My friends and I decided to take a painting class together last February and one of them happened to find one at Discovery Center that worked for all three of our schedules. Cut to December and we were *still* taking painting classes-- we just kept signing up for every new session! And it's all because of Sara, our downright *amazing* teacher. Seriously, I would follow her anywhere. Her passion and encouragement are...just everything. All the three of us wanted was a bit of fun and an evening we knew would be set aside to see each other every week, but what we got was so much more. I don't know that I can put into words just what this class has meant to us. My friends will continue studying with Sara this year, and the only reason I am not is that I'm moving away from Chicago. Sara's painting classes are perfect for beginners (which we most certainly were) and experienced painters alike. I cannot recommend her enough, and I already miss seeing her and learning from her every week. read more

Arrived at a class to find out the time had changed to an hour earlier and I was not notified. Rescheduled for another date and time. They decided to cancel that class a few days before. I was offered to reschedule yet again. I declined. They do not refund your money even if they cancel your class. read more

To piggyback off of the buyer beware comments, here is a "potential employee beware". I taught about ten classes here and it was a miserable experience. To begin with, there are little to no supplies and the owner of the business, Bob, is pretty cheap when it comes to stocking. I had to bring a lot of my own stuff to supplement. On top of that, instead of having one hour classes, Bob insisted on two hour classes with students who had signed up for multiple disciplines. I was expected to teach drawing, painting and mixed media at the same time, which is ridiculous. The last straw for me was when I drove over an hour in rush hour traffic only to be told upon arriving that neither of the two girls in the class had arrived. Bob said one had left a message but he hadn't heard from the other. These girls signed up together so I knew she wouldn't be coming, but Bob insisted I wait. I told him he needed to get on board with texting, which he doesn't do AT ALL. He gave me the second girls number and told me to do it instead. Within five minutes I had a reply, but when I told Bob, he basically doubled down and said she was lying because the message was only about "one of them". No thank you. Couple that with handing in my last invoice and being told he'd eventually get around to paying me? With a personal paper cheque? Oh no ma'am. Not worth it. Steer clear. read more

Buyer beware. Less than 24 hours before the first week of class, the teacher notified me he was cancelling the first session. Additionally, he said he was not available to teach the class at the scheduled time and location for any of the sessions and he wanted me to suggest other times and places. Due to their failure to provide the services as advertised, I requested a refund on their site and instead got a phone call from an employee of the center. I explained why I wanted a refund for their failure to deliver the service as advertised and was told the director would be in the next day and handle the refund. I have not heard back and have now filed a dispute with my credit card company for their failure to deliver services. read more

I've taken many classes here over the years - Fencing, Tango, BellyDance, Arabic Language, Shamanism, Import/Export business and a real estate seminar or two. The classes are fair to great - with the "great" distinction being for those interests I've taken beyond and out of the Discovery Center, and then looked back on the class as what started my obsession. The instructors range from incredibly engaged and fascinating to totally incompetent. The building itself is shockingly run down. Moldy, filthy carpeting. Walls that haven't been painted since we were all irrationally exuberant. The dirtiest dance floor in Chicago. Shabby, dirty classrooms - and again with the mold. This guy really needs some competition for the adult learning genre so he'll finally sink some money into improving this operation. read more

I love taking the art classes there, been coming here since April. The teacher Sara is phenomenal!! Always a great time, look forward to every class! read more

I registered for the Stained Glass Workshop I class. The instructor pointed out that the tables we would work on were the wrong height and really should be a butcher-block type table ... not the formica tables that were provided. She was right - the tables were very difficult to work with while trying to cut the glass pieces. The instructor was not a good instructor - she was impatient and told several students they were cutting the glass "wrong" but gave little instruction about how to cut the glass correctly. i left the class early out of frustration. Don't waste your time taking this class at the Discovery Center. Take it somewhere like Chicago Mosaics School on Granville. I am not associated with the school but I am a student there now. They have the right tools and teach the correct way to cut glass. read more

