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Cardinals Caravan Stops in Champaign Jan. 13

From The Editors — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:56:03 +0000

Like they do every January, members of the St. Louis Cardinals will visit their fans in Champaign-Urbana.

This year, they do so as World Series Champions.

Celebrate the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series victory -- and look ahead to 2012 -- at the Cardinals Caravan Jan. 13 in Champaign. photo by brianandjaclyn on flickr

Get autographs and pictures with a few select members of the Cardinals on Friday, Jan. 13 (yes, Friday the 13th!) at Round Barn Banquet Center in Champaign. Doors open at 11:00 a.m for the noon event, which is FREE. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Cardinals players scheduled to appear include: outfielder Jon Jay, infielder Daniel Descalso; pitcher Brandon Dickson; and minor leaguer Matt Adams. Former Cardinal players Chris Duncan and Tom Lawless as well as Cardinals radio voice John Rooney will be on hand to reminisce about the 2011 championship season as well as to look ahead toward 2012.

The event will include a question-and-answer session before fans are allowed to get in line for autographs and photos. Thanks to Connect FM 93.5/95.3, Champaign-Urbana’s radio home of the Cardinals, for this information.

Another date to write down on your calendar, Cardinals fans: the Cardinals World Series trophy will make appearances in Springfield, Decatur and Normal in February.

Springfield: 3-7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the U.S. Cellular store at 244 S. Dirksen Parkway.

Normal: 3-7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the U.S. Cellular store at 1700 Parkway Plaza

Decatur: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Feb. 25 at the U.S. Cellular store at Northgate Mall

Family Game Night: Forbidden Island, Pandemic

From The Editors — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:39:50 +0000

By Jeff Dougan

This week we’ll look at two games by the same designer and sometimes thought of as being sibling games. The overall gameplay is so similar that, once you know one of these games, learning the other is a matter of looking for the variations. The “little brother” game is Forbidden Island; its “big brother” is Pandemic, both designed by Matt Leacock. Both games are multiple-award winners, too.

The details:

Forbidden Island

Not in the Urbana Public Library collection
Plays 2-4
Publisher’s suggested ages: 10+ (It’s easily learned by younger players; see notes below.)
Purchasable at any of the locations previously recommended. Current suggested retail price $17.95.

Pandemic

In the Urbana Public Library collection
Plays 2-4
Publisher’s suggested ages: 10+
Purchasable at any of the locations previously recommended. Current suggested retail price $34.99.

Forbidden Island and Pandemic are both part of a genre of hobby games known as “cooperative games,” in which the players either all win together or all lose. A different way of phrasing this is that all the players are playing against the game, an effort that will require the players to work together.

As cooperative games, you’d naturally expect cooperation to be high on the list of skills these games can encourage, and it is. They also are excellent at helping to develop the skills of problem solving, logical/strategic thinking, and balancing risks and rewards.

Forbidden Island. Credit: AnnArbor.com, Mike Hulsebus

The “story” of Forbidden Island is that the players represent adventurers who are trying to salvage four treasures from an island before it sinks around them. During a turn, a player can take a limited number of actions, chosen from the following:

Move around the island
“Shore up” one nearby part of the island that is already beginning to sink
Give resources to another player in the same space, or
Trade in a matching set to recover one of the treasures.

To help them in this endeavor, each player will have a unique ability that makes it easier for them to perform one of the tasks above. For example, some players may be able to move in ways not accessible to the other players, or have an easier time moving cards to another player’s hand.

After a player has moved, the island continues to sink. At various points in the game, randomly determined as the treasure cards are drawn, the waters will begin to come onto the island faster and may wash away parts of the island that are already underwater. Should the players recover all four treasures, they then need to return to the helicopter landing site and use a particular card to escape the island. If, at any point during the game, it becomes impossible to recover one of the treasures, if the helicopter landing site is washed away, or if one of the players is on a washed away part of the island and can’t escape, all the players lose.

