Big smiles broke out on the faces of three participants in the Waukegan Park District’s Spring Break Adventures program Tuesday when they learned the location of their Wednesday field trip.
Emma Johnson, a third grader at the Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School in Waukegan, was sitting with two friends—Leo Cortez and John Bolonos–taking a break from competing on an obstacle course. They were talking about what they liked about the weeklong program.
“We take a lot of field trips,” Emma said. “We go to interesting places,” she added, referring to the journey to Round 1 Bowling & Arcade in Gurnee Monday and Bella’s Bouncies Tuesday.
Unaware of where they were going the next day, Emma, Leo — another Cooke third grader — and John — a fifth-grade student at St. Anastasia School—had little reaction to Wednesday’s sojourn to the Long Grove Confectionery.
Then, they were told, “It’s a candy factory,” and they were all smiles.
“Very cool,” Leo said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I hope we’re going to get to eat some.”
“That’s going to be great,” Emma added.
Leo, Emma and John were among the youngsters between 6 and 12 playing games, doing art projects, and taking afternoon field trips Monday through Friday from the Belvidere Recreation Center in Waukegan, keeping them busy during spring break.
“It’s a chance for them to be with friends, have fun and have a good spring break,” Jonathan Cochrane, a recreation specialist overseeing Spring Break Adventures, said.
An extension of the park district’s Before and After School Experience (B.A.S.E.) program during a school holiday, Cochrane said the youngsters can arrive as early as 7 a.m. and leave as late as 6 p.m. to accommodate parents’ work hours.
Though the main part of the organized program takes place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Cocharne said the children are busy throughout the day. The mornings are active games like the obstacle course, as well as arts and crafts. Each afternoon, there is a field trip.
For those arriving between 7 and 9 a.m., Cochrane said they are able to eat breakfast if they bring it. After 4 p.m., it is a “quiet time” for those who stay with more mellow activities.
After doing a craft project sitting at tables Tuesday, the group moved into another room to complete an obstacle course, which involved rolling backward on a small plastic skateboard, doing jumping jacks, pitching balls into a target, dancing through hoops, and using a hockey stick to put a soccer ball into a goal.
Emma and John said they liked the obstacle course, but as soccer players, they felt propelling a soccer ball with a hockey stick rather than their feet was an unusual experience.
“It was very unique,” Emma said. “I was not sure how it was going to be. It was fun.”
“It felt different,” John added.
After Wednesday’s field trip to Long Grove, Cochrane said the children will go bowling at Bertrand Bowling Lanes in Waukegan and swimming Friday at the park district’s Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center. He has not gone to Long Grove Confectionary either.
“It’s going to be fun and entertaining,” Cochrane said. “The kids will really enjoy it. They’ll see a lot of candy and hopefully have a sweet treat as well.”
Youngsters in the B.A.S.E. program return to school next week but will continue to spend early morning and or late afternoons at the Belvidere Recreation Center. When school ends in May, Jordan White, another recreation specialist, said they can maintain their schedule by enrolling in the park district’s Belvidere Explorers camp. Registration starts April 10.
White said the camp has a different theme each week with a variety of activities daily. It is in session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Parents can take their children to the recreation center as early as 7 a.m. for pre camp activities and retrieve them until 9 a.m. like they can during the school year.
