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Camp outs are not Judy’s idea of a good time spent
Updated: July 30, 2012 1:42AM
Here’s Judy‘s pick of coming community activities in the Oak Brook/Oakbrook Terrace area, spiced with a little commentary. To suggest an event for her weekly column, send an e-mail to clafortune@pioneerlocal.com.
Scout story
Boy Scouts ages 11 to 17 can experience a week in the outdoors from June 18 to June 22 at Go! Camp in Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road in Oak Brook. Activities, which include an overnight campout, will meet requirements of the environmental science merit badge, required for advancement to Eagle Scout. For fees and to register, call (630) 850-8110.
As a city-girl Girl Scout who hated campouts (blasphemy!), my constant crabbiness began as soon as we hit the woods, as in, “Why do we have to make stupid stoves out of stupid coffee cans — I’ll never be anywhere in my life where I’ll even have to use a stove, ‘cause I’ll be living in ritzy New York hotels and ordering room service.” Miss Mac, the troop leader, would then wearily say what she always said to me, “Just shut-up and do it, Judy.” Ah, memories.
Why try?
The Oak Brook Park District’s Aquatic Center offers open swim hours, plus a wide variety of swim classes in its summer sessions, which are about to begin. In addition, the outdoor Splash Park is now open. Also, parents and children age 7 and younger are invited to drop-in to the indoor beach-like recreational pool with special water-play features. For fees and more information, visit www.obparks.org.
Come to the Aquatic Center to see Judy fake-swim, which means walking on the bottom at the pool’s shallow end while splashing her arms furiously, which she thinks resembles Esther Williams in her glory, but in reality looks like she’s drowning, which means the lifeguard fake-saves her and drags her out, where she dies of embarrassment.
Go fish
Families can pack a lunch and picnic by the water at the Lake View Nature Center, 17W063 Hodges Road in Oakbrook Terrace. Children 16 years of age and under can borrow a fishing pole and try catching a sunfish or even a large-mouth bass down at the pond. Bait is available for a fee. For more information, call (630) 941-8747 or visit www.obtpd.org/lvnc.
Oh, wee, let’s have lunch and a picnic by the water while the kids fish, though they must first run back to Mom to bait the hooks, which causes Mom to have an instant nervous breakdown (I know the term “nervous breakdown” isn’t used any more, but you haven’t met my nerves), which puts a damper on lunch, which Mom forgot to pack anyway. Oh, wee, again.
Judy’s lament
The Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary’s Prairie Exploration and Open House will take place from 9 a.m. to noon June 16 at 115 Canterberry Lane in Oak Brook. There will loads of activities for the entire family, including a performance of “The Adventures of Herman the Worm” and much more. Admission is free. Park in the east parking lot at Christ Church of Oak Brook (York and 31st), with bus shuttles to the sanctuary. For more information, visit www.obparks.org.
The Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary — wow — I sure would like a Judy Brinkworth Nature Sanctuary. However, seeing that I have never found sanctuary in nature — I’m always worrying about humungous bugs or marauding chipmunks or I’m wailing, “This path is too muddy, I’m too hot, why can’t they have a Coke machine out here” — I doubt this will happen. Actually, it’s not a doubt, it’s an iron-clad certainty. Darn.
Zzzzzzzz …
The Oakbrook Terrace Park District Fitness Center, 1 Parkview Plaza, offers Boot Camp A.M. - Wake up with exercise and energize your body for the rest of the day with high intensity workouts. The class, for ages 18 and older, will be held from 6:10 to 6:55 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For dates and more information, call (630) 574-0420 or visit www.obtpd.org/fc.
Dear Park District: You offer high-intensity workouts from 6:10 to 6:55 a.m. IN THE MORNING? I, personally, do not open my eyes before 2 in the afternoon. Oh, I’m up, I just don’t open my eyes. However, I realize many people are morning people — masochists mostly — so you go right ahead and keep those workouts intensely high. I will be nestled all snug in my bed, while visions of sweaty exercisers dance in my head.
