Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation

Registration for all programs takes place at Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills or call (847) 960-7460. Check out our Web site at www.lith.org.

Special News

National Public Lands Day: Helping Hands for America's Lands. This is the nation's largest, hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands that Americans enjoy. Participants will meet from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, for this 15th annual event. The meeting place is at the fen at Barbara Key Park, 9191 Pyott Road.

Free events all afternoon include guided nature walks, collecting seeds, clearing invasive brush, nature quizzes with prize, displays and literature and free posters.

Worldwide Day of Play: The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a Worldwide Day of Play event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. This free annual celebration, sponsored by Nickelodeon, promotes active playtime for children. There will be fun, family-orientated activities planned around three categories - health/fitness, music, and sports/games. Bring the whole family out to Sunset Park to enjoy the day. Get some free fitness and nutrition tips, too.

Summer Sunset 5K Race results: On Aug. 29, the Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department hosted its annual Summer Sunset 5K race with a record-breaking 330 registered participants.

The overall female winner, with a race time of 19:24.3, was Cari Setzler of Wonder Lake. The overall male winner was Ryan Giuliano of Schaumburg, with a race time of 16:50.2. Congratulations to all our participants for crossing the finish line. Special thanks go to all those who volunteered their time and energy to make this another successful event. For a detailed list of all categories and race times, please check out the Web site at www.lith.org.

Punt, Pass & Kick results: On Sept. 6, the Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department hosted the annual Punt, Pass & Kick Competition. The winners from the local area included: Trey Coleman of Huntley, in the 8-9 boys category, with a score of 107; Andres Villalobos of Huntley, in the 10-11 boys category with a score of 133; Vincente Villalobos of Huntley, in the 12-13 boys category with a score of 182.75;

Becca Kendeigh of Cary in the 10-11 girls category with a score of 95.5; Sarah Kendeigh of Cary, in the 12-13 girls category with a score of 227.5.

These participants have qualified for the sectional competition in Rockford on Oct. 5. Congratulations and good luck.

Fall programs

Participants of all ages can take opportunity to get back to nature with the Crystal Lake Park District this fall season. During the months of September and October, The Nature Center is offering visitors the chance to discover the wonders of nature through a variety of programs and events, or even just a visit to the many interactive exhibits and displays that are available to drop-in visitors.

Located at 330 N. Main St., Crystal Lake, The Nature Center is a Crystal Lake Park District facility that operates year round. It is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; and noon to 4:30 p.m.; closed on Sunday. Traveling Naturalist, Community Programs, field trips and birthday parties can be booked by special arrangement. Call (815) 455-1763 for details.

For families with young children: Program highlights for the upcoming weeks include these opportunities for families with young children.

• Snakes Alive for ages 3 to 10, one day. Even if they give you the willies it's still hard not to like these slithery critters. Join the group at the Nature Center to learn all about snakes. What snakes do we have in Illinois and which come from distant lands? Which ones eat bugs and worms and which ones eat mice and rats? All of these questions will be answered while you get up close and personal with some of these coldblooded creatures. The program is from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 and 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29 for children ages 3 to 6. Program for ages 7 to 10 is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, both at the Nature Center, 330 N. Main St., Crystal Lake. Program fee is $14; resident discount fee is $9.

• Wanders at Wingate Hayride, for all ages with an adult. Enjoy a great fall tradition. Friends of the prairie gather to share their love of the prairie and its residents with anyone who wants to better understand and appreciate this precious place. No registration is required to attend. Program is from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. Meet at Lorraine Street entrance to the Nature Center.

NOTE: advance registration is required for all programs, unless otherwise noted. Register in person at the Crystal Lake Park District, One E. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake. Register online at www.crystallakeparks.org. For more information, call (815) 455-1763.

For youth

Characters of Character: Just like parents and teachers, The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department strives to offer creative ways to teach children about good values. This new and exciting class, Characters of Character taught by instructor Joni Downey, is an excellent example of blending fun with education. Each month, your child can learn about different characters - and the traits they represent - through stories, art and coloring activities, as well as discussion. Participants will earn a certificate of achievement representing the character trait Come meet Manners Monkey, who helps remind you to use good manners, from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26 in the Village Hall Community Room. Resident rate is $14, nonresident rate is $17.