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Youth & Teen
The Champaign Park District is your child’s destination for positive, educational, and productive programs when school is out. Fee includes supplies, equipment, morning snack, and field trips. Children should bring a sack lunch, water bottle, and afternoon snack. No peanuts, please.
- Science Explosion | October 5 | Douglass Community Center
- Let’s Get Creative | October 5 | Leonhard Recreation Center
- Fall Fun Fest | October 20 & 21 | Douglass Community Center
- Fall Festivities | October 20 & 21 | Leonhard Recreation Center
Ages 5+
Join members of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society, Inc. on select Saturdays for an evening under the stars. See the stars and planets through the largest public telescope in East Central Illinois. All skywatch sessions are cancelled in the event of cloudy weather (visit cuas.org.). No registration required.
Dates:
- October 1 | 7-8p
- October 29 | 7-8p
Location: CUAS Observatory, 926 County Road 700E, Champaign
Questions: sean.hurst@champaignparks.com or 217-819-3901
Ages 12-15
Looking to get out of town and go on an adventure? We will explore together and try it all. On October 20th, we’ll be heading to Starved Rock State Park, Illinois. Make sure to register so you don’t miss out on this thrillcation!
Date: October 20
Location: Start at Douglass Community Center
Fee (R/NR): $66/$99
Deadline: October 13
Questions: lynne.franco@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
If you are at least 13 years of age, enthusiastic, hardworking, and willing to learn, we can coordinate volunteer hours for you. This is a great opportunity to acquire new skills, gain valuable work experience, and complete high school volunteer hours. Teen volunteers are permitted to work a maximum of 25 hours per week. A waiver must be printed, signed and mailed/dropped off:
Volunteer Coordinator – Jarod Lake
Hays Recreation Center
1311 W. Church St., Champaign IL 61821
For more information, please contact Jarod at volunteer@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3926
Sports & Fitness
This one-day clinic is designed to teach basketball fundamentals with an emphasis on fun, teamwork, sportsmanship, and growth. Players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate.
- K-2nd: Friday, October 28 | 5:30-7p
- 3rd-4th: Friday, October 28 | 7:15-8:45p
- 5th-6th: Saturday, October 29 | 9-10:30a
- 7th-8th: Saturday, October 29 | 10:45a-12:15p
Location: Douglass Community Center
Deadline: October 17, 2022
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
What’s better than a cupcake with friends? Or a fundraiser that supports kids and adults with disabilities who just want to have fun? Why not have both! The CUSR Cupcake 5K is going to be one sweet time! This is a timed, accessible race ending with a delicious cupcake.
Funds raised will go into the Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation’s scholarship fund, which supports individuals who need financial support to access CUSR programs and services. Runners, walkers, and registrants who may use a wheelchair are welcome. All registrants must provide a valid email address in order to receive crucial pre-race information. Updated information will also be posted on CUSR’s Facebook page.
Date: Sunday, November 6
Time: Participant check-in from 8-8:45a; Race starts at 9a
Fee (R/NR): $30
Deadline:
- Friday, October 14 at 5p to get a t-shirt Wednesday, November 2 (no t-shirt)
- On site registration, 8-8:30am, $35, no t-shirt
Questions: cusr@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3980
We are searching for some fun and energetic Group Fitness Instructors to lead classes at our facilities. Help us get C-U moving by teaching the following classes:
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Bootcamp
- Yolates
- Zumba
- Strength Training
- Aerobics
Apply on our mobile app or website today!
50 Plus!
Join us for Munchies at Hays! The latest topics on current events, jokes, poems, and more will generate the conversation at this lunch gathering. Please bring a sack lunch, and we’ll provide additional munchies to enjoy.
Date: Monday, October 10
Location: Hays Recreation Center
Time: 12-1p
For Questions, Call DeBorah at 217-239-1152
Sign up in the Senior Binder at Hays Recreation Center or call 217-239-1152
Whether you would like to learn about email or even troubleshoot some sort of tech, this class is perfect for you. In Tech Talk, you will have the chance to learn about computer basics, how to use your mobile device, apps, the internet, and much more.
