Learn about frogs and toads, and experience them firsthand on May 12, at Lost Valley Visitors Center, in Ringwood.

Events @ a Glance: Mind and Spirit Calendar

There’s so much to do in our region! Here’s a look at upcoming lectures and educational enrichment.

Learn about frogs and toads, and experience them firsthand on May 12, at Lost Valley Visitors Center, in Ringwood.

May

Date With History
May 3, 7:30 p.m. Pulling from stories shared by his grandfather, an artillery scout in France during World War I, as well as military records and diaries from 33rd Infantry officers, author James Bilder paints a captivating picture of the life of a soldier on the front line. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny.org.

Digital Marketing Trends in 2017
May 3, 6:30 p.m. Business consultant Virginia Weiskopf explores the digital marketing trends small businesses should be monitoring. She discusses each trend and provides simple ideas for incorporating them into your overall marketing strategy. St. Charles Library, 1 S. 6th Ave., St. Charles, (630) 584-0076, stcharleslibrary.org.

Kate Raftery’s River Lane Beautification
May 6, 11 a.m. Michael Lambert, City of Geneva Historic Preservation Planner, describes Kate Raftery’s transformation of River Lane from shanties to summer homes. Geneva History Museum, 113 S. 3rd St., Geneva, (630) 232-4951, genevahistorymuseum.org.

Blacksmithing 101
May 6, May 13, July 8, July 15, 8 a.m. Learn the art of blacksmithing with an introduction to safety, tools and the forge in this two-session class. Learn hammering techniques while making an item to take home. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.org.

History Speaks Lecture Series: Margaret Mitchell
May 7, 4 p.m. Actress Lynn Rymarz shares the life and times of Pulitzer Prize winner Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind.” Naper Settlement, Naperville, (630) 420-6010, napersettlement.org.

Hunting for Your Home’s History Workshop
May 7, 2 p.m. Participants are led through the steps of researching house history, including where to find primary source documents, online resources and combing the archives of local institutions, including resources at the Elmhurst History Museum. Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst, (630) 833-1457, elmhursthistory.org.

The Presidency of Ronald Reagan
May 9, 7 p.m. Professor Gary Midkiff looks into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. St. Charles Library, 1 S. 6th Ave., St. Charles, (630) 584-0076, stcharleslibrary.org.

Lecture: Americans and Their Homes
May 11, 2 p.m. Award-winning author and history professor Michael H. Ebner explores the exterior and interior attributes of homes in Elmhurst, DuPage County and the Chicago metropolitan area. Elmhurst History Museum, Elmhurst, (630) 833-1457, elmhursthistory.org.

Science Night
May 12, 6 p.m. If you’re curious about the natural world around you, bring your family for a night of exploration. Kids and their parents can visit stations to experience themed, hands-on demonstrations and scientific experiments. Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd., Elgin, (847) 741-6655, elginpublicmuseum.org.

Fabulous Frogs
May 12, 7 p.m. Learn about frogs and toads with a colorful slideshow and then take a hike to Glacial Park to see them firsthand. Lost Valley Visitors Center, Ill. Rt. 31 & Harts Road, Ringwood, (815) 678-4532, mccdistrict.org.

Speaker Series: Historic Preservation with Steve Gibson
May 13, 11 a.m. Steve Gibson, vice chairman of the St. Charles Historic Preservation Commission, discusses the state of historic preservation in this city. Registration required. St. Charles History Museum, 215 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6967, stcmuseum.org.

Baha’i House of Worship & Chicago Botanic Garden Tour
May 16, 8 a.m. Be amazed by the beauty of the Baha’i House of Worship, one of only seven Baha’i temples in the world and the only one in North America. This outing also includes a trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden, known as one of the world’s greatest living museums and conservation science centers. Info/Register: Crystal Lake Park District, 1 E. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake, (815) 459-0680, crystallakeparks.org.

We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe
May 19, 8 p.m. Jorge Cham, of PHD Comics, and physicist Daniel Whiteson explore why a large portion of our universe is still a mystery and what’s being done to understand it. Fermilab, Kirk Road & Pine Street, Batavia, (630) 840-2787, fnal.gov/culture.

Architectural Walking Tour
May 19, 1 p.m. Enjoy a guided walking tour of historic downtown Geneva with stories of buildings and people who settled the town. Geneva History Museum, Geneva, (630) 232-4951, genevahistorymuseum.org.

2017 House Walk
May 21, noon. Tour five Arlington Heights homes, each with its own history and style. Tour guides provide historical background and highlight each home’s unique design and architectural details. Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights, (847) 255-1225, ahmuseum.org.

June

Summertime Storms
June 1, 4 p.m. Learn about unpredictable weather in summertime. Find out why showers and storms seem to pop up at a moment’s notice. Explore the wild weather and experiment with tornado formation models. Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore, (815) 895-9777, mmnh.org.

Gardens in Arlington Heights
June 3, 11 a.m. Arlington Heights Garden Club member Bev Krams highlights several unique gardens in town. Arlington Heights Historical Museum, Arlington Heights, (847) 255-1225, ahmuseum.org.

Grow it Forward
June 4, 9 a.m. “Garden Coach” Mark Lyons, of Green Thumb at Your Service, teaches you how to successfully grow tomatoes and pepper plants. Guests also get two tomato and two pepper plants to share with someone in need. Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, (630) 668-5161, cantigny. org.

Birds & Dinosaurs
June 5, 7 p.m. Geologist Mark Kuntz discusses our “living dinosaurs” – birds. Fossils show the connection between birds and dinosaurs. He brings dinosaur fossils, such as eggs, gizzard stones and coprolites and two actual dino-bird fossils from China. Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, (847) 742-2411, gailborden.info.