Martens Center
EASTERN ILLINOIS FOODBANK | FREE!
All Ages
Eastern Illinois Foodbank strives to increase access to healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, to those in situations of food insecurity. Produce Pop-Up was developed to bring fresh, regionally-sourced produce directly to underserved communities to help fill the widening gap caused by grocery inflation and rising transportation costs. EIF’s Produce Pop-Up will be distributing at Martens Center. Please call the Martens Center for times and dates
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3973
CARLE MOBILE CLINIC
All Ages
The Carle Mobile Health Clinic brings affordable, non-urgent medical services to neighborhoods near you. Our 40-foot, wheelchair-friendly mobile medical clinic offers infants, children and adults full-service medical care to make sure families stay healthy. Practitioners have experience in pediatrics, family medicine, and women’s health and pregnancy. Services provided include: chronic condition management and education, treatment of acute illness, physicals, wellness care and assessments, school and sports physicals and immunizations, lab testing, and referrals and applications for social services.
Date: Every 4th Monday of the month
Time: 9a – 4p
Question: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN | NEW!
Ages 8-12
Meet with other girls and have fun while learning how to stay healthy. Participants will use concepts from the wellness wheel and explore a variety of unique activities that are geared towards health, wellness, and managing society/societal pressures.
- January 3 – March 28 | Tu | 4-5:30p | Deadline: December 27
- January 7 – March 25 | Sa | 1:30-3p | Deadline: December 30
Fee (R/NR): $80/$120
Location: Martens Center
Instructor Jacquelyn Monroe
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org
MONTHLY LEGO CLUB
1st-3rd & 4th-6th graders
Do you enjoy creating, building, and imagining with LEGO? Learn engineering and design skills through guided hands-on exploration. Create animals, buildings, simple machines, transportation, and build your own LEGO creations.
Date: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 26, May 24
Day: Wednesday
4th-6th Grade
Date: January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, May 10
Day: Wednesday
Time: 4:30-6p
Location: Martens Center
Fee (R/NR): $25/$37.50
Deadline: January 18
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3973
TECHNOLOGY FROM THE PAST
All ages with parent
Join Pat Cain of the Museum of the Grand Prairie to explore historic artifacts from our community’s past. During this hands-on program, participants of all ages will have the opportunity to get their hands on mysterious objects from the museum’s education collection and learn how various pieces of technology have evolved over time. This is NOT a drop off event.
Date: March 23
Day: Thursday
Time: 4:30-5:30p
Deadline: March 16
Fee (R/NR): FREE!, but registration is required
Location: Martens Center
Instructor: Pat Cain
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org
REMARKABLE REPTILES
All ages with parent
Join our friends from the Homer Lake Interpretive Center to meet some of our resident reptiles and learn about their adaptations to the local environment. Participants of all ages will get the chance to see live animals up close while learning about what makes them special. This is NOT a drop off event.
Date: February 23, April 13
Day: Thursday
Time: 4:30-5:30p
Deadline: February 16, April 6
Location: Martens Center
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3973
Food and Fun
FUN WITH FOOD: ADULT FOOD AND NUTRITION CLASS | NEW!
Ages 18+
Join the University of Illinois Extension Staff for a series of seven classes on a variety of Food and Nutrition topics. Each class will include a variety of healthy cooking demonstrations as well as some fun activities. All participants will be entered into a raffle for a prize of four Sholem Aquatic Center day passes.
Date: January 12 – February 23
Day: Thursday
Time: 1-2:30p
Deadline: January 8
Martens Members ONLY: FREE!, but registration is required
Location: Martens Center
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org
GROWN-UP AND ME DECORATING: VALENTINE EDITION | NEW!
Ages 5+; Adult & child(ren) must both register
Hunny Bunny Bakes will help you make a sweet valentine treat with your special person. Each child will get to decorate three cupcakes – two vanilla and one chocolate! We will provide step-by-step instructions, cupcakes, frosting, and sprinkles!
Date: February 12
Day: Sunday
Time: 1-2p
Deadline: February 5
Fee (R/NR): $20/$30
Instructor: Hunny Bunny Bakes
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3973
GROWN-UP AND ME DECORATING: SPRING EDITION | NEW!
