Planning Tips To Give You A Break !

Staying At Home For Spring Break?
Planning Tips To Give You A Break Too!

Stuck here at home for Spring Break?
No need to sulk… there’s tons to do right here.
Start planning your local things-to-do NOW to avoid stress and give yourself the Spring Break not only your kids can appreciate.

Sweat It Out

Joy Of The Game

Basketball Camp:
This is the perfect (and active) solution for boys and girls ages 5-14 that are home during the break. Designed to give players the opportunity improve their skills, stay on top of their game and have a lot of fun. The program will combine instruction with contests and game play throughout the week.
These camps will be open enrollment allowing campers to attend any amount of days they choose.

Dates: Session 4: March 24-28, 2008
Times: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Cost: $60 per day $250 for entire camp
Includes: Tee-Shirt & chance to win prizes

General Sports Camp:

For boys and girls ages 5-14 who are more about general sports. Play in contests, take in some instruction and sharpen your skills against some competition playing soccer, tee- ball, floor hockey, basketball, volleyball and more.

Dates Session 4: March 24-28, 2008
Times: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $60 per day $250 for entire camp
Includes: Tee-Shirt & chance to win prizes

Nature Calls

Make A Bird House

Build a bird house to take home and learn how to attract birds to your yard.
Sign up for only one day and take the house when you leave, or sign up for both days and return to paint it! Each house built and or painted must have an adult present to help.

Fees
$25 per house (Building)

Heller Nature Center
2821 Ridge Road
Highland Park
847-433-690
hellernaturecenter.org

River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook

Need a place to just let the kids be kids? Get ‘em outside by visiting the River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook. It may be a bit early to see the first leaves of Spring, but kids can look for clues that warmer weather is on the way – buds on trees, green sprouts poking through the forest floor, animals scurrying about – we know, we know – what a concept!

River Trail Nature Center
3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook
847.824.8360

North Branch Bicycling Trail:

Grab your helmet and hit the pavement here – along the North Branch Trail. There’s any number of opportunities along the way, from Skokie to Glenview to Wilmette, Winnetka and Glencoe – to picnic, relax, enjoy the Skokie Lagoons and even take in the Chicago Botanic Garden. Plus, it’s recently been repaved, making for a smooth ride!

North Branch Trail System
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Click here for the map

Get Wet

We’d all like to be basking in the sun on the shores of Maui – alas, not all of us can go. Here’s a couple of options if you’re sticking around town:

Key Lime Cove, Gurnee:

Depending on your comfort level, a Saturday night stay at the North Shore’s newest water park/resort will run you about $289 - $669 for two adults and three kids. Key Lime Cove is comparable to big name parks like those in the Dells, and it’s closer to home. You’ll find a wave pool, 500-foot-long body slides, tube slides, a lazy river, spa areas and giant play structures.

1700 Nations Drive
Gurnee
877.360.0403
www.keylimecove.com

For Those Who Crave Structure

Check out the Off From School Programs (grades 1-6) in Waukegan
http://www.waukeganparks.org/assets/pdfs/brochure/Off_from_school.pdf

Keeping Them Entertained

Need a place to go that’ll fill up a few empty hours on the calendar?
Here’s a few places to check out that can keep the kids – and you! – entertained:

WhirlyBall, Vernon Hills

If you’ve got older kids who’d like to try something besides Open Gym hours, head north to Vernon Hills and let ‘em try a little Whirlyball!

Here’s the thing: Participants have to be at least 12 years old and 4’6”.

You can take a group of kids and schedule some court time, or let them play individually. For younger kids, there’s also a laser tag area and other games, along with a rock climbing wall.

Whirlyball
285 Center Drive, Vernon Hills
1-800-8-WHIRLY
$10 per person for 30 minutes

Putting Edge, Lincolnshire:

Glow in the dark mini golf at the putting edge!
Depending on the package you buy and the age of your child, kids can cost anywhere from $6.85 - $11.35, while adults are $9.35 - $12.35. (Kids 4 and under play free with a paying adult!)

City Park At Lincolnshire
275 Parkway Drive, Suite 321, Lincolnshire
Phone : 847.229.8833

Midlane Golf Dome, Highland Park:

Maybe mini-golf just isn’t your thing – you’ve got to be swinging a real club. Take it indoors seven days a week with the Highland Park Golf Learning Center!

2205 Skokie Valley Rd., Highland Park
847.432.8201

Centennial Indoor Ice Rinks, Wilmette:

Strap on some skates and hit the ice in Wilmette at Centennial Ice Rink!
It’s just $3.25 - $7.25, with $3.50 for skate rental.

Centennial Indoor Ice Rinks
2300 Old Glenview Road, Wilmette
847.256.9666

Get Artsy

Paper Source in Evanston will help you make unique invitations & announcements that are perfect for any of your upcoming events.

Create from a huge variety of invitation styles, pick up tricks for printing and assembly. Personalize your invitations with simple, yet unique embellishments.

Workshops at Paper Source are designed for adults. Students must be at least 16 years of age to attend.

Price: $55.00
Save! buy 2 seats for this class and get 10% off

Paper Source Evanston
2100 Central St
Evanston
847-733-883

Color Me Mine

Head over to the Glen Town Center on Friday, March 28th and paint pottery for 50 percent off! The twist? You have to be in your PJs! It’s from 6 - 9 p.m. – check it out!

Color Me Mine
1855 Tower Drive, Glenview (in the Glen Town Center)
847.729.7602

Bottom line...
Have fun, break your routine, and enjoy whatever downtime you can!

Loren Greiff