Early Childhood

For information on openings for the current school year please contact Melanie Kahler at 217-819-3919.

Busy Bees Preschool

Ages 3-5 (by September 1, 2022)
Music, stories, games, creative play, arts & crafts, outdoor play, and math and reading readiness activities are provided by caring and experienced teachers. Three, four, and five year olds who are not attending full day kindergarten are eligible to enroll. Registration for the 2022-23 school year begins March 14, 2022.

Ages 4-5 
Date: 9/6/22-5/26/23
Day: Tu/Th/F
Time: 12:30-3:15p
Fee (R/NR): $100/$150 per month

This program requires a $35 non-refundable deposit per session. The remaining fee is due before class begins.

Location: Springer Cultural Center
Max: 20 per class
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

Busy Bees Preschool >>

Busy Bees Five-Day Preschool

Ages 4½ (by March 1, 2022) – 6 years

Music, stories, games, creative play, arts, crafts, outdoor play, and math and reading readiness activities are provided by caring and experienced teachers. Children ages 4½ to 6 years old missing the kindergarten cut-off date for elementary school or having had two years of preschool may enroll. Registration for the 2022-23 school year begins March 14.

This program requires a $35 non-refundable deposit per session. The remaining fee is due before class begins.

Date: 9/6/22-5/26/23
Day: M-F
Time: 8:30-11:30a
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Fee (R/NR): $175/$225 per month
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

Busy Bees Five-Day Preschool >>

Creative Play Time

Ages 3-5
This program will give children an opportunity in the afternoon to enjoy preschool activities such as arts and crafts, music and recreational activities. Registration for the 2022-23 school year begins March 14.

This program requires a $35 non-refundable deposit per session. The remaining fee is due before class begins.

Location: Springer Cultural Center
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

Creative Play Time >>

Preschool Pals | NEW!

Ages 3-5
Preschoolers will spend time with new friends in this structured playtime providing fun
indoor activities, music and more.

This program requires a $35 non-refundable deposit per session. The remaining fee is due before class begins.

Location: Springer Cultural Center
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

Preschool Pals >>

Art Smart Kids

Ages 3-5 not in Kindergarten

Activities include music, movement, creative dramatics, storytelling, crafts, and two & three dimensional art. Mid-session registration is taken based on space availability. Registration for the 2022-23 school year begins March 14.

This program requires a $35 non-refundable deposit per session. The remaining fee is due before class begins.

Location: Springer Cultural Center
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

Register Online >>

ABC’s and 123’s

Ages 2-4
It’s preschool 101! Each week, the class will focus on a specific theme such as safety, exercise, science, manners, the alphabet, numbers, and colors. The classes will center on small and large motor skills, sensory experiences, and socialization skills. Kids will have so much fun, they won’t even know they are learning! Parents may participate with their child.

• January 9 – February 27* | Deadline: January 1
• March 6 – April 14* | Deadline: February 27 
• April 24 – June 5* | Deadline: April 17

No Class*: January 16, February 20, March 13, May 29
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Time: 9:30-10:15a
Fee (R/NR): $45/$67.50.
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

REGISTRATION >>

WIGGLE, GIGGLE, CLIMB AND PLAY

Ages 2-4 with parent
Wiggle, Giggle, Climb & Play is a physical activity class for fun and learning. Creative movement, basic ball skills, musical games, and combination parent-tot exercises will be included. A variety of equipment will be available for parent-tot play after the organized activities in the preschool playscape.

• January 12 – February 9 | Deadline: January5
• February 16 – March 23* | Deadline: February 9
• March 30 – April 27 | Deadline: March 23

No Class*: March 16
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Time: 9:30-10:15a
Fee (R/NR): $40/$60
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

REGISTRATION >>

SHAKE AND MAKE AND CREATE

Ages 2-4 with parent
Join the fun with glue, paint, pasta, sponges, foam, pudding, beads, and more. Your child will paint at easels, play with play dough, gravel, sand, and shaving cream, and have lots of fun! Get as messy as you want! Gather together for story time at the end of class. Parents may participate with their child.

• January 10 – February 14 | Deadline: January 3
• February 21 – April 4* | Deadline: February 14
• April 11 – May 16 | Deadline: April 4

No Class*: March 14
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Time: 10-10:45a
Fee (R/NR): $45/$67.50
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

REGISTRATION >>

COOL EXPERIENCE/MENT

Ages 3-5
Your child will fall in love with science this winter with hands-on, winter-themed science experiments. They will enjoy creating magic with melting snow, making their own snow, and lots more.

Date: January 18
Day: Wednesday
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Time: 10-11a
Fee (R/NR): $15/$22.50
Deadline: January 11
Questions: melanie.kahler@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3919

REGISTRATION >>

Scholarships & Resource Services

Because some residents are unable to participate in recreation programs due to economic hardship, the Champaign Park District offers scholarships to reduce certain fees and charges. Youth Scholarship Program applicants are not guaranteed fund availability, program registration or choice of program location. Early applications are given priority. Need is the primary criterion upon which scholarship applicants are considered. Questions: 217-398-2550.

Please visit our registration page for the updated Scholarship Forms!

 
CPD Registration Page >>
 

If you would like to submit your completed scholarship application with the required documents by email, please send them to tom.gilbert@champaignparks.org.

Support our Youth Scholarship Program >>

Child Care Resource Service (CCRS)

Child Care Resource Service helps income-eligible parents who are working and/or going to school to pay for their child care. Eligibility is based on family size and parents’ income. Working families whose incomes are at or below 50% of the state median income level may be eligible. Processing the application can take up to 10 business days, once all the necessary information is received. Please pick up an application form from CCRS. CCRS approved families may register for summer youth programs by paying a $10 deposit per child/per session of the program. These deposits may be refunded at the end of the summer once all CCRS checks are received and there is a credit balance. If money is still owed on your account once CCRS checks have been applied, you will be responsible for the rest of the bill. Because the Park District does not receive payment from CCRS until one month after the service was provided, your deposit could be refunded as late as October.

Please Note: Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation is unable to accept CCRS payment due to changes in governmental regulations.

Questions: Child Care Resource Service (http://ccrs.illinois.edu/), 217-333-3252 or 1-800-325-5516