Shedd Aquarium just gave Chicago families a brand-new reason to arrive early: the Nature Exploration Garden, a hands-on green space right outside the main entrance on Museum Campus. Opened as part of the aquarium’s Centennial Commitment, the garden is completely free to explore — no Shedd ticket required — so anyone strolling the campus can wander in and start discovering.
The garden is planted with more than 70 species of native trees, shrubs and vines chosen to welcome pollinators, birds and other local wildlife. Kids can peer into realistic fallen-tree habitats, touch tactile models that reveal how plants live, and scan the landscape through two spotting scopes. Four larger-than-life wildlife sculptures add extra wow for little explorers, and signs explain what lives above and below the ground — from busy bees to helpful beetles.
Everything is designed for discovery through play, and the experience is fully bilingual, with signage in English and Spanish. Pop-up programs like nature journaling and bird watching invite visitors to slow down and look closer. “Our goal is to connect guests with local animals, plants and ecosystems before they even step a foot inside,” said Kristen Neria, director of exhibit services at Shedd Aquarium.
Next time you visit the lakefront, make the garden your first stop — nature’s show starts before you even reach the doors.
Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
