Naper Settlement makes plans to celebrate the egg
World Egg Day is no yolk at Naper Settlement.
The June 11 celebration of the egg is "one in a dozen" of themed events planned as part of the museum's Summer at the Settlement program with hopes of offering plenty of family-friendly activities to keep locals busy all summer long.
"We're having fun with history," said Nancy Smith, education manager at Naper Settlement. "There is fun history to so many things that are around us every day, and in this way we can kind of show their relevance to people."
Egg-citing activities for the day include an egg relay race, an egg drop and a group chicken dance led by junior volunteers in historical costumes.
At 1 p.m., the Spring Brook Nature Center will fry up some more fun by bringing a turtle, snake and tarantula to discuss other animals that lay eggs besides the proverbial chicken.
"We're trying to weave in more of that kind of interactive activity for people to come and enjoy during June, July and August, especially with school getting out and people looking for things to do in the area," Smith said.
Some other special celebrations at the museum this summer include National Doughnut Day June 5, National Lollipop Day July 20 and National S'mores Day Aug. 10.
One reason Smith scrambled World Egg Day in with these days is to have an opportunity to tell visitors about an interesting part of history in suburban Chicago.
"The roots of the community very much go back to farming," she said. "This gives us a chance to talk to the kids about what Midwest farms were about, what life was like at that time, what kind of farm animals you would have had."
Joanne Ivy, president of the American Egg Board, is egg-stra supportive of the museum's efforts to educate young people about the importance of eggs, even if she is a little confused about the day they chose to celebrate.
"World Egg Day involves all countries with a celebration of eggs on the second Friday of October," she said, followed by a laugh. "But if they want to celebrate it in June, I see no problem in why they can't. Any excuse to promote eggs and the value and goodness of eggs, I have no problem with."
World Egg Day was created by the International Egg Commission to "celebrate the value and goodness of eggs so consumers could learn more about the dietary value of eggs in their diet," Ivy explained.
"I think it is important that young people learn early on to want to enjoy eggs," she said.
Smith thinks so, too, and hopes Naper Settlement's World Egg Day and overall Summer in the Settlement project will be successful.
"Our message is that there is something going on at Naper Settlement all the time," she said. "We're hoping we're able to offer a nice menu of activities for families in the area - and grandparents and just all ages - so that there's multiple reasons to come and visit us."
<p class="factboxheadblack">World Egg Day celebration</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 11</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6.50 for ages 4 to 17, free for younger children</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.org</p>