Join us for a unique evening under the stars! For our April outing we are heading to the Coral Woods Conservation Area to join the Northwest Suburban Astronomers (NSA) for one of their public viewing nights. This is a fantastic opportunity to observe the night sky through high-powered telescopes and practice some night sky and astrophotography. When: Friday, April 24th, 2026  Time: 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM (Please aim to arrive by 7:30 PM)  Where: Coral Woods Conservation Area, 7400 Somerset Drive, Marengo, IL 60152 (about 53 miles, 1 hour from the Morton Arboretum) Weather Permitting: We need clear skies! If it’s cloudy, the event is cancelled. Check your inbox before you leave; I’ll email all…

In keeping with our monthly Photo Outing at the Arboretum, the theme for the month of April will be “Nature Awakens” with the group outing on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 7:00 am – 09:15 am.   “Look and think before you open the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.” – Yousuf Karsh We will meet by 7:15am in the Thornhill Parking Lot where we can head off in either a group or on your own. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring the necessary gear.  After the outing (probably around 09:15 AM due to the cold weather), everyone is welcome to stop…

The MAPS Women’s Group invites everyone to their Brookfield Zoo Outing on April 14. Free tickets to the Zoo can often be found at your local public library. They are typically “First come, first served!” To avoid the parking fee, plan to carpool or take the train. The station is a couple of blocks from the entrance to the Zoo. We’ll meet at the Roosevelt Fountain at 10:15; look for Ruth Allison. From there we’ll roam around the zoo, meeting for lunch at Graze Kitchen. Afterwards, we’ll resume taking some great pictures. There is no registration for this outing.

In keeping with our monthly Photo Outing at the Arboretum, the theme for the month of March will be “Embrace Light” with the group outing on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 7:00am – 10:00am.   “Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.”– George Eastman We will meet by 7:15am in Parking Lot # 1. This is the main parking lot by the Visitor Center. Meet in the furthest east corner near Meadow Lake where we can head off in either a group or on your own. Be sure to…

For the month of February, our group outing at The Morton Arboretum will be on the seventh, from 7:00am to 10:00am. The theme will be “Hidden Beauty.” “Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is whatseparates the snapshot from the photograph.” – Matt Hardy We will meet by 7:15am in Parking Lot # 1. This is the main parking lot by the Visitor Center. Meet in the furthest east corner near Meadow Lake where we can head off in either a group or on your own. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring the necessary gear. 

Rewind to the ‘60s and ‘70s at the Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy where 10,000 vibrant orchids are the hottest thing since bell bottoms. Floor-to-ceiling sunbeams made of cascading orchids light up the room in living color. Lose yourself in a 10-foot lava lamp aglow with colorful blooms, then hit the road as a flower-filled Volkswagen Beetle carries you through a Route 66 daydream. The experience is pure good vibes. For more information about the show, click here to view the CBG site. We have booked this outing during Photographers Hours, when tripods and flash are permitted, and attendance is limited. (No backdrops or moving of flowers allowed.) Registration & Cost Additional Info Members will…

In keeping with our monthly Photo Outing at the Arboretum, the theme for the month of January will be “Black and White” with the group outing on Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 7:15am – 9:45am.  “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” – Ansel Adams We will meet by 7:15am in Parking Lot # 8. This is the parking lot near the Gateway to Tree Science on the East Side where we can head off in either a group or on your own. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring the necessary gear.