I'd give negative stars if I could. I'm actually on the phone with my Visa right now requesting a credit back for the seminar I signed up for that was never held. Bob Wagner took my money without providing the services I paid for. Its as simple and as crooked and shady as that. Bob Wagner, the Director, takes about a week to respond to emails, hems and haws on the phone, sends emails that are not clear in message, and refuses to give clear answers on refunds or next steps. Why? Well, my guess is because he is trying to screw people out of money. I asked if I could get a refund multiple times, and he said things like, "Well, usually we don't..". Usually? Are there exceptions? Bob: "Well, you aren't going to like them". What are they? Bob: no clear answer. I haven't been that frustrated by such shabby customer service in ages. And guess what seminar I was signed up for? A business one, lead by him! Thank god I didn't sit through a seminar on business lead by someone who runs such a shady business and who knows nothing of customer service. In today's day and age, there are so many other outlets for courses or seminars in almost anything. I guarantee you, faithful reader, that your $ is absolutely better spent anywhere else other than this read more

UNPROFESSIONAL. This is my first time writing a review because this place has forced me to do so with their ridiculously poor service. I signed up in February for some Swedish massage classes that were supposed to start on March 5th. It was supposed to be every Tuesday for 3 weeks. Okay, reserved those 3 weeks in advance in my calendar thinking I was going to do these classes. Get a call from them the DAY BEFORE (March 4th) saying that the instructor will not be available for the term. FINE. Didn't make a big deal out of it. All I asked for was a refund. The lady tries to convince me to get some voucher that will expire in 1 year for the amount I paid for or take the same classes in June or whatever. I told them that I want a refund on my CC because I don't know if I'll have time in June AND I only wanted to take that class. She still insisted that I take those two options. Then I had to explain to her that it's not my fault this happened and etc. She finally agreed to refund but would need an approval from Bob the director of this place. Not only did Bob NEVER EVER called (it's April 15th now) but someone called a few weeks ago saying that the last of the 3 classes was available, suddenly. I told her I can't make it because they told me on March 4th that the class was already cancelled. I don't reserved those days in case it's suddenly available again. That's stupid. Agree? Yeah, well she then told me that she can't refund that last class because it's suddenly available. Now I'm livid. I demanded that I get a refund for all three classes to my CC. So they said they will send a request form but Bob will need to approve, once again. I'm like okay. Called many times but Bob is NEVER in. All they ever tell me was to leave my name and number and he will get back to me and he NEVER does. He's just plain annoying now. Spoke with Nathan and few other girls that answer the phone and they all said they will make sure Bob gets it but not one call over a month. How unprofessional is this? It's their fault and they can't even do a simple refund. I don't understand why I am chasing this man for my money back for some mistake THEY made. Ridiculous. WILL NEVER RECOMMEND OR EVEN CONSIDER THIS PLACE AGAIN. read more

This review is based solely on the white water rafting trip I've taken here. Ok, the place itself is old, dirty, and all around creepy. No lie, I was kind of scared about my trip after visiting their facilities. We had an orientation beforehand, then took a school bus to the Vermilion River. Once we were there, everything was fine. The bus ride, rafts, paddles, life jackets, and instruction were all included in the price. The rafting was fun, if a bit uneventful. It was only a Level 1 and 2 rafting trip, for noobs like me who have never rafted before. There was one exciting drop, but everything else was easy going. Afterwards, we went to a restaurant for dinner and drinks. The restaurant was your typical small town establishment, with just "ok" food, but a decent place to unwind after the trip. Overall, it was a fun experience and the price was fair. The Discovery Center itself is in dire need of a makeover, but I did have a good time rafting. read more

Really wanted to like this place. They offer a rotating selection of interesting classes at seemingly good prices. I only took a language class so I can't speak to the other classes offered, but I was less than impressed. My instruction was neither a native English speaker NOR a native speaker of the language I was taking. That made for some very poor communication in the class. He also didn't show up to the first class, and was rude and condescending to students. Computers are ANCIENT. Office staff was nice enough but not really able to help with anything. I had really been looking forward to the class and was super disappointed with my experience here. Would not return. I guess you get what you pay for. read more

