SPRING FEVER PARENTS NEED BREAK FROM SPRING BREAK -- AND THERE'S LOTS FOR THEIR KIDS TO DO - The Herald News - Joliet (IL)

When spring break comes, kids get restless.Free from school, they need something to do.

Every day.

Or they'll moan, 'We're bored.

What can we do?'

Fret not.

There are activities around Will County for kids who are out of school both this week and next.

And these aren't expensive junkets.

Why, your kids might even learn something while having a little fun.

[] Will County Forest Preserve District, (815) 727-8700.

To catch the first fragile signs of spring, there are hunts for wildflowers, spokesman Bruce Hodgdon said.

Kids and parents will tramp through the woods with a naturalist, searching for blossoms on the forest's floor.

'They are very short-lived,' Hodgdon said.

'They have found their niche -- when there is no leaf cover, and sun can flood the forest floor.

As soon as the shade begins, they have already laid their seeds and go back to sleep for another year.'

Each hour-long jaunt is free.

One will be held at 2 p.m. April 11 at Hammel Woods, Illinois 59, Shorewood.

Another will be at 2 p.m. April 19 at Messenger Woods, Bruce Road near U.S. 6, Lockport Township.

Budding anglers can learn the ropes at a beginner's fishing clinic from 10 a.m. to noon April 18 at Monee Reservoir, 27341 Ridgeland Ave., Monee. There is a fee for the event, but it includes an hour of fishing time after the class, Hodgdon said.

Everything, including poles, is provided by the forest preserve.

Call (708) 534-8499 for more information.

[] Barnes & Noble book store, 2621 Plainfield Road, Joliet, (815) 254-2253.

April is national poetry month.

To get your kids in a rhyming frame of mind, the store is having a poetry event on April 16, spokeswoman Elaine Stonich said.

'We'll read some poetry, and then we will give them a sheet of words.

They can cut them out and make their own poem,' Stonich said.

The event is free.

[] Channahon Park District, 25334 W. Eames St., (815) 467-7275.

In Channahon, spring break is this week.

So that's when there is open skating at the Channahon Skateland.

The rink is open from noon to 3 p.m. each day.

A mere $3.50 buys skate rental and admission.

Rock tunes will blare, of course, and there's a concession stand.

[] Joliet Park District, (815) 741-7275.

Time for Easter camp.

Hartman Recreation Center, 511 N. Collins St., holds a camp during spring break.

Held daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 13-17, the camp is a godsend for working parents.

'They play games, do arts and crafts, sports,' spokeswoman Ann Miller said. 'We take them on field trips to our other facilities, like the ice arena and the nature center.'

At $20 for residents with a discount card and $30 for everyone else, this camp is a bargain.

So it's popular.

Call for reservations, Miller advised.

There are also public skates April 10-19 at the Inwood Ice Area, 3000 W. Jefferson St. The times and admission fees vary, but skate rental is available through Kenwoody's Shot & A Goal Pro Shop outside the rink.

Call the park district for more information.

Do your kids need to work on their jump shots? There's a special youth open gym April 13-17 at the multipurpose center, 3000 W. Jefferson St. It costs $1 for residents, $2 for nonresidents each visit.

Bring a basketball and get to it.

[] Joliet YMCA, 749 Houbolt Drive, (815) 744-3939.

Campers can come here, too.

The YMCA has a camp program from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily April 13-17. The session is for kindergarten-age kids up through the sixth or seventh grade, said Marge Boucher, a YMCA employee.

'We have swimming every day, arts and crafts.

If it is nice out, we do a lot of outdoor activities.

There are usually around 30 kids,' Boucher said.

A whole week of camp costs $75 for members.

Non-members must pay $95 and buy a year-long basic membership for $24. A single day of camp costs $20 for members, $25 for non-members.

Older kids can get a jump on summer by attending a week of lifeguard classes, April 13-17. The daily classes go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. By the end of the class, everyone should be certified to work as a lifeguard, Boucher said.

Not everyone can attend the classes -- you must be 15 or older.

The course will teach CPR for the professional rescuer and standard first aid measures.

It costs $125 for members and $175 for non-members.

It's a popular class, Boucher said.

'At this time of year, kids are wanting to get certified so they can lifeguard at different pools,' Boucher said.

Kids who can't swim also should stop by the YMCA.

There's a class for boys and girls ages 3 through 12 who haven't had lessons yet.

And it's cheap -- $5 for five sessions.

'It's a motivational thing, to get them used to the water,' Boucher said.

The April 13-17 classes are given at several times, so call for more information.

[] The Joliet Public Library main branch, 150 N. Ottawa St., (815) 740-2660.

Have your kids surfed the Internet yet?

They can do it at the library's online information center.

And it's free. The second-floor center is open during library hours.

Kids can use the computers for an hour at a time.

Before your young one jumps on the World Wide Web, they must fill out a form available at the second-floor reference desk.

Children who are younger than 14 need a parent's signature.

Young children might enjoy the first-floor public media center.

It, too, is open during library hours.

They can use the computers to play age-appropriate games.

The library's westside Louis Joliet Mall branch also has a smaller online information center and public media center.