In Forbidden Island, a player’s cards are always on the table in front of them, so that all the players can discuss possible courses of action and what might happen. This really helps when trying to teach a new player, especially a younger new player, about how the game works and the need to work together. It can also allow a more experienced player to “prompt” somebody if it’s OK to use a card out of turn to help everybody else.

Pandemic. Credit: Boardgamegeek.com, DancerinDC

In Pandemic, the “story” of the game is trying to save the world from several simultaneous outbreaks of disease-causing viruses. The fundamental gameplay is similar, although the board is larger and therefore harder to move around, there are one or two additional options for how to spend one’s turn, and (most importantly) the cards a player holds are not placed face-up in front of them. Further, players are only allowed to talk about their cards in general terms; they could say that they could contribute to fighting the blue disease, but not that they have three blue cards, for example. When combined with rules for the diseases spreading on their own, it makes the game more challenging, and, therefore, not as suitable for playing with younger players.

Although both games have suggested ages from their publishers of 10 years and older, I’ve got direct experience that Forbidden Island is pretty easily learned by younger players, if not totally mastered. The Grasshopper really likes the game and can mostly run his own turns. (I’ll sometimes ask him why he did something or suggest that he take actions in a slightly different order.) Forbidden Island normally plays pretty easily in half an hour or so, and during the very hot last part of the summer, we would play at least twice a day and sometime as many as four times.

The gameplay in Pandemic is more strategic, and it’s my opinion that the Grasshopper isn’t ready to handle it yet. From when I’ve gotten to play Pandemic with other adults, it tends to clock in around an hour or an hour and 15 minutes.

Check it out

I mentioned in my first column, the Urbana Free Library has a monthly game event on the second Saturday of the month. This month’s is tomorrow, Sept. 10. They will block off the glassed-in area next to the new books from 2 to 6 p.m., with the entirety of the collection brought down along with whatever else people bring to play.

I’ll have my copy of Forbidden Island with me; the other games I’ve written about so far are already part of the library’s collection.

Almost everybody there is happy to help teach things to new players. Come join us!

Jeff Dougan is a scientist-turned-teacher-turned-full-time dad to the Grasshopper, 5, and the Munchkin, 15 months. A lifelong gamer, he’s always willing to teach a new game to anybody, and equally willing to learn a new game almost anytime.

Top Five: Ways to Be an Illini Fan and Not Break the Bank

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:30:31 +0000

Raise your hand if you’ll be wearing Orange and Blue this Friday. Don’t know what I’m talking about? It’s a Champaign-Urbana tradition to wear the colors of the University of Illinois on football Fridays. Thus, the 2011 football season begins.

We are certainly lucky to have the Illini in our backyard, and they provide some of the best entertainment in town. These days, in most cases, it’s extremely affordable entertainment to boot. We compiled a list similar to this one last year, but the landscape has changed to make it even easier for your family to be rabid Illini fans. So, without futher ado, our top five ways to be an Illini fan and not break the bank:

The Illini men's gymnastics team signs posters for young fans after a meet last winter. Gymnastics is one of the many sports at Illinois that does not charge admission for fans. Chambanamoms.com photo

Get out to a game or two or three — on the house! Entrance to most University of Illinois regular season sporting events is FREE, thanks to an initiative that began last year under former athletics director Ron Guenther. The exceptions are men’s and women’s basketball, football, and volleyball. There’s plenty to choose from — soccer, golf, gymnastics, baseball, softball, tennis, swimming, wrestling, and track and field/cross-country.

Sign up your kids for the Fighting Illini Kids Club. Membership is free to any child in the state of Illinois in the eighth grade or younger. Membership gives child members free access to two more sports — women’s basketball and volleyball — as well as other discount offers.
Want to take the family to one of the home football games this September? Buy a family four-pack for just $60 courtesy of County Market (single tickets are currently on sale for $50 a piece!). Get the info at illinifever.com

Attend homecoming festivities. Even if you aren’t going to the big football game (there are lots of other sporting events that weekend as well), you can still get into the spirit of homecoming. The parade is Friday, Oct. 1, starting at 6 p.m. It winds through Campustown and ends at the Quad. The pep rally on the Quad will feature appearances by head football coach Ron Zook and the football team and a fireworks finale.

