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| Circle Outings |
A good Circle holds regular meetings and attends Federation events. A GREAT Circle adds outings and special activities to their program. Add a few outing dates to your circle calendar when you first organize for the upcoming year. The actual activities can be decided later.
An outing can be as simple as a backyard picnic, a Free Swim at the YMCA, or as ambitious as a Circle Campout. Make your outings family events; invite Circle alumni or friends too! Occasionally, an outing might replace a regular circle meeting, but it is far better to make your outings separate, special events.
Ultimately, an outing is just something you do with your kids. If you have trouble getting tribe participation - just take your own kids, or go with one other family - then tell your Circle at the next meeting what they missed. And, outings can be spontaneous too. If you are planning to take your kids somewhere special, or if you unexpectedly discover something fun, think about asking other families from your Circle to join you.
Use these links and lists to find information on places you might want to visit.
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DU PAGE COUNTY
Forest preserves near Downers Grove offer abundant outdoor activities.
BIKING
The Downers Grove area has an extensive network of marked bicycle routes and trails through local parks or forest preserves. The nearby Prairie Path is a highlight in a system that includes several hundred miles of interconnected bicycle trails. (See also Hiking).
HIKING
Many of the same trails used for bicycling (see above) are also excellent for hiking. But if you want to avoid conflict with bicycles, try the hiking trails of the Morton Arboretum instead.
CAMPING
One of the best local spots for family camping is Blackwell Forest Preserve
BOATING, CANOEING, RIVER RAFTING/TUBING
(No information available at this time.)
FISHING
For basic information about fishing, call the Forest Preserve District of Du Page County at (630) 871-6401. The District also maintains a 24-hour Outdoor Report Hotline at (630) 871-6422 with current information on what lakes and baits are producing the trophy catches. Closer to home, there are many public ponds in our area -- most have enough fish to keep young anglers entertained.
TOBOGGANING
A total of fourteen slides are available at five locations (see below). Slide surfaces require 4 inches of snow and a constant temperature of 20 F. to maintain the ice film. Slides are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily when weather conditions permit. Use of personal toboggans is permitted following inspection. Toboggans can be rented at slides marked with asterisk (*).
SNOW TUBING
You can find winter snow tubing at Blackwell Forest Preserve
HORSEBACK RIDING [phone list]
Private stables commonly do not offer trail-rides and rentals, but a few phone calls should be all it takes to find stables that do.
FULLERSBURG WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
3609 Spring Rd Oak Brook, IL (630) 850-8110
LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE NATURE CENTER
9800 104th Street Willow Springs, IL 60480, (708) 839-6897
WILLOWBROOK WILDLIFE CENTER
525 S Park Blvd Glen Ellyn, IL (630) 942-6200
MORTON ARBORETUM
4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle IL 60532-1293, (630)-968-0074
BROOKFIELD ZOO
8400 31st St Brookfield, IL (708) 485-2200
FERMI LAB - buffalo herd and other prairie life
Kirk Road and Pine Street, Batavia IL (630) 840-3351
Three miles north of I-88/Farnsworth exit.
SHEDD AQUARIUM
1200 Lakeshore Drive Chicago IL, (312) 939-2438
GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY
300 N Central Park Ave Chicago, IL (312) 746-5100
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
2200 N Cannon Dr Chicago, IL (312) 742-2000
NEED MORE HELP?
Phone List
GRADE SCHOOL OR CHURCH CARNIVAL
Young kids love these things! Phone your school or church to learn what is planned.
CHUCK E. CHEESE pizza and arcade
7409 S Cass Ave Darien, IL (630) 964-0740
PAPA PASSERO'S - pizza and arcade
6326 S Cass Ave Westmont, IL (630) 963-7660
ENCHANTED CASTLE - arcade, laser tag, indoor miniature golf.
1103 S Main St Lombard, IL (630) 953-7860
MINIATURE GOLF
Phone list - there are a lot of courses.
But first try the nifty low-cost 18-hole course at McCollum Park.
68th and Main in Downers Grove (You won't be disappointed!)
BOWLING
Phone list - dozens to choose from!
ROLLER SKATING
Phone list - plenty of choices!