Terrible and Rude Staff! I also went on the rafting trip to South Bend and was extremely disappointed. The description that was given in the Discovery Center flyer did NOT mention that the course was only a 1/2 mile. They claim that Olympic training goes on there...maybe for a 3 year old who one day dreams of becoming an Olympian. The course was not challenging at all!! And I am a complete beginner! I was extremely upset by the rudeness of ALL staff members, except for the bus driver. The trip was extremely disorganized. They even asked if people were willing to drive because the had overbooked! If I would have known that I could have done this for $4 plus the cost of driving there--I would have NEVER done this trip through the Discovery Center. And, believe me, I NEVER will again! When you arrive at the river, there are signs warning you about the sewage and toxin levels in the river--which is never a good thing. You pick up your equipment with the only instructions being "if you fall in the water, place your feet out in front of you." Then after you go down the river for a few minutes--they take all of your gear away and make you get back in line and wait and re-pick your gear. There was not enough gear to go around and the wait time was ridiculous!! This was a terrible trip!!! I do believe that the company you keep makes a trip good or bad....thank goodness, I was with really good friends and we kept each other entertained the whole time. So the trip was not a total waste...but I would NOT consider this a whitewater rafting trip by any means!! It was my friends and me hanging out in South Bend. And if I were to go back it would not be through the discovery center for the price of $60. I do NOT recommend this to anyone!!!! read more

I'm SO mixed about this place! I've had the WORST and the BEST experiences here so I'd say choose wisely anyone going here! Our whitewater rafting trip blew, the instructor was gross (old and hitting on very young women), arrogant and irritating, mean and bossy at times. The rafting was plain and not what it was made out to be. But the WORST THING OF ALL was that they shoved the whole group,separated by gender into a large room with a divider down the middle to change out of our wet clothes in front of each other in!!! What a disgusting freakish end to a tiring not worth it day! ----------- However, I took multiple sessions of their stretch and sculpt class with Allison Peterson and it's amazing. She's soo fun to work with, teaches to the pros as well as the newbies, gives EVERY one a good work out and genuinely gives a crap about each student in her class. I moved and can't take her lass anymore but I would've kept going forever, SO worth the money. read more

I would give zero stars if I could. This place is clearly a scam. My husband enrolled in an ESL course online with times and dates specified. We were told there would be 6 sessions of 1.5 hours each, resulting in 9 total hours. When he appeared for his first class, the secretary (?) Betsy told me that the class had been rescheduled for Thursday, and that it would only be 4 weeks long, and only 1 hour per session. I had called about 5 times prior to the class to confirm the time/location, and left more than one message and did not receive a call back despite calling during "office hours." Betsy told me she hadn't known I had called because "the owner was calling so much," but then when I requested to speak with him because the total class time was reduced by over 50%, she told me she had no idea when she would speak with him next. She also refused to provide me with any contact information of anyone else who could help me. I then asked for a refund, because (obviously) this isn't the product I bought. She began to patronize me and ask if I "needed the money that badly." I responded that the real concern was that I did not want to pay for something which was not what I had originally purchased. She said "we're not a store, we don't do refunds" which is in diametric opposition to what the website says. In sum, DO NOT GO HERE. There are many other reviews that show that this is not a legitimate place; I should have listened to them and YOU SHOULD TOO. I will be contacting a lawyer to get a refund- and no, Betsy, it doesn't actually matter if I "need" the money, I just want it back because the service I bought was not provided. read more

Considering the only time I appropriately use semicolons is to make a winking smiley face, I decided I might benefit from a class on proofreading, and was pleased to find one offered at the Discovery Center. I have mixed feelings about taking this class. The facility is kind of run down, and I was surprised to find that they were cramming almost 40 of us into one little room. But, the instructor was pretty good-- engaging and interesting (which is no easy task for a proofreading instructor). If I could change one thing about the class, it wouldn't have been 7 hours long (and ideally, there would be fewer grammar Nazis in attendance). In theory, I love that the Discovery Center exists; I love that they offer such a wide range of reasonably priced classes, seminars, and social activities. But, it kind of has a Park District feel, and I can't honestly say it would be my first choice for taking a class in the future. read more

I took the river raft course. They took about 60 people on 2 buses to south bend Indiana. The leads were so funny. We got to spend the entire time there and grab a drink. I recommend read more

I went on the rafting trip in South Bend. It was TERRBILE!!! ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE! The course was literally 1/2 mile long and in what appeared to be a municipal water dam. It took 3 minutes (not an exaggeration) to complete the course. At the end of the course, rude people collect your gear and tell you to walk back to the beginning if you want to go through the course again. So, not only is the entire course incredibly short, but you then have to take everything off, walk back to the beginning and get in line to do it all over again. I was not challeged one bit. My friends and I decided to ditch the dirty water for the rest of the day and wander around the town, which is about 3 miles from the Notre Dame campus. There was one coffee shop open and a restaurant that opened near the end of the trip. The highlight of the trip was looking at the old town court house, eating at Barnaby's, and laughing about what a joke the whole deal was - $60 for a bumpy school bus ride to Indiana and 3 minutes on dirty sewage water. And, to top it off--we found out it's only $4 to ride the 'white water' if you go there on your own. I do not recommend this trip to ANYONE unless you need a ride to South Bend!! I give this trip ZERO stars. read more

