Naperville Park District offers E-Learning Experience and Sports

As Naperville area families consider how best to navigate the logistics of online schooling and the changes in fall sports due to COVID-19 guidelines, the Naperville Park District is offering two types of in-person opportunities for youth this fall: an E-Learning Experience for children in grades kindergarten through 5th grade and several modified fall sports programs, all of which adhere to the new COVID-19 guidelines issued by the State of Illinois.

The Park District’s new E-Learning Experience was developed to provide a friendly and familiar place for children to engage in their school’s remote learning program with some opportunities for fun, supervised recreation breaks. The program is available for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, following School District 203 and 204 calendars, with a variable drop-off and pick-up time depending on location.

“The Park District recognizes that starting the academic year with remote learning presents challenges for some families in our community,” said Director of Recreation and Facilities Brad Wilson. “As a Park District, we have experience running successful day camp programs and are happy to use that experience to offer an in-person program to support families.”

Participants will be placed in pods of 10 students or fewer to minimize participant contact and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Staff will assist students navigate e-learning schedules and help them stay on task while working through assignments; however, tutoring and homework help is not part of this program. Additionally, as schedules allow, staff will coordinate recreational activities, including games and crafts, to provide important breaks and get kids up and moving throughout the day. Participants will be required to bring their own electronic device and provide their own lunch and beverage.

The E-Learning Experience that follows the School District 203 calendar begins September 1 and meets at Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, located at 305 W. Jackson Ave. The program that follows the School District 204 calendar starts September 3 and meets at 95th Street Center, located at 2244 W. 95th St. Families may register for a Tuesday-Thursday program, a Monday-Wednesday-Friday program, or for all 5 days. More information can be found at https://www.napervilleparks.org/elearningexperience.

Revised Phase 4 Restore Illinois Plan guidelines for youth and adult recreational sports were announced on July 29, 2020 and allow different levels of play for different sports. Soccer and flag football programs may conduct no-contact practices, trainings and intra-team scrimmages with parental permission. Baseball and softball programs may include competitive play within a league.

Naperville Park District has modified its youth sports programs according to the guidelines and for fall is offering Naperville Youth Soccer Academy, Naperville Premier Soccer University, Naperville Youth NFL Flag Football Academy, and Fall T-ball, Coach Pitch Baseball, Machine Pitch Baseball and Girls’ Softball. For information about each sport and to register visit https://www.napervilleparks.org/fall2020sports.

“It’s important to give kids the opportunity to participate in sports, where they can be with other kids, be physically active and have fun,” said Director of Recreation and Facilities Brad Wilson. “In the soccer and flag football programs, the weekly scrimmages will help kids enhance their skills in a fun team environment.”