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.

Creative Corners Preschool registration: Registration is in progress for the Des Plaines Park District Creative Corners Preschool 3-year and 4-5-year classes at the Administrative and Leisure Center, 2222 Birch Street. Call (847) 391-5700 or visit desplaineparks.org.

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. 17

Little Penguins: 6:30-7:30 Monday, August 17 at Recreation Park, 500 E. Minor St., Arlington Heights. Boys and Girls ages 2-8 can make a soft, 15 inch cuddly penguin. Fee is $37. To request a spot, call (847) 577-3040.

Fossils in our Backyard: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Learn to read stories told by fossils. Participants will have the opportunity to break open concretions and find their own fossils. Registration required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Parents Who Care open gym: 10:30-11:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, 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.

Aug. 18

Dance Project Dance Studio open house: 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1762 W. Algonquin Road, Hoffman Estates. Open house and free dance classes. Class include a preschool dance class at 5 p.m.; jazz class for ages 6-8 at 5:30 p.m.; preteen jazz class for ages 9-12 at 6 p.m.; and a teen jazz class at 6:45 p.m. Open to the public. (847) 991-3117.

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.

Digital Photography for kids: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 19, Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. Ages 8-12 can explore the museum grounds and learn the basics of photography. Bring a camera. $22 for Arlington Heights residents, $27 for nonresidents. Call (847) 577-3000.

Aug. 22

Kildeer Police Department open house: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, village hall/police headquarters, 21911 N. Quentin Road, Kildeer. Outdoor food, meet the police department and village staff, tour the new facility, special guests, child finger printing, see the police cars, tour an ambulance, meet the CERT team, more. For information, call officer Justin Rundall, (847) 438-6000, ext. 292 or trustee Barbara Stavropoulous, (847) 508-8514.

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: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, Beth Tikvah Congregation, 300 Hillcrest Blvd. Hoffman Estates. Annual Summer Picnic includes activities and games for all ages including volleyball, a dunk tank, bingo, sand art, a moonwalk, more. Lunch and dessert is served beginning at noon.

Block party: 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, Elk Grove Baptist Church, 801 Beisner Road, Elk Grove Village. Keith Coast, children's evangelist and family entertainer, brings his presents a fun-filled variety program. For information, contact Curt Hansen at curt.hansen@att.net, (847) 593-8337, or visit www.elkgrovebaptistchurch.org.

Best Place to Raise Kids Day: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, Farmers Market, Metra commuter parking lot, corner of Northwest Highway and Route 83, Mount Prospect. Village of Mount Prospect and the Mount Prospect Lions Club team up to celebrate the village's designation as the "Best Place in the U.S. to Raise Kids." Includes kiddie rides, games, storytime, visits from mascots, more. (847) 392-6000 or experiencemountprospect.org.

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. 27

Palatine Children's Chorus auditions: Tuesday, Aug. 27. The chorus will hold fall auditions for children from the Northwest suburbs, who will be at least 8 years old by Aug. 31. After a short audition, singers will be places in either the Treble Choir or the Intermezzo Choir, based on age and musical experience. For an appointment, call Carol, (847) 705-5123, ext. 237.

Aug. 29

D214 Community Education Festival: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, Forest view Education Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Free entertainment, raffles and refreshments for kids and families. Learn about the programs D214 Community Education offers. Free admission and parking. Enter at Door #1. For information, (847) 718-7700 or ce214.org.

Aug. 30

Family Movie Night: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview. Family Movie Night, refreshments included. Free. stphilip.info.

Ice cream social: 9:30-10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, St. Philip Lutheran Church, 1609 Pfingsten Road, Glenview. Free. stphilip.info.

Monster Truck Birthday Bash: Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Come celebrate the library's 35th birthday with monster trucks, semi trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, street sweepers, tractors, garbage trucks and more. Free and open to the public. Visit vapld.info or call (847) 634-3650.

Palatine Park District Feet Fest: 8:30 a.m. registration; 9:30 a.m. start Sunday, Aug. 30, Towne Square, Smith and Slade streets, Palatine. Sixth annual 3K family fun run/walk. $10-$15 in advance; $15-$20 race day. Download required registration form at palatineparks.org or pickup at the Community Center, 250 E. Wood St. or Birchwood Recreation Center, 435 W. Illinois Ave. Pre-race registration deadline is Saturday, Aug. 22. For information, (847) 991-0333.

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.