What is Virtual Recreation?
The Wheaton Park District staff has created a collection of recreation activities, videos, and resources for residents, members, and participants to enjoy in a virtual, safe, and/or socially distanced way. As we continue to move through the Restore Illinois Phased Reopening Plan you will find our offerings and resources will expand to adapt and grow with the new normal experienced not only in the field of Parks and Recreation, but across the community.
Stuff for Kids
Virtual and Remote Programming
Programs Offered by Wheaton Park District
Look for these icons next to program names to identify virtual & remote programming options:
Fall Program Registration
Registration now open
Programs start 9/15
Enrichment Registration
Registration open 9/4
Programs start 9/15
Resources
Indoor Activities
Kids Crafts & Activities
from Happiness is HomemadeVideos & Games
PBS KIDSRecycling Crafts – Instructions (PDF)
from Wheaton Park District Green TeamArt & Science Activities by Age
by Tinker LabColoring Pages, Word Find and Nature Book List
from Lincoln MarshDigital Escape Rooms for Kids and Families
from Mama Teaches
Fitness Activities
15 Ways to Keep Kids Active Indoors Even If You Don’t Have Much Space
By Angela Serednicki, Today’s Parent- Fun Indoor Exercises for School-Aged Kids (5-12 Yrs)
From Care.com - 25 Ways to Get Kids Moving at Home
From American Heart Association - Simple Indoor Exercises To Do With Kids
From Sittercity.com
Educational Tools
At-home and distance learning activities
from National Park TrustResources for students
from Library of CongressDistance learning programs
from U.S. National Archives
Story Time with Wheaton Park District
Ride the Train at DuPage County Historical Museum
Yoga with Cosmic Kids
How-To Videos by GoNoodle
Get Fit + Stay Fit
Resources
Fitness Options from Parks Plus Fitness
Parks Plus Fitness Center Gym is currently open to members and offers group fitness classes. Visit parksplusfitness.com for more information.
Total Body Workout with Parks Plus Fitness
Build Athletic Skills
Videos
Drills with Wheaton Park District Athletic Leagues & Staff
Baseball
Training Videos from Ultimate Baseball Training
Lacrosse
- Player and Parent Videos: Get Off the Couch Challenge Compilation from New Wave Lacrosse
Basketball
Training Program by TrainForHoops
Training Video by DAGS Basketball
Elite Skills Training Video by Damin Altizer
Drills Video by Tyler Relph, NBA Skills Trainer
Soccer
Skills Training Videos from Future Pros
Training App from Street Kickers
Isolated Technical Training Series from IYSA
Tennis
Training Programs from JM Tennis
Lesson Videos from Daily Tennis Lesson
Programming
Programs Offered by Wheaton Park District Athletics
Click on program guide covers to be taken to the program guide viewer window. To search for specific programs, click the 
icon in the top right corner of the viewer.
Fall Program Registration
Registration now open
Programs start 9/15
Enrichment Registration
Registration now open
Programs start 9/15
Health & Wellness
Resources
Recipes & Nutrition
Delish – 30-Minute Meal Recipes
One Dish Kitchen – Cooking for one during quarantine, a 14-day meal plan
- Entrée Kitchen – Delicious, shopped and prepped meals (fees apply)
- MyPlate – USDA Choose My Plate program offers tips for making healthy meal choices
Tips from DuPage Medical Group
6 Tips for Disinfecting Your Mobile Phone: How to Keep Your Electronics Germ-Free
- 5 Ways to Boost Your Immune System Through Your Gut – By Vishal Desai, MD
Practice Self-Care
- Unplug – Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media; unplug from electronic devices to help lower stress levels.
Take care of your body – Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and make time to unwind.
- Connect with others – Reach out to a friend or relative you haven’t spoken to in a while to check-in. These are healthy ways to maintain relationships even while practicing social distancing.
- Work on Mindfulness – Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.
Educational Enrichment
Programming
Browse Program Publications
Browse Our Websites
Click on program guide covers to be taken to the program guide viewer window. To search for specific programs, click the icon in the top right corner of the viewer. Look for these icons next to program names to identify virtual & remote programming options:
Fall Program Registration
Registration now open
Programs start 9/15
Enrichment Registration
Registration open 9/4
Programs start 9/15
Animals & Nature
Programming
Animal & Nature Programs Offered by Wheaton Park District
Fall programs start 9/15
Videos
Watch the animals at Cosley Zoo
Visit Cosley Zoo in-person – plan your trip
Experience nature at Lincoln Marsh
Visit Lincoln Marsh and find your way using a Trail Map
Activities
At-Home Animal Enrichment
By providing Cosley Zoo’s animals with enrichment, we are encouraging them to exhibit choice and control in their environment, participate in physical activity, and exhibit natural behaviors. Enrichment is a crucial component of Cosley Zoo’s animal wellness program and is just as important to an animal’s health as the proper diet or veterinary care.
Just as the zoo’s animals benefit from enrichment, so will your own pets at home! Before giving any enrichment item to your animal, make sure it is safe (having no loose parts that can come off and be swallowed, for example) and always supervise the animal while it interacts with the enrichment. The links below contain some ideas for enriching your pets. Use them as a starting point and put your creativity to work to make your pet’s day!
- Hogle Zoo: Enrichment for Dogs and Cats
- Preventative Vet: Enrichment for Dogs
- Best Friends: Enrichment for Cats
- Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital: Enrichment for Birds
Be a Citizen Scientist
- National Geographic: Citizen Science Opportunities are fun and educational activities you can do at home with your family. There are a variety of citizen science opportunities to match your interests. If you have questions about citizen science, please contact Cosley Zoo’s education department at education@cosleyzoo.org.
