Green Parent Chicago

The Cure for Cabin Fever: Our Top Picks For Winter Family Activities

Chicago parents are no stranger to those restless winter days of few daylight hours filled with active kids eager to let some healthy energy out.

To take the stress out of planning what to do and where to go when you know you just have to get out of the house, we've compiled a list of great ways to play away the day. Some are indoors, most are outdoors (or both) and many are free or low cost. Take a look and have a blast!

There's plenty of outdoor winter fun going on at Morton Arboretum, where kids admission is free through January 4. Bundle up and enjoy nature in all its wintry glory at the arboretum.

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Bring your own skis or snowshoes, or a limited amount of rental snowshoes are available onsite at $8 for up to three hours (Arboretum members get discounts).
Regular arboretum hours apply.

Cool Kids Nature Hikes  
Nov. 28 to Feb. Weekdays: 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Weekends: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., & 12:30 p.m. Children's Garden. Embark on a 20-minute hike followed by a warm cup of cocoa for kids. Hike themes change every two weeks and depends on weather conditions.

Going on a Gnome Hunt
December–February
Daily 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Children’s Garden The animals may be hibernating, but we still have gnomes. Can you find all of the gnomes hiding in the Children’s Garden?

Love nature, but just not into the cold? Stop indoor at the Garfield Park Conservatory where kids can play in the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden complete with tunnel slide, touchable plants, a baby crawler pit and weekend drop-in activities. While there, see Winter 2008 Holiday Traditions, the conservatory's annual holiday flower show featuring poinsettias and other plants in the colors of the season.
Winter 2008 Holiday Traditions runs now until January 11.
Hours: Conservatory hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, open Thursdays till 8 p.m.
Cost: Free  

Little train lovers will marvel at the miniature Holiday trains of Wonderland Express at Chicago Botanic Garden. Chicago’s most famous landmarks appear throughout this landscape and are constructed of all-natural materials collected in the wild, such as gourds, pine cones, bark and wooden logs, acorns, eucalyptus pods, grains and grasses, and more.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through Jan. 4. (closed at 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 24 and all day Dec. 25).
Cost: $10 for adults and $8 for children (ages 3-12) and seniors (62+). Members pay $8 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12) and seniors (62+).
Admission to Wonderland Express on Tuesdays through Dec. 23 is free. All ticket purchases are timed for entry. Parking is $15 per car; free for Garden members.

Also at Chicago Botanic Garden, you may want to catch the "Winter Wonders" family drop-in activities held in Burnstein Hall from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from now through Dec. 21 and daily from Dec. 22 through Jan. 4 (closed at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 and all day Dec. 25). Station-based, hands-on activities include exploring snowflakes, conifer branches and cones, making bird feeders with natural materials and more.

Take a ride on a real holiday train this month. The CTA Holiday Train is back again. Interiors of the CTA train cars are decked out with thousands of multi-colored lights, red bows, garland, and red and green overhead lighting. The hand poles are wrapped to look like candy canes. As the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to the boarding passengers from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar that carries his reindeer and decorated holiday trees. Santa and his elves will pass out candy canes and season's greetings to passengers.

Here's a schedule of remaining dates and train lines that feature the Holiday Train:

December 18 -- Purple Line Express
December 19 -- Red Line
December 20 -- Orange Line
December 22 -- Purple Line Express
December 23 -- Yellow Line

Hours: The train operates from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on select weekdays (schedules for each individual line will vary). The Holiday Train will make stops at all stations along the respective routes.
Cost: normal CTA fares apply.

After working up an appetite from all the fun, you can sample delicious German holiday treats like  brats, goulash, potato pancakes, cookies and, for grown-ups, Gluhwein (a warm spiced wine) at Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza. Inspired by the famous Nuremburg Christmas market dating back to 1545, this outdoor market offers handmade gifts, unique ornaments, rare European fabrics and textiles and German delicacies. Children may also enjoy a view of the city's giant Christmas tree at Daley Plaza or a visit with Santa at the Santa House at Daley Plaza.

