Naperville Plays features family-friendly fun at Naper Settlement

There will be family-friendly fun for everyone when Naper Settlement, the DuPage Children’s Museum, the Naperville Public Library and ArranmoreArts team up for Naperville Plays to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville.

“It is so rewarding to partner with the DuPage Children’s Museum and the Naperville Public Library to present a day of play and innovation at Naper Settlement,” said Anna Di Cosola, Naper Settlement’s Learning Experiences Coordinator. “We’re looking forward to beautiful weather and a chance to hear stories, play games and have fun before school starts next week.”

Naper Settlement will present “Games through the Ages,” a hula hoop “try it” station, along with hoops and sticks, a candy walk, a vintage photo opportunity, relay races, a hobby horse obstacle course, an eye-spy scavenger hunt, a firehouse “try it” station, bucket brigade and a Joe Naper Fire Pumper demonstration at 3 p.m. It’s also a Settlement Sunday with free ice cream sundaes for the first 250 guests.

The DuPage Children’s Museum will be bringing two sensory activities: marbleized shaving cream painting and an opportunity to create a thaumatrope, a popular 19th century toy that will teach kids about motion. DCM will also be bringing some of their portable exhibits including Build it Big, which is a giant building set, Build a Community and Window Art.

Alix Tonsgard, DCM Early Learning Specialist, said, “This is such a great opportunity to showcase what makes us unique while collaborating. We all have our own missions, but we have a shared vision.”

The Naperville Public Library will be offering Storywalk and a craft. Storywalk is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story along a walking route. Storywalk builds a child’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy activity. The book will be Stellaluna by Janell Cannon, the tender story of a lost young bat who finally finds her way safely home to her mother and friends.

“We are thrilled to be partnering once again with Naper Settlement and the DuPage Children’s Museum. Offering early literacy activities at Naperville Plays is the perfect way to encourage children to have fun while learning,” said Stephanie Rivera, Children’s Services Supervisor at Nichols.

The newest addition to Naperville Plays is Arranmore Arts’ StoryJam, which will present The Grimm Brothers at 2 p.m. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm will share four of their favorite tales: Cinderella, The Brave Little Tailor, Rumpelstiltskin and The Bremen Town Musicians. This high energy duo leads the audience through each story in a different style, (melodrama, vaudeville, game/reality show and improvisation), encouraging kids to find their own unique voice and become the next generation of storytellers.

Arranmore Arts Founder and Executive Director Shannon Green Robb said, “Our mission at ArranmoreArts is to build community through inspiring, creative experiences. Naperville Plays provides the opportunity for Naper Settlement, the DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville Public Library and ArranmoreArts to come together and provide fun, educational entertainment for our community, while building bridges of community between the organizations themselves. It’s a perfect fit for us and we are thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic family event.”

All activities are included with admission, which is $12 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and $8 youth (4-12). Admission is free for DuPage Children’s Museum and Naper Settlement members, Naperville residents and children 3 and under. Visit www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.