Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden will address learning disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing and expanding Budburst, its ongoing national community science project studying plant seasonal changes and plant-animal interactions. Through this project, the botanic garden meets the needs of diverse Spanish-speaking communities lacking traditional access to scientific education. Budburst brings researchers, conservationists, and community scientists together online in individual and group activities and in person through community educational events to help them better understand how humans impact plants, animals, and the environment. The program also provides science-based curricula for students and their families. In addition, Budburst will expand its Milkweeds and Monarchs program, increasing Chicago’s biodiversity by planting pollinator-friendly community gardens at 23 partner locations. This program will prioritize neighborhoods with high Latinx populations and will maintain web and mobile bilingual access for its Budburst resources.