I took the class last week on Voiceovers because I have always had a great interest in this topic. I thought the cost was reasonable so I decided to try it out. I actually loved the class and learned a great deal from the instructor. He was very knowledgable and gave us a great deal of information, was very down to earth, open to questions, and approachable. My low rating is due to the classroom the class was conducted in and the surroundings. Upon entering the building, I felt like I'd entered a run down slum and at first you have no idea where to go for the class. The class ended up being upstairs in a classroom with not enough room around the tables for everyone. I feel lucky to have entered early enough to get a table seat since this was a 5 hour class. At least 5-10 people had to sit behind others at the table or around the edges on uncomfortable folding chairs, the old style metal ones. Also, I could hear a terrible voice student in the next room doing her warm ups and could hear dance class music from two rooms away. Overall, it was a striking imbalance between a very unprofessional and distracting setting and a very professional instructor and worthy class to attend. I certainly expected more from the setting considering the amount of classes the center offers and the cost of each class. read more

We went for a wine tasting class. The instructor was phenomenal and we learned so much. If this review was based solely on the class I would give it 5 stars. The facilities need to be updated. It was very dirty and dingy. A coat of paint and a deep clean would do this place wonders. The staff who worked there where very polite but the woman at the desk kept interrupting the class to remind us to fill out contact sheets and surveys which I thought was inappropriate as we were in the middle of a discussion. She came in a total of 5 times when she could have just waited for the course to be over. If you see a class you're interested in by all means go- but don't expect the location to be anything but sub par. read more

I had my first experience with Discovery Center recently. It was very interesting. I signed up for a bartending class to meet people/have fun -- the reason everyone goes to the Discover Center I expect. I expected the run down building, and the rude staff having read the reviews here. Those are both right on the money. The building is a cool, older Lakeview space. I cannot imagine what it could have been originally. The support staff are surly and very uncooperative. They seem to think they are doing you a favor by checking your name off on the list. It did feel a little like middle school all over again. Which is an experience I try to avoid at all costs. Line up here. Sit there. Do this. Check your name off here. That part really didn't appeal to me. My class was quite different than I expected. I mean, I thought we would mix up a few drinks (especially since the material fee on top of the class fee was kind of high -- $20!), hang out and chat about cocktails. Boy was I wrong. It was a real class -- like going back to school. We were supposed to take notes (And I hadn't even brought a pen! Yikes!) and we went over the entire history of alcohol, the process by which each type is made, the ingredients and several other academic topics including the molecular construction of ethanol and methanol. Now, for me this was heaven! I was totally fascinated and learned more than I ever expected. However, I got the impression most of the other people in the room didn't feel that way. Two of the women in the nine person class left half way through and never came back again. Our next class meet at my instructors apartment? Which I find kind of odd, but interesting and more convenient for me nonetheless. On the whole, it was a very interesting class, I'm looking forward to the next one, but I doubt this is what most people want. read more

Signed up for the white water rafting course. My friends and i had sooo much fun. Initially we thought we were signing up for the Vermillion River which was considered a level 1 or 2. We figured if anything we would have a little bit of fun coasting down a river. When we got there they told us we were going to go to the St. Joseph's River instead. This place was awesome! Sure it wasn't what we had in mind but we had a super fun time. We had 5 good runs then we got cocky and attempted a 6th. That was a mistake...kind of. Our raft flipped somehow and we went floating down river. We got banged up a bit but the vital stuff is ok. Somehow flipping over made the trip FANTASTIC!!!!! I very much doubt I will ever forget this trip. One huge tip: go with friends you know will have a fun time! Also, don't listen to anything people say about the building. Sure it's old but it's only the place to meet and sign your waiver (for this course). People, you are grown ups (allegedly). Are you really so immature that you're willing to allow a "dingy carpet" ruin your experience and lower your rating??? read more

I took a class there a few months ago and the instructor was great! I really enjoyed the class he honestly did a great job. The only thing is that they don't have a parking lot, so it can be quite difficult to find parking. I can't lie, when I first walked in I didn't expect to look so ummmmmm, not nice! But regardless of the looks I had a great time, our instructor was great! read more