Hours for Santa visits now through Dec. 23:
Monday to Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
December 24: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Santa takes a break each day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
Cost: Free for Santa visits

Christkindlemarket dates: Nov 27, 2008 - Dec 24, 2008
Hours:  11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Lastly, don't forget the annual Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Festival December 27 to 29 at McCormick Place. The annual indoor festival consists of demonstrations, sports tournaments, a chess tournament, interactive sports zones, a tots zone and more.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free

CTA Fares Increase for 2009, Changes Ahead for CTA/Pace Riders

Effective January 1, 2009, the Chicago Transit Authority will raise fares for most riders on buses and trains to aid budget shortfalls for the year.

The changes are said to be less than the 20 percent increase originally proposed. Reduced fares will remain the same as 2008 levels. So fares will not increase for people with disabilities or elementary and high school students.

A chart of the 2009 fares can be found here.

CTA University Pass (U-Pass) users, currently students from over 40 Chicago area colleges and universities, will see their fares raise by 15 percent for the Fall 2009 term.

CTA officials cited the "economic downturn" and "higher prices for energy, fuel and materials", a lack of designated state capital resources to replace aging equipment and infrastructure and free ride programs as factors impacting the 2009 budget.

In related news, the CTA announced a new joint 7-Day pass that can be used to travel on the CTA and Pace suburban bus service.

CTA’s 30-Day passes and stored value cards, Chicago Card, Chicago Card Plus and magnetic strip transit cards may still be used on Pace buses. However, Pace will no longer accept CTA’s 1-Day, 3-Day, 7-Day and U-Pass fare media on its system effective January 1, 2009.

The joint CTA/Pace 7-Day pass will cost $5 more than the price of a regular CTA 7-Day pass and is available beginning January 1.

Dress Your Family in CTA's Finest, You'll Never Miss Your Stop Again

The CTA this week unveiled a new online gift shop with themed merchandise and collectibles. A portion of sales will go to CTA operations.

Visitors to CTAgifts.com can purchase clothing, bags, household decor, books, children's items and collectibles bearing CTA retro logos or graphics of popular stops. Custom made items bearing favorite stop signage are also available through the site.

Children's items include baby onesies, baby bibs, kids t-shirts and a replica toy train car for use with Brio and Thomas wooden train sets (pictured above).

According to a press release on the new shop, the CTA contracted with Image Exchange, Inc to oversee the web store and its licensing program. Image Exchange also runs merchandise stores for the New York Transit Museum and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Image Exchange manages the merchandise program under license from the CTA and developed the  store at no expense to the agency. CTA will be paid royalties based on a percentage of sales at the site. 

******Our personal favorite: The system map shower curtain:

Some Moms Like New CTA MAX train cars

We wondered about this a few months ago. According to a Sun-Times report today, it looks like the CTA is getting positive feedback from moms and other riders who appreciate the extra room on the new seatless cars.

The CTA began testing the train cars Sept. 12 on Brown Line trains during rush hour. 12 to 14 seats were removed from the cars to accommodate an extra 20 standing riders during rush hour.

The report suggests the transit agency may add more seatless cars to the Blue Line and Orange Line to assist passengers who are traveling with luggage to and from O'Hare and Midway airports.

h/t Windy Citizen
photo credit: Rich Hein/Sun-Times

Parents At The Heart of Southwest Side Environmental Justice Group

What kind of city will we leave behind for our children? What can we as parents do to ensure our children do not suffer the health effects of dangerous air quality and industry and government negligence?

Two Chicago moms working for environmental health and justice in the Little Village neighborhood confront the answers to these questions daily.

Unfortunately for them and other residents of Little Village, their neighbors include 2 large coal-burning power plants. The power plants release mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollutants, all of which have been linked to asthma and emphysema.

Kim Wasserman Nieto and Lori Morrison-Contreras residents of the predominantly Mexican American southwest side neighborhood recently talked with me about the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and what it means to residents young and old neighborhood.

Wasserman Nieto, mother of 2 older boys and an infant daughter, is a coordinator with LVEJO. While we talked she held and nursed her daughter who she said she brings to work with her. She came to LVEJO when she was working for the Boys and Girls Club which was housed in the same building as LVEJO. When the Boys and Girls Club was faced with removal from the building, LVEJO members helped the group fight the efforts.