Ages 5+; Adult & child(ren) must both register
Hop into decorating with Hunny Bunny Bakes. Each child will get to decorate six cookies! We will provide step-by-step instructions, cupcakes, frosting, and sprinkles!
Date: April 1
Day: Saturday
Time: 1-2p
Deadline: March 25
Fee (R/NR): $20/$30
Location: Martens Center
Instructor: Hunny Bunny Bakes
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org
S.T.E.A.M. Programs
ROCKET LAUNCHES
All Ages
The Central Illinois Aerospace Model Rocket Club schedules launches twice a month, generally on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays. Most of these are held at Dodds Park, through occasionally we will fly at other locations. If you have a model rocket, bring it and fly with us or just come out to watch. For further information call 217-359-8225 or go to www.ciarocketry.org.
Location: Dodds Park
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3901
C.U.A.S. FAMILY SKYWATCH
Ages 5+
Join members of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, Inc. on select Saturdays for an evening under the stars. See the stars and planets through the largest public telescope in East Central Illinois. All skywatch sessions are cancelled in the event of cloudy weather (visit cuas.org.).No registration required.
- March 25
- April 29
- May 27
Time: Sunset
Location: CUAS Observatory, 926 County Road 700E, Champaign
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3901
FULL S.T.EA.M. AHEAD
3rd – 7th Graders
Science. Technology. Engineering. Art. Mathematics. This is what makes up STEAM. Various science organizations from UIUC, in partnership with X-Time, are excited to introduce you to the wonderful world of STEAM and all that it entails. This is NOT a drop off event.
- February 16 | Deadline: February 9
- March 2 | Deadline: February 23
- March 16 | Deadline: March 9
- April 6 | Deadline: March 30
- April 20 | Deadline: April 13
Day: Thursday
Time: 4:30-6p
Fee: FREE, but registration is required for each session
Location: Martens Center
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3973
Safety & Childcare Education
THE BABY BUNCH
Ages 18+
Mothers bring your newborn and join this social network. Interact with other new moms and share your joys, concerns, and struggles this new change in life presents. Our instructor will guide you and provide topics of discussion. Feel comfortable in this supportive atmosphere and discover new friendships.
Date: January 19 – February 23
Deadline: January 12
Session 2
Date: March 23 – April 27
Deadline: March 16
Time: 10:00 – 11:30a
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Fee (R/NR): $55/$82.50
Instructor: Datia Rosenberg, Prenatal Educator & Birth Doula
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3901
PREPARING FOR BIRTH
Ages 18+
Explore and enjoy this special and life changing time in your life! Learn exercises, massage techniques and other comfort measures during pregnancy and labor. Based on the Lamaze philosophy of six healthy birth practices, you will learn to make informed decisions based on the latest scientific evidence. Focus on maintaining a healthy pregnancy, expectations during labor and empower yourself to give birth with confidence. Partners are not required but must register if participating.
Date: January 19 – February 23, 2023
Deadline: January 12
Session 2
Date: March 23 – April 27, 2023
Deadline: March 16
Time: 6:30-8p
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Fee (R/NR): $55/$82.50
Instructor: Datia Rosenberg, Prenatal Educator & Birth Doula
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3901
EXPRESS LAMAZE WORKSHOPS
Ages 18+
Are you pregnant and haven’t taken a prenatal education or birthing class? Are you running out of time or unable to commit to a full class? These workshops cover the six healthy birth practices and some comfort measures, plus a question and answer period. As a Lamaze certified childbirth educator and a birth Doula certified with DONA International, Datia Rosenberg discusses topics like: healthy pregnancy, nutrition and exercise, labor and symptoms, natural remedies for pain relief, comfort measures during labor, and more. Partners are not required but must register if participating.
Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023
Time: 10:30a-1p
Deadline: February 25
Session 2:
Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Time: 6:15p-8:45p
Deadline: March 2
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time: 10:30a-1p
Deadline: April 29
Session 4:
Date: Thursday, May 11, 2023
Time: 6:15p-8:45p
Deadline: May 4
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Fee (R/NR): $33/$49.50
Instructor: Datia Rosenberg, Prenatal Educator & Birth Doula
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3901
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BABYSITTING
Ages 11-15
Become the babysitter that kids beg their parents to have! This class will teach you the basics and give you the confidence to successfully take on any babysitting job. You will be trained by certified staff on skills to become a safe, fun, and nurturing sitter. Our program features basic first aid, safety, age-appropriate games, and discipline techniques.
The Champaign Park District is an accredited program site through Safe Sitter®, the only national, nonprofit organization exclusively devoted to baby-sitting. You must attend all sessions in order to complete the course and to be certified by Safe Sitter®.
Date: Mondays, February 27 – March 27
Time: 4-5:30p
Fee (R/NR): $55/$82.50
Min/Max: 4/8
Deadline: February 20
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Questions: michelle.horvat@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2376
HEARTSAVER FIRST AID, CPR/AED CLASSES BY VITAL EDUCATION & SUPPLY
Ages 9+
This course covers topics ranging from heart attacks and strokes to animal bites and allergic reactions. Also covered is CPR for the adult, child and infant victim, and AED use. A CPR certification card will be given after successful completion of class. In order to receive a refund, cancellation requests must be submitted at least two days prior to the class date.
Dates: January 21, February 18, March 18, April 15, May 20
Day: Saturday
Time: 9a-3p
Fee (R/NR): $78/$117
Deadline: January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3901
Languages
All Language in Action classes teach different concepts and can be taken independently of each other. You do not have to take the classes in order.
CENA Y CIENCIAS: SERVING UP SCIENCE ONE MEAL AT A TIME | NEW! | FREE!
Family with children ages Kindergarten – 5th grade
Grab your family and come learn about different sciences. This program is suitable for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Cena y Ciencias is a collaborative scientific outreach program in the bilingual community. Enjoy a free meal afterward. Everyone is welcome, but please note that this program is completely spoken in Spanish and is NOT a drop-off event.
- Microbial Diversity | February 6
- Aerospace Science | March 6
- Topic TBD | April 3
Day: Monday
Time: 5-7p
Fee: FREE
Location: Martens Center
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org
ZOOM SPANISH CLASSES FOR KIDS – LIVE
Ages 3-6 & 7-11
Join us right from your living room as we explore new cultures and learn the Spanish language via the interactive Zoom platform! Younger children will learn conversational Spanish through fun and interactive activities and music while older children will also learn some Spanish phonetics to begin reading and writing in Spanish. Taught live by a Language in Action, Inc. instructor. Zoom login information will be emailed to participants before the first class.
Ages 3-6
| Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-A | Jan 19 - Feb 23 | Thursday | 9:30a-10:15a | Jan 13 |
| I-B | Jan 19 - Feb 23 | Thursday | 5-5:45p | Jan 13 |
| II-A | Mar 2 - April 6 | Thursday | 9:30a-10:15a | Feb 24 |
| II-B | Mar 2 - April 6 | Thursday | 5-5:45p | Feb 24 |
| III-A | Apr 13 - May 18 | Thursday | 9:30a-10:15a | Apr 10 |
| III-B | Apr 13 - May 18 | Thursday | 5-5:45p | Apr 10 |
Ages 7-11
| Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-A | Jan 19 - Feb 23 | Thursday | 10:30-11:15a | Jan 13 |
| I-B | Jan 19 - Feb 23 | Thursday | 6:15p-7p | Jan 13 |
| II-A | Mar 2 - Apr 6 | Thursday | 10:30-11:15a | Feb 24 |
| II-B | Mar 2 - Apr 6 | Thursday | 6:15-7p | Feb 24 |
| III-A | Apr 13 - May 18 | Thursday | 10:30-11:15a | Apr 10 |
| III-B | Apr 13 - May 18 | Thursday | 6:15-7p | Apr 10 |
Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $89/$133.50
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
ZOOM SPANISH CLASSES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL & JR. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS – LIVE
6th – 8th graders
This class is a great supplement to middle school or junior high Spanish classes or may also be taken by students not enrolled in a school Spanish class. Students will learn Spanish grammar and communication skills that will give them a strong foundation for high school Spanish. Classes are taught live by a Language in Action, Inc. instructor. Zoom login information will be emailed to participants before the first class.
| Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Jan 17 - Feb 21 | Tuesday | 5:30-6:15p | Jan 13 |
| II | Feb 28 - Apr 4 | Tuesday | 5:30-6:15p | Feb 24 |
| III | Apr 11 - May 16 | Tuesday | 5:30-6:15p | Apr 7 |
Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $89/$133.50
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
ZOOM SPANISH CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS – LIVE
9th – 12th graders
This class is a great supplement to high school Spanish classes or may also be taken by students not enrolled in a high school Spanish class. High school students will cover basic grammar points and vocabulary and practice conversational skills. Classes taught live by a Language in Action, Inc. instructor. Zoom login information will be emailed to participants before the first class.
| Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Jan 17 - Feb 21 | Tuesday | 6:30-7:15p | Jan 13 |
| II | Feb 28 - Apr 4 | Tuesday | 6:30-7:15p | Feb 24 |
| III | Apr 11 - May 16 | Tuesday | 6:30-7:15p | Apr 7 |
Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $89/$133.50
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
ZOOM SPANISH FOR ADULTS – LIVE
Ages 18+
Have you ever wanted to learn a foreign language, but never had the opportunity? Now is the time! Stay connected and learn Spanish from the safety and comfort of your own home via the interactive Zoom platform! In this class you will learn conversational Spanish that you can immediately begin using. The class will be tailored to the needs of the students enrolled. Taught live by a Language in Action, Inc. instructor. Zoom login information will be emailed to participants before the first class.
| Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-A | Jan 17 - Feb 21 | Tuesday | 10-11a | Jan 13 |
| I-B | Jan 18 - Feb 22 | Wednesday | 6-7p | Jan 13 |
| II-A | Feb 28 - Apr 4 | Tuesday | 10-11a | Feb 24 |
| II-B | Mar 1 - Apr 5 | Wednesday | 6-7p | Feb 24 |
| III-A | Apr 11 - May 16 | Tuesday | 10-11a | Apr 7 |
| III-B | Apr 12 - May 17 | Wednesday | 6-7p | Apr 7 |
Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $89/$133.50
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
ZOOM FRENCH & ITALIAN CLASSES FOR KIDS & ADULTS – LIVE
Ages 7-11
Join us right from your living room as we explore new cultures and learn the French and Italian languages via the interactive Zoom platform! Taught live by a Language in Action, Inc. instructor. Zoom login information will be emailed to participants before the first class.
I Speak French
| Age | Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-11 | I | Jan 23 - Mar 6 | Monday | 5-5:45p | Jan 19 |
| 7-11 | II | Mar 13 - Apr 17 | Monday | 5-5:45p | Mar 9 |
| 7-11 | III | Apr 24 - June 5 | Monday | 5-5:45p | Apr 20 |
| 18+ | I | Jan 23 - Mar 6 | Monday | 6-7p | Jan 19 |
| 18+ | II | Mar 13 - Apr 17 | Monday | 6-7p | Mar 9 |
| 18+ | III | Apr 24 - June 5 | Monday | 9-7p | Apr 20 |
I Speak Italian
| Ages | Session | Date | Day | Time | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-11 | I | Jan 18 - Feb 22 | Wednesday | 5-5:45p | Jan 13 |
| 7-11 | II | Mar 1 - Apr 5 | Wednesday | 5-5:45p | Feb 24 |
| 7-11 | III | Apr 12 - May 17 | Wednesday | 5-5:45p | Apr 10 |
| 18+ | I | Jan 18 - Feb 22 | Wednesday | 6-7p | Jan 13 |
| 18+ | II | Mar 1 - Apr 5 | Wednesday | 6-7p | Feb 24 |
| 18+ | III | Apr 12 - May 17 | Wednesday | 6-7p | Apr 10 |
Location: Virtual
Fee (R/NR): $89/$133.50
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