Watch for other free special events throughout the year, including some that involve free food! Last year’s men’s basketball “midnight madness” program had free entry; this year’s plan has not been announced. We’ll do our best to point out special events as they happen.

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Please leave a comment!

Family Game Night: Carcassonne

From The Editors — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:10:51 +0000

By Jeff Dougan

At the Urbana Free Library’s adult reference desk you’ll find a handout that details the library’s game collection. Information includes terms of checkout, fines, and a list of the games currently in the collection.

For readers who aren’t familiar with hobby games but are interested in getting started, I’d like to introduce you to some of the games in the library’s collection, beginning with Carcassonne.

Carcassonne, available at local retailers or the Urbana Free Library, is a great game to start if you're interested in hobby games. Credit: Rio Grande Games

The details:

In the library’s collection
Plays 2-5 players as sold, can support more with expansions (sold separately)
Publisher’s suggested ages: 8+ (see notes below)
Purchasable at any of the locations previously recommended. Current suggested retail price $29.95.

Carcassonne is named after a city in southern France that is a real-life tourist attraction for its various Roman and medieval cities and abbeys. Carcassonne is a domino-like game in which the players build up the countryside while trying to control various features such as castles, roads and abbeys. It plays from 2-5 players as is, and can be played by itself or with any combination of expansion sets. Although the publisher suggests that it be played by ages 8 and up, they include a simplified version of the rules that I used to teach it to my son, the Grasshopper, last summer, and I know of several people who have taught their children as young as 6 to play with almost the full scoring rules. Playing with only the original game, it takes between 45 minutes and an hour to play; play time for a single game increases as you add expansion sets to the mix.

There are two reasons that parents have successfully taught young children to play this game, and they contribute to why I chose Carcassonne as the first game from the library collection to get an in-depth look. One reason is that, aside from one person needing to read the rules in order to teach it, there is no reading ability needed to play the game. The other is that, by using expansion sets (or not), you can make the game more or less challenging, and can also make it more directly competitive.

Credit: boardgamegeek user Mecandes

Because a player draws a random tile each turn, even fairly young kids still have a decent chance to win the game as long as a scoring system is used that’s age-appropriate. The Grasshopper likes the pictorial nature of the tiles, which helps determine legal plays (although it’s sometimes easy for him to accidentally try to match an all-grass side against a road). Even more, though, he likes playing with the wooden person-shaped pieces, nicknamed “meeples” in the gamer community.

Carcassonne has roughly a dozen expansion sets, all of which add tiles and new rules, and most of which add some kind of playing piece or another. Adding more tiles makes an individual game last longer, and the new rules can sometimes help add an element of long-term planning to a game that otherwise has a very one-turn-at-a-time nature. Some of the expansion sets include rules that make the game more directly competitive, where in the original game there’s less room for player-to-player aggression.

Carcassonne makes an excellent introduction to hobby games as a relatively inexpensive, kid-friendly game that doesn’t demand lots of in-game thinking. I encourage people to try it out, either at an open board gaming event or by taking the plunge and buying it.

Tumble Time: Go Head Over Heels For Gymnastics

From The Editors — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:37:37 +0000

By Daniele Frerichs

While my children are too young to participate in school sports programs, we as a family have found an alternative to get our girls active and involved at a young age, and that is gymnastics. We have discovered that enrolling our girls in gymnastics has taught them stretching and tumbling skills, trampoline skills, social skills, class routine, and has put some pure fun to their young lives.

Whether your children are younger or you have a school-age child looking for a sport to participate in, I encourage you to explore the possibilities in gymnastics.

Gymnastics has exercise AND funn! What more could you ask for? Credit: Flickr, msburrows

Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, grace and passion. If you were glued to your television during the last Summer Olympics watching the gymnastics events, you have a good idea of the sport. Primary events include floor (tumbling), bars, balance beam, vault, rings and pommel horse. Trampolines are also very common in gymnastics training.

I was a competitive gymnast growing up, and when I ran into my old coach one day, I knew I wanted my girls to start gymnastics as soon as they could. Some gyms start children as young at 15 months old, and most gyms continue programs through high-school age.

