Enrichment

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

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.

Time: 4:30-5:30p
Location: Martens Center
Fee (R/NR): $30/$45
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3973

LEGO CLUB REGISTRATION >> 

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.

• May 27
• June 24
• July 22
• August 19

Time: Sunset
Location: CUAS Observatory, 926 County Road 700E, Champaign
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3901

CUAS Directions >> 

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.

• June 15 | Deadline June 8
• July 6 | Deadline: June 29
• July 20 | Deadline: July 13
• August 3 | Deadline: July 27
• August 17 | Deadline: August 10

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

Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Registration >> 

MAD SCIENTIST CLUB | NEW!

1st – 3rd Graders (in Fall 2023)

Find your inner Mad Scientist as we have fun with 3 different science topics.

• July 11 – 25 | Playing with Colors | Deadline: July 4
• August 1 – 15 | Inspirations from the Past | Deadline: July 25

Day: Tuesday
Time: 2-3p
Fee (R/NR): $45/$67.50
Location: Martens Center 
Questions: paige.duncan@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3843

MAD SCIENTIST REGISTRATION >> 

THE ART OF STEAM | NEW!

3rd-7th graders (in Fall 2023)

Science + Technology + Engineering + Art + Mathematics = Creativity! This essential component of innovation will help kids develop the critical thinking skills to think outside the box.

• July 8 – August 5 | Lights, Cameras, Take Action! | Deadline: June 24

Day: Saturday
Time: 10-11:30a
Fee (R/NR): $75/$112.50
Location: Martens Center 

THE ART OF STEAM REGISTRATION >> 

SCIENCE CLUB JR | NEW!

Ages 3-5 with parent

Join us as we explore cool science topics by reading a storybook and doing hands-on (and a tad bit messy) experimentation. Each class focuses on a different topic. This is NOT  a drop-off program.

• June 20 | Exploring Gravity: Egg Drop by Mini Grey | Deadline: June 13
• June 27 | Exploring Water & Dissolving: The Gingerbread Man by Eric Suben | Deadline: June 20
• July 11 | Chemistry Science: Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson and Will Hillenbrand | Deadline: June 27
• July 18 | Shadow Science: What Makes a Shadow? by Clyde Robert Bulla | Deadline: July 11
• July 25 | Magnet Science: Stuck by Oliver Jeffers | Deadline: July 18
• August 1 | Water Science: Water by Frank Asch | Deadline: 25
• August 8 | Strength & Material: The Three Little Pigs by Bernadette Watts | Deadline: August 1
• August 15 | Weather: Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema | Deadline: August 8
• August 22 | Science Skills: Observations with in the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming | Deadline: August 15
• August 29 | Science Skills: Counting and Measuring with Pizza at Sally’s by Monica Wellington | Deadline: August 22

Day: Tuesday
Time: 1-1:30p
Fee (R/NR): $15/$22.50
Location: Martens Center 

SCIENCE CLUB JR. REGISTRATION >> 

CURIOSITY FUELS THE IMAGINATION

All Ages

The Curiosity Cube® is a retrofitted shipping container that has been transformed into a mobile science lab. Inside the Curiosity Cube® visitors of all ages experience hands-on science experiments. In 2023, the Curiosity Cube® experiments will focus on contamination. We can’t wait to teach students about the various forms of contamination around us and how we can all contribute to protecting the planet. Visit thecuriositycube.com to learn more.

Date : Saturday, June 10
Time: 10-1p
Fee (R/NR): FREE
Location: Martens Center 
Questions: lynne.franco@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3971

NATIONAL URBAN BEEKEEPING DAY | NEW!

3rd-7th graders (in Fall 2023)

Come celebrate National Urban Beekeeping Day with us! Learn all about the relationship between beekeepers and honey bees and their vital role in our community. Children will be doing hands-on activities to explore the world of honey bees and why beekeepers are their best friends.

Date: July 19
Day: Wednesday
Time: 1-3p
Deadline: July 12
Fee (R/NR): $26/$39
Location: Martens Center

BEEKEEPING DAY REGISTRATION >> 

INTRODUCTION TO HIGH POWER ROCKETRY

All Ages

Have you been flying model rockets for a while and are now interested in flying some of the bigger ones? Here’s your opportunity to get started in this fun and exciting hobby. We will give a short presentation and answer any questions on what is involved in getting started in high power rocketry. This is open to all ages. Pre-registration is required.

Date: Tuesday, August 1
Time: 7p
Fee (R/NR): FREE, but registration is required
Deadline: July 25
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Instructor: Central Illinois Aerospace 

INTRO TO HIGH POWER ROCKETRY REGISTRATION >> 

STRUCTURALLY SOUND: AN INTRO TO ENGINEERING | NEW!

5th-8th graders (in Fall 2023)

In this interactive program, children will learn about engineering and how it is all around us. Participants will put their engineering skills to the test as they construct bridges and other sorts of inventions to see the importance of engineering in the construction of everyday structures.

August 2 | The World of Engineering
August 9 | Strong Structures
August 16 | Bridge Test
August 23 | Engineering in Medicine

Date: August 2 –  23
Day: Wednesday
Time: 4:30-6p
Deadline: July 18
Fee (R/NR): $50/$75
Location: Martens Center

STRUCTURALLY SOUND REGISTRATION >> 

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: June 17, July 15, August 19
Day: Saturday
Time: 9a-3p
Fee (R/NR): $78/$117 
Deadline: May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12
Location: Springer Cultural Center
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3901

CPR CLASS REGISTRATION >> 

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.

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

Ages 7-11

Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $46/$69
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573

SPANISH FOR KIDS REGISTRATION >> 

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.

No Class*: July 4
Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $66/$99
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573

MIDDLE/JR HIGH SPANISH REGISTRATION >> 

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.

Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $66/$99
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573

HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH REGISTRATION >> 

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.

No Class*: July 4
Location: Zoom
Fee (R/NR): $46/$69
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573

ADULT SPANISH REGISTRATION >> 

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

I Speak Italian 

Location: Virtual
Fee (R/NR): $46/$69
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc.
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573

FRENCH/ITALIAN REGISTRATION >> 

CREATIVE WRITING FOR KIDS ON ZOOM

Ages 7-11

Let the creative juices flow! In this fun and interactive class, kids will use their own natural talent of creativity and imagination to learn how to effectively develop and write their own stories. Each session covers different activities and topics. Zoom login information will be emailed to participants before each session.

Session I | June 21 – July 12 | 10:30-11:30a | Deadline: June 16
Session II | July 19 – August 9 | 10:30-11:30a | Deadline: July 13

Day: Wednesday
Fee (R/NR): $46/$69
Instructor: Language in Action, Inc

CREATIVE WRITING ON ZOOM REGISTRATION >>