Leave No Child Inside: Algonquin Hosts Conservation Community Day

If the summer weather has not been enough to lure your kids away from the TV, the village of Algonquin hope its Conservation Community Day event this Friday will give them at least one good reason to get outdoors.

The 10th annual Conservation Community Day event, titled Leave No Child Inside, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, June 15, at the Woods Creek Path between Bunker Hill Drive and Woods Creek Lane in Algonquin. The family friendly affair is free and open to the public. 

“I would hope that people learn something new or gain some appreciation of some environmental tidbit they didn’t know about already,” said Katie Parkhurst, the village’s senior planner. “I just love seeing the people come out to the event and see the light bulb that goes off when they learn something new.”

Nineteen groups have committed to providing displays at the event.

“We invite organizations that have a green environmental focus to set up a table and to promote their own organization, have activities for kids, information for adults and education opportunities for people to learn about environment,” Parkhurst said.

Recycled materials will be available for children to use to make crafts during the event. The crafts include birdfeeders from recycled water bottles, bracelets using duct tape, sun-catcher flowers using construction and tissue paper, and bumblebees out of paper.

“We want kids (getting) back into nature and not sitting at home playing video games or on their computer,” Parkhurst said. “We want them to experience the sights and sounds of nature and know they can have a great time outside.”

Those who attend the event are urged to donate their old pairs of gym shoes. The shoes will be recycled with plans to use them to make something new, such as tennis courts or playground equipment.

Local day cares also are invited to bring their students to the event.

“We really want a variety of people to come,” Parkhurst said. “It is designed to be fun for everyone and get people outside.”