Your Hive of Park District Info!

Herps, ticks and a forest discovery class

Opportunities to explore nature aren’t limited to the young at the St. Charles Park District. For more than a decade the park district has collaborated with the Kane County Forest Preserve and neighboring park districts to provide educational opportunities that are interesting and valuable for adults, whether they’re seeking to become a certified naturalist or

Park Play Dates Bring Extra Fun to Neighborhoods

Pop over to a park and explore a new-to-you playground as the St. Charles Park District invites everyone to check out Park Play Dates. Saturdays are always more fun when there’s swings, slides and monkey bars and the St. Charles Park District staff is hosting Park Play Dates on select dates to encourage families to

Learn and Grow with Primrose Farm

Summer at Primrose Farm is full of exciting opportunities to learn, grow and have plenty of old-fashioned fun. New and returning programs for both kids and adults will take place on the farm, a facility of the St. Charles Park District, all season long. Black Feather Painting for those age 5 and older is a

Pickle Paradise Participants in the Color Run

Brace for it St. Charles, this is a really BIG DILL!

Pickle Paradise, a dill-cious party in Pottawatomie Park, returns for the evening of Friday, June 20 as the St. Charles Park District invites all ages to celebrate the city’s notoriety as the Pickle Capital of the World. The St. Charles Park District hosted the inaugural Pickle Paradise in 2024 and the community response was fantastic

Celebrating 50 Years of Parks

As stewards of the land maintaining the parks, the team at the St. Charles Park District makes sure the grass is cut and playground equipment is in working order, as the echoes of children laugh and play while couples stroll past trees that mark the passing of time. This year the park district marks its

Summer Nights Just Got Better

New Primrose Farm Offerings Warm summer evenings on the farm may conjure images of St. Charles’ past, but this idyllic scene is very much available to modern-day community members. Primrose Farm, a facility of the St. Charles Park District, is hosting its first-ever Summer Night Series, with three opportunities for all to enjoy some of

New Summer Nature Programs at Hickory Knolls

Talk to the turtles, saunter past the snakes and breathe in the beauty of nature this summer with time at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles. Part of the St. Charles Park District, the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center features its popular resident animal ambassadors, beautiful outdoor trails and a nature play area, in

Spend Your Summer Outside

Summer is nearly here, and so is a full roster of nature camps from the St. Charles Park District. Camps explore a number of fun and educational themes, from the fascinating world of plants to outdoor survival skills. Most camps organize participants into three different age groups—Pathfinders are those entering first and second grades and

Mt. St. Mary Park Arboretum Honored

In addition to being a beautiful space where community members gather, walk and play, Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles is also officially an arboretum. The park enjoys Level II accreditation from ArbNet, an interactive, collaborative, international community of arboreta and tree-focused professionals. The Morton Arboretum in Lisle is the organization behind ArbNet, which

Lincoln Park Comes Alive with Sounds of Music

The songbird’s evening serenade accompanied by rustling leaves adds a new element to the band’s performance while the first lightening bugs emerge out of the tall grasses. There’s no doubt that outdoor concerts on a summer evening have a magical quality. Whether the band is playing Rock or Pop, nature can’t help but play along

Pottawatomie Park is the Place to Play

Nestled along the Fox River, Pottawatomie Park in downtown St. Charles offers something for everyone! Visitors may choose a relaxing experience with a stroll through the native plant garden or an active adventure playing minigolf, golf, tennis, pickleball, swimming, boating and more. Young visitors often head straight for one of two playgrounds in the park,

Swim Lessons Build Skills, Promote Confidence

Enrolling your child in a swim lesson isn’t just about fun, it’s also about developing an incredibly important skill set. “Swimming is a fundamental life skill that everyone should learn at an early age,” said Cayla Greenfield, who manages aquatic programs for the St. Charles Park District. “It not only ensures safety around water, but

St. Charles Nature Restoration Project Underway

The St. Charles Park District is restoring prairie habitat at Hickory Knolls Natural Area, located along Campton Hills Road on the west side of St. Charles. This project, partially funded by the ComEd Green Regions Grant, supports conservation efforts in Northern Illinois. Awarded in 2024, the District’s grant proposal, “Connecting, Preserving, and Enhancing Prairie Ecosystems,”

Pick up a sword, discover new challenge

From a dashing scene in a movie or an eagerness to hold a sword, fencing is a sport that calls to many. For those craving an opportunity to pick up a sword the St. Charles Park District has answered the call for the last 15 years, hosting fencing classes for first-time through intermediate students lead

Calling All Green Thumbs

Garden Plots Available for Rent As winter recedes and the air warms with the promise of spring, thoughts turn to sun-ripened tomatoes, zesty peppers, and cucumbers right off the vine. The growing season is nearly here, and the St. Charles Park District can help turn thoughts into actions by way of its garden plot program.

