The Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum serves as an urban gateway to the world of nature and science. The mission of the Academy and its Museum is to create a positive relationship between people and nature through collaborations, education, research and collections, exhibits, and public forums that foster urban connections to our region’s nature and science. Our vision is to be the leading voice on urban ecology and sustainability as it relates to the Midwest/Great Lakes region. 

Established in 1857, the Chicago Academy of Sciences has been educating the public about nature and science for over 159 years, making us Chicago’s oldest Museum. In 1999, the Academy established the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to serve as its new permanent home, amidst the abundant urban wildlife of Lincoln Park and the shore of Lake Michigan. Since its opening, the Nature Museum has had more than two million visitors, including over 308,000 in 2015, allowing us to maintain our place as the 6th largest museum in Chicago. The Chicago Academy of Sciences has a rich history of leading science education through outreach, exhibits, and conservation initiatives, and the Nature Museum proudly continues that tradition of leadership.

Each year, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum provides over 76,000 educational contact hours through K-12 science education programs reaching students, primarily from underserved schools and communities. Through our outreach programs and on-site workshops, the Museum also provides teacher professional development to more than 1,700 teachers annually, as well as teacher training, curriculum, and material support to the schools and communities with the greatest need.

Museums

Education

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Erin Amico

Human Resource Manager

Gabriella Cruz

Doug Taron

Rebecca Brokaw

Jennifer Olson

Sara Persky

Matheu Bourque

The Education and Programs team at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is dedicated to fostering educational connections between the community and urban nature. They develop and implement K-12 science education programs, provide professional development for teachers, organize teen and young adult programs, and manage exhibits and volunteer activities. Their efforts ensure impactful learning experiences about ecology and sustainability, particularly benefiting underserved schools and communities.

Education and Programs

Conservation and Animal Care

Marketing Team

Education and Programs

About

Team members

Other teams at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Conservation and Animal Care

Marketing Team