My friends and I took an early June trip to southern Illinois figuring we'd see the Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest, hike around, and relax in terrain that's very different than the flatlands of the Chicago area. It turns out there are so many fun things to do in Southern Illinois! With a combination of national forest, national wildlife refuges, state forest, state parks, and nature preserves there are fantastic opportunities for ... [ Read More ]
2021 Summer STEM Camp Guide: Chicago Edition
Is it possible that all those hours playing Minecraft will lead your child to a lucrative career? With the right guidance, all that screen time may pay off! In partnership with our companion site, STEM Kids Chicago, we're present with Chicagoland's most comprehensive guide to STEM and STEAM camps. Whether they are in elementary school, middle school, or high school, these camps can ignite your child's passion for science and technology or fan the ... [ Read More ]
Private Schools in the Chicago Metro Area
If you're a longtime fan of this blog, you know that our family had a lot of school struggles. While I encourage everyone to at least try their public schools, I know they aren't always a fit. We moved our boys to a private school after it became clear that our public school could not meet my son's needs. That's why I put together this Chicago private school guide. It originally appeared on STEM Kids Chicago, and I thought it made sense to share ... [ Read More ]
In Memory of Isaac Moldofsky
In January my bright, kind, beautiful son, Isaac Moldofsky, died. By suicide. He was 21. It was completely unexpected. We had no idea. He left a tsunami of devastation in his wake. He had no idea. These are my remarks from his memorial service with links added since it's on the web and all. To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. Be kind to yourself and those you love. Isaac was 3.5 years old ... [ Read More ]
20 Awesome STEM Enrichment Programs around Chicago
As if our recent Guide to Chicagoland Coding Classes wasn't enough, now we've gone full STEM ahead to bring you a roundup of 20 STEM enrichment programs around Chicago and the metro area. It's full of great options to help your elementary or middle school student build STEM skills in a fun, low-pressure environment that can introduce them to exciting new topics or supplement what they're learning in school. This guide is brought to you by ... [ Read More ]
Coding Classes for Kids around Chicago
Over the years, I've fielded a ton of questions about where to find coding classes for kids, especially around Chicago, my hometown. It's finally here! The providers below offer afterschool and weekend coding classes. Some even offer special 1:1 coaching or mentoring to support your budding programmer. Coding skills are 21st-century job skills. They open the doors to so many opportunities. With code, your child can create games, animations, ... [ Read More ]
Vision Board Workshop!
My life is nothing if not a winding path. Now that I'm in my 50s, I appreciate the twists and turns that have made for a pretty great ride. My latest pivot involves offering workshops that jive with my guiding motto (derived from a long-forgotten source) have fun and learn new things. Scrappy Affirmations Workshops I learned to use a laser cutter when I helped launch mHUB, Chicago's innovation space for physical product entrepreneurs, a few ... [ Read More ]