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.

Aug. 3

Parents Who Care open gym: 10:30-11:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 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.

Lifeguarding Certification course: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 7; South Barrington Community Center, 3 Tennis Club Lane, South Barrington. Ages 15 and up will prepare to become a lifeguard at this American Red Cross aquatic facility. Upon completion of the 40 hours, the student will hold a current CPR for the Professional rescuer card, a Life Guard/First Aid card and an AED card. $225-$245. (847) 381-7515 or sbpd.net.

Vacation Bible school: Monday, Aug, 3-Friday, Aug. 7, Faith Lutheran Church, 431 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Multigenerational Vacation Bible School. (847) 253-4839 to register.

Vacation Bible school: 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 7, St. Paul UCC, Community Church of Barrington and Salem UMC, 401 E. Main St. Barrington. Children ages 4 to fifth grade. (847) 381-0460. stpauluccbarrington.org.

Vacation Bible School: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 7, the Cardinal Drive Church of Christ, 2300 Cardinal Drive, Rolling Meadows. Age 3 through grade six. (847) 259-2995 or e-mail office@cdfamily.org.

Vacation Bible school: 6-8 p.m. Monday Aug. 3-Thursday, Aug. 6, South Church, Mount Prospect. Preschool through fifth grade. (847) 253-0501 or thesouthchurch.com

Anime Club: 4-6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Grades 6-12 can watch a new anime movie or series and enjoy Japanese snacks. No registration required. (847) 459-4100.

Camp Pioneer: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 14, Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St., Des Plaines. For ages 3-5. $96-$120. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Teen Nature Discovery Day camp: Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 7, Bartlett Park District. Ages 13-16. $170. (630) 540-4800 or bartlettparks.org.

Camp Chickagami: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 7, Lake Park, Des Plaines. For ages 6-12. $108-$135. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Arndt Park Adventure Camp: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3-Friday, Aug. 7, White Street and Howard Ave., Des Plaines. For ages 6-12. $63-$78. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Miniature Golf at the Palatine Library: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 700 N. North Court, Palatine. All ages welcome to drop-in and enjoy a round or two of miniature golf. For information, (847) 358-5881 or palatinelibrary.org.

Aug. 4

Hoffman Estates National Night Out: Tuesday, Aug. 4. To promote neighborhood spirit and safer streets, host a cookout, have a parade, organize a flashlight walk, more. Register online at nationalnightout.org/nno. Registration free. Call officer Tony Caceres at (847) 781-2880.

Aug. 5

Meet Matt Wilhelm: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, Community Center, 250 E. Wood St., Palatine. X-Games medalist Matt Wilhelm performs bike stunts, while educating children about bicycle safety, goal setting and becoming a champion. $5. (847) 202-5222 or palatineparks.org./box office.

Adventures program at the History Center: 1-3 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 5, Visitor Center, 781 Pearson St., Des Plaines. "United States Road Trip," visits the tornado tubes of Oklahoma. Get up close with a tornado by making one in a plastic tube. For ages 5-12 with an adult. $1. (847) 391-539 or desplaineshistory.org.

Toddler storytime: 10-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Thursday, Aug. 6, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Shoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Storytime for children ages 18-36 months and their caregivers. Share stories, finger plays and songs to encourage listening and motor skill development. To register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Aug. 6

Wild Reads For Teens: 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Teens in grades 6-8 are invited to drop by to pick from a selection of books and join a discussion. To register, call (847) 438-3433 or visit eapl.org.

Aug. 7

Flick and float Night: 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, Bock Pool, 1223 W. Sharon Lane, Schaumburg. Games, music, prizes, more. $15. Register at (847) 490-7036 or parkfun.com

Door hanger craft: Thursday, Aug. 6: 2-5 p.m. Palatine Public Library District main library, 700 N. North Court; 1-5 p.m. Freeman Road Branch, 1262 Freeman Road, Hoffman Estates or at the Palatine Opportunity Center, 1585 Rand Road. Drop in to make an animal-themed "Keep Out" sign for your room. (847) 358-5881 or palatinelibrary.org.

Summer Hula Dancing: 6:30-7:30 Friday Aug. 7, Recreation Park, 500 E. Miner St., Arlington Heights. Learn basic Hawaiian words and dance. Girls ages 5-12. Participants will receive a traditional grass skirt and lei. Fee is $34. To reserve a spot, call (847) 577-3040.

Aug. 8

Pig roast: The Evangelical Free Church of Des Plaines will hold its 8th annual Community Pig Roast and Outdoor Concert from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Food will be served at 4 p.m. Headlining will be Cruise Machine. Other activities include dunk tank, drawings for prizes, children's games with prizes, a moon walk, cake walk and motorcycle show with trophies for the winners. Everything at the event is free. The church is 55 W. Golf Road, Des Plaines. (847) 635-7776.

Aug. 9

Go Bananas: Families are welcome on a trip to Go Bananas, an indoor amusement park, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, planned by St. Philip Lutheran, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview. Meet at the park, 1227 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. First 12 to RSVP are free. (847) 998-1946.

Aug. 10

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.

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. 14

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

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.

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.

Ongoing

Preschool fall openings: The Elk Grove Park District has openings in its 21/2 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.

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.