Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia is inviting families, Scout troops and other youth groups to attend the Family Outdoor Fair at the lab from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The fair will take place outside the Lederman Science Center, and will highlight the plant and animal life found on the 6,800-acre Fermilab site in Batavia, officials said.
More than a dozen outdoor activities are planned for the fair, including a prairie scavenger hunt and a visit with Fermilab’s herd of bison.
Once again, the Northern Illinois Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center, along with local raptor trainers, will be on hand with live hawks, falcons and owls, as well as a collection of bird bones, feathers and hunting gear for children to enjoy.
“As a National Environmental Research Park, Fermilab studies our many ecosystems which include the amazing plants and animals that make our natural sites unique,” said Maureen Hix of the Fermilab Office of Education and Public Outreach. “We want kids and parents to connect with this nature through hands-on opportunities, to discover the wonder and value that nature provides us.”
The Family Outdoor Fair is geared for first- through seventh-grade students. The fair is free, and will take place rain or shine. No registration is required. For more information, call 630-840-5588 or email edreg@fnal.gov.
Aurora Movie in the Park rescheduled
Due to weather conditions, the first Movies in the Park event at Phillips Park in Aurora – “Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse” – was rescheduled from June 1 to June 29.
The city's Parks and Recreation Department hosts the summer series which features recent movies on a big screen. Movies begin at approximately 8 p.m. at the Phillips Park Sledding Hill next to the Phillips Park Aquatic Center, 1150 Howell Place.
Pre-movie family events begin at 7 p.m. with such activities as costume contests, sing-a-longs and dance parties.
The revised schedule for the 2019 Movies in the Park Summer Series is June 22, “Black Panther” (PG-13); June 29, “Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse” (PG); July 13, “Incredibles 2” (PG); July 27, “A Dog’s Way Home” (PG); Aug. 10, “Captain Marvel” (PG-13); and Aug. 24, “Disney’s Dumbo” (PG).
Walk for seniors planned in Elburn
Seniors are invited on a leisurely, guided stroll through Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.
Each month, Forest Preserve District of Kane County naturalists lead a walk as part of the “Senior Stroll” program series. Along the way, those attending will learn about the natural and cultural history of the area.
“Senior Stroll” programs last about an hour, with social time and refreshments following the walk. The nature programs are free. Registration is not required.
Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve is at 41W600 Hughes Road in Elburn.
For more information, call 630-444-3190 or go to www.kaneforest.com.
Summer Solstice Social set for June 17
The Conservation Foundation and the Illinois Solar Energy Association are sponsoring a free Summer Solstice Social from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 17 at the McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knolls Road, in Naperville.
The event will feature a presentation on solar energy and a tour of The Conservation Foundation’s solar panels and wind turbine. A telescope will be available for stargazing.
Participants need to register online at www.illinoissolar.org.
Kane offering kayaking instruction
Chicago Tribune Sports
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will offer five kayaking tours of local waterways.
Participants will start with a lake-based, basic paddling skills class followed by shorter and less strenuous river sessions for beginners. Later in the summer there will be longer and more technical paddles for intermediate skill levels.
An experienced instructor will give dry-land instruction on basic kayaking techniques and teach about local ecology. Participants must be 16 years or older.
A skills training class will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday at Oakhurst Forest Preserve, 1680 Fifth Ave., Aurora.
A beginner level course featuring a three- to four-mile paddle is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 13 at Voyageur Landing Forest Preserve, 50 Airport Road, Elgin.
Future courses will be held Aug. 11 in St. Charles; Sept. 8 in Batavia and Oct. 5 in Aurora.
Registration is required at least one week in advance. For more information, call 630-444-3190, email programs@kaneforest.com or go to www.kaneforest.com.