Despite common assumptions, gymnastics is not just for girls! Girls and boys of all ages are involved in gymnastics at all levels. Gymnastics training is also highly encouraged by many cheerleading programs in the area to improve tumbling skills.

There are several gyms in the Chambana area to consider if the sport of gymnastics interests you and your children. Check out the information and websites below for programs, class times, pricing, and even birthday parties. Be sure to ask about free trial class to try out the gym.

Little Gym of Champaign
1333 Savoy Plaza Lane, Suite 6, Savoy
(217) 352-5500

Champaign County YMCA
707 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign
359-YMCA

Irish’s Gymnastics
1714 E. Grove Ave., Rantoul
(217) 893-4085

I-Power School of Gymnastics
215 S. Staley Road, Champaign
(217) 359-3081

Top Star Training Center
1708 W. Hensley Road
(217) 378-5058

Head to Heel To Toe for Back-to-School Shoe Shopping

Wheels In Motion: Family-Friendly Bike Paths in C-U

From The Editors — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:55:29 +0000

By Daniele Frerichs

Summer is upon us and there is no better time to get out and enjoy all the beautiful bike paths in C-U that helped Urbana earn the title of “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. I would like to highlight a few of the bike paths, which are, in my opinion, kid friendly and ideal for a family ride.

To start, let’s take a ride through Urbana’s Meadowbrook Park (A). This park is located on Windsor in South Urbana and contains 3-plus miles of paved bike trails for your enjoyment. This park is centered on families and on any given day you will see kids of all ages out enjoying this paved bike path. After a leisurely ride around this picturesque park, take short break for a picnic lunch on the lawn and then head on west on Windsor. Windsor has bike lanes all the way down to First Street where you can turn and head down more paved bike lanes into the south of the Research Park at the University of Illinois (B).

Take a quick spin along the bike path through the Research Park and enjoy some the art and flowers along this brand new bike path as you this loop is just over a mile in length. Continue on from the south of Research Park (St. Mary’s Road) to Boulware trail just across Neil Street on Devonshire Drive. This will be approximately half of a mile of unmarked bike paths and you will have to cross a busy intersection of Neil Street and Fox Drive/St. Mary’s Road; please proceed with caution.

Follow the 1-mile Boulware Trail (C) and enjoy the ponds and wildlife you encounter along the way. Boulware Trail is located directly behind the business district on Fox Drive and is a paved path perfect for biking and is family-friendly. Boulware Trail itself ends after a mile but yet continues and becomes Mattis Park Trail as you cross Devonshire (D).

A continuous bike trail allows you will wind though this beautiful park in the heart of Champaign’s southern business district. This trail is approximately two miles in length if you wind about in the various trails in this park. I am sure kids are wearing down at this point and an ice cream break might be needed. Head back up Boulware Trail and continue up the sidewalks on Valley Road to a brief stop at Custard Cup for a little reward after the hard ride thus far.

After this brief break, we continue on to our final stretch by crossing the street to Hessel Park (E). Finish your bike tour by this 1-mile ride around Hessel Park and feel free to stop and play at the wonderful playground after all the riding is done! Even if you don’t ride this route described above, I encourage you to get out with your family this week and try out one of these bike paths at any of these beautiful parks in C-U.

It is bound to be as much fun for all us moms out there as it is for the kids! See a map of this course below and highlighted is the paved bike paths!

Credit: GoogleMaps

Daniele (Cox) Frerichs is the proud mother of two beautiful girls: Lyla, 3, and Isabella, 1. She and her husband, Bruce, have been married for five years. Frerichs grew up outside of Rantoul, has lived within a 30-miles radius of Chambana her entire life, and now calls Royal home. She was educated at and now works full time for the University of Illinois.

Fourth of July Fun: A Guide to Champaign-Urbana Metro Events

From The Editors — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:19:53 +0000

The Fourth of July is coming — and with it comes a ton of fun family-friendly events in and around Champaign-Urbana! This guide will include events including parades, craft days, festivals, fireworks and more. (For your convenience, we’ve made a fireworks-only guide too!)

You never know what's around the corner with the great line-ups in Champaign-Urbana area parades. Credit: Flickr, chefranden

June 25:

Build and Grow at Lowe’s: Independence Day is right around the corner! Your child can show their patriotism with a cool Waving Flag. Recommended for first through fifth graders. Free. Register ahead of time. Starts at 10 a.m.

Arcola: Get ready for the Pop the Top Festival in historic downtown Arcola. The festival will feature live entertainment, a car show on Oak Street, an antique tractor show on Locust Street, and craft and food booths. A bag toss tournament will be held at the corner of Main and Oak streets. The day will be concluded with fireworks in at Moore Park in the evening.

Ice Cream and Independence: Concert and fun at the Virginia Theater in Champaign. Start celebrating early, doors will open at 5 p.m. for the pre-event music and ice cream, and all ticket holders receive free ice cream courtesy of Marble Slab Creamery. The Concert Band of Central Illinois, conducted by Peter Griffin, will take the stage at 7 p.m. This year’s concert will highlight Stars and Stripes and Sousa! Tickets are available online or at the Virginia Theatre Box Office, 703 W. Park Ave, Champaign. Reserved seating: $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $8 for children under 12.

June 29:

Star-Spangled Craft: Head to the Champaign Public Library’s Douglass Branch at 3 p.m. and make a craft using red, white and blue stars to celebrate Independence Day. Geared towards school-age kids. Free.

June 30:

’1787: We the People’: This original and locally-written musical about the writing of the U.S. Constitution makes its world debut at the Virginia Theatre. Repeats every night from June 30-July 2 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on July 3. Tickets range from $10 to $18; family pack available for $45. Families are encouraged to attend.

July 1:

Tuscola Sparks in the Park: Tuscola’s festivities takes place July 1 and 2. Friday’s festivities include swimming, baseball, bands and inflatables. A parade kicks off at 5 p.m., going from the corner of Main Street and North Central Avenue and running north on Main, then through Ervin Park. Cap off the day’s events with fireworks at dusk.

Monticello Freedom Celebration: From July 1 through July 3, experience three days of fun. On Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in Downtown Monticello, check out Chow on the Town, Car Show, First Friday on the Square, Monticello Movie Night and more.

July 2:

Gussy Up Your Bike: Free! Head to the Urbana Free Library at 11 a.m. Get your bike ready for the Fourth of July with streamers and more when you come to Cherry Alley! In the case of rain or excessive heat, meet in the library’s Lewis Auditorium.

Tuscola Sparks in the Park: Tuscola’s festivities wind down July 2. Saturday’s festivities starts the day off with an American Legion pancake breakfast and 5K run/walk. The rest of the day includes mud-volleyball and basketball tournaments, a kiddie tractor pull, and lots more. Wrap up the day with a show from the Tuscola Community Band.

Rantoul: Join the Rantoul Chamber of Commerce for the “best post-race party ever” with the 5K Rockin The Runway 2nd Annual Firecracker Classic at the Rantoul National Aviation Center’s Frank Elliott Field. Before and after the race there will be inflatables for the kids, games, food, bands, auto-cross races, a car show, and, of course, fireworks. Admission is $5 per person for ages 14 and over, with runners, walkers and veterans receiving free admission.

Arthur’s Freedom Celebration: Estimates had the 2010 fireworks crowd for this small-town celebration at more than 30,000 spectators! But first, check out the parade, which steps off from the Mennonite Church Parking Lot on East Illinois St. at 1 p.m. Then head out to the fairgrounds for food stands and a baseball tournament. Be sure to check out Central Illinois Air from Mattoon offering the ever popular Helicopter rides on site beginning at approximately 4 p.m. with a cost of $ 20 per person. Finish the day with that fantastic display of pyrotechnics, one of the largest in central Illinois with some of the biggest shells available in the country.

