At a time of growing concern about increased childhood stress and illness, people are again looking toward creative play as an essential activity for a healthy childhood. Yet open-ended, child-initiated play has largely disappeared from children’s lives. “Children don’t know how to play anymore,” is a comment frequently heard.
Join us for a conference entitled, “The […]
There is nothing quite like spending the afternoon with your child, or day campers, at a baseball game. Now imagine the surprise when they get the chance to parade around the outfield of US Cellular Field or play T-ball in Wrigley’s outfield or get to throw out the first pitch! If you have […]
On Saturday, Gary Balling, executive director of the Park District of Oak Park, and his dancing partner, Charity Luter, early childhood and seniors supervisor at the Park District, wowed two audiences of about 160, by performing at the Park District’s Annual Dance Recital held at Beye School. Balling agreed to do a number at […]
Morgan Selep, a third grader from Woodview Elementary School in Bolingbrook, decided to go to work with her dad, Mike Selep - Professional Services Director at IPRA, today as part of National Take Your Child to Work Day. A lot of schools and organizations encourage it, even the National Institutes of Health.
This is Morgan’s story of her day…
I started my […]
A survey conducted recently by the Office of Recreation & Park Resources at the University of Illinois showed that the top priority in day camp training programs is child protection and mandated reporting (72% say critically important) and learning First Aid and CPR (71%). Camper behavior management, team building and activity leadership also ranked […]
Next week at Parks Day at the Capitol, members of the Joint Editorial Committee will be meeting to set the 2008 editorial calendar for the Illinois Park and Recreation magazine. What ideas do you have for feature articles? Any pressing issues or topics that need coverage in the magazine? Are you a […]
The following is a great example of how partnership, programming and persistence can pay off in the fight against obesity. Thank you to the Oak Lawn Park District for sharing their success story with us.
In 2004 the Oak Lawn Park District began addressing the issue of obesity. To better serve the residents, the park […]
Registration is now open for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s Are You Ready for the Summer? workshop to be held on Tuesday, May 8 at the Park District of La Grange and on Thursday, May 10 at Illinois State University.
Who should attend?
All permanent, seasonal, full- and part-time staff who work directly or indirectly with […]
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Management along with the National Recreation and Park Association have announced the finalists for the 2007 Gold Medal Awards. Once again a number of agencies from Illinois have been selected for this prestigious award. Please help us congratulate each of the finalists:
Class I
Cleveland Metroparks, Ohio
Indianapolis Dept. […]
The National Recreation and Park Association is hosting a national summit April 17-19 at the Omni CNN Center in Atlanta to explore the role of parks and recreation services in advancing healthy lifestyles and livable communities for Americans. The summit will engage national, state and local leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors […]