leverages out-of-school time programs to help students develop STEM competencies that matter, TEENS is one of six Pre-College STEM programs that piloted an evidence-based accreditation process, to make sure these experiences count in Higher Education admissions for under-represented students in STEM. Learn more about the work of the Network and accreditation process by checking out this post from STEM PUSH: https://lnkd.in/gPusUNZh

We’re excited to share the official launch of the Flight of Butterflies. This exhibit merges nature, art, and storytelling, creating a memorable experience for all in Chicago. Local artists have adorned aluminum butterfly sculptures with original designs, expressing their unique connections to nature, and creating breathtaking larger-than-life pieces. Each butterfly is a testament to the artist, their journey, and their connection to nature, and this project uniquely intertwines artistic expression with a call to action for wildlife conservation. We’re grateful for the support of Tullman Community Ventures who has helped us bring this dream exhibit to life, as well as Cortney Lederer / CNL Projects for bringing all of these incredible artists together, and Ignite Glass Studios and ChiLab Studio for giving them the resources and space to make their butterfly sketches a reality. Thank you to the Chicago Park District and the The Magnificent Mile® Association for allowing these works of art to touch as many people as possible. These vibrant butterflies will roost at the Nature Museum for the next several weeks before taking flight and dispersing across the city—in parks, conservation sites, and down Michigan Avenue—later this summer. The Flight of Butterflies marks the first of many initiatives highlighting the nature champion in all of us. We've begun a new chapter for our institution, one dedicated to providing a platform for scientists, advocates, environmentalists, and nature stewards across our city. We can’t wait for you to see what’s in store. https://lnkd.in/g8VRferY

We are thrilled to unveil a new chapter in our 167-year history. As one of Chicago’s oldest cultural institutions—and one of the oldest scientific institutions in the United States—we stand as a beacon of wonder, nature, connection, and inspiration. While our brand identity has largely remained the same for the past 20 years, our institution has continued to evolve and grow. We’re more than a museum. Our mission resonates across all generations and this refreshed identity reflects that growth. Our revitalized brand look and feel reflects not only our dedication to preserving the past, but also our commitment to the future. From our refreshed name to our palette pulled from the colors of an Illinois prairie, we are boldly championing nature. Our city is full of dedicated advocates who have a deep passion for nature and science. From educators finding new ways to connect their students with the natural world in their schoolyards, to community leaders igniting sustainable changes in their communities. From individuals cultivating pollinator havens in their own backyards, to volunteers tracking local dragonfly species. As evidenced by our refreshed tagline—Inspiring Nature Champions— we’re creating a platform to encourage and amplify nature champions throughout our city. It all begins with the Flight of Butterflies. We are profoundly grateful to our dedicated partners at Span whose invaluable contribution brought our refreshed brand vision to fruition across our digital and physical spaces. As we embark on this exciting new chapter in our institution’s history, we invite you to join us as we inspire generations of nature champions through inspiration, action, and curiosity. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4b9CCIy

Local environmental leaders and community organizers gathered recently for a panel discussion here at the Nature Museum to chart a path toward equity and increased access to nature for all. Among the speakers were Naomi Davis, founder and president of Blacks in Green; Juanita Garcia, senior project manager at Pepper Construction; Juan Reyes, co-program director of Great Lakes Chapter of Latinos Outdoors; Tim Swanson, founder, president and CEO of Inherent Homes; and Angela Tovar, chief sustainability officer of the City of Chicago. The panel was moderated by Crain's Chicago Business group publisher and executive editor Jim Kirk. Read what the experts had to say about the impacts of a changing natural world in communities of color: https://bit.ly/40XYK4D

Environmental challenges — from climate change to pollution to access to green spaces — disproportionately affect low-income and traditionally marginalized communities throughout the world. But growing social awareness and efforts to find solutions — especially at the local level — are helping to mitigate these inequities.  Join us on November 9 for a wide-ranging discussion — moderated by Crain's Chicago Business Publisher and Executive Editor Jim Kirk — as our panel of business leaders, government officials and community organizers explore our transition to a more equitable environmental future for everyone. https://lnkd.in/g-XUFtfH

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the opening of The Sustainability Center! With this new permanent exhibit, we're able to make sustainability accessible to visitors of all ages. We are also able to connect visitors to our C3 program and inspire them to take action at home and in their communities through a special interactive C3 spotlight. Want to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that went into this exhibit? Check out our write-up in the Chicago Tribune here: https://lnkd.in/gFrxn9HR

Today marks the grand opening of The Sustainability Center, our new permanent exhibit and resource center. In honor of the grand opening, the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago have officially declared today, September 28, 2023, to be Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Sustainability Center Day. We are so grateful to both Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson for this honor. We are proud to be a community hub where sustainability topics are approachable for Illinois residents of all ages. Thank you to all of our partners who have made this possible. Learn more about this exhibit: https://bit.ly/456UgJy

Congratulations to Laughlin Constable Public Relations (LCPR) on this amazing award recognizing their campaign around our Hawver and Lacy Families Nature's PlaySpace exhibit launch! We're grateful for your continued partnership!

We're thrilled to share that several members of the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum team have been included on the Crain's Chicago Business Notable Women in STEM list for 2023! Not only did our Senior Director / Curator of Herpetology Dr. Allison Sacerdote-Velat receive this honor, so did our incredible board members Denise Lintz and Joanne Rodriguez. Congratulations Allison, Denise, and Joanne! https://lnkd.in/gDkP5Pyu