Monticello Freedom Celebration: From July 1 through July 3, experience three days of fun. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Downtown Monticello, take part in the Taste of Monticello, Antique Tractor Show, Monticello Back in Time Games, vendors and displays. See live performances by The Brass Band of Central Illinois and II Ton Heavy Thing. And don’t forget the Celebration Parade at 2 p.m.

July 3:

Monticello Freedom Celebration: From July 1 through July 3, experience three days of fun. On Sunday, from noon to 11 p.m. at Lodge Park, look for vendors, games, bands and more. Come spend the day at the park leading up to the greatest fireworks around closing out the day!

July 4:

Champaign pools: Head to Sholem Aquatic Center (1- 8 p.m.) and Spalding Pool (1-6pm) on July 4 for festive games and activities throughout the day at both locations, including watermelon eating contest, cannonball contest and trivia games. Regular admission fees apply.

Champaign County Freedom Celebration: Parade and Fireworks! More details: Parade starts at 1:05 p.m near First and Kirby in Champaign, and continues east on Kirby/Florida and turns north on Lincoln. The evening program at Dodds Park, near Parkland College in Champaign, includes musical entertainment, food vendors and children’s activities both before and after the fireworks, which start around 9:20 p.m. Admission is FREE.

Freedom Fest, Lake of the Woods Park, Mahomet. Kids’ activities, food, live entertainment, fireworks at dusk. $1 per person, children 5 and under free. (Rain date is July 5.)

Bement: The Bement Community Council’s 4th of July Freedom Celebration’s theme is “Supporting the Military Community”. Parade at 2 p.m; games and vendors at Forest Preserve following parade until dusk; fireworks begin at dusk. Live DJ 9 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. at Forest Preserve park.

Clinton Fourth of July Celebration: Near Clinton High School/Junior High School, Clinton; fireworks at dusk; free.

Homer Fourth of July Celebration: Near Village Hall. Parade at 5:30 p.m.; The “carTunes” Community Summer Band and the “Singin’ in the CAR-us” Community Summer Chorus concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and Fireworks at dusk. Free.

Rantoul: The Chamber of Commerce will present a holiday parade at 10 a.m.; parade route will start at the corner of Maplewood Drive and U.S. 136.

Paxton Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration: Day of fun events (including children’s parade) at Pells Park with fireworks at dusk; free.

Send us your Fourth of July-related event – email editor (at) chambanamoms.com or use our contact page.

Read All About It: 2011 Summer Reading Programs

RachaelMcMillan — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:23:58 +0000

You want your kids to develop strong reading skills, even — perhaps especially — when they’re not in school.

Guess what? You have some good allies, mama.

Summer is when local libraries and bookstores really kick their efforts to get kids’ reading into high gear. In a fun twist, this year all area libraries are following the same theme for their summer reading programs: “A Midsummer Night’s Read.” Participation guidelines, program lengths and prizes vary.

Summer reading programs keep kids — and adults — on their toes.

Lest you feel left out, keep in mind that many summer reading programs have an adult category as well. All you have to do is read whatever you like; guilty pleasures and literary classics count equally.

Most library programs have already begun, but a few have yet to do their official kick-offs. So, if you’re like me and would love to be with a program from the get-go but are personally a bit behind the times, no worries. You can visit the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library on June 10 or the Tolono Public Library on June 11 in order to experience a fun kick-off event. Or, you can embrace being a little late to the party and participate in any of the other programs, already in progress.

Here’s a rundown of area summer reading programs:

Champaign Public Library

403-2030

Participants in the Champaign Public Library’s summer reading programs are divided into three categories: babies through fourth-grade graduates, fifth- through 12^th-grade students, and adults. A new feature of CPL’s program this year is online access. Through Aug. 15, participants can register for the programs online and print reading logs at home. Teens and adults can even review the books they’ve read on the library’s website. Different prizes are offered in the different groups for meeting reading goals.

Urbana Free Library

367-4057

The UFL has separate programs for pre-readers, readers and teens. Each group has to complete a certain number of books before winning a free one. Students who read more than the required amount are eligible for drawings for gift certificates donated from local businesses. (Also the case in many of the other libraries’ programs.) The program runs through Aug. 19 .

