It’s time to get outside and live a little! And there’s no better place to breathe deeply of that fresh air than The Morton Arboretum. They’ve got summer fun popping up all over, but here are our picks for some leafy family time.
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Oversized origami is taking over! The sculptures inspired by the Japanese art of folding range in size from 2 inches to 24 feet and include a tower of 500 cranes, a bison and a Pegasus. Your family can check out the dozens of sculpture included in Origami in the Garden, then stop by the Children’s Garden to do a little paper-folding of your own.
2
Tram rides through the dark woods sound like something out of your kids’ nightmares, but the Full Moon Tram Tour (7:30-9:30 p.m. June 9 and 10) is anything but scary. Families can discover what happens at the arboretum once the moon comes out, plus learn about night ecology and hear some stories of moon lore.
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Hiking and roasting marshmallows are just two of the activities families can do at Family Twilight Adventures (7-9 p.m. June 2 and 24), after-dark experiences designed for those with kiddos under 10. The evenings also include a silent tram ride, which is about a million times harder than the “quiet game.”
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Want to make an [over]night of it? Pitch your tent for the Children’s Garden Campout (June 16-17), an adventure that takes place—you guessed it—in the arboretum’s beloved space just for kids. Go on hikes, try hands-on activities and hear some bedtime stories before you catch your zzz’s among the trees.
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All that fresh air will have your littles ready to move and groove. So check out Thursday Family Nights (5-8 p.m. June 15-Aug. 24), after-hours bashes that include kid-friendly food and activities, not to mention entertainment from kiddie faves like Miss Jamie’s Farm, ScribbleMonster and Little Miss Ann. Just try to get them to sit still!
