Naperville organizations offer activities for Worldwide Day of Play

Get up, turn off your electronic devices and head out to Naperville Saturday, Sept. 21, for an action-packed day of play in honor of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play.

For the 10th straight year, Nickelodeon is urging kids to get up and get active when its television channels and websites go off the air and offline for one day. Local community organizations including the DuPage Children’s Museum, Naper Settlement and the Naperville Park District will celebrate the power of play and healthy living by offering activities and resources that day.

“We hope to inspire the Naperville community to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle during Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play,” said Bri Bromberek, marketing manager, DuPage Children’s Museum. “This year, we’re excited to work with our community partners, Naper Settlement and the Naperville Park District, to help spread the message of health and wellness to families in the Naperville area and surrounding communities.”

DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, will host a special day of play, incorporating arts and crafts activities and outdoor lawn games. Stop by the Creativity Studio from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to design and build kites, paper airplanes and bubble wands. Families then will be led outdoors to test and fly their creations. Children also will have the opportunity to build and race through a cardboard obstacle course. All activities are free with museum membership or admission. For information, contact dupagechildrensmuseum.org or (630) 637-8000.

Head over to Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., for an outdoor event celebrating Native American heritage. Beginning at 11 a.m., Naper Settlement will host a Harvest Pow Wow complete with dancing, cultural demonstrations, children’s games and crafts and special presentations. Pueblo musician and Native American flute player Robert Mirablo will make a special appearance at the event. For information, contact napersettlement.com or (630) 420-6010.

Celebrate the power of play and healthy living with the Naperville Park District by visiting one or more of their 71 playgrounds across Naperville that offer a variety of fun for kids of all ages. Head to Springbrook or Naperbrook Golf Course to hit a bucket of balls on the driving range or enjoy the practice facilities. Get a new perspective by taking a tour to the top of the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower, where on a clear day visitors can see the Chicago skyline. Or take a ride on a paddle boat at the Riverwalk Quarry in downtown Naperville.

For information on these and other park and recreation experiences, contact (630) 848-5000 or napervilleparks.org.