Unplug Illinois Day a chance to ditch screens for outdoor fun

On Saturday, people across the state will be asked to go tech-free, marking the fourth annual Unplug Illinois Day.

And Southland forest preserves and park districts have plenty of activities planned to help people fill the voids created by the temporary shelving of their devices.

The new Playground Passport adventure, which encourages participants to visit playgrounds in Tinley Park and answer a question about each, is among the Tinley Park-Park District’s slate of events this year and it’s a personal favorite of Carol Bradtke, the district’s marketing manager.

“I learned about the concept through an Illinois Parks and Recreation Association conference several years ago,” she said. “I have seen other park districts use passport ideas in different ways. Unplug Illinois was the perfect opportunity for us to create our own. It ties in beautifully with getting kids away from screens and onto playgrounds.”

The statewide effort encourages people to “unplug” from their electronic devices for one day and engage with one another. It is designed to promote “healthier lifestyles, sustainable environments, thriving economies and engaged communities,” according to a Tinley Park-Park District news release.

“Unplug Illinois is a great way for us to spread the word about the value of park districts to the community as a whole, families and individuals,” Bradtke said. “Participation in Unplug Illinois attracts people from all age groups and surrounding suburbs to visit our facility and learn about all our services and programs.”

It’s the second year the Park District has participated, and it will also offer a Chalk the Walk at 10 a.m. Saturday at the band shell of the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center, 8125 171st St. The district will provide the chalk so people can decorate the paths around Community Park. There will also be games and giveaways, and the first 50 families will receive disposable cameras to capture the day, according to district information.

The Park District will also have an Unplug Illinois Activity Guides available at facilities and at tinleyparkdistrict.org/unplug-Illinois. The guide includes a raffle ticket for a Plug Into Play kit. Attending Chalk the Walk is among the many ways — including a pop-up StoryWalk slated for 6:30-7:30 p.m. July 20 at Lewis Park — people can enter the raffle, which runs through Aug. 4.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County will for the first time be joining the Unplug Illinois Day festivities.

“After participating in Unplug Illinois events, we hope people are inspired to balance their busy lives with the physical and mental restoration the great outdoors can provide,” said Cindy Cain, the district’s public information officer. “Mute your phone, take a walk, listen to some birds or join a forest preserve program to enrich yourself with something a screen can’t provide.”

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From 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, a Pop and Play session will be held at Rock Run Preserve-Black Road Access in Joliet, featuring lawn games, sidewalk chalk and more. Dip Netting — scooping aquatic life from the water with a net — will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, with nets and viewing containers provided by the district. And Unplug with Monarchs is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, just a few days after the building reopens to the public for the first time since February.

“Our three programs are similar in that they all encourage people to unplug,” Cain said. “But they also are different enough to appeal to a wide group of people. … So whether you want to play bags, examine aquatic creatures or learn how you can help monarchs, the forest preserve will help you disconnect from your electronic devices and reconnect with nature.”

In addition to the specific Unplug Illinois Day programming, the district has other nature programs taking place on Saturday. An Early Morning Bird Hike is set for 7-9 a.m. at Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township, as well as a volunteer morning from 8-11 a.m. at Sugar Creek Preserve in Joliet.

“We offer a wide variety of programs that appeal to all interests and ages, and these larger regional or statewide events help publicize what the forest preserve district has to offer year-round,” Cain said. “Someone who comes out for an Unplug Illinois event in July might come back for kayaking or bird-watching programs in August.”

The Crete Park District is also taking part in Unplug Illinois Day with its UnPlugged Crete Play Day. People are invited to Lincolnshire Park for yard games, bubbles, craft tables and more. No registration is needed.

Richton Park will hold Unplug Illinois Day festivities from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Glaeser Park. Activities include soccer, archery, a storywalk, martial arts and cardio drumming. For more information or to register, visit richtonpark.org.

Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.