The Monday Parks PlayBook: Fun under the stars!

Imagine a perfect overnight getaway camping with your family in a beautiful, secure site. Ghost stories around a roaring fire. Gooey s'mores. Clear midnight blue skies. Sleeping under the stars. No phone, no TV, and no computer. Just you and your family and nature. The perfect staycation. Sound too good to be true? It's not! It's our second annual Family Campout on Prairie Lakes Field.

Back by popular demand, this overnight on our close-to-home campsite includes a variety of activities and games, family time, story-telling, and a campfire under the stars. Our friends from the Oakton Community College Astronomy Club will provide stories, facts, and folklore about everything that’s visible in the summer night sky. Say hello to the man in the moon. Find Orion. Wish upon a star.

Tents are the new hotel rooms, according to Chicago Parent Magazine, and we're loving the trend. No flights, no car rentals, no hassles. You provide your own camping gear, we provide evening snacks and a light breakfast. Our overnight Campout is perfect for the novice and experienced camper. With everyone looking to get away without going broke, it makes sense that camping is this season's hottest summer trend. The benefits of camping go way beyond the wallet, however. Studies show that outdoor experiences make children more environmentally conscious, help them manage stress, and reduce restlessness and boredom. And, our Family Campout makes camping a convenient and comfortable experience for the whole family, while still preserving classic traditions.

The fun begins, Saturday, June 29 at 6:00pm and concludes Sunday, June 30, at 9:00am. Tent space is still available. Ready to get started? Catch this and more all at www.DPParks.org.

Save the Date:

Wednesday, June 26, 6:30-8:00pm: The Park It! Patrol will be in Des Plaines Manor Park, 198 E. Freemont Avenue. Don't miss an evening of fun and games in the park. We're playing croquet, badminton, soccer, and beach ball volleyball. Or, try our obstacle course, test your skills with our giant Jenga, and make a craft under the tent. This is an evening of fun for the whole family, and best of all, everything is free!

Thursday, June 27, 7:00-8:30pm: The Live at the Lake Free Summer Entertainment Series continues with a performance by Artistry in Motion. This young, award winning dance company will perform an eclectic mix of jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, and ballet dances at the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion, 2200 Lee Street between Touhy and Howard Avenues. Come early and picnic in the park.

Friday, June 28, 7:00-10:00pm: See the animated comedy, Hotel Transylvania, at the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion. Dracula is really just an overprotective dad, when a human boy discovers his resort and falls for the Count's teen aged daughter. This free Friday Night Movie in the Park is sponsored by the Des Plaines Optimist Club. We start popping pop corn at 7:00pm.

See you around the parks!