Fall Fun at Home and In The Parks!

Hello Clients, Families & Friends!

As the weather cools down, turn up your energy by enjoying some of these indoor and outdoor activities with your children! With these creative indoor play ideas and exciting fall events you’ll be sure to stay busy and entertained. After a long summer of the beach, pool, and water parks, your little ones will be rejuvenated by new excursions better suited for the cooling temperatures. Take a peek at what we’ve come up with, and start enjoying fall entertainment this weekend!

Indoor Activities for Cooler Weather:

Magical Leaves!
What You Need:
Fall leaves from outdoors
2 pieces of paper
Crayons

What You Do:
Go on a leaf hunt outside and gather two or three of your favorite.
Place the leaves on a piece of paper on a flat, hard surface.
Place another piece of paper on top.
Draw with Crayon over the leaves and watch the magical leaf appear!

Paper Bag Pumpkin!
What You Need:
Brown Paper Bag (Grocery bag)
Newspaper
Orange crayon or paint
Black crayon, marker, or paint
Green string, ribbon, or pipe cleaner

What You Do:
Stuff brown paper bag with newspaper half full (until it is round in shape)
Twist the rest of the bag into a stem.
Tie string, ribbon or pipe cleaner around base of stem
Paint or color bag orange
Once paint dries (or if using crayon, once you’re finished), draw a jack-o-lantern face on the bag!

The “I’m Thankful” Tree
What You Need:
Brown Construction Paper, or Brown Paper Bag
Multi-Colored Construction Paper
Scissors
Crayons
Tape or Glue

What You Do:
Draw a tree’s trunk and branches on brown paper
Cut out the tree and tape or glue it to a piece of paper (any color)
Use your child’s hands and trace a bunch his or her hands onto colored paper
Cut out each hand (they will act as leaves)
Ask your child(ren) what they are thankful for, and write an “I’m thankful” on each leaf.
Paste or tape the leaves to the tree and share in giving thanks!

Fall Collage!
What You Need:
Natural Fall Objects: Feathers, Pinecones, Pine Needles, Pumpkin Seeds, Leaves, Flowers
Glue
Paint
Paper

What You Do:
Mix a little bit of glue in with your paint
Use the natural objects you found to brush paint on the piece of paper
Notice how each object will leave different markings on the paper
Takes some of the smaller objects (needles/seeds/flowers) and leave them on the paper for a 3-D effect
Hang on your fridge or in your child’s room to enjoy all season!


Family-Friendly Fall Events in the Parks:

7th Annual County Fair
September 15, 2007
11am – 4pm
Garfield Park Conservatory
Admission: Free, activities are extra
Celebrate Fall Harvest in the city! World Music Festival musicians and local bands, pony rides, carnival, artists, and shopping in the Garfield Park Market Place. For more info call: 312.746.5100

Theatre-Hikes: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
September 22, 2007
1pm – 3pm
North Park Village Nature Center
Schedule Notes: Please call the Nature Center at (312) 744-5472 to register.
Cost: $6 for children; $10 for adults
This new dramatization of C.S. Lewis' classic, set in the land of Narnia, faithfully recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander from an old wardrobe into the exciting, never-to-be-forgotten Narnia. This story of love, faith, courage and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a true celebration of life.

Midnight Circus
September 29, 2007
Starts at 3:30pm
Welles Park
Schedule Notes: Limited seating--ticket info: http://www.friendsofwellesparkplaylot.com/.
Cost: $10 (age 2 & under = free)
Open-air performance of clowns, contortionists, acrobats, actors, and a dog! Proceeds will benefit the Welles Park Playlot Fund.

Halloween Activities
For dates and event times at a park in your area please visit: http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/events.results/object_id/79fca7d9-1b30-4f9f-ad61-cd55c5855d1e.cfm for a full October Schedule.
Halloween festivities include fun for the entire family with great pumpkin patches, haunted houses (and not so haunted houses), parties and much more. At the Chicago Park District's pumpkin patches, you can pick your personal favorite from a field filled with pumpkins of all sizes, and many of our pumpkin patches offer some of the following activities: pony rides, pumpkin decorating, petting zoos and hay rides. Food and refreshments will also be available at most sites. Activities are designed to appeal to all ages. Have a fun Halloween in the parks!

Garden Buddies Family Event
November 10, 2007
10am – 12pm
Kilbourn Park & Organic Greenhouse
Schedule Notes: Kilbourn Park is located at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave., just west of Milwaukee Ave., and Addison St. in Chicago.
Cost: free
A winter garden celebration event at Kilbourn Park! This indoor event will include winter-themed nature crafts; take home plantings, stories, games and demonstrations. Questions call Kirsten Akre at 773-685-3359 or kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistrict.com.


We hope these creative outlets will keep you and your little ones laughing and enjoying in each other. Happy Fall!

Sincerely,
The Research Team