Where you can celebrate Worldwide Day of Play
Families everywhere will be turning off their television sets and heading outdoors Saturday, Sept. 27, for the Worldwide Day of Play.
The event is an initiative of the Nickelodeon television network, which will go dark for the afternoon in an effort to fight childhood obesity by encouraging children to be more active.
"Getting them outdoors in nature helps develop all five senses fully," said Gina Tedesco, public relations manager for Morton Arboretum. "There's research that shows youngsters outdoors not only use and develop all those five senses, but learn self-control and have greater ability to pay attention in school."
Both the Morton Arboretum in Lisle and the Conservation Foundation in Naperville and Montgomery will offer activities to keep children busy in nature today, furthering a push both groups make year-round.
The Conservation Foundation is sponsoring activities from 1 to 3 p.m. at both McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville, and Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road, Montgomery.
Children can go on scavenger hunts, play old-time farm games, make mobiles from natural materials, look for insects and play with sand and water at toddler activity tables.
"The goal is they're learning and not even realizing it because they're having so much fun," said Laura Glaza, director of marketing communications.
Dickson-Murst farm will cater to preschool and elementary school children, while the 60-acre McDonald Farm will have events for preschool through middle school children.
Admission is $15 per family for members and $18 per family for nonmembers. Advance registration is requested, but walk-ins are welcome as space permits. To register, e-mail cthompson@theconservationfoundation.org or call (630) 428-4500, ext. 10.
Meanwhile, the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, will have children's activities throughout the day.
From 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., families will be able to play in the 4-acre Children's Garden, with opportunities for both structured and unstructured activities.
"The reason that's so important is they're in the process of making up games and playing with objects in the environment and they're able to exercise their creativity and use all of their senses in the environment," Tedesco said.
Today is also the first day of the arboretum's annual Fall Color Festival. Families can decorate pumpkins, walk the "scarecrow trail," wind their way through the Maze Garden and dine on taffy apples, chicken and roasted corn.
The grounds also feature 16 miles of hiking trails and nine miles of paved roads for bicycling.
Entry for nonmembers is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for ages 3 to 17 and free for kids younger than 3. Parking is free.
Day of Play
Morton Arboretum
What: Children's Garden, Maze Garden and Fall Color Festival activities
When: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today
Where: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle
Cost: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for ages 3 to 17
Info: (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org
Conservation Foundation
What: Scavenger hunts, farm games, crafts
When: 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville, and Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road, Montgomery
Cost: $15 per family for members, $18 per family for others
Info: (630) 428-4500, ext. 10, or cthompson@theconservationfoundation.org