Rantoul Public Library

893-3955

Children from birth through 14 are invited to participate in the kids’ summer reading program, and those aged 15 and older can join the teen and adult program. Participants keep track of reading minutes on a log, and prizes are given when goals are met — small prizes for small goals, bigger rewards when larger goals are met. Yes, adults get prizes, too! The programs end July 31.

St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library

469-2159

Their reading programs for kids (preschool through fourth grade) and teens (fifth through 12th grade) began on June 6 and will end on July 16. Participants color in squares on a game board to indicate number of minutes read. For kids, prizes are available after levels are completed, and all groups get to enter a “grand prize” drawing when their game boards are completed.

Their summer reading program kick-off, a medieval-themed program, will happen on June 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Mahomet Public Library

586-2611

Students from preschool through fifth grade can participate in this program, which runs from June 7 through July 30. Packets of information and reading logs are available at the library’s brand-spanking new location. Check out their revamped website, which is also highly informative.

Tolono Public Library

485-5558

A program entitled “Serengeti Steve’s Reptile Experience” kicks off their summer reading program on June 11 at 1 p.m. Be sure to visit their excellent website for more information about this, and all of the library’s other resources, events, and programs.

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

Kids earn a free book when they read eight books. Download the reading journal to track the books and turn in the completed journal to get a free book.

Borders Summer Reading Program

Borders “Double-Dog Dares” your child to read this summer with this offer: by reading 10 books, your child can earn a free one. Kids aged 12 and under can participate.

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

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Staycation, Champaign-Urbana Style

RachaelMcMillan — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:12:33 +0000

Editor’s Note: Just in time for summer break, we’ve joined a group of mom-owned sites from across the country who have all written articles about the perfect staycation in their community. Tomorrow, we’ll post the entire list so if you’re going to one of those cities this summer — perhaps to visit friends or relatives — you can take advantage of their staycation wisdom.

By Rachael McMillan

A couple of general tips about making your staycation feel like the real deal: First, secure childcare for at least some of the time off so that you and your s/o, girlfriends, or own self can enjoy adults-only activities. To keep costs down, enlist the aid of grandparents or aunts/uncles, or let a friend watch your brood and promise to return the favor.

Also, consider getting a hotel room for at least one night, even if you’ll never cross city the limits during your time off. Every vacation should include some time when doing dishes and making beds just isn’t your concern.

The boats at Crystal Lake Park, Urbana. Chambanamoms.com photo

Some area hotels, such as Drury Inn and Hawthorn Suites, offer happy hour drinks/hot food in the evening (Hawthorn Suites does this on Wednesdays) and hot breakfast every morning. If you can get a great rate on the room, you’ll almost get back what you spend on the hotel in meals. Make sure your facility offers these perks and a pool, and you’re set.

Now, onto the plans. Although you may have to tweak this to fit your situaiton, let’s say your week off begins on a Saturday. My recommendation for day one: Get thee to the Market at the Square in Urbana for breakfast, to check out the fresh local bounty, and to chat with representatives of local non-profit organizations, many of which offer free treats and fun activities for kids.

While you’re there you can buy some of the freshest possible ingredients for your staycation meals, including grill fare from local faves Triple S Farms and Moore Family Farms. If you’re in need of good recipes for the fruits and veggies you’ll find at the market, this guide from epicurious.com will point you in the right direction.

You may want to cash in some of your kid-free time on Saturday afternoon to hit (mostly) complimentary tastings at local wineries/wine shops such as Alto Vineyards, Sleepy Creek Vineyards, The Corkscrew (they charge a small fee), Sun Singer, various Piccadilly stores, and Wines at the Pines. Be sure to pick up a special bottle or two to enjoy during your week of relaxation.

Before planning for the rest of the week, learn what special events will be going on during your break from work. Chambanamoms maintains a regularly-updated calendar of local happenings, many of which are free. Festivals.com is a good site for finding out what fairs or carnivals may be rolling into nearby towns during your staycation.

Once you’ve got a clearer picture of what will be going on during your time off, fill in the blanks with the choicest of cheap local activities, only some of which are listed below.

