2025 CHICAGO - Request a Tabling Program
If you have any questions or need reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Meg Marsan, mmarsan@illinois.edu, 217-333-9783
University of Illinois Extension provides tabling programs through the Chicago Cook County Master Gardener Program on a wide range of gardening and environmental topics. If you would like to request a tabling program for Chicago please complete the form and specify your program preferences.
Due to the high volume of requests for our programming, requests should be made at least 10 weeks in advance in order to coordinate our staff and volunteers' schedules.
To better accomodate groups, we may limit each organization to two programs per calendar year.
*** PLEASE NOTE April dates are very popular and book out months in advance. Please consider a non-April date!
For tabling programs, if your organization is able, we request a cost recovery fee of $50 - $150 for each program in order to cover educational materials for hands-on activities and handouts. We are willing to work with you based on your available funding, donation not required. We greatly appreciate your support and can provide a W-9. Donation checks should be made payable to University of Illinois Extension, the word "donation" on the memo line, and may be mailed to Illinois Extension 8753 S Greenwood Ave. Suite 100. Chicago, IL 60619.
All publicity or promotional materials should give credit to the University of Illinois Extension.
***Please note that Extension staff and volunteers are not permitted to sign contracts and do not deliver programs at private residences. Programs CANNOT be recorded.
This registration is for Chicago locations ONLY.
Program Types and Descriptions:
Tabling programs are best suited for events where participants can walk up to the table for a short period of time to learn and ask questions. Tabling programs can be for both youth and adult audiences.
- Ask a Master Gardener Information Table (adult) - Illinois Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will provide seasonally relevant gardening handouts and information. Interact with volunteers and ask them your vegetable and ornamental gardening questions!
- Backyard Composting (adult) - Learn the basics of starting and maintaining a backyard compost bin.
- Conservation at Home Program Overview (adult) - Conservation@Home Cook County recognizes and certifies properties that demonstrate environmentally sound landscape practices. Through the Conservation@Home certification program, residents of Cook County have the opportunity to shape their private and community landscapes in a conservation-minded way with guidance and criteria provided for them. The program will cover the basics of Conservation@Home concepts such as connecting wildlife habitat, increasing biodiversity, improving water quality, and promoting healthy soils. Visit go.illinois.edu/CH for more information
- Healthy Houseplants (adult) - Houseplants add life and beauty to a home. Learn simple tips to select and care for houseplants.
- Monarch Butterflies (youth) - Learn about our State Insect's life stages, habitats, journeys, and the challenges facing their populations.
- Planting Lettuce or Herbs in a Bag (youth) - Join us to learn about planting basics, seed germination, soil nutrients, plant structure, plant care, and discuss the importance of the four primary plant growth factors. Individuals are invited to make their own mini-greenhouse using a plastic sandwich bag and potting soil to grow herb or lettuce seeds indoors. Keep the plants growing on a sunny windowsill until they are ready to harvest.
- Pollinators and Seed Ball Activity (youth, not available in winter) - Youth will learn about specific plant species and how they support pollinators. Participants then combine seed ball matrix with pollinator plant seeds to plant outside!
- Watershed Model (youth, must have water access) - This program demonstrates how storm water runoff carries pollutants through a watershed. Also discusses management practices to prevent this type of pollution.
- Worm Composting (youth) - Worm composting is a fun way to make fertilizer from food scraps! It is excellent for small spaces and kids love it. It is easy to do, but takes a little more effort than basic composting.
If you have any questions or need reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Meg Marsan, mmarsan@illinois.edu, 217-333-9783. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Local Extension Councils Cooperating. College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences