WILD WEDNESDAYS IN THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

Did you know that Park West has an outdoor classroom? Come and enjoy learning outdoors when school is out early! This program is a continuation of our summer backyard wildlife safari program and will feature hands-on activities and games themed around Illinois plants and animals that are suitable for a wide age range. This program is made free through a grant from Ogle Natural Areas Alliance. Registration is free but required, children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult. This program takes place at the Park West Upper Shelter.

SEPTEMBER 6

Deadline: 9/1

2:30-3:30 pm | Code: 2334-50

4:00-5:00 pm | Code: 2334-51

SEPTEMBER 20

Deadline: 9/15

2:30-3:30 pm | Code: 2334-52

4:00-5:00 pm | Code: 2334-53

OCTOBER 4

Deadline: 9/29

2:30-3:30 pm | Code: 2334-54

4:00-5:00 pm | Code: 2334-55

Drop-in Stargazing

All Ages Welcome!

Dates: Th 11/9 & 12/21

Time: 5:00-6:30 pm

Location: Park West Upper Shelter

Fee: FREE-no registration required!

As the sky clears and the days get shorter, come out to Park West to see the stars. Oregon Park District staff will have a telescope on top of the hill at Park West and will be highlighting visible constellations and planets. This program may be postponed if conditions are cloudy on the day of. This is a free drop-in program; no registration is needed! Join us Thursday, November 9 and Thursday, December 21.

Sponsored by E.D. Etnyre & Co.

Taft Eagle Watching Brunch

Time: 9:30-11:30 am

Location: Lorado Taft Campus

Fees: Ages 0-2 FREE, Ages 3-10 $10; Teen & Adult $18/$22 NR

Join us for a delicious brunch buffet over the scenic Rock River Valley. Enjoy an interactive educational presentation highlighting the life and conservation of our national symbol, the bald eagle. Illinois is a top-tier eagle watching state in the winter, so you can enjoy watching these spectacular birds while enjoying a topnotch menu including the famous Taft cinnamon rolls and a full brunch spread. Children aged 2 and under are free, children 3-10 are $10.

No School Day at Nash

Age: 5-12

Date: Fri, 10/6

Time: 7:45 am-5:30 pm

Location: Nash Rec Center Prairie Room

Fee: $40/$48 NR

Code: 2334-30 • Deadline: 9/29

There is no school on October 6, come spend the day at Nash. We will play games, make crafts, swim and even enjoy a McDonald’s lunch.

Migration Madness at Lorado Taft

Age: K-6th Grades

Date: Mon, 10/9

Time: 8:30 am-4:00 pm

Location: Lorado Taft Campus

Fee: $25/$30 NR

Code: 2334-33 • Deadline: 10/2

There is no school on October 9 for Indigenous Peoples Day. Join us at Lorado Taft Field Campus for a day of outdoor fun.

October is a great month to observe the changes happening to animal populations in our area. Join us in learning about where the hummingbirds and monarchs go during this time of year, what other animals migrate, and experience what it would be like if you were one of these animals. This program is outdoors, we require long pants and closed toed shoes and please dress for the weather. Please bring a refillable water bottle. Lunch is included in this outdoor program.

Winter Break Camp

Age: 5-12

Day: Wed-Fri

Time: 7:30 am-5:00 pm

Location: Nash Rec Center Prairie Room

Fee: $120/$144 NR

School is out for the holidays so join us at Oregon Park District for days of fun. We will have fun with crafts, active games, quiet games, swimming and a field trip as well. Campers will need a sack lunch, a refillable water bottle and their swimsuit and towel each day. We will provide a light snack to complete the day. Children under age 8 will need a car seat on Thursdays for our field trips.

Field Trips:

Th, 12/28-DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville

Th, 1/4-Discovery Center, Rockford

28

Fee: $3/$4 NR

Back to School Emoji Crafts

Age: 5-12

Date: Wed, 9/27

Time: 2:30-3:30 pm

Location: Nash Rec Center River Room

Code: 2334-02 • Deadline: 9/20

Join us for back to school crafts. We will make Emoji magnets for our lockers and Emoji stress balls. If we have time, we may even play Bingo. Thank you to our program sponsor E.D. Etnyre & Co.

Gingerbread Workshop

Date: Wed 11/29

Time: 2:30-3:30 pm

Location: Nash Rec Center River Room

Fee: $3/$4 NR

Code: 2334-22

Deadline: 11/22

It’s time again for our annual Gingerbread Workshop. Join us to make and decorate a gingerbread house. Each registration includes one house kit. We will have extra candy to make your house extra sweet. Also included is crafting a clothespin reindeer ornament. Focus on making memories and leave the mess behind. Thank you E.D. Etnyre & Co. for sponsoring this program.

Pumpkin Crafting for Kids

Age: 5-12

Date: Wed, 10/25

Time: 2:30-3:30 pm

Location: Nash Rec Center

Fee: $3/$4 NR

Code: 2334-03 • Deadline: 10/18

Join us for a day of pumpkin crafting. We will paint pumpkins to resemble donuts and make Jack O’ Lantern magnets. If we have time we may throw in a rousing game of Bingo! Thank you to our program sponsor E.D. Etnyre & Co.

