Welcome to Adult Variety programs! We have something for nearly every interest. Learn a new skill or make new friends within the DeKalb Park District community! We also offer Fitness Classes, Adult Athletics, Memberships, Indoor Open Walk, Open Gym, and Open Pickleball. 

Register Now! 

By signing up for programs early, you're not just securing your spot, you're also playing a crucial role in preventing cancellations and ensuring that our programs meet their minimum participant requirements. So, why not take the lead and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to join you or spread the word in our community? 


Nature Packs

Thanks to grant funds courtesy of the Meta DeKalb Data Center, the DeKalb Park District is excited to offer a new year-round Nature Pack Program! 

Each themed nature pack has hands-on learning items for fun-filled outdoor adventures for families and individuals to enjoy in your local parks. For a refundable $100 CASH deposit or voidable personal check, you can reserve each pack for up to two weeks at select facilities. 

Nature Pack Themes: Trees; Wildflowers; Birds; or Insects 

Check out each pack for two weeks at a time
N/A
Haish Gym or Hopkins Community Center
$100 Refundable Deposit

Cardio & Cards

Ages 50+ • Thursdays • Sports & Recreation Center, Conference Room

Start your morning by enjoying an indoor walk at the Sports and Recreation Center. Then, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm, join others for a game of Bridge- the popular card game! Indoor Open Walk is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am -12:00 pm. Join us on these select Thursdays for Bridge and Walking, or join for Bridge and skip the walking! 

1/2

2/6

3/6

4/3

10:00 am-12:00 pm 
$5 R / $6 NR per date
Register Here

Bunco Party

Ages 50+ • Fridays • Sports & Recreation Center, Conference Room

Bunco is a game played with dice and a whole lot of luck! Come on out and enjoy a fun afternoon with fun and fellowship. 

1/24

2/28

3/28

4/25

3:00 - 4:30 pm
$5 R / $6 NR per date
Register Here

Bingo Bonanza

Ages 50+ • Thursdays • Sports & Recreation Center, Conference Room

Join us for an afternoon of fun, friendship, and fabulous prizes at our Bingo Bonanza—where every number called brings you closer to a win!

3/20

4/17

1:00 - 2:30 pm 
$5 R / $6 NR per date
Register Here

Cross Country Skiing

Ages 11+ • Saturday • River Heights Golf Course

Known as the sport of skinny skis or XC, cross country uses the art of the straight-line stride. In a group setting, learn basic instruction including how to use the equipment, the benefit of balance, trail etiquette, safety precautions and what to wear. Fee includes skis, boots, and poles.

2/8
10:00 am - Noon 
$52 R/ $63 NR am-Noon
Register Here

Puzzle Palooza Competition & Puzzle Swap

Ages 6+ • Sunday • Haish Gym, Large Gym

Teams of 2-4 individuals will race against other teams to finish the same 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. The team who is closest to finishing at the end of two hours wins! The 1st and 2nd place teams will receive a winning certificate and prize. Stick around after the competition for our puzzle swap. Puzzle Swap: Bring your own old puzzle(s) that are ready to be rehomed (please make sure all the pieces are present) and leave with a new-to-you puzzle. Please choose one person to register for the competition and enter your team's name and number of players in the special box at registration. Only two people on your team can be 18+.

3/9

1:00 - 3:00 pm
$45 R/ $56 NR
Register Here

CPR/AED/First Aid for the Workplace

Ages 14+ • Wednesday • Sports & Recreation Center, Conference Room

Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide basic care for breathing emergencies, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an automated external defibrillator (AED) on victims of sudden cardiac arrest and basic first aid. Participants that pass the course will receive a two-year certification with the American Red Cross. There is a 2-hour online component of this class that will be emailed to you that you must complete before attending the in-person class.

3/12
5:00-7:00 pm
$58 R/ $73 NR
Register Here

Self-Defense

Ages 13 + • Thursdays • Haish Gym, Large Gym

Calling all women that want to stay safe and learn different techniques to get out of various holds and attacks! Take this self-defense class to learn about methods of safety, what to look for in situations that might cause a woman to be on the alert, how to be prepared in case of a true incident and more. This will be a combination of demonstrations of physical moves and educational information that can help women get away from a dangerous situation.

2/6

4/24

6:00 - 8:00 pm
$22 R/ $28 NR
Register Here

Guided Forest Therapy Walk

Ages 16+ • Saturdays • Lions Park Shelter, 700 W. Taylor Street

Discover tranquility and renewal through a guided forest therapy walk, inspired by the practice of shinrin-yoku: bathing your senses in the atmosphere of the forest. During this gentle walk you’ll slow down, awaken your senses and reconnect with nature in a meaningful way—not for exercise or plant education, but to reduce stress, lift mood, boost immune function, improve focus, and enhance creativity, among other health benefits. Find peace in nature and join us for a restorative outdoor wellness experience.

3/15

4/19

9:30-11:30 am 
$22 R/$28 NR
Register Here

Beginner Photography Class: Capturing the Basics 

Ages 12+ • Saturday • Hopkins Community Center, Lower Level

Discover the art of photography in this new class designed for aspiring photographers with little to no experience. This course covers the essential skills, techniques, and programs used in post-production and will finish with a guided walk and hands-on practice. Bring your camera, a notebook, and a pen, and dress appropriately for weather conditions.  

