Have you ever planted garden plants in a straw bale? Or wanted to learn about watercolor painting? Have you thought about trying an escape room or wanted to learn more about mindfulness? University of Illinois Extension is offering these programs and more at the Learning in Lawn Chairs series this fall! Join us as we learn about using fresh produce, create an autumn display in a straw bale, create abstract watercolor paintings, experience an escape room in a bag, and create a kit of tools for mindfulness.

University of Illinois Extension offers programs create learning partnerships that put knowledge to work and aim to make life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities.  Bring your lawn chair and enjoy learning in the outdoors. Weather permitting, all programs will be held outdoors with social distancing procedures in place. Ample indoor space is available for social distance learning if needed.

Learning in Lawn Chairs will be offered weekly in September and October at the Whiteside County University of Illinois Extension office, 12923 Lawrence Road in Sterling.

• Make Your Own Mindfulness kit on October 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Have you ever heard of mindfulness? It’s a great practice to focus our minds, calm our bodies, decrease our stress, and improve our focus. Don’t miss this session where we will explore everyday mindfulness practices for adults and kids. We will be trying out several mindfulness techniques and making a mindfulness kit that will help us in our practice. All materials will be provided. Let’s create and be mindful!

Sessions are open to all individuals ages 8 and up. Participants make pick and choose which sessions to attend. Social distancing and safety guidelines will be followed. Pre-registration is required for participation. For more information or to pre-register, visit go.illinois.edu/learninginlawnchairs or call 815-632-3611.