My husband and I took dance classes here before our wedding, and it was EXACTLY what we were looking for. Not too expensive, not too intense, and we learned a few moves for our first dance! The instructor was really nice and everyone in the class was super beginner like we were so there was no intimidation factor (other than signing up and walking in the door). We learned a few dance steps and a few moves which was perfect. Since it was specific for those getting married, they showed is the "dip", the proper way to enter the dance floor and be led off etc. Things that you wouldn't think of, but make the first dance look more natural. I would suggest it to anyone getting married who want just a wedding dance 101. We turned it into date night - dinner/wine and then go dancing! :) read more

Yes, the building is run down and does badly need to be gutted, but it is also located in a nice, safe and trendy neighborhood where its residents can safely walk to and from classes at night. No, there is no parking lot, but how many parking lots do you see per business in Lincoln Park? Let's be real people. I've never had a problem finding street parking within a few buildings of the Discovery Center, but I take most of my classes on the weekdays after 6 P.M. I've taken ballroom dancing classes with my SO for some ridiculously cheap price. the instructor tries to sell you his mixed CD, but there's no pressure to buy. We just went to Coconuts and looked in the used CD section. We've taken skiing lessons which again, was cheap, came with free transportation to and from, equipment rental and instructor. We also took an S&M instructional and safety class which was almost endearing. The professional dominatrix was nervous teaching the class. It was clearly her first time teaching and speaking in public. She seemed so out of her element, like we were the ones torturing her. Half way through, she gained some confidence and started to have fun with it. My SO signed us up for a kinky meet 'n greet which I wasn't interested in. The people at the Discovery Center were really nice and accommodating when I called to cancel. They gave me a voucher for future classes instead. Every class we've taken here has been well taught, educational, entertaining, enriched our lives, helped us see a different side of each other and provided hours and hours of laughter at ourselves and each other. I'm so glad we have a place like this in the city. read more

My wife and I had a great time at the white water rafting trip to northern Wisconsin on the Peshtigo River, August 22 - 23, 2015. The entire experience was perfect. The food, the people, the camping, the rafting, it was all great. Thanks, Bob and all those who joined us. We have a lot of new friends and contacts as a result of this excellent weekend get-away trip. As we look forward to our next Discovery Center activity!!! read more

Although this place needs a paint job pretty badly, I can't say enough about the founder Robert Wagner. I took a workshop called Starting A New Business that he taught and it was very informative and interesting. He had two guest speakers, a lawyer and a PR guy who lectured about marketing and advertising. I only wish the class was broken up into a few sessions instead of being eight hours long. Towards the end, when I was crashing from my caffeine high, it took a bit of effort to stay awake, especially during the part about finance. However, I walked away with tons of new information, reference materials and referrals to other resources. read more

What an awesome camping & whitewater rafting getaway 8/23-8/24/14! Now we all have a great answer for anyone who asks " How was your weekend?" Despite the adjustments in bus transportation and some cool cloudy weather Saturday, it was really great. Many of us had never set up a tent or rafted before, but the trip organizer Bob and assistant river guide Jerry both were very helpful. All our friends from Enjoy Life Chicago! Black Professionals Social Group pitched in too. The campground was nice, with bathrooms and showers suprisingly clean & pleasant. Singing & dancing by the campfire was fun, everyone was friendly, breakfast was yummy. And the Peshtigo River was AMAZING! Because of the water level we rafted in "funyaks", inflatable 1 person kayaks that were easy to maneuver. The rapids were plentiful, good for beginners but still exciting for those with experience. Only a few people fell out, & they were all ok- just some scraped knees. I had a fantastic time, and plan to go again with the group next year! www.enjoylifechicago.com read more

I am glad to see I am not the only one who has the same negative opinion about this place. I signed up for a ski trip in Dec which got canceled due to the warm weather and am STILL waiting for a full refund. I got a partial refund and Bob promised me a voucher for the remainder. I am not sure I want the voucher, for why would I ever sign up with this unprofessional place again? I finally resorted to disputing the transaction through my credit card company after weeks of leaving messages and getting no decent respose. My bad, when I saw the name Discovery, I thought they had something to do with the DIscovery Science channel and would be professional and decent. Slick trick - piggy back on a reputed name and rip trusting customers off. As a contrast, I had signed up with REI for a ski trip as well, which was canceled. I called them and even before I could ask, the REI rep said "I guess you want a refund?" and he immediately credited my card back as we were talking. Now that's the way to run a business. read more

Love the Discovery Center! Life cannot just be about working & paying these bills. I signed-up for about 4 classes this yr. And plan on adding a few more on my 2020 calendar. We desperately need this outlet with all of what's happening. Life must go on! Thank You Bob for creating an opportunity to live a more meaningful enriched life! -- EC read more

WHITE WATER RAFTING! CLOSE to CHICAGO! I had a GREAT time. Met some very interesting people. Had a relaxing, fun, and unique time on river I had never been on (the Vermillion) a short & fun ride from Chicago. And in the middle of the relaxing and scenic river ride, was some really exciting rapids! A couple of sets of them, including one with a big whirlpool. Then, we got fed at a nice restaurant in an interesting little town, had a few drinks, and a pleasant trip back home. Bob is the owner (though you wouldn't know it by his easy-going style) and was all over the trip. The whole thing was laid back and smoothly run. I also like the new Discovery Center building and facilities much better than the previous location. Only a block or two move, but a BIG improvement read more

I love this place, I have taken 2 rafting trips and 1 canoe trip and they are wonderful here the staff is knowledgeable and so helpful. The price you can't beat? My favorite thing is that all you have to do is show up they take care of everything. You meet so many nice people and I even met one of my best friends on my very first rafting trip. This year I introduced my little bro to canoeing and this winter we are going ski with discovery center.:) read more

My friend and I took a P.I. skills class, just for fun. The guy who taught it waa a know-nothing and the room was dirty and run-down. The instructor kept telling is about going down to city hall to get info on people. We had to tell HIM that you can find most of that info online now. We paid $15 for about 25 Xeroxed pages stapled together which contained zero useful content. By the end, we were just laughing at the guy. Stay away from this place. read more

I get a call 2 days before I was supposed to start Portuguese classes (May 21st). They tell me that the class date has been pushed back by 2 weeks. This meant that I'd end up missing half of the classes, because I'll be in Portugal at that point, on a solo trip. So I asked for a refund; I'd rather take private lessons or use the money to find another class since I am a woman and traveling alone. Betsy told me that it takes 2 to 3 weeks to receive a refund. That was 4 and a half weeks ago. I've called about it multiple times, and each time they ask for my name and phone number, and don't seem to remember me. Bob told me last week that it will be another 2 to 4 weeks. I saw a review from 2013 where they did the same thing. I guess its a scam, and I should have read the yelp reviews. Still don't have a refund, and I suspect I won't be getting one. read more

Unfortunately I have to give one star, if I had an option to give 0 stars, I would use it. Bob Wagner, owner and operating manager, has a dishonest business ethic and does not properly support his staff. I worked there for one year and was unpaid for the last several months of employment. Also, he would consistently invent additional fees that the instructor was responsible for, thus reducing their overall salary. He also does not give refunds for class, and instead encourages students to take other classes. read more

This place is not only horrible, but unaccountable to its customers. I was burned once, but I am highly optimistic, so I tried again. Two HORRIBLE experiences. I took a dance class at the Discovery Center about a year ago, it was a complete let down. The 'instructor' may have been able to dance wonderfully herself, but had zero 'instructor' ability. She come to class with nothing prepared, made us wait while she worked something out in the moment and then literally drug us through it, whether or not we were making progress. I forgave the Discovery Center for that one and a year later I signed my boyfriend and myself up for a Real Estate neighborhoods tour. The DC advertisement promised information about neighborhood stability ratings, school quality, affordability, past market patterns, up and coming neighborhoods, projected values, and more. To my disappointment, none of this information was provided. Literally, none. There were a few comments about 'I sold a house in this neighborhood last year for $xxx, and when I probed for some of the type of useful information there were no answers. It was an information-less $104 dollar tour on a crappy old school bus. We could have spent a few dollars on public transportation and had a much better view and a lot more leg room. Time is our most valuable asset, and after two hours of this we chose to exit the bus and take a taxi back. The worst part is that although the DC advertisement was totally fraudulent and we didn't even complete the tour and explained our concern to the manager - THEY REFUSE TO GIVE A REFUND. And what the other reviewers have commented about in terms of the cleanliness and upkeep of the site is true. Look out. read more

