Since 2024, the Nature (+) program has offered two-to-four-hour workshops that focus on a particular art form and its relationship to the natural world. Each workshop includes a short stroll with a volunteer naturalist, offering insight into the landscape before sitting down to the art project.

Regional teaching artists as well as Arts Program Coordinator, Teresa Koester, and our Artists in Residence lead the workshops, offering a myriad of diverse approaches to the art forms and dynamic teaching styles.

We’re excited to begin offering full day and multiple session, nature-inspired art classes this fall. Many art techniques simply require more time or are too complex to learn in a short workshop. Expanding some of these workshops offers students a greater foundation into the craft or art form.

Survey feedback revealed that many would love to take a multi-day art course in the beauty of Bernheim. Connecting with nature through a long and steady immersion into an art form can fundamentally shape a new relationship with the natural world. This fall we will offer drawing, watercolor and bookmaking as multi-day courses. We hope to slowly expand our course offerings, ultimately becoming the premier nature-based art class resource for the region.

Each multi–day class will begin with the title Nature (+) followed by the number of days the class meets. For example, Nature (+) 2 = two non-consecutive day courses; Nature (+) 6 = 6 non-consecutive day courses. Multi-day classes will be held once a week unless otherwise noted. Visit bernheim.org/events to explore programs and register.

Nature (+) 6: Beginning Observational Drawing
Six Tuesday Sessions: September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 13
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn more and register.

Nature (+) 6: Beginning Watercolor
Six Wednesday Sessions: September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14
5 p.m. –  7 p.m. Learn more and register.

Nature (+) Collage: Painting in Papers
Saturday September 26, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Learn more and register.

Nature (+) 2: Bookmaking from Scratch
Two Saturday Sessions: October 3, 10
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn more and register.

Nature (+) Smart Phone Photography
Saturday October 24, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Learn more and register.

Teresa Koester is Arts Program Coordinator at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum.

This article was originally published in the Summer 2026 issue of the Forest Echo, Bernheim’s quarterly publication for members. Learn more about the benefits of a Bernheim membership.