Morrison-Contreras, mother of a 13 month old daughter, previously worked with the United Farm Workers in Illinois and in California. Through her work with the UFW,  she first learned about LVEJO and became a member. She is now a board chair. Morrison-Contreras said she is inspired to work with the organization because she believes her community can make a difference in the environment.

"I work with LVEJO because we understand and work towards environmental justice for our entire environment, our community as a whole, the people, the land, the air, the water. Everything you can see, touch and smell and even what you can't is an integral part of our environment. We work closely with our neighbors to decide as a community what is beneficial to our environment and what is not..

Since becoming a mother this work has become even more important to me because I know what health risks my daughter is exposed to on a daily basis simply by living here and it is terrifying. But I also know the strength of my community and I know we can fight against those who are polluting our neighborhood and the outcome will be a healthier environment for us all."

LVEJO began in 1994 when neighborhood parents and residents proposed moving an existing elementary school to another location because of health concerns. A building roofing project was scheduled to occur during school hours.

According to the group, USEPA air pollution data shows that zip code 60623 has the 2nd worst air quality in the 8 county region of Chicago. Children in this area have the 9th highest rate of lead poisoning of Chicago’s 77 community areas with asthma rates of 17%. While there are only 11 acres of open/park space for 95,000 people which is the smallest in the city.

Little Village is the most densely populated neighborhood in Chicago and has the 2nd largest population: (95,000, according to a 2005 census estimate) of the city’s 77 community areas. The median age is the city’s youngest, 21.5 years old. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, it is the 23rd poorest of 77 community areas in the city. Schools are the most overcrowded in Chicago with a high school drop-out rate of 61% based on data from the Chicago Public Schools.

A recent Chi Town Daily News article reported that because of age, the two Fisk and Crawford coal burning plants located in Little Village and nearby Pilsen neighborhoods are exempt from federal regulations requiring modern pollution control devices. The group says the plants, owned by Midwest Generation, make over $32 million in profits per day with all of the energy they produce sold out of state.

Wasserman Nieto said Gov. Blagojevich has promised to "clean-up" the power plants, but the organization wants the plants shut down. LVEJO members want the plants replaced with renewable energy job training centers and alternative energy producers.

In addition to their efforts to promote clean energy in the area, LVEJO organizes campaigns and programs in the neighborhood that support access to public transit, open space, urban agriculture, youth environmental education and leadership programs.

Wasserman Nieto said the urban agriculture program especially offers seniors a sense of pride in contributing to gardening projects that benefit families who then share their harvest with one another and learn more about eating healthfully and economically.

Members of LVEJO held a press conference Aug. 8 at City Hall to address the lack of public transit options in their area. Group members would like to meet with Mayor Daley before the Feb. 9 deadline, when the city will submit its final bid for the Olympic games to the International Olympic Committee.

-photo LVEJO.org

What about strollers? CTA May Introduce Seat-less Train Cars Soon

Ridership is up on the CTA. Due in part to the rising cost of gas and the CTA's free rides for seniors program that just began in March of this year. Citing the increase Wednesday, CTA officials announced at a transit board meeting that the agency will soon experiment with seat-less cars on rush hour trains to address increased ridership and crowded trains.

While this would serve as one solution to allowing more riders on board, how might this effect the ridership of parents with kids, who may also be carrying a folded up stroller along?

The cars would debut on the Brown Line by fall, according to CTA President Ron Huberman.  An eight-car train would include at least two contiguous cars without seats. Elderly, disabled and pregnant passengers could choose to ride in the cars with seating, Huberman said.

While some parents never bring a stroller along on public transit, opting to travel with a sling or carrier only. Other parents, including many who also bring a sling or carrier tote a lightweight stroller along for their older child or to ease the burden of carrying a diaper bag, lunch and sleeping baby all at once.

Though most parents who ride the CTA during rush hour and other busy times are probably no stranger to crowded conditions, it will be interesting to note what type of extra planning parents may have to consider before boarding a seat-less train. In addition, it remains to be seen if the plan will actually cut ridership numbers of parents with young kids.

We want to hear from you at Green Parent Chicago: would you plan any differently for trips on a seat-less train? If so how? Or is planning as simple as avoiding peak travel times or just leaving the stroller at home?