- FrogWatch USA: Listen for frogs and report data and you’ll provide researchers with valuable information about the distribution of frogs and toads. Observations take only three minutes! Cosley Zoo has a local chapter of this program, which is an initiative of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Visit cosleyzoo.org for details.
- Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network: Observation and help land managers determine best practices for protecting a butterfly habitat.
- Project Budburst: Submit data about seasonal changes in plants, and you’ll give scientists tools to learn about how plants react to a changing climate.
Project Squirrel: Provide information on squirrels living near you, whether you live in the city, country, or suburbs. As scientists receive information on the changes in squirrel populations, they can use that data to make predictions about changes in the numbers of other plants and animals in an area.
Ebird: Observe birds and enter information into the e-bird website or free app. You can also learn about recent bird sightings near you, find local hotspots and public areas which are frequently visited by birdwatchers.
iNaturalist: It’s easier than ever to be a citizen scientist with this free app. Simply take a photo of what you see and then quickly upload it as an observation. The app will keep track of your findings and let you get help identifying them.
Scistarter.org: Over 2,700 citizen science projects for your family to choose from!
Get Outdoors
Our Outdoors are Open!
Activities
Social Distancing & Safety Guidelines
Enjoy parks and facilities safelyNature Play Tips:
- Parent’s Guide to Nature Play – Natural Start
- How to Explore the Outdoors with Your Kids – PBS
- Nature Play at Home – State of Minnesota
- Outdoor Activities – Tinkergarten
Popular Park Activities:
- Visit with the animals at Cosley Zoo
- Reserve a tee time at Arrowhead Golf Course
- Ride a skateboard or play a round of mini golf at Clocktower Mini Golf & Skate Park
- Explore the accessible tree house at Sensory Garden Playground
- Walk, run, or bike the trails at your local park
- Take your dog to the park–man’s best friend needs exercise too! See dog exercise area restrictions
- Visit the Prairie Patch Play Area at Lincoln Marsh
- Go birdwatching using the Merlin Bird ID App
Browse parks, facilities, and playgrounds with ease using the interactive map below.
Select the Park, Playground, or Facility tab/button to search for a location type, then click a map pin 
or location from the list to see details.
Virtual To-Do List
Activities
Podcasts
- Where to Listen:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Stitcher
Google Podcasts Best Travel Podcasts of 2020
List compiled by Feedspot
Entertainment
Crafts
Make Rainbow Play Dough
From Tinker Lab
Video Tours
Wheaton Park District Facilities
Watch videos below or go to Park & Facility Tours to view drone tours of select facilities.
Other Tours
Stay Local
Resources
Community Resources
Western DuPage Special Recreation Association
WDSRA’s mission, the development of individuals through recreation, makes it possible for more than 4,500 individuals served to grow personally, connect with their community and discover their potential.
WDSRA is an award-winning organization and has been providing recreational and social opportunities to individuals of all ages with disabilities since 1976. WDSRA is a cooperative extension of nine park districts serving the communities of Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Roselle, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield.
Wheaton School District 200
District 200 is located in DuPage County and primarily serves the communities of Wheaton and Warrenville, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Winfield, West Chicago, and adjacent unincorporated areas. The district operates a total of 23 facilities:
1 Early Childhood Center
13 Elementary Schools
4 Middle Schools
2 High Schools
1 Transition Program
2 Operational Centers – School Service Center and Woodland
Wheaton Public Library
Originally founded in 1891, Wheaton Public Library overlooks beautiful Adams Park in downtown Wheaton and features friendly service, up to date collections, several public computers, ample parking, a full-service café, and free programs for all ages. WPL was voted Large Business of the Year in the Best of Wheaton awards for 2016 and 2018.
Conservation Foundation
facebook.com/TheConservationFoundation
The Conservation Foundation is a non-profit land and river protection organization founded in 1972. The support of more than 3,500 members and 500 volunteers helps the organization carry out its mission to preserve and restore open space and natural lands, protect rivers and watersheds, and promote stewardship of the environment in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois.
VIEW: Conservation Foundation volunteer advisory council’s compiled list of Best Places for Nature Rx (PDF)
People’s Resource Center
Mission
People’s Resource Center community exists to respond to basic human needs, promote dignity and justice, and create a future of hope and opportunity for the residents of DuPage County, Illinois through discovering and sharing personal and community resources.
SCARCE
Mission
To help people discover how easy it can be to make a meaningful difference for our kids, for our environment, for our future…and often for all three at once.
About
School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education (SCARCE) is an environmental education non-profit and resource center. SCARCE provides educational programs for anyone from age 2-92, provides books and supplies to schools and non-profits, works with schools, businesses, municipalities, park districts, libraries, scout groups, garden clubs, senior centers, and more to provide engaging environmental education programs.
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a nationally recognized conservation agency that envisions a community in which all citizens share a connection with nature and an appreciation for cultural history. Their purpose is to acquire, preserve, protect and restore the natural resources in DuPage County while providing opportunities for people to connect with nature.
Find Local Businesses & Amenities
Visit local business organizations and partner sites:
Downtown Wheaton Association
Wheaton Chamber of Commerce
Dine at Arrowhead Golf Club
Request a dining reservation online or by phone at 630-653-5800. Takeout and delivery orders are also available.
View a virtual tour of Arrowhead Banquet Facility: Part 1 | Part 2
Virtual Recreation Center Sponsors:
