Lake in the Hills Parks & Rec notes

For all

Festival of Trees Food Drive: Each year the Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department collects non-perishable food and household items during the Festival of Trees event. This year, your donations are needed more than ever. Stop by the Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate, through Friday, Dec. 19, to view the beautifully decorated trees and "vote" for your favorite with a donation. All items collected will be donated to the Food Pantry of Lake in the Hills/Algonquin & Grafton Township Food Pantry, and will benefit the many families in need this holiday season.

For teens; adults

Seasonal job openings: Take advantage of your winter break and interview for a summer job.

The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department is now taking applications for seasonal, summer job openings including: camp counselor, beach cashier and lifeguards. For detailed job descriptions and application form, visit the Web site lith.org.

For youth

Winterpalooza: For ages 1-5. Winter blues got you down? Come sing, dance, and play at Kid Rock's Winterpalooza.

Join the Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, in the Multipurpose Room for fun with music, rhythm instruments, movement props and creative play based on a winter wonderland theme. All songs and musical activities are about playing in the snow, sledding, building a snowman, ice skating, and more. What a creative way to get out the house and enjoy winter while staying warm.

Resident fee is $10 and $5 for each additional child; $15 for nonresidents and $8 for each additional child.

Christmas Chemistry-Mad Science: Students ages 6 to 12 can join the Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department, along with a real Mad Scientists, to explore exciting chemistry experiments with winter in mind. Make a Forever Snowball, munch on some Endothermic Reindeer Ooze, learn how snowflakes are made, and much more. Class is held in the Village Hall Community Room from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22. Resident fee is $51, nonresident fee is $61.

Little Ladies Etiquette: For ages 4-7. It's never too early to learn skills that will last a lifetime. The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department and My Secret Garden has planned a party and you're invited. Meet new friends, play dress up in pretty party dresses, and enjoy a real tea party where we'll learn how to introduce ourselves and shake hands properly. We'll even make "Thank You" notes to take home. This party will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at My Secret Garden, 402 S. Main St., Algonquin.

Resident fee is $14; nonresident fee is $17.

Babysitter Training: For ages 11-16. Taking care of someone's child(ren) is a huge responsibility. Become a babysitter in demand by earning your American Red Cross Babysitter's Certification card. The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department, in cooperation with the Village of Algonquin, is offering a Babysitters Training program from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Algonquin Historic Village Hall, 2 S. Main St.

Participants will learn the roles and responsibilities of babysitting from America Red Cross instructors including how to select safe toys, change diapers and dress babies. Individual emergency response skills, first aid fundamentals, and accident prevention also are emphasized. Resident rate is $55; nonresident rate is $65. Fee includes workbook and take-home first aid kit. Participants, bring a sack lunch to class.