Date: Thursday, October 6
Time: 1-2:30p
Location: Douglass Annex
Deadline: Call and register for specific dates
Fee (M/NM): Free/$3 per session
Questions: call Robert at 217-819-3961 or email at robert.white@champaignparks.or
Refresh yourself on driving safety at this free drop-in class. There is NO driving test given at this class and it will not affect your insurance rate.
Date: October 12, 2022
Day: Wednesday
Time: 12-2p
Location: Hays Recreation Center
Fee (M/NM): FREE
Questions: call Robert at 217-819-3961 or email at robert.white@champaignparks.org
Events & More
The Champaign Park District’s Flannel Fest is bigger and better than ever before. On October 14 & 15, Flannel Fest will be taking over Centennial Park.
Live lumberjack shows from Lumberjack Enterprises, music for children and adults, games, inflatables, beer sales and more will transform Centennial Park into a massive fall festival over the course of this two-day event.
- October 14 | 5-11p
- October 15 | 11a-11p
Questions: zoe.southlynn@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3931
Are you ready to find pumpkins all over Champaign- Urbana? We’ve teamed up again with Urbana Park District to hide pumpkins in the parks throughout October…But this year will be a bit different!
This year, we are hiding HUNDREDS of laminated pumpkins with QR codes for you to find throughout Champaign & Urbana Park districts. Once you find a pumpkin, scan the QR code to submit your entry into a drawing to win a prize bag filled with CPD and UPD goodies on November 1, 2022. You get to keep the pumpkins you find too!
Be sure when you snap a picture for your submission to share your discoveries with us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts by tagging #CUpumpkinhunt.
Dates: October 1 – 31
Location: Champaign-Urbana Parks
Questions: zoe.southlynn@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3931
Join us on Saturday, October 1, 12pm-3pm for the ribbon cutting (12pm) and grand opening of the much-anticipated Martens Center and renovated Human Kinetics Park (1515 N. Market Street, Champaign)! This free event will feature tours of the new, innovative facility, giveaways, and fun games and activities.
Martens Center features include: innovation center, indoor playground, gymnasium, wellness center, and more!
Human Kinetics Park’s newly installed amenities include playground, splash pad, softball/soccer field combo, futsal court, walking path, and community garden.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of something special in the heart of Champaign!
Memberships are being sold at Martens Center on Monday-Friday from 8a – 4p.
Join us at Douglass Park on Saturday, October 22 for our annual Halloween party! Enjoy activities, free candy giveaway, and more! Kids must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Time: 12-2p
Questions: lynne.franco@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
Boo-rific Halloween Egg Hunt is a fast-paced night time egg hunt. Participants
will race against time and others in pursuit of their share of thousands of eggs. Come in your costume and bring your flashlight and a basket for collecting eggs. Registration is required.
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
Time: 7p
Deadline: October 5, 2022
Location: Human Kinetics Park
Fee(R/NR): $2/$3 (Martens Center members participate for free but must register)
Questions: katherine.hicks@champaignparks.org or 217-819-3843
Less than bewitched by last year’s Halloween outfits? Creating closet room for a new costume? Donate your old threads and give kids a night of happy haunting!
DONATE: September 19-October 13, any Champaign Park District facility
GIVEAWAY: Sat, October 15, 10a-noon or until costumes are gone at Douglass Community Center
Donation of items is not required to pick up a new costume. A limited number of people will be admitted to shop at a time.
Questions: lynne.franco@champaignparks.org or 217-398-2573
Working in Parks & Recreation is more than having fun. You’re enhancing the quality of life for all people through advancing environmental conservation efforts, social equity, & health/wellness. Grow your career by applying on our mobile app or website.
Because some residents are unable to participate in recreation programs due to economic hardship, the Champaign Park District offers scholarships to reduce certain fees and charges. We now offer both scholarship and registration forms in Spanish! Fill out the form and submit the completed packet in one of the three ways listed on the form.
Questions: Please call 217-398-2550
