Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 | View in browser
Good Morning,
Check out this week's Parks & Recreation e-news featuring information on Summer Camp open house, Winter break camps, Kwanzaa, classes and more.
 Attend Summer Camp 2025 Open House on Jan. 10
On Jan. 10, 2025, we'll host a Summer Camp 2025 Open House at Levy Center from 5-8 p.m. This free event will feature info sessions, activities for kids, give-aways, raffles, and refreshments.
The open house will help you and your kids explore camp options before registration opens for Evanston residents on February 1. (Camp opens for non-residents on Feb. 10.)
Interested in seasonal jobs? Apply at the open house!
No registration is required to attend the open house.
Your voice matters! Help Evanston shape the 2025 Starlight Concerts and Movies Series by taking a brief survey: https://bit.ly/starlight-survey.
We’re gathering community input on whether each ward would prefer a concert or a movie this summer. Share your thoughts by Dec. 31, 2024, and let us know which type of event would make the biggest impact in your neighborhood.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Great Elf Hunt! It was so much fun seeing families and friends exploring our community centers and parks, searching high and low for those mischievous elves.
We also want to give a special shoutout to the amazing local businesses that generously donated prizes for the hunt. Shout out to Backlot Coffee, La Principal, Pinto Thai, Great Harvest Bread Co, Squeezebox Books and Music, 5411 Empanadas, Soul & Smoke, Core & Rind Hospitality, Heroines & Heros, Bookends & Beginnings, Mack's Bike Shop, and Goldfish Swim School. Your support made this event extra special and helped spread holiday cheer throughout our community. Thank you all for making this event such a success!
 The Nutcracker on Ice: Dec. 20-22
The classic holiday story of The Nutcracker is performed on ice with skaters of all levels.
Date: Friday - Sunday, December 20-22
Hours: Dec. 20, 7 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Dec. 22, 2 p.m.
Location: Robert Crown Center
Get tickets
 Solstice Bonfire: Dec. 20
Celebrate the shortest day of the year with a winter solstice bonfire! Join us at Lighthouse Beach and stay warm by the bonfire while we learn about the winter solstice and traditions that incorporate nature. S’mores and hot chocolate will be enjoyed. Children need to be accompanied by an enrolled adult.
Date: Friday, December 20
Hours: 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Lighthouse Beach
Cost: $15 R/$20 NR
Register
 "A Legacy Kwanzaa!": Dec. 26
City of Evanston presents A Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration 2024 a free event on Dec. 26 at Robert Crown Center.
Nationally renowned NAJWA Dance Corps will bring their African-inspired dance heritage to our Legacy Kwanzaa stage. You and your family will be enthralled with their breathtaking African-influenced dance, drumming, and rituals and be invited to join them on stage!
Along with Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan and his gifted S.O.U.L. Creations family, Tony Garrett's Community Drum Circle, and Emcee Lucia L. Luckett-Kelly, the first day of Kwanzaa will indeed be a celebration of "Umoja," Swahili for "UNITY," the first of the seven principles.
Fun activities for the entire family include a Kwanzaa photo booth, face painting, arts and crafts, food, artisan vendors, and more.
Date: Thursday, December 26
Hours: 6 p.m.
Location: Robert Crown Community Center
Cost: Free
 Slime-Tastic Winter Break Camp
It’s a slime takeover! In this camp, slime is the main event. We’ll explore different slime recipes as we create tons of gooey, sparkly, stretchy, messy goo. We’ll make a different slime during each day of camp. We’ll even throw in a little painting and sculpting on the side, too! Roll up your sleeves, and get ready for the Slime-Tastic time you’ve been waiting for! Register now.
 Winter Break Arts Camp
We will be writing acting and then filming an adaptation of a beloved holiday tale using old fashioned animation techniques. Media Educator Alaric Rocha teaches at LA Film School. No class Jan1 and includes District 65 non attendance day on Jan 6. Register now.
 Winter Wonder Camp
School’s out and it’s cold outside, so we’ll take the fun indoors. Enjoy snow art, dance, field trips, ice skating and gym games as we celebrate winter vacation. Dress for outdoor play as well; we may even make a snowman or two. Primary and elementary school-age groups are formed to promote individualized attention. Campers bring a nut-free lunch; an afternoon snack is provided. Register now.
 Winter Break
Enjoy a winter break at Fleetwood-Jourdain Center. Two sessions offered: Dec. 23-27 and Dec. 30 to Jan. 3. No camp on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Register now.
 School Day Off Gymnastics Camp
Students will train and perfect basic skills on bars, beam, floor, and
vault. This camp is appropriate for students in Beginning I, Beginning II,
Tumbling I, or with no prior-experience - campers will be grouped by age
and experience. Register now.
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Registration for our Winter programs opens Nov. 11! View all of our upcoming classes, workshops, school days off activities, and special events in our Winter Program Guide.
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 Little Blackhawks
Little Blackhawks Learn to Play Hockey, Thursdays January 9-February 27, 6:00-7:00pm, Robert Crown Community Center, $298 which includes full equipment for participants. Registration is taken through Chicago Blackhawks Amateur Little Blackhawks Program here.
