Attracting the Youth – Activities for Kids Living in Elgin

This Guest Blog is courtesy of Bartlett High School Student Ronin Shah.

Welcome to an exploration of Youth Lifestyle in the City of Elgin! Below you will find appealing suggestions of things to do for kids of all ages.

Home to approximately 100,000 people, Elgin has been roaring as a community and a city since 1854. As the fresh summer breeze is upon the city there are a multitude of attractions around the area including The Grand Victoria Casino or even a simple stroll along the Fox River; however, there are also activities that appeal to a group that does not get spoken about enough: The Youth of Elgin. Below you will find places located in the Downtown Elgin area that offer Recreational Activities, Fine Arts, and even Resources for the younger generation to receive help when needed.

Recreations in Downtown Elgin for Youth

The Swimming Complex located in The Centre of Elgin is one of the larger attractions for youth to gather with friends and have some fun!

The Centre of Elgin is located at 100 Symphony Way and there are countless opportunities for the youth to be embarking upon in the 180,000 square foot facility. The Centre is home to a fitness center, an indoor track, basketball courts, a pool, and various community areas. One program that is especially enjoyable for the youth is the organized basketball league that The Centre of Elgin has to offer. Here, children K-8th are able to maintain activity through athletics, and most importantly enjoy themselves with their friends.

Youth activities don’t stop there as The Centre of Elgin holds after school programs for children K-6th. The program provides transportation for the child from school to the facility and it offers a range of activities including team building games, rock climbing, and even homework help. A unique aspect of the facility is that they also have accommodations specifically for kids who are home-schooled. This accommodation allows home-schooled kids to attend a 1-hour physical education program where they are able to add physical fitness and socialization time into their lifestyle. The Centre even offers Dance, Ceramic, and Taekwondo classes for those that are interested. The Centre of Elgin has something for all children, and it is a great way to create memories that will last a lifetime.

The “Artsy” Scene for Youth in Downtown Elgin

Side Street Studio Arts welcomes all with open arms to take a look at the fun and educational arts activities they have to offer.

Side Street Studio Arts is an organization that promotes and cultivates creativity in the youth. Their mission is for children to find the courage to reveal themselves through artistic expression, develop a creative imagination, and instill problem solving skills within them. The Studio offers many free programs for children. One program that really stands out is their weekly Summer Youth Virtual Exhibition. Every week young artists are given a theme, and it is their job to create a piece of work that relates or represents the theme that they are given. The exhibition is completely free and children of all ages are able to participate in.

In addition, private lessons are also offered through the studio to enhance the artistic abilities of these young and upcoming minds. The studio has a wide variety of great teachers to choose from, and kids are able to attend these classes in order to gain a multitude of skills that they can utilize for the rest of their lives. One thing that makes the studio beneficial is that they are committed to giving back to the community of Elgin. With the recent Pandemic, the studio noticed the countless number of people that struggled to afford certain needs. They made it a priority to give back! Side Street partnered with local sponsors to provide free art kits to children in the Elgin area. Side Street Studio Arts hopes that all children have no fear and go out and express their innovative minds in the real world.

Boys & Girls Club Supports Local Youth

The Elgin Boys & Girls Club is expanding with a new $4.6 million dollar facility in South Elgin.

The Boys and Girls Club of Elgin is a prominent resource for youth in and around Downtown Elgin. The BGCE promotes the development of the youth, leads them on the path to graduation, prepares them for post-graduate life, and helps them plan for their future. The club has a wide-variety of programs that exemplify characteristics such as Healthy Lifestyles and Social Justice. Some may ask, “What programs does the BGCE have that exemplifies such characteristics?” Well, the BGCE has educational activities and workshops teaching about drug prevention, health/fitness enhancement, and even their own STEM-curriculum to uplift educational opportunity.

The BGCE does not stop there as they continuously hold events throughout the year to get more youth involved. One event that seemed very exciting and filled with fun was the “Golf Fore Kids” event. The goal of Golf Fore Kids is to raise money for the BGCE while creating a fun atmosphere to golf in a tournament based setting at TopGolf. An upcoming event that will be very energetic and vibrant is the “Rock the River” event being held in late August. This event incorporates a ton of food, creative youth performances, and amazing live music and open dancing for the children to enjoy. Events like these are a great opportunity for the youth to have a memorable experience with the community, and it is something that they would not want to miss out on! Because of how successful the Elgin location has been, a new facility is being built in South Elgin to bring growth to the youth in that area as well. The Boys and Girls Club of Elgin has the mission of creating a safe and connected environment for the youth, and with their limitless programs and events there is always something that they have to offer for youth in our community.

The City of Elgin is one that has an unimaginable amount of opportunities for the youth to enjoy, and there are many other places around the area where they are able to have a great time such as parks, biking trails, aquatic centers, libraries, museums, and even a bowling alley. All of these activities in Downtown Elgin not only uphold the youth culture but it also upholds the culture of the entire city. It is essential that these resources remain for the younger generations so that they have an appreciation for the city, and that they will be able to provide a unique culture for those that come after them. After all, the current children will be the next generation of people to sustain the community of Elgin.