Prescribed Burns for Land Management

Even with outdoor temps hovering in single digits, there’s no staying indoors for Ryan Solomon, ecological restoration supervisor for the St. Charles Park District. Year-round Solomon and his crew tend to the park district’s 400+ acres of natural areas, including savannahs, wetlands and woodlands. And before the spring thaw and first buds push through the

No Bored Excuses for Local Teens

Spring is a time of renewal when the earth awakens and bursts with new life. And now is the perfect time for tweens and teens to explore new interests at the St. Charles Park District. With classes ranging from theatre production and all sorts of fitness opportunities to casting a new interest in fishing or

1…2…3…Count the Birds You See

Spy a red cardinal in the bare branches of a tree and count the sparrows huddled for warmth when the St. Charles Park District participates in the Great Backyard Bird Count this February. The St. Charles Park District, in partnership with the Kane County Audubon will be participating in the annual multi-day Bird Count, explained

IPRA Young Professional of the Year Award Recipient

Employee Receives State Recognition

Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Taylor Krawczyk of the St. Charles Park District was recently honored with the Illinois Park & Recreation Association’s (IPRA) Young Professional of the Year Award for her commitment and excellent service to parks and recreation. Ms. Krawczyk was recognized during the annual Soaring to New Height Conference, held at the Hyatt

Build strength, friendships at fitness classes

Flexibility, friendships and of course fun are the three staples when it comes to fitness classes offered at the St. Charles Park District. Several fitness classes in addition to monthly programs featuring educational topics, social opportunities and day trips are planned each season for those age 50 and older. One of the most popular fitness

Monarch Butterfly Taking a Sip at Hickory Knolls Natural Area

Insects’ Remarkable Journey Spotlighted in Monarchs & Mimosas

Monarch butterflies are graceful, seemingly fragile creatures. But these orange and black beauties are capable of an astonishing trek, traveling from eastern North America all the way to the mountains of Mexico in an annual mass migration. Their epic journey will be spotlighted during the St. Charles Park District’s upcoming program, Monarchs & Mimosas. Taking

Four Seats Up for Election for Park District Commissioners

Four (four-year term) positions will be up for election to the office of Commissioner of the St. Charles Park District Board on April 1, 2025. Potential candidates may pick up election information packets beginning August 14, 2024 at Baker Community Center, located at 101 South Second Street, St. Charles, Illinois during normal business hours: Monday

Teen Center Offers Connections

Imagine a rec room where teens can laugh, play ping pong and meet up with friends. There’s always someone to chat with, a comfy chair and it’s hard to be bored with games and activities around. In St. Charles, this is the STC Underground. St. Charles Park District supports the goal of having a place

Swing into Pottawatomie Golf Course for Senior Golf Days

A rolling course dotted with trees and complete with open fairways awaits players at Pottawatomie Golf Course. Dating back to 1939, the St. Charles Park District facility sits along the banks of the mighty Fox River and provides golfers with nine challenging holes. Those 60 and older who want to play through are invited to

Step Aboard for New Riverboat Events

It’s a joy to cruise the Fox River on a sunny summer day, taking in the sights on the water and along its banks, but soaking up the passing scenery from aboard an old-fashioned riverboat brings the experience to a whole new level. This season, the St. Charles Park District is unveiling several brand-new events

Summer Fun Hits the Right Notes

With live music, movies in the park and playground playdates there is always something fun and free to enjoy with the St. Charles Park District. Keep those extra pop-up chairs and picnic blankets in the car and mark the calendars for 7 p.m. Thursday nights at Lincoln Park for the St. Charles Park District’s Concerts

Seeking Before the Bell Staff

For a chance to work with a great team and start each day with a smile, join the before and after school care teams at the St. Charles Park District. St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 has implemented changes and the school day for elementary students will begin at 9:05 a.m. St. Charles Park

Aiming For Fun

Archery classes draw interest from all ages Draw back the bow, keep an eye on the target and discover the fun and challenges of archery. The sport featuring a bow and arrows has seen an uptick in interest as youth and adults. The St. Charles Park District offers beginning and intermediate archery classes taught by

Swing on in to Riverview Minigolf for Fun Events

River View Miniature Golf Course is a great place to create lasting family memories and enjoy the leisurely days and long evenings that only summer can bring. “What people enjoy most is the golf course’s stunning setting along the river, which offers a picturesque backdrop for a round,” said Cayla Greenfield, manager of the St.

Get Stuck on Parks

Drinking water is important any day of the year, but when the temperatures climb, it’s essential to reach for that water bottle often. And this summer, that hero of hydration can get a whole new look courtesy of a brand-new program from the St. Charles Park District. Inspired by a similar program from the National

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