–Swimming, waterslide-ing, and/or floating in the lazy river at Sholem Aquatic Center in Champaign. Bad weather? No problem—enjoy the spectacular facilities at the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center instead.

–Hiking at scenic Allerton Park. Lovers of nature and art will find much to admire at this popular spot which integrates sculptures and architecture with woodland, prairie, meadows, and gardens.

–Grilling at chilling at area parks. My personal pick for the park with the best mix of adult and kid facilities is Clark Park in Champaign, where grown-ups can whack a few tennis balls back and forth while the kids play close by. Hessel Park also scores major points for its free water play area, which operates from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day during the summer. Meadowbrook Park in Urbana is also a favorite for its fanciful playground and walking path which winds around gorgeous restored prairie. Crystal Lake Park in Urbana offers a little something for everyone: boating, fishing, hiking, picnic areas, and the super-cool Anita Purves Nature Center.

–Bathing in the perpetually-warm waters of Clinton Lake Beach for a mere $1/person.

–Taking in the sites at any one of a number of excellent Central Illinois museums. Do your research; some are free always, offer free days, or have reciprocal membership programs.

–Animal watching at Prairie Farm in Champaign, which is free and available every afternoon in the summer beginning Memorial Day weekend and ending on Labor Day. At the farm, families can check out horses, cows, rabbits, goats, peacocks, and llamas. Special free programs allow families to explore the farm in greater detail.

–Free bowling for kids at Old Orchard Lanes in Savoy (sign up soon to take advantage of this offer). Buying a family pass for $24.95 will allow up to 4 adult family members to bowl alongside the kiddos until Sept. 13, 2011. Be sure to try the pizza while you’re there.

–Digging not-too-deeply into the wallet to treat your family to $1 kids’ movies at the Beverly Cinema or Savoy 16 Theater. Or, take in a recent release (which may be a more adult-friendly selection) for $3 at the historic Virginia Theatre in Champaign on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

–Picking your own fruits or veggies at local farms/orchards. This guide to area u-pick destinations should help you plan your family’s visit.

–Scoring some cheap eats/golfing/spa treatments. Two good sites for buying half-price gift certificates to local businesses are cusavings.com and cham.sagadeals.com.

Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate.

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Paradise for Preschoolers: Touch a Truck is May 18

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Mon, 16 May 2011 10:13:43 +0000

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

The Champaign Park District‘s Touch a Truck event, an annual highlight for toddlers and preschoolers all over Champaign County, is already upon us.

On Wednesday, May 18, a bevy of vehicles that children love will be in the circle drive by Sholem Pool. All the old favorites will be there, including a cement truck, a street sweeper, an ambulance, a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a side car, a Champaign Police Department squad car, a Champaign Fire Department truck, a MTD hybrid bus, a Raminator monster truck, a school bus, a NASCAR simulator from Worden Martin, and a flatbed from Reynold’s Towing.

Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to crawl around the vehicles, honk the horns, sit in the driver’s seats, run up and down the flatbed. The people who drive the vehicles on a regular basis will be on hand to answer questions and show the kids around.

“Little kids love to play with trucks and imitate driving the trucks and having the sound,” said Lisa Sprinkle, marketing coordinator for the Champaign Park District. “This is a way that their imaginations can come to life.”

In addition to the trucks, there will be free ice cream provided courtesy of Marble Slab Creamery in Savoy; inflatables with a transportation theme; and child-friendly music. Also, kids can get their “driver’s license” photo taken; they will be available for download from the Champaign Park District’s website later in the week.

This is the 11th year for the event, which attracts more than 1,000 children. Many daycares and preschools circle it on the calendar for an annual field trip.

“It’s a fun event for them because they can go and explore,” Sprinkle said. “They’re not being told not to touch something or they are being too loud. It’s their time to touch things.”

What: Touch a Truck
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 18
Where: Centennial Park, by the picnic shelter and Sholem Pool, Champaign
How much: FREE!
Appropriate for: 2- to 5-year-olds. Be advised that there is a lot of noise at this event.

(In case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled, and there is no rain date.)

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