NEW: Kilbourn Park Greenhouse Outdoor Classroom Campaign

Help us build the Friends of Kilbourn Park Outdoor Classroom Where Chicagoans grow — roots, curiosity, and community.

What We're Building

A permanent, all-season outdoor learning environment designed for hands-on intergenerational programming.

Kilbourn Park Greenhouse is already a trusted anchor — but our outdoor programming space hasn't kept up with the community's needs.

The Greenhouse supports healthy relationships with food, nature, and the environment for people of all ages. But without a permanent, sheltered outdoor structure, programming is limited by weather, space, and the lack of a true gathering place in the garden.

An Outdoor Classroom embedded within the existing community and native pollinator gardens will transform how we teach, how students learn, and how the whole neighborhood connects to this place. It is not a new idea — it is the natural next step for a program that has already proven its value.

The new Outdoor Classroom will provide:

• A Living Lab: Raised beds, native plantings, and garden spaces students tend and learn about alongside greenhouse staff

• Classroom Structure: Covered, open-air teaching space for lessons, programming, summer camps, demonstrations, workshops, and group projects

• Community Hub: Open to families, school groups, and community programs throughout the year