NW Suburban family calendar

Events specifically for children or teens as well as those for, including classes, park and library programs, music, dances, family fitness events, battles of the bands. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.

Preschool fall openings: The Elk Grove Park District has openings in its 2 1/2 and 3-year-old fall classes, 225 W. Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove Village. For registration or information, (847) 364-7224 or elkgroveparks.org.

Queen of the Rosary preschool: Queen of the Rosary School, Elk Grove Village, is currently accepting registration for its 3- and 4-year-old preschool program. For information, to schedule a visit, or to register, call Claudia, (847) 437-3322.

Aug. 10

Parents Who Care open gym: 10:30-11:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, Hoffman Estates Park District Community Center, 1685 W. Higgins Road. Interactive play with balls, push toys, mats, hoops, more. $1.50 per child. (847) 604-4582.

Lapsit Storytime: 10-10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Babies, birth to 18 months, with their caregivers, can build language skills through songs, finger plays, rhymes and stories. Registration is required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Preschool Drop-In Storytime: 11-11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10 and Tuesday, Aug 11, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Ages 3-5 can enjoy a short film and some stories. Parents and siblings are not allowed in story room. For information call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Aug. 11

Wicked Reads For Teens: 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Teens in grades in 9-12 can pick a selection of books then join a discussion. To register, call (847) 438-3433 or visit eapl.org.

Aug. 12

Studio Art Fair: 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, The Studio, 1326 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect. Showcasing the artwork of students created in the classes offered at The studio, Mount Prospect Park District's center for visual arts. Refreshments, tours. For information, (847) 640-1000.

Aug. 13

Shiver Me Timbers: 1-1:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Activities and stories about pirates. Registration required; call (847) 459-4100, or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Preschool Craft: 10-10:45 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. For children 3-5 and their guardian. Fun and easy crafts will be available to make. To register, call (847) 459-4100, or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Aug. 14

Movies in the Park: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, Hoosier Grove Park, Streamwood. Free family movie, "Hotel for Dogs." streamwood.org.

Teen Gaming: 10-10:45 a.m. Friday, Aug 14, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Grades 6-12 can play video, board, and card games. To register, call (847) 459-4100, or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Aug. 19

Adventures program at the History Center: 1-3 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 19, Visitor Center, 781 Pearson St., Des Plaines. "United States Road Trip," visits the Northern Lights of Alaska. Create your own version of the colorful lights ween in the Alaskan skies by marbleizing paper and making it glow. For ages 5-12 with an adult. $1. (847) 391-539 or desplaineshistory.org.

Aug. 23

Walking or biking trip: 8 a. m. Sunday, Aug. 23, bus departs from Lake Park Clubhouse, Des Plaines. Walking or biking trip to Milwaukee's lakefront parks and attractions. Includes the Milwaukee Oak Leaf and Hank Aaron trails, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Urban Ecology Center, North Point Lighthouse, Mexican Festival in Festival Park. $22-$28. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Summer picnic: Beth Tikvah Congregation, 300 Hillcrest Blvd. in Hoffman Estates, will have its annual Summer Picnic from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. There is no charge to attend and there will be activities and games for all ages including volleyball, a dunk tank, bingo, sand art, a moonwalk and much more. Lunch and dessert is served beginning at noon. Come and meet the staff including the new Rabbi Marc Covitz; Cantorial Soloist, Ilana Axel.

Block party: Keith Coast, children's evangelist and family entertainer, is bringing his fun-filled variety program to Elk Grove Baptist Church at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, for its Back-to-School Block Party. Coast is the featured presenter at the morning worship service, will be followed by a community picnic with catered food and inflatable games for the family on its campus grounds. For information, contact Curt Hansen, lead pastor, at curt.hansen@att.net, (847) 593-8337, or visit www.elkgrovebaptistchurch.org. Elk Grove Baptist Church is located at 801 Beisner Road.

Aug. 24

BBQ picnic and Shabbat service: 6:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, Hilltop Road, Long Grove. BBQ picnic followed by a Kabbalat Shabbat Service Under the Stars at 7:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and table or blanket. $10 adults; $5 children 2-12; free under age 2; or $30 per family. register at (7947) 634-0777 before Monday, Aug. 24.

Aug. 30

Family Movie Night: St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will host a Family Movie Night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30. Refreshments included. Free. www.stphilip.info.

Ice cream social: St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, will host an ice cream social from 9:30-10 a.m. (between services) on Sunday, Aug. 30. Free. www.stphilip.info.

Sept. 1

Parents Day Out: Fall registration for the 2009/2010 Kingswood Parent's Day Out program is under way. Children must be 2 or 3 years of age by Sept. 1, 2009, to enroll. If space permits, children will be accepted during the school year as they reach the age of 2 and 3. Class time is from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Children attend either a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday class. Parents may enroll their child/children for one day per week. Class size is limited to 16 children. The first day of class starts the week of Tuesday, Sept. 1. The monthly tuition fee is as follows: Tuesday-$95, Wednesday-$100, Thursday-$95, Friday-$95. In addition, there is a $25 nonrefundable registration fee. For details, contact Barb Symonds, minister of children and family life at (847) 398-0770, ext., 16. Kingswood United Methodist Church is located at 401 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove.

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Education registration: Congregation Kneseth Israel is now taking registration for the new school year. Torah school for pre-K-high school, adult education classes and an award-winning youth program 6-12 are offered. The synagogue is at 330 Division St., Elgin. For information, contact the synagogue office, (847) 741-5656 or visit the Web site, www.ckielgin.org.

Help for preschool: A free or reduced tuition program for families with unemployed parents is being offered by Christ the King Lutheran Preschool, 100 W, Michigan Ave. in Palatine. A family with one unemployed parent will be offered half price tuition; if both parents are unemployed, the child will receive free tuition. This will remain in effect for as long as is necessary. This will allow the child a chance for fun and to be in a nurturing environment. It will allow the parents a chance to go on interviews, actively job search and some time to relax. Unemployment brings an extremely stressful environment for families, this will allow for break. The tuition relief is available for all preschool programs, including the afternoon KinderClub. In addition, free or reduced tuition is available to military families. Those deployed in the states will be offered half tuition rates; those deployed overseas, free. For more information, contact Valerie Schultz, director, at (847) 358-0230 or visit www.ByFaithAlone.org.

Tutor. com: Youth Services Department at the Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 N. Elm Street, Prospect Heights will have a new online service. Tutor.com connects to a real-time live tutor in an online classroom to work one-on-one on homework, studying, test prep, etc. Available daily from 2- 9 p. m. via the library's Web site phpl.info

Before and After School Care program: Weekdays, 6-8:30 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m.; nonschool days (except major holidays), 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Lutheran Church of the Cross, 2025 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Open to children ages 5 through 12. For details, call (847) 437-5176.

Preschool registration: Noah's Ark Christian Preschool and Kindergarten, 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington, is currently registering new students for the 2009-2010 school year. Classes are available for children ages 2-6. Noah's Ark is a ministry of Barrington United Methodist Church. Call (847) 844-3738 for more information.

Jewish youth programs: Beth Judea offers programs for third-graders through high school students, regardless of their Jewish affiliation. Kadinkers is the youngest youth group and is for students in third - fifth grades. It meets once a month on a Sunday after Sunday school. Yearly dues are $18. Kadima is the youth group for students in sixth - eighth grades. Kadima meets once or twice a month. Yearly dues are $35. United Synagogue Youth is the youth group for all high school students. This teen group meets on a weekly basis for an assortment of activities. Yearly dues are $40. For more details on these groups, contact Aaron at (847) 634-0777, ext. 114. Beth Judea is located on Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove.