District 214 Community Education

Explore the world of art beyond paper with a visit to Peter Patterson Glassworks in Mundelein. This educational and fun experience includes a tour of the studio, gallery and hot shop, as we learn how art glass is made. Patterson, who obtained a degree in Illustration and is now a 40-year veteran of the glass industry, will demonstrate glassblowing, crafting actual pieces of this unique art before our eyes. Witness the steps involved–gathering the glass, adding color, putting the glass into a mold and then into a blazing furnace. You’ll even see glass that glows in the dark using phosphorescent materials. Later it’s off to Wauconda for lunch at Lindy’s Landing, overlooking scenic Bangs Lake.

You don't have to travel to South Dakota to see the iconic American Bison. At the Broken Wagon Bison Ranch near Hobart, Indiana, board a "Bison Tour Wagon'' to see this beautiful 35-acre buffalo farm. Enjoy expert narration from your ranch guide, as you venture up close and safely to the herd of about 70 buffalo. We’ll also see a film on the history of the bison and learn facts about the American Bison and the story of the ranch. Later at the Industrial Revolution Eatery in nearby Valparaiso, enjoy a delicious lunch while dining in this unique atmosphere that pays tribute to the American spirit of innovation. En route home, enjoy some sweet treats on a visit to the Albanese Candy Factory, home to the "World's Best Gummies"! See the factory floor where the candies are produced and visit the outlet store.

Spend a day exploring the surprising highlights of Milwaukee with renowned local guide Kay Collins. Learn about the city’s rich history and how it became the world’s largest beer producing city. See the sparkling lakefront and its architectural wonder, the Milwaukee Art Museum and its brilliant Brise Soleil, the wing-like sunscreen on top of the Museum. Check out the new Fiserv Forum, the Hoan Bridge built over the Port of Milwaukee and much more. At Grohmann Museum, formerly Milwaukee’s Federal Reserve Bank, we'll enjoy more than 900 sculptures and paintings dedicated to the evolution of organized work. We’ll also tour the new Bucyrus Museum. The namesake factory was a world leader in producing railroad, excavating, and dredging equipment instrumental in the city’s development and also in digging the Panama Canal. A delicious lunch is included at the renowned Mader’s German Restaurant.

Join CET for a fun day at the Jacob Henry Mansion & Estate for a unique portrayal of comedy queen Lucille Ball. In the 1950's, this legendary actress and comedienne captured the hearts of television viewers across the nation, while her production company brought new innovations off screen. Sit back and enjoy as historian Leslie Goddard entertains you with stories and pictures of this icon! Before the show and a delicious lunch, visit the Mansion, built in 1873 on Joliet’s Silk Stocking Row by railroad magnate Jacob Henry–a fully furnished mansion known for its beauty and old Victorian charm.

Each winter, Illinois gives visitors the opportunity to see more wintering American bald eagles than in any other state outside Alaska. Travel to Starved Rock State Park to see and learn about this majestic bird, the national emblem of the United States. Eagles follow seasonal food supplies and as northern lakes and streams freeze over, the Starved Rock Dam on the Illinois River is a favorite. On a guided tour with minimal walking, we’ll enjoy an eagle presentation at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center where you can observe this awesome creature in its natural habitat as they glide above the river looking for a meal. At Starved Rock Lodge enjoy a hot lunch and warm up by the largest two-sided fireplace in Illinois!

Cruise on the spectacular fully glass-enclosed Odyssey Chicago River vessel. This relatively new 200-seat single-level boat treats you to an upscale, three-course order-from-the-menu, full-service luncheon as it sets sail from near the NBC Towers on the Chicago River Esplanade. The two-hour lunch cruise with light architectural narration travels along the Chicago River’s scenic main branch and then onto the river’s south branch to Chinatown’s Ping Tom Park. The glass-covered boat gives passengers an unparalleled 360-degree view of Chicago’s iconic and historic buildings while enjoying some culinary excellence!

A fabulous day awaits us in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin, at Ten Chimneys. The restored estate of revered theater actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne is now a world-class museum and center for the arts. The diverse collections and enchanting décor were hand picked by the Lunts throughout their lifetime. Tour the 18-room main house, cottage and log cabin, located on 60 acres of scenic countryside. Hear the fascinating stories of its frequent guests including Katherine Hepburn, Helen Hayes, Sir Laurence Olivier and Noel Coward. Lunch today is at Cooper’s Hawk in nearby Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Explore the world of magic, comedy and illusions in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, at the Tristan Crist Magic Theatre, a new tour in 2025! Named the Lake Geneva area’s number 1 “thing to do” for 8 years in a row by TripAdvisor, the show’s magic and illusions, performed in the Vegas-style showroom, will amaze you. Crist, awarded the 2021 Master Illusionist of the Year, will entertain you with an epic levitation routine and a disappearing helicopter in his brand-new theater! A tasty lunch is included at the Tuscan Restaurant in downtown Lake Geneva before the show.

Winner of five 2023 Tony Awards including Best Musical, “Kimberly Akimbo” is about growing up and growing old. The howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show was hailed by The New York Times as "The Comedy of the Year.” About to turn 16, Kimberly has recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. She is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure! A delicious lunch is included before the show at the Grillroom Restaurant.

Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer–in case he or she decides to strike again. Join us for this theatrical thriller from Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime. Lunch precedes the show in the Fireside's lovely restaurant before the matinee performance in the 700-seat theatre in the round. You’ll also have time to shop before the show in the popular gift shops, offering a complete selection of gifts and collectibles for all ages and occasions.

Based on the 2007 film by the same name, “Waitress” hits the road on its first-ever national tour. This big-hearted musical tells the story of a diner waitress named Jenna, who works as a pie chef in a small-town diner. Hoping to bake her way out of her troubles, she puts her heart and soul into her unique pies, winning over anyone who tastes them. But when she becomes unexpectedly pregnant it seems like she may have to abandon her dreams forever. Hope is at hand with the announcement of a pie-making competition in a nearby town. The winner of the contest will be awarded a large cash prize, and Jenna realizes it may be her one shot at turning her life around. Nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Lunch is included at the Meyer Ballroom adjacent to the Paramount.