Located among pristine woodlands in the Ryerson historic home in Riverwoods, Il., Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community wellbeing, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning.
To Life: Jews Exploring Nature, with Joel Greenberg For generations, Jewish history has been told as the story of a people rooted in texts, scholarship, and community. But another, often-overlooked story unfolds in forests, fields, museums, and laboratories. Join acclaimed naturalist and author Joel Greenberg for a conversation about his compelling new book, To Life: […]
BASE: Create & Sip - Macrame Plant Hangers Create & Sip is a monthly workshop where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. […]
The Evolution of Brushwood Join us for a look at Brushwood Center's past and a glimpse into our future. As we prepare for upcoming renovations as part of our ACTIVATE campaign, we’re taking a moment to explore the history of Brushwood, share more about upcoming changes, and to celebrate the people, past and present, who […]
The Evolution of Brushwood - Opening Reception Join us for a look at Brushwood’s past and a glimpse into our future. As we prepare for upcoming renovations, we’re taking a moment to explore the history of Brushwood, share more about upcoming changes, and to celebrate the people, past and present, who have brought Brushwood to […]
Radical Hope in the Woods: Juneteenth Edition Join Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods for the final gathering in our Radical Hope in the Woods series as we honor Juneteenth through reflection, movement, storytelling, and collective imagination. Together, we will walk the trails of Ryerson Woods and explore what freedom has meant across generations—and what freedom […]
Maternal & Environmental Health Training New! Join this six-part training to learn how the environment impacts pregnancy and gain tools, strategies, and resources for supporting maternal health. Designed for Community Health Workers, the training is also open to doulas, home visiting professionals, caseworkers, or community advocates. Training topics include: Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes, Pregnancy […]
BASE: Create & Sip - Make a Sketchbook Create & Sip is a monthly workshop where participants can explore fun projects using supplies and tools from the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange, BASE. It’s an opportunity to get creative, try something new, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. […]
Broken Pieces Benefit Concert Join us for an inspiring afternoon of music, resilience, and community at a special benefit concert supporting Broken Pieces; a remarkable band made up of outpatient Veterans from the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center. Through their music, these talented musicians share powerful stories of healing, camaraderie, and creative expression forged […]
Mother Earth Market 2026 Saturday, May 9, 10 am- 5 pmSunday, May 10, 12 pm- 5 pm The Mother Earth Market features and celebrates local artists, makers, vendors, and organizations who are inspired by “Mother Earth” and are working towards a more sustainable future. Check out the vendors and don't miss the BASE Art Supply […]
bouquet with rogue wave dance rogue wave is a New York-based dance company led by Catherine Messina that presents work at the intersection of psychology and movement, often with a comedic twist. They are bringing their piece bouquet to Brushwood. Neuroscientists classify individuals as dandelions (resilient and able to thrive in a variety of environments), […]
Water(color) for the Soul: Sounds of the Prairie (Visit 6) Returning in 2026, Black Moon Trio once again invites Veterans and their family members to create and perform their own original musical compositions in Water(color) for the Soul: Sounds of the Prairie. Grounded in the ecology and literary traditions of the prairie, this program explores how […]
Environmental Film Series by Kateryna Sazonova Join us for a compelling afternoon of film and conversation with Ukrainian filmmaker, environmentalist, and Brushwood Center Videographer-in-Residence, Kateryna Sazonova. This program features a screening of Sazonova’s environmental film series—three interconnected short films that examine the urgent realities of climate change and humanity’s impact on the planet through both […]