SEVEN BRIDGES ICE ARENA
6690 South Route 53, Woodridge IL 60517, (630) 271-4423
DOWNERS GROVE ICE ARENA
5501 Walnut Avenue, Downers Grove IL 60515, (630) 971-3780
WHIRLYBALL
800 E Roosevelt Rd Lombard, IL (630) 932-4800
BLACKBERRY FARM VILLAGE
100 S. Barnes Rd., Aurora, IL 60506, (630) 892-1550
SANTA'S VILLAGE
601 Dundee Ave Dundee, IL (847) 426-6751
KIDDIELAND
8400 W North Ave # 1 Melrose Park, IL (708) 343-8000
LAMBS FARM
I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville IL, (800) 525-2627
WILD WEST TOWN
8512 S. Union Rd. Union, IL 60180 (815) 923-2214
SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA
542 N Route 21 Gurnee, IL 60031, (847) 249-4636
NEED MORE HELP?
Phone list
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS
Plays and Musical Performances. Many are excellent! Call to see what is planned.
LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Village of Downers Grove hosts a summer festival, professional bicycle races, winter ice carving competition, and many other events.
To learn what other nearby communities have to offer, call their Parks Department or Chamber of Commerce.
SANDWICH FAIR - old-fashioned country fun in early September.
About 40 miles west of Downers Grove in Sandwich IL
CIRCUS
Watch your local entertainment listings.
DISNEY ON ICE
Watch your local entertainment listings.
CHILDREN'S THEATERS
Phone list
PUPPET SHOWS
Phone list
CONCERTS AND OTHER MUSICAL EVENTS
Watch your local entertainment listings. Visit Grant Park in the summer - free!
ELMHURST MODEL TRAIN CLUB
100 S. York Building, Elmhurst IL (630) 530-9584
OLD GRAUE MILL - and wooly mammoth skeleton at Fullersburg Woods!
1/4 mile north of Ogden Avenue, at the junction of York and Spring Roads
Oakbrook IL, (630) 655-2090
NAPER SETTLEMENT
523 South Webster Street, Naperville IL 60540, (630) 420-6010
FOX RIVER TROLLEY MUSEUM - outdoor train and trolley cars
On Illinois Route 31, three blocks south of State Street
South Elgin, IL (847) 697-4676
ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM
Union IL (Near Elgin) (815) 923-4000
CANTIGNY GARDENS AND WAR MEMORIAL
1 South 151 Winfield Rd. Wheaton IL 60187-6097, (630) 260-8161
GAR MILITARY AND VETERANS MUSEUM - Civil War memorial, Aurora-related military memorabilia.
23 E. Downer Place, Aurora IL (630) 897-7221
FABYAN VILLA MUSEUM - Historic home, Japanese gardens, Dutch windmill
Routes 31 and 25, Geneva IL 60134, (708) 232-4811
SCI-TECH - Children's interactive science museum
18 West Benton Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506, (630) 859-3434
LIZZADRO MUSEUM OF LAPIDARY ART - Rocks and stone artworks
220 Cottage Hill Ave. Elmhurst IL 60126, (708) 833-1616
CERNAN EARTH AND SPACE CENTER - at Trinton College
2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove IL 60171, (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3372
CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
700 East Grand Avenue at Navy Pier Chicago IL 60611-3428, (312) 527-1000
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
57th Street and Lakeshore Drive, Chicago IL 60637, (773) 684-1414
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
1400 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago IL (312) 922-9410
ADLER PLANETARIUM
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL, (312) 322-0304
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL 60603, (312) 443-3600
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
220 East Chicago Ave. Chicago IL, (312) 280 2660
VICTORY AIRCRAFT MUSEUM
28944 N Gilmer Rd Mundelein, IL 60060-9618, (847) 949-6626
FORT SHERIDAN MUSEUM - see the fort
Building 33, Fort Sheridan IL 60037
NEED MORE HELP?
Phone list
HIGH SCHOOL Football, Basketball, Wrestling, etc. (It's so easy!)
COLLEGIATE Gymnastics, Football, Basketball, etc. (Not very hard to find)
CHICAGO BEARS Football
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Hockey
CHICAGO BULLS Basketball
CHICAGO CUBS Baseball
CHICAGO FIRE Soccer
CHICAGO MOTOR SPEEDWAR Auto Racing
CHICAGO WHITE SOX Baseball
CHICAGO WOLVES Hockey
KANE COUNTY COUGARS Baseball
SCHAUMBURG FLYERS Baseball
POLO Naperville or Oak Brook - relatively inexpensive, neat to watch!
Take a commuter train ride
Stay overnight at an Air Force Base
Helicopter Rides
Watch skydivers
Go on a fossil hunt