TREE-mendous Christmas Children’s Class

Age: 8-16

Date: Sat, 12/2

Time: 4:00-7:00 pm

Location: Cin’s Treasures

Fee: $39/$46 NR

Code: 2334-01 • Deadline: 11/25

Do you have an aspiring artist looking to create a Christmas masterpiece? Cindy Hendrickson of Cin’s Treasures studio is hosting a special class for children aged 8-16 to paint their own ceramic Christmas tree. Trees are just a little larger than 9 inches high and 5 inches wide. Finished trees are perfect for decorating with or to give as a special gift to grandparents. Trees will need to be glazed after class and can be picked up during Cin’s Treasures Studio’s regular open hours.

Christmas Cookie Party with Aunt B’s Baking

Date: Wed 12/13 • Time: 2:30-4:30 pm • Location: Nash Rec Center River Room

Fee: $40/$48 NR (per cookie kit) • Code: 2333-09 • Deadline: 12/6

Fun for the whole family, come enjoy a cookie decorating party with Aunt B’s Baking in the Nash Center River Room. Aunt B will supply Christmas themed sugar cookie decorating kits perfect for two or three people to share. Perfect for parent-child or grandparent-child combos! Come over after school and decorate cookies with Oregon Park District. Registration is priced per cookie kit, not per individual. Each cookie kit contains 4 sugar cookies, frosting, and decorating tools. Oregon Park District will provide light refreshments, music and games.

Fall Friday Park Hikes

Age: 18+

Time: 5:00-6:30 pm

Location: Various Parks

Fee: $2/$3 NR

Oregon has 3 state parks and 1 state forest all within a 15 minute drive. Get out and enjoy a guided hike through a beautiful natural area with an adult-only group. We will enjoy exploring the flora and fauna of Northern Illinois. Expect each hike to cover roughly 2 miles and last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Meeting location and walking routes will be determined by factors like group size and trail conditions. All participants will receive an email on the Wednesday before each hike with the meeting location. Maximum of 16 people per hike.

Trip Back in Time: Old World Wisconsin

Age: 10+

Date: Sat 9/16

Time: 8:00 am-6:00 pm

Location: Old World Wisconsin— Eagle, WI

Fee: $26/$30 NR

Code: 2323-20 • Deadline: 8/25

Experience the largest living history museum in the world and go back in time to late 1800’s Wisconsin. See working farms built by German, Danish, and Polish immigrant families, watch the local blacksmith at work and try your hand at time period games and activities. Set against the stunning natural Wisconsin landscape, visitors can travel by foot or take a ride on a modern tram system. Every visit to Old World Wisconsin is a different and unique experience, do NOT wait for this one. Registration includes transportation and admission for a special group experience. Participants may bring a picnic lunch or purchase lunch from the onsite café.

Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival

Date: Sat 9/9

Time: 8:00 am-6:00 pm

Location: Jefferson, WI

Fee: $15/$19 NR • Code: 2323-33 • Deadline: 8/30

Calling all fiber artists! Join us on this bus trip to the 21st Annual Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival at Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson Wisconsin, on Saturday, September 9. Enjoy the Country Store, which has over 120 vendors. There are also youth activities, sheep shows, dog trials, competitions, and so much more! Admissions to the festival is an additional $10, cash only. You can also sign up for one of their classes for an additional fee to the festival, which last year included, knitting, spinning, weaving and crochet. For more information on the classes and festival, go to www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com. Registration fee includes transportation to and from the festival with a pick up/drop off at the Nash Recreation Center and additional pickup near Hwy 39 and 251.

Fall Foliage Road Trip

Age: 21+

Date: Sat 10/14

Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Location: Mississippi Palisades State Park & Hanover, IL

Fee: $32/$38 NR

Code: 2333-10 • Deadline: 10/7

Nothing beats a fall picnic with a spectacular view. We will travel in an Oregon Park District Van to scenic Mississippi Palisades State Park for a picnic with a charcuterie box from Jen’s Artisan Breads. We will enjoy the scenic Mississippi River Valley fall colors, with a moderate hike to some of the best rock formations and scenic overlooks. After our hike and lunch, we will travel to Fergedaboutit Winery in Hanover, IL to enjoy a wine flight in their tasting room. Registration covers transportation, charcuterie box, and wine flight. Please bring money if you would like to purchase any additional food or drink at the winery.

Taft Fall Luncheon

Date: Sun 10/29

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Lorado Taft Campus

Fee: $18/$22 NR (kids 0-2 FREE)

Code: 2333-23 • Deadline: 10/22

Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving-style luncheon with all the trimmings. Enjoy dining at a historic campus and the site of Oregon’s own Eagle’s Nest Art Colony. Watch for migrating birds of prey over the picturesque Rock River Valley and take a guided campus tour when the meal is finished. All ages program great for family and friend groups. Ages 2 and under are free but must register.