Nature & Adventure
Awaken your appreciation for nature in all its forms through conservation and adventure programs for adults and youth.
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Point of Contact
Hannah Garcia
Explore Nature & Adventure
The Park District of Oak Park offers a variety of nature, adventure, and gardening programs for adults and children, awakening their appreciation for nature in all its forms. Our goal is to help teach residents to engage in conservation practices and connect children to nature.
We also offer opportunities for homeschool and Girl Scout, Cub Scout, and Camp Fire groups! Scroll to learn more.
All Nature & Adventure Categories
View All Nature & Adventure Programs
Happening This Week
- Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center Main Room
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: (708) 725-2043
PROGRAM DETAIL
The Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center is a place for discovery. Learn about our amazing world through sensory activities, puzzles, books, crafts, and artifacts like feathers, fossils, and more! Each month we feature a new theme.
This program is free and open to the public - registration is optional but available so you can mark your calendars!
No sessions scheduled for this day.
- Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center Main Room
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: (708) 725-2043
PROGRAM DETAIL
The Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center is a place for discovery. Learn about our amazing world through sensory activities, puzzles, books, crafts, and artifacts like feathers, fossils, and more! Each month we feature a new theme.
This program is free and open to the public - registration is optional but available so you can mark your calendars!
No sessions scheduled for this day.
- Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center Main Room
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: (708) 725-2043
- Fox Community Center (Lower Level)
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: hannah.garcia@pdop.org
- Fox Community Center (Lower Level)
- 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: hannah.garcia@pdop.org
- Fox Community Center (Lower Level)
- 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: hannah.garcia@pdop.org
PROGRAM DETAIL
The Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center is a place for discovery. Learn about our amazing world through sensory activities, puzzles, books, crafts, and artifacts like feathers, fossils, and more! Each month we feature a new theme.
This program is free and open to the public - registration is optional but available so you can mark your calendars!
PROGRAM DETAIL
Interested in shooting a bow & arrow? Sign up with our trained archery instructor who will encourage and coach all ages and levels. Classes will take place indoors, with safety guidelines in place. All ten students shoot at the same time to maximize the time spent practicing, with two archers to one target.
Archery is for everyone! Our instructor is trained in adaptive archery and the elements used to make this sport accessible. Please contact us ahead of time if there are any accommodations you may need!
PROGRAM DETAIL
Have you taken an archery class with us and are looking to take it to the next level? Join us for Club Archery! Our skilled instructor will help you develop and focus your skills to aid in your development as an archer through challenges, games, and drills.
Classes will take place indoors, with safety guidelines in place. All ten students shoot at the same time to maximize the time spent practicing, with two archers to one target.
Please note: Club Archery is for archers who already have experience with a bow and arrow, so we can work on improving form and technique instead of the teaching basics. New archers can sign up for Beginner Archery, where they will be tested on safety and ability to operate the bow and arrow before moving up to Club.
Have you taken archery elsewhere and want to join us? Contact Hannah Garcia for more information about overrides.
Archery is for everyone! Our instructor is trained in adaptive archery and the elements used to make this sport accessible. Please contact us ahead of time if there are any accommodations you may need!
PROGRAM DETAIL
Interested in shooting a bow & arrow? Sign up with our trained archery instructor who will encourage and coach all ages and levels. Classes will take place indoors, with safety guidelines in place. All ten students shoot at the same time to maximize the time spent practicing, with two archers to one target.
Are you already an archer and need a place to shoot? You're in the right place! Sign up for an hour of open range time. Bring your own equiptment, or use ours.
Archery is for everyone! Our instructor is trained in adaptive archery and the elements used to make this sport accessible. Please contact us ahead of time if there are any accommodations you may need!
- Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center Main Room
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: hannah.garcia@pdop.org
- Fox Community Center (Lower Level)
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: hannah.garcia@pdop.org
- Barrie Park Park Permit
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Instructor: Hannah Szuch
- Resource Person: Hannah Garcia: (708) 725-2043
PROGRAM DETAIL
It’s autumn, the leaves are changing, we’re cooking over the fire, and we’re wondering -where did these delicious, marshmallowy treats come from, anyway? They're actually over 100 years old! We’re making our own s’mores today and learning the history of this campfire classic.
PROGRAM DETAIL
Come join us for a couple’s archery lesson! You and your partner will share a target, and our certified instructor will show you on how to shoot a bow and arrow. Work together or compete for points in an adventurous and unique date night! Registration is for two people.
Archery is for everyone! Our instructor is trained in adaptive archery and the elements used to make this sport accessible. Please contact us ahead of time if there are any accommodations you may need!
PROGRAM DETAIL
Did you know that September 19th is International Observe the Moon Night? Stop by and celebrate with our friend Mark Benson, NASA Solar System Ambassador, for a telescopic view of the moon!
This program is free and open to the public - registration is optional but available so you can mark your calendars!
No sessions scheduled for this day.
Additional Programs
Free Austin Gardens Drop-Ins
Nature Birthday Parties
Scout Badge Programs
Schedule a badge-a-day program with us and let us help your group earn badges like Archery, Space Science Expert, Buddy Camper, and more. We have programs available for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Camp Fire. See the full list by clicking here.
Contact hannah.garcia@pdop.org for registration options and pricing.
Homeschool Programs
We offer homeschool programs designed as supplementals to enrich your existing curriculum and provide students with classroom-style learning experiences. For more information about our homeschool program, contact hannah.garcia@pdop.org.
Information & FAQs
FAQs
Absolutely! Archery is considered one of the most adaptable sports in the world, and we’d love to have you. Please reach out to Hannah Garcia to discuss adaptive archery resources and how we can support your specific needs.
Yes! All our instructors are certified through USA Archery or NASP.
Please wear closed toed shoes. Short-sleeved shirts or tighter long-sleeved shirts are preferred, as the bowstring may catch on baggier clothes. Long hair should be pulled back for similar reasons.
Our classes are open to everyone!
We use a variety of secular curriculum guides, in addition to writing our own in-house. These include the Lawrence Hall of Science, Project Learning Tree, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and more. Please see our yearly homeschool program calendar for specifics.
Yes! Lesson plans are available once the class session has commenced. Please contact Hannah Garcia for more information.
While some of our classes may meet some of the state learning standards, they should be considered supplemental to your child’s established curriculum.
The distance from the shooting line to the target line is 15 feet (5 yards).
The majority of our bows are Genesis Compounds, both full and miniature sized. We also have a variety of recurves with different draw weights. We shoot Easton Genesis aluminum arrows.
Yes! We just request the draw weight of your bow be 40 pounds or under, for the longevity of our targets. Target-point arrows only, please, Crossbows are not allowed.
Beginner Archery is for children ages 7-12 who are new to the sport. These classes go over fundamentals and range safety while learning to shoot from a distance of 7.5 feet (2.5 yards). At the end of the three-week series, they are tested on their ability to shoot safely; if they pass, they are able to sign up for Club Archery and any of the Club Archery Special Sessions.
Club Archery is for children ages 7-12 who have some shooting experience. These classes focuses on improving their form and having fun while doing it. They shoot from a distance of 15 feet (5 yards) and can shoot more arrows per round.
Open Archery is for anyone ages 13 and up, whether they have archery experience or not! Our instructors are available to coach as needed or just provide an opportunity for experienced archers to get some practice. We know your schedules can vary, so this class is available for three-week registrations or single-session registrations.
These are special events available for archers who have passed the Beginner Archery class. They include things like the shooting watermelons in the summer, our Halloween party, our Holi celebration, and more.
If your child has attended Archery Week at Outdoor Adventurers Summer Camp, please reach out to head coach Hannah Garcia to get the “archery camp” skill added to your Amilia account. If they have archery experience outside of the park district, please contact Hannah Garcia to discuss options!
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