NUG Winter

Welcome to the Northside Unschoolers Group

The Northside Unschoolers Group (NUG) is an open support group for homeschooling families in and around Chicago. Northside Unschoolers Group is a non-directed support group. We rely on the creativity, resources, needs and interests of NUG families to provide activities, classes and field trips for the group. Please read this article for more information on how a non-directed support group works. If you would like to learn more about Unschooling, or meet some families, please come to a parents meeting, park day, or open gym. If you are New to NUG, welcome!

 

News & Announcements

May 26th, 2009

Park Days Summer 2009

Mondays 11:00am to 2:00pm - Meet in the playground

June 1 Independence Park
3945 N. Springfield (near Irving Park & Pulaski)

June 8 Chopin Park
3420 N. Long Ave. (5400 West)

June 15 Welles Park
2333 W. Sunnyside (playground is at Western & Montrose)

June 22 Harold Washington Playlot Park
5200 S. Hyde Park Blvd (near 53rd & Lake Shore Dr.)

June 29 Ping Tom Park
300 W. 19th St. (in Chinatown, near 18th & Wentworth)

July 6 Priory Park (at Dominican Univ)
Division Ave. & Bonnie Brae (just west of Harlem Ave), in River Forest
SAND & WATER PLAY AREA

July 13 Wrightwood Park
2534 N. Greenview (just west of Ashland) - POOL

July 20 Wilson Park
4630 N. Milwaukee (just north of Wilson) - WATER SPRINKLER

July 27 Hamlin Park
3035 N. Hoyne (near Diversey & Damen) - POOL

August 3 Leone Park & Beach (at Loyola Park)
1222 W. Touhy (at the lake) - BEACH

August 10 Portage Park
4100 N. Long (playground is at Irving Park and Central) - POOL

August 17 Rehm Park
East Ave. & Garfield in Oak Park (exit 290 at Austin) - POOL

August 24 Unity Park
2636 N. Kimball - WATER SPRINKLER

Sept. 7 NO PARK DAY (Labor Day)

August 31 Indian Boundary Park
2500 W. Lunt (1 block west of Western Ave.)

Sept. 14 Margate Park
4921 N. Marine Dr. (near Lawrence & Lake Shore Dr.)

Sept. 21 Peterson Park
5801 N. Pulaski (in North Park Village, follow signs to playground)

Sept. 28 Riis Park
6100 W. Fullerton

Bring lunch for your family (and, at certain parks, extra clothes, swim
suits or towels).
On rainy days, we’ll cancel. Check email or the website.

Fridays are Beach Days at Foster Ave. Beach.

This schedule (including Beach Days) is subject to change.
For more info contact Wini

May 9th, 2009

Dracula!!

Corcoran School of Theater Arts presents: Dracula

Opens: Saturday night May 16th at 7PM.  Following the performance there will be a Q&A session for those curious about homeschooling.  Please come if you are looking for information, or have information to share with others.
Matinee: Sunday May 17th at 2PM
Final Performance:  is Monday May 18th at 7pm

Acme Artworks
2215 North Avenue

Tickets $10

call 773-712-4667 for reservations!

Adapted and directed by KellyAnn Corcoran

Designed by Tina Howard

Sound Design by Chris Heightchew

Additional Design by Johanna Vargas

Fight Choreography and direction by Orion Couling

Starring: Louise Upchurch, Clarissa Frayn, Myra Howard, Risa Gilligly, Remi Vargas, Athena Parke, Monica Thom, Kayla Ciccone

Actor Combatants: Richard Medina, Ben Medina and Saffron Lehrer

April 7th, 2009

80’s Teen Dance!

When?! Friday May 1-  7pm- 11pm

Who?! homeschoolers ages 12-17

Where?! Ethical Humanist Society 7574 W. Lincoln Ave, Skokie

How Much?! $5 per kid, at the door

get your 80’s fashion and hair on, and come to the dance!   snacks and drinks will be available for sale

this is a drop off dance, well chaperoned by the experienced Kim C, Tina H and Lori U.

organized by ACHUT (assoc. of Chicago homeschooled/unschooled teens)

March 23rd, 2009

Park and Play schedule

in lieu of Open Gym for Spring, Kelly Ann has put together a schedule for a park or indoor play time, depending on the weather.  If it’s questionable, Kelly Ann will post to the yahoo list the night before and make the call for indoors or out:

March 30:

Outside:  Unity Park and Playlot
Inside:    Garfield Park Conservatory (free)

April 6:

Outside:   Welles Park Playground
Insides:   Skokie Exploratorium (admission)

April 13:

Outside:  Riis Park Playlot
Inside:    Monkey Island (admission)

April 20:

Outside:  Harold Washington Park
Inside:    Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (admssion)

April 27:

Outisde:  Unity Park and Playlot

Inside:    Garfield Park Conservatory  (free)

May 4:

Outside:   Welles Park Playground
Inside:      Skokie Exploratorium (admission)

May 11:

Outside:   Riis Park Playlot
Inside:     Monkey Island (admission)

May 18:

Outside – Harold Washington Park

Inside:  Peggy Notebaert (admission)

Please see Open Gym Page for more information about all of these locations

March 23rd, 2009

Parents Meeting April 9

Parents Meeting

Thursday April 9, 7-8:30 pm

Bucktown/Wicker Park Library 1701 N.Milwaukee Avenue, in the Community Room - 2nd floor, snacks welcome in meeting room only.

contact KellyAnn or Yvonnie with any questions.

General discussion about NUG and Unschooling, Q&A.  Open to all interested parents.  nursing infants welcome.

business meeting (8pm) topics to include:

  • discussion about programming at Avondale Park for fall of 2009
  • the creation of a book and story coop
  • open gym and other activity ideas
March 22nd, 2009

A Short Time From Now, in a Suburb not far away….

The Macsith Project!  Where Shakespeare and Sci-fi meet!

Shakespeare and Sci-fi aren’t normally thought of together but the themes of Shakespeare’s Macbeth are universal.  Revenge, retribution, honor, love loss and redemption are all very current in the sci-fi cinema.

Come watch this bold adaptation featuring kids from our homeschooling community.

Shows are April 5th at 2 and 4pm.

Performing at the Ethical Humanist Society, 7574 Lincoln Ave, Skokie,  $7 at the door.

January 27th, 2009

New Location for Open Gym!

Open Gym is at Avondale Park,  Mondays from 11AM-1:30 PM February 2nd to March 16th.
The seven week session is $50 per family if 13 families will commit. If we get fewer families it will be more. The cost for the rental is $90 per week. We will have the use of the gym and the equipment therein. For those of you who are new, we usually bring our lunches and Open Gym is a chance for the kids to run and socialize and for parents to meet up as well. It’s a nice way to start the week. Avondale Park has a nice gym, a playground, pool and green space so when the weather warms up we can be in and/or out.
 
The location of Avondale Park is 3516 W. School Street. It’s right off of 94 at Kimball.
The dates are as follows: 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9,  & 3/16
 
Families who have not attended NUG Open Gym before are welcome to drop in for $10 per family.
December 4th, 2008

Homeschool Skate- December 10 and 17

Homeschool Skate at McFetridge Ice Arena

Wednesday’s Dec 10 and 17

Time: 11:00 – 11:45 am
Arrive 15 – 30 minutes early to allow time for putting on skates.

Place: McFetridge Sports Center
3845 N. California Avenue (between Irving and Addison)
Chicago, IL 60618
773-478-2609

Ages: All ages are welcome to skate.
For safety, no one may not be carried onto ice, including infants.
There is a large lobby with benches for those not wishing to skate.

Admission: $9/family per session; pay at the counter

Skates: You may bring your own skates at no charge.
Rentals are available at $3/person.

Beginners: Push bars will be available. These are used in park district tot classes.
They are designed for 3-6 yo’s and may be useful to older kids, too.

Please contact Marita with any questions.
These homeschool sessions are preceded by a 45-minute Parent-Tot session. For more information about Parent-Tot sessions, you can contact McFetridge Sports Center.

November 22nd, 2008

Tellin it-

Local homeschooling parent and blogger Christine Escobar is at it again- speaking up for homeschooling on Huffington Post. Read her response to some negative comments made recently on The View, and add your own two cents in the comments if you are so inclined. Go Christine!

November 10th, 2008

Muppet Shows

check it out-  a month of muppet movies at the Gene Siskel film center:

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