3/1
9:00 - 10:30 am
$46 R/ $56 NR
Register Here

Mindfulness Meditation

Ages 18+  •  Saturdays  •  Sports & Recreation Center, Studio

Join us for gentle stretching and breathwork techniques used to strengthen mental focus and cognition. This class is appropriate for all levels.

3/29 - 4/19
10:30 - 11:30 am
$38 R/ $48 NR 
Register Here

Out & About Trips

Rockford Ice Hogs v. Chicago Wolves

Ages 8+ (17 & younger with an adult)  |  Sunday  |  Meet at Sports & Rec Center Lobby

Don't miss out on the chance to see our two minor league teams battle each other on the rink. Join us on a trip to the Allstate Arena as we watch the Rockford Ice Hogs take on the Chicago Wolves! Group departure from the Sports & Recreation Center is at 1:00 pm, game time is 3:00 pm, and anticipated return time is 7:30 pm. Registration Deadline is 2/2!

2/23

1:00 – 7:30 pm
$90 R/ $113 NR 
Register Here

Tilted 10 Arcade

Ages 12+  •  Friday  •  Meet at Sports & Recreation Center Lobby

Join us on an exciting trip to Tilted 10 Arcade in Rockford where you will receive a play card giving you access to over 100 games along with an attraction like mini-bowling, black light laser tag, mini-golf or bumper cars! Registration Deadline by 3/10!

3/14

5:30 - 9:30 pm 
$45 R/ $56 NR 
Register Here

Waitress

Ages 18+ •  Wednesday •  Meet at Sports & Rec Center Lobby

A Broadway show, Waitress, is about a woman and her apple pie. What is more American than apple pie? A small-town waitress with a dream and the ingredients for success! Sugar, butter, flour. These aren’t the only ingredients Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, uses to make her famous pies. Stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage, Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant and then finds acceptance and love in the most unexpected place. Depart from the Recreation Center at 12:00 pm; 4:30 pm is the approximate arrival time back. Registration Deadline: 3/12!

3/19
Noon - 4:30 pm 
$90 R/ $113 NR 
Register Here

Volo Museum

Ages 8+ (17 & younger with an adult)  •  Sunday  • Meet at Sports & Recreation Center Lobby

Ignite your imagination and accelerate your curiosity with a day trip to the Volo Museum. Enjoy a day exploring mechanical marvels, classic cars, Monster Trucks, boats, planes, trains, and more! The Volo Museum was established in 1960 by the Gams family, and today, there are over 40 unique exhibits and over 10,000 unique mechanical marvels. There's something for everyone to see! Registration Deadline: 3/21

3/30
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
$79 R/ $99 NR
Register Here

Dog Training

Ages 16+  |  Mondays  |  Haish Gym, Large Gym

Dogs must be 16+ weeks old for all classes, and proof of rabies and distemper/parvo vaccinations is required!

For Beginner and Advanced classes only, a training collar is used. Children may train the dog during these two classes as long as an adult guardian is present to take over if needed. Dogs do not come the first night. 


Beginner Dog Obedience

This obedience program teaches all breeds and ages, from puppies to adult, basics obedience such as heel (formal leash walking), sit, down, stand, stay, and come (recall). The training follows AKC training standards and balanced training.

2/3 - 3/24

4/21 - 6/16

No class on 5/26!

6:00 - 7:00 pm
$76 R/ $95 NR per dog
Register Here

Advanced Dog Obedience

This program is for dogs/handlers that have already gone through Beginner classes (through Park District or equivalent training) and would like to further their training with skills such as off-leash obedience, longer and out-of-sight stays, and drop-on recall.

4/21 - 6/16
No class on 5/26!
7:00-8:00 pm
$76 R/ $95 NR per dog
Register Here

Canine Good Citizen

Work on skills associated with achieving AKC Canine Good Citizen status. The last day of class will be used for participants to take the CGC test. Class focuses on mastering CGC test items such as socialization, loose leash walking, proper manners when approached by friendly stranger or dog, allowing brushing and handling, and basic obedience. This program is for dogs/handlers that have already gone through Beginner classes (through the Park District or equivalent training). Bring your dog the first night!

2/10 - 3/17
7:00 - 8:00 pm
$57 R/ $71 NR
Register Here

Colleen Rittmeyer

Knitting Instructor, Craft Yarn Council certified instructor, Upper and Lower Elementary Montessori Certified teacher, director of Barb City Homeschool Co-op

 

Colleen has long had a passion for teaching! She taught for three years at a private Montessori school while attending NIU for their Elementary Education program. After that, she took a break to be home with her own children, and began her homeschooling journey. Through this, she has run several homeschool programs in the community, including programming at three area libraries, and two separate homeschooling groups with over 500 combined families total. She also runs a secular homeschool co-op, teaching ages 5 through high school. 

 

Colleen has also been knitting since the age of 8, in addition to crocheting for the past decade. She has taught this skill for years, including as a Craft Yarn Council certified instructor at Michael's and through programming at the DeKalb library. She loves seeing people learn to create with their hands and working with them to overcome any challenges they might face.