Enjoy endless opportunities to photograph with MAPS – a community of photographers dedicated to nurturing the art of creating images of nature. Whether you enjoy photographing the beauty of trees, lakes, prairies, woodlands, sunsets, flowers, or creatures large or small, MAPS offers opportunities to help satisfy all your photographic needs.
The Morton Arboretum Photographic Society ~ MAPS ~ is a non-competitive photography club whose focus is nature and education as inspired by the mission of The Morton Arboretum.
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Benefits of Membership
MAPS members enjoy the following benefits:
- Monthly meetings of MAPS members take place on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Arbor Room at the Thornhill Education Center, on the west side of The Morton Arboretum.
The meetings consist of inspiring educationally driven presentations on all areas of photography. After-meeting summaries of the presentations are posted on the Programs page of this website. Guests are always welcome.
- Photo outings are scheduled each month to include a variety of geographical areas and timed with the season.
- An annual nature photography exhibit is held at The Morton Arboretum and is open to all its members. MAPS exhibits are also held outside of The Morton Arboretum.
- Photography-related workshops are scheduled through out the year. These are taught by its members and others.
MAPS does not hold image competitions, as many other organizations do. Occasionally members can submit an image for critique, but we strongly believe in providing only constructive criticism.
MAPS is a volunteer-led organization that encourages, inspires, and engages people of all backgrounds and ages who have an interest in nature photography. Our membership includes beginning as well as advanced photographers, and shares in the mission and goals of The Morton Arboretum. MAPS is committed to a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion among the MAPS membership and at all MAPS programs, events, outings, and activities.
To become a member of MAPS, please download, print, and complete the Membership form. Then mail it or bring it to our next meeting (see the Calendar). Feel free to contact our Membership Chair if you have any questions: maphotosociety@gmail.com.
MAPS Executive Board and Committees
MAPS Board Meetings are normally held the fourth Monday of every month at 7:00pm using Zoom. All members of MAPS are welcome to attend board meetings, but please check the Calendar to confirm date and time, and for the Zoom link.
Any member with suggestions or questions, or who wishes to volunteer for a committee is encouraged to contact a board member or committee chairperson.
MAPS Org Chart – all current board members, committee chairs and co-chairs.
MAPS Board Officers & Committee Chairs – names and contact information.
2023 Survey of MAPS Members
Here are the results of the 2023 Member Survey indicating members’ top selections in the Types of Photography: You Enjoy the Most, Want to Try & Learn, and are Willing to Teach or Present. Please share your thoughts on these results with us at maphotosociety@gmail.com, and let us know if you have any additional ideas or topics of interest. Thank You!