Resident Feature

“Parks to People”

Brings the Natural World to Online Audiences

Join the Parks District for a family-friendly Virtual Campfire Program as we bring the outdoors to you! 

The Park District’s interpretive and recreation programs and activities have traditionally been taught live at our visitor centers or out in the parks. The Shelter-in- Place order changed everything for Park District staff, with the sudden closure of all visitor centers and being restricted to working from home. Fortunately, there were projects in the works that would enable them to bring their live classes and activities to a larger audience through a digital platform. 

Naturalists and outdoor recreation staff were already developing content for short educational videos to cover some of their interpretive topics. A collection of new videos called Creature Features, published daily on Facebook since the end of March, spotlights natural wonders found throughout the parks and was shot entirely by Park District staff working from home to replace their regular live programs. A new Park District web page, Parks to People, was launched soon thereafter and is now home to the Digital Learning program, offering virtual reality park tours, nature and field study videos and downloadable activities and games. 

“The digital offerings at the Park District expanded greatly during the crisis,” said Anne Kassebaum, Chief of Interpretive and Recreation Services. “The stay-at-home order elevated the importance of virtual learning and our naturalists and outdoor recreation staff have risen to the challenge. 

“The Park District’s online interface may be some youths’ first introduction to nature, but we really hope these initial online experiences encourage people to go out and experience nature in person,” she added. 

Watch the virtual campfire here: https://youtu.be/ByN0bUuDLTk