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What is the Sims Education Center at Fernwood?

The Sims Education Center at Fernwood Botanical Garden is a library and event space. It focuses on nature education, with books about plants, wildlife, and conservation. It also includes bird watching stations, hands-on learning areas for children, and rooms available for community events and private gatherings.

The Sims Education Center at Fernwood is basically a library with many interesting and eye-catching books about plants, wildlife, and preservation. Some of the books look like knowledge you wouldn’t be able to find easily anywhere else.


A hand holding up a book about Chicago Gardens, in the Sims Education Center at Fernwood Botanic Garden.

The education center also has several bird watching stations with binoculars and chairs positioned in front of large windows. You can sit and watch birds land in the trees or near the feeders outside, which makes it a peaceful stop during your visit.


There are multiple seating areas, including one room with a rug and rock-shaped pillows that look like a toddler’s dream. The rock pillows match the rock stacking activity in the same room, creating a fun balance between sensory play, exploration, and learning.


A large tray with a sensory activity of stacking rocks for kids, in the Sims Education Center, at Fernwood Botanic Garden.

It feels thoughtfully designed for families. If you have multiple kids, it’s a great spot to rest while they explore in a contained, safe space. Whether you’re just arriving or taking a break from the trails, the education center offers a calm place to plan your next activity at Fernwood.


This building also serves as an event space for weddings, receptions, and private gatherings. Each room has a different capacity, and the atmosphere fits everything from small meetings to elegant celebrations. I especially liked the lighting design and the use of raw materials in the flooring, simple but sophisticated in a way that suits Fernwood’s natural setting.

Corky Lorenz

November 3, 2025

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