Most St. Charles Park District events will take place at the Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave. To register or for more information, call (630) 513-6200 or visit the district’s Web site at www.st-charlesparks.org.

Talk to focus on how ownerscan take care of trees
Concerned homeowners who want to know what they can do to ensure the health and prolong the life of trees on their property are invited to attend the “Tree Talk” program from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Pottawatomie Community Center.

Part of the “Learn from the Experts” lecture series, this program is offered in partnership with the park districts of St. Charles, Geneva and Fox Valley, and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

There is a $10 per person registration fee for the program that features Edith Makra, the Community Trees Advocate for the Morton Arboretum, who will present an overview of native trees and tree health in the midst of urban landscape.

Makra has spearheaded the state’s response to the recently discovered emerald ash borer infestation, working with state and federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Illinois Department of Agriculture as well as professional and civic organizations such as Chicago Wilderness to develop a readiness plan charged with identifying resources and sharing knowledge and expertise that will help minimize the possible spread of this destructive pest.

Class will have parent, childmake a project together

Parents and children who sign up for the Park District’s parent and child nature project class will assemble and build their choice of a wooden bird house, bird feeder or bat house. Projects are pre-cut and participants need to bring a hammer and a Philips screwdriver.

Class is for children age 4 and over with a parent and is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, in the Pottawatomie Community Center. Class cost $20 for residents and $30 for nonresidents.

Children can celebratebirthdays at Pottawatomie

Parents/guardians looking for a special place to hold a child’s birthday party should turn to the Park District.

Park staff has created several birthday party packages for its “I Partied at Pottawatomie” program opened for children turning between the age of 4 and 12. There are a variety of party themes to choose from, which include “Sports of all Sorts,” “Tye Dye Tangle,” “Dance Party” and “Cheer Party.”

A standard party package includes a choice of party theme, two interactive party hosts, a souvenir party tumbler per guest, games and activities, helium balloons and tableware, party invitations and envelopes, set-up and cleanup, and supplies for 20 guests. Parties cost $195 for residents and $245 for nonresidents. A $5 fee applies for additional guests over 20.

A premium party package includes the entire standard party package plus two one-topping pizzas, juice box drinks and a cake. This party cost $260 for residents and $310 for nonresidents. A $7.50 fee applies for each additional guest over 20.
A magician or storyteller is available at an additional fee.

The maximum number of party guests is 25. All party packages are 90 minutes long and are held at the Pottawatomie Community Center.

To reserve a party or for more information, call (630) 513-6200.

Baseball clinic is open to boys and their fathers

The Park District’s father and son pitching and hitting clinic is designed to prepare boys, between the ages of 7 and 14, for the upcoming baseball season.

Clinic focuses on developing the correct fundamentals involved in pitching and hitting; and it gives fathers the opportunity to interact with their sons while improving baseball skills. It is advised for participants to bring a glove and bat to this clinic.

Clinic for boys between the ages of 7 and 10 meets from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturdays, March 10 and 17. Clinic for boys between the ages of 11 and 14 meets from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, March 13 and 15. Both clinics are in the
Pottawatomie Community Center, and cost $62 for residents and $93 for nonresidents.

Workshop will have 8- to 13-year-olds create robots

Eight- to 13-year-olds will experience the thrill of creating and programming real working robots with the Park District’s “Lego’s Mindstorm Robot Workshop.”

With this workshop, participants will learn robotics concepts through teamwork and problem-solving challenges which will immerse the student in the basics of robotics.
Workshop meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, March 12, in the Pottawatomie Community Center. Workshop cost $45 for residents and $67.50 for nonresidents.

‘B is for Bird’ program is open to 4- and 5-year-olds

Four- and 5-year-olds can join Park District staffers from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, in the nature room at Pottawatomie Community Center for a look at birds.
With the “B is for Bird” program, stories will be read, songs will be sung and a bird feeder craft will be done. Children will also learn about a variety of birds.

Program is for $7 for residents and $10.50 for nonresidents.

Class will have students create their own cartoons

Eight to 13-year-olds will become the director of their own movie if they sign up for the Park District’s computer animation class.

With this class, students will learn how to create cartoons and the basics of animation using state-of-the-art software. Students also will take their creation home along with a free version of the software for further explorations into the animation world.

This class is from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in the Pottawatomie Community Center and cost $45 for residents and $67.50 for nonresidents.

Web page design classis for 8- to 13-year-olds

With the Park District’s web page design class, students will learn the terminology and fundamentals of web page design.

Class is open to 8- to 13-year-olds and will show several easy to use software packages which will teach them how to create their very own Web site their friends and
family can view on the Internet. Software also will be brought home for further exploration and development.

Class is from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 16, in the Pottawatomie Community Center and cost $45 for residents and $67.50 for nonresidents.

Class to show adults how to get rid of unwanted plants

Adults, ages 18 and over, who want to know more about the plant invaders in their backyard and how to control them should sign up for the Park District’s backyard ecological restoration class.

Denis ok Kania, restoration ecologist for the district, will teach participants professional methods and philosophies on dealing with aggressive plant species in local natural areas. Among the species they will learn how to battle are buckthorn, honeysuckle, garlic mustard and burdock.

This class is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, in the Pottawatomie Community Center. Class cost $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents.