April 16, 2009

Get out there and play

Help set a Guinness World Record Saturday with Wheaton’s Go Fly a Kite 2009 event. Part of Wheaton’s Sesquicentennial celebration, the goal is to have the most kites aloft at the same time in the same location. The current record is 967 kites, which flew in Germany last August.

It’s not often your family can brag about being part of a world record, or at least attempting one, so bring your kites or $3 to buy a Sesquicentennial commemorative kite. Because this is an officially monitored world-record attempt, your family will need to sign in so the attempt counts. Kite lift-off is at 11:15 a.m., but arrive at 10:30 to sign in.

Go Fly a Kite is held at Graf Park, 1701 Manchester Road, Wheaton. This event is free. For more information, call (630) 260-2000 or visit wheaton.il.us/150.

Sweet prize

Your preschooler loves to “Play! Play! Play!” just like their little yellow friend, Wubbzy. Three lucky Chicago Parent readers will win a Wow! Wow! Wubbzy prize pack featuring “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! A Tail of Tales,” “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! A Little Help From My Friends,” “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Pirate Treasures” and “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy’s Big Movie” on DVD. For more information, visit wubbzy.com. To win, visit our discussion board.

Get out there and play some more

Celebrate Earth Day in a special way this weekend at the Morton Arboretum with a former astronaut by planting trees during The Final Frontier: Planting Trees. The event helps kick off Arbor Week (April 18-26), a celebration that includes Earth Day and Arbor Day.

NASA astronaut Mark Lee flew four space flights during his career, something that inspired him to begin planting trees. Join Lee at 1 and 3 p.m. to hear his story, watch behind-the-scenes training video and learn what happened during his space flights that motivated him to plant more than 140,000 trees on his farm. Lee will also be available for photos after the presentation.

Once you’ve found your tree-planting inspiration, head over to the Children’s Garden for “The New Tree Times” activity. Use newspaper to create your own plant container to plant a tree seed to take home. This event is held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

For a full Arbor Week schedule, visit the Web site. Tickets to The Final Frontier: Planting Trees are $12, $5 members, which includes arboretum admission. General admission is $11, $10 seniors, $8 kids 2-17, free kids under 2. Admission is free on Arbor Day, April 24. Parking is free. The Morton Arboretum is located at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. For more information, call (630) 968-0074 or visit mortonarb.org.

Piece of the prize

Your adventurous kids love nature and exploring, especially when it comes to worms and other creepy crawlies. Embrace their curiosity when you win an Earthworm Nursery from Hearthsong. One lucky Chicago Parent reader will win the nursery, which allows kids to hatch baby earthworms from cocoons and raise them to be released into the wild. The Earthworm Nursery retails for $24.98 and includes a net for washing cocoons, tools for handling your earthworms and a coupon to send for your live cocoons and soil. Recommended for ages 4 and up. For more information, visit hearthsong.com. To win, visit our discussion board.

A penny saved is a penny earned

Get your kids thinking about money during Money Smart Week. As part of the activities, kids are encouraged to post their money questions at ChicagoParent.com, or at moneysmart@econcouncil.org for the 2009 Money Smart Kid to answer between April 18-25. Just posting a question qualifies kids for the drawing to win a custom bank and a $50 savings bond. Money Smart printable activities, to help you start money conversations in your home, can be found here. For a list of family-friendly events during Money Smart Week, check out moneysmartweek.org, click on Chicago.

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