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Brushwood Center
  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Our Board
    • Our Partners
    • Our Staff
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Visit Us
    • Contact Us
  • EVENTS
  • ART
    • Gallery >
      • Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
      • Past Exhibitions
    • BASE - Brushwood Art Supply Exchange
    • Classes >
      • Botanical Art Academy
      • Create and Sip Classes
    • Calls for Art
  • MUSIC
  • WELLNESS
    • 2023 Nature Explorer Backpack Project
    • Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator
    • At Ease: Nature and Art for Veterans & the Military Community
    • It's A W.I.N. - Programming for Community
    • Senior Wellness
  • RENTALS
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    • Become a Partner
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39th Annual Smith Nature Symposium Series

This year, the Smith Nature Symposium Series theme of Inspiring Change lifts up the voices of youth, artists, and scientists who are challenging the status quo and pushing for change where it matters most.
Watch the Awards Ceremony

Current & Upcoming 2022 Smith Nature Symposium Events

Evolve: The Photography of Cristina Mittermeier & Paul Nicklen

Past 2022 Smith Symposium Events

Abundance: Art Exhibition by Dwight White II · July 17 - September 7, 2022

Outdoor Concert with Third Coast Percussion - August 27, 2022

Brushwood Family Fest - September 17, 2022

Smith Symposium Awards Dinner 2022


Donate

About the Smith Nature Symposium

The Smith Nature Symposium memorializes the significant civic legacy of Hermon Dunlap and Ellen Thorne Smith, who donated their land and cabin to help form Ryerson Woods. Hermon, or Dutch, was chair and CEO of Marsh & McLennan, and led The Chicago Community Trust, Newberry Library, and many other Chicago Institutions. Ellen was a philanthropic leader and champion of nature with organizations such as The Field Museum and Chicago Zoological Society. She authored the book Chicagoland Birds: Where and When to Find Them. 

Sponsors

A special thank you to all of our generous sponsors!​

Ambassador

Amy and Rob Heinrich
Michael M. Levin and Family

Jean Meilinger and John Schneider
Adele Simmons
A. Gail and William Sturm

Friend

Andrea and Richard Amend
Henry and Lele Barkhausen
Bold Bison Communications & Consulting
​Bob and Winnie Crawford
Thomas Donnelley and Barbara C. Donnelley Family Fund of The Donnelley Foundation
Illinois Environmental Council
Jackie Ramdin Johnson and Carl Johnson

Patricia and John Leonard
Suzanne Malec-McKenna and Joseph Ferguson
Lorra Rudman
Ellen Rudnick and Paul Earle
Union of Concerned Scientists
Clea Van Voorhis

In-Kind Sponsors

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Special Thanks To

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Emmett Williams

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Program Sponsors

The Chicago Community Trust
Gorter Family Foundation
Harold M. and Adeline S. Morrison Family Foundation
Hunter Family Foundation
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
Illinois Arts Council Agency
Illinois Humanities
Mid-America Arts Alliance

Oberweiler Foundation

Support the Symposium
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21850 N. Riverwoods Rd.
​Riverwoods, IL 60015

224.633.2424 info@brushwoodcenter.org
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods is committed to enabling the participation and enjoyment of our programming and events for all visitors. At Brushwood Center, you will have open access to accessible parking and entrance to the house, a gender neutral bathroom, and changing tables.

If you require certain accommodations in order to observe or attend our events, or have questions regarding accessibility of our facilities, please contact our Manager of Public Programs and Communications, Parker Nelson, at pnelson@brushwoodcenter.org or at (224) 633-2424 ext. 1.

Programming and events at Brushwood Center is available to everyone, including but not limited to age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, and sexual orientation.​
​
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​OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Mondays & Wednesdays: 10am - 3pm
Sundays: 1pm - 3pm
and by appointment 
  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Our Board
    • Our Partners
    • Our Staff
    • In the News
    • Blog
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Visit Us
    • Contact Us
  • EVENTS
  • ART
    • Gallery >
      • Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
      • Past Exhibitions
    • BASE - Brushwood Art Supply Exchange
    • Classes >
      • Botanical Art Academy
      • Create and Sip Classes
    • Calls for Art
  • MUSIC
  • WELLNESS
    • 2023 Nature Explorer Backpack Project
    • Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator
    • At Ease: Nature and Art for Veterans & the Military Community
    • It's A W.I.N. - Programming for Community
    • Senior Wellness
  • RENTALS
  • SUPPORT
    • Donate
    • Become a Partner
    • Volunteer & Job Opportunities
    • Our Sponsors
    • Shopping Cart