 After School 3D Printing
Nexplore 3D Printing Start+ empowers students to bring their imaginations into reality with 3Doodler pens. Each lesson combines a structured STEAM project with wiggle room to doodle, explore, and create their own ideas. Students might construct landforms to learn about geography or use geometry to make their own shapeshifters. Register now.
 Ecology Winter Senses Series
Energize your senses and embrace winter wellness, as we explore fun and sustainable ways to warm up your home and add more color, sound, comfort, fragrances, and flavors to your winter! Each week, we will explore a different sense.
Date: Fridays from January 10th-February 7th
Hours: 7-8pm
Location: South End Community Center
Register online or by calling the Ecology Center: (847) 448-8256.
 Winter Nature Classes (Ages 1.5-5 yrs)
Join the Ecology Center this winter for two nature classes that meet at the Lighthouse Beach Fog House classrooms!
Forest School Play Group: The Forest School model makes every day of learning an adventure! Children will explore the natural world together through long periods of building, inventing, running, climbing, nature discovery, and imagination play. Parents must attend with children under 3.
Saplings & Oaks: Children and caregivers transform into saplings and oaks in this early learning nature class! Through stories, nature crafts, imaginative play, and science discovery, children develop a relationship to the natural world and the beauty of the winter season. Classes are primarily outdoors, weather permitting. Caregiver is required.
Register online or by calling the Ecology Center: (847) 448-8256.
 Winter Art Workshops for Kids
We're offering a wealth of art workshops for kids in December at Chandler Newberger Center. Get more details on workshops and register at cityofevanston.org/register.
 Basic Cartooning
Learn basic drawing and cartooning skills while creating your own characters and improving your own artistic abilities. Register now.
 Youth Dodgeball
Get ready for a five-week, high-energy dodgeball tournament, where teams of 2nd–5th graders are led by enthusiastic coaches skilled at accommodating all dodgeball abilities. We incorporate different forms of dodgeball to keep the experience fun and engaging while promoting agility, quick decision-making, leadership, and teamwork—all using soft dodgeballs for safety. Winning team will play a sixth week against the winner from Wilmette.
Each class session, four teams will participate in a one-hour session, with two games running simultaneously. For the first three weeks, teams will compete to determine playoff seeding. The final two weeks will feature playoffs and a championship, with GTK dodgeball trophies awarded to the winners. Register now.
 Tots Soccer School
Players and parents will explore the world of soccer. Coaches will lead imaginative games designed to develop all players' fine motor skills while fostering the joy of having a ball at their feet. Guardian participation is required. Register now.
 Fullpower Self-Defense Workshop
This intensive, interactive workshop for men and women will turn a few key self-protection ideas into skills that you can use to keep yourself safe while at home or abroad. Participants will learn how to quickly identify a potentially dangerous situation and practice a range of proven, effective skills to deter and physically escape from an attacker. Register now.
 Ecology Birthday Parties
Book an Ecology Center birthday party at South End Community Center! Choose one of 8 themes for guests to meet live animals, perform science experiments, and enjoy other Instructor-led activities. For more information or to schedule a birthday party, please call the Ecology Center at (847) 448-8256 or complete the Ecology Birthday Party Request form online.
Date: December-February
Location: South End Community Center
Cost: $300 R/$390 NR
 Let's Play: Drop-in Play at South End Center
South End Community Center offers Let's Play Drop In Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.. We recently lowered prices to better support Evanston families! Cost is $10 per child for residents and $7 for each additional child. Cost is $13 for non-residents and $10 for each additional child.
 Fleetwood Activities
Check out what Fleetwood Jourdain has to offer for Winter 2024. Learn more at www.cityofevanston.org/fleetwood-jourdain-center or call 847-448-8254.
 Planning a special event in 2025?
Groups and organizations that wish to hold special events in the City of Evanston will need to submit a Special Event Permit Application by Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.
All outdoor events planned on City property, such as a street or park, or those that significantly impact the City, are classified as special events.
Events are subject to final approval of the City's Special Events Committee and, in some cases, the City Council.
Be sure to secure your special event permit.
 Share your skills and teach classes
Our Parks & Recreation team invites individuals from diverse backgrounds to showcase their incredible talents. If you're a budding artist, fitness guru, cooking maestro, or tech wizard - we want you to share your unique talents with our vibrant community.
We welcome all creative proposals and ideas that are not listed. Let's transform our community spaces into lively hubs of learning and fun. Your passion could be the spark that ignites new hobbies and friendships.
Submit your program proposal today and bring your unique talents and skills to our community.
Accessibility for all
The City of Evanston is committed to promoting a citywide culture of accessibility and inclusivity. To request an accommodation for a program, service, or activity, please call 847-866-2919 to make an ADA service request or complete a request form online.
Facility Locations and Phone Numbers
Chandler-Newberger Community Center: 847-448-8252
Levy Senior Center: 847-448-8250
Robert Crown Community Center: 847-448-8258
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center: 847-448-8254
Ecology Center: 847-448-8256
South End Community Center: 847-859-7697
Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend,
The City of Evanston’s Parks and Recreation Team
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