I can't believe this place is still in business...where do I start? Super creepy inside. Haven't changed the carpet since 1965. Got to be the only business still using Packard Bell 1992 computers. Crowd in the waiting room was staring at their feet..probably thinking the same thing as me. Honestly..we're posting this from the bar next door after escaping! read more

I have always seen the courses listed and felt they seemed interesting. I decided to take 2 courses for computers-powerpoint and excel. I was truly disappointed. I did not expect to become a computer whiz, however, I felt I did not get my monies worth. The first impression you get is not good. It is in a safe neighborhood, however, the staff is far from friendly. Both courses were for Saturday- 10 to 5. Neither class lasted that long. The only good aspect was I received a disc from both classes-which cost $20 for each course. Both instructors stated they were experts in the field, however, I didn't get that feeling. Both instructors were not helpful. Both had their own agenda and didn't stray from that. Both instructors had little patience. All I learned was that my late father was right--if you want quality, you need to pay for it. I would not recommend this place for anything. read more

Proceed with caution. I took a rafting trip through this facility and while my group was ok, I can't say much for those left in the middle of the river. Maybe take a head count before heading to dinner? Also, have the "what to wear/what to bring" chat before we arrive the day of and are waiting for the buses. In other cases, classes have been cancelled without warning and the staff is desperate to give a voucher or sign you up for something else -- anything to hold on to your money. read more

I took a few Arabic language courses here and had a good experience. My instructor was Hani, who was a native of Egypt. He was able to instruct in different Arabic dialects. read more

I went on one of the white water rafting trips they offer (on the St. Joseph River). Definitely not worth it (and I'm a novice - not looking for anything challenging!)... The description on the website makes it seems as though you get 3 hours of white water rafting, which leads you to believe that you will be on a river for 3 hours. This is absolutely not true. First, you arrive at the DC to sign in. The staff is not friendly and bosses you around. Then you get on school buses rented from the Chicago Public School District for the ride to South Bend. The buses are uncomfortable to say the least, but I'll deal with it. When you arrive in South Bend, you find yourself LITERALLY on a municipal river in the middle of downtown South bend. I swear to god - you pick out your gear and boat in the middle of an office building parking lot!!! As other reviewers indicated, the only instruction you receive is to wear your gear and to put your legs out in front if you fall out of the boat. (which didn't happen by the way). After the "instruction" period when we got in line to pick out gear, I overheard one of the staffers scolding a patron -"you WOULD HAVE gotten 2 hours of rafting but SOMEBODY got here late". Unacceptable. I had a hard time picking out a helmet (S/M was tight and L/XL was way too loose) and asked one of the staff members (I believe this woman worked for the company in South bend) for help. Her response: "I don't know what to tell you - I just work here." Honestly, when figuring out whether safety gear is the right fit for you, that is always the wrong answer. Then you get in line to get into the water. We waited about 15 minutes from the time we got in line for gear until we hit the water. Once in the water - I swear to god the rafting lasted MAYBE 7 minutes or so. You go down the municipal river, which has a sign posted next to the entrance ramp warning about the sewage and toxin levels, go around a bunch of man made obstacles, then you get a rope thrown at you to get hauled back into shore by a "lifeguard". There happened to be another boat next to us, so the "lifeguards" threw two ropes in our direction - my head was caught in between them and if my friend wasn't paying attention and held one of the ropes out of the way, I could have been choked (I was oblivious to this - she told me at the time). So we get out, they take our boat, and we start walking the 1/2 mile back to the start of the rapids to get a new boat and do it again. A few steps away we are told that we need to take off our life jackets, helmets and give our paddles back because there wasn't enough gear to accommodate our group!!!! We were told to get back in line and wait to pick gear, etc.!!! I paid $60 for this?! At this time of day, we were the ONLY group there (they open to the public around 1:00pm) and there wasn't enough gear. Not sure if this is the DC's fault for overbooking the trip or the company in South Bend, but either way, it's just plain wrong. We got back in line and realized there were about 25 people ahead of us waiting for gear, so we decided to call it a day and have our own adventure. After the trip I asked one of the other participants who went through the routine over and over to find out how many times they were able to go on the river - 4 times in three hours. And she said they had to squeeze in the last one because of time contraints. If you are looking for anything resembling white water rafting, go elsewhere. read more