Families enjoy a toasty community campfire

After a sweet rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” by 4-year-old Lily Ytuarte of Waukegan, her mom, Rose Rodriguez, and the rest of a crowd that was gathered around a campfire July 8 clapped and cheered.

“Let’s hear another one,” one person yelled.

The small crowd, made up of three remaining families of a larger group, was winding down the night after what Jan Ward, environmental educator at the Lake County Forest Preserve District, called a successful community campfire.

“Last month, we had 54 people show up, and it was great,” she said.

Since 2009, Ward has been leading the Community Campfire Friday Nights – events that came to fruition after the center held a marshmallow roast during a Toys for Tots event.

About 200 people took part in that event, and what Ward learned that night planted the seed for the Friday night campfires, she said.

“I discovered that many kids had never done that before, and I thought, ‘Everyone should know what roasting a marshmallow is all about,’” Ward said.

Curious 4-year-old Macbeth Jimenez Jr. of Waukegan learned all about it July 8, and then he couldn’t get enough. Dragging his mom, Maricela Jimenez, all the way to the campfire, he shouted, “Mommy, look! They’re camping!”

It was the Jimenez family’s first time attending the campfire event, and a classic campfire treat had caught the 4-year-old’s eye.

“The first thing he went for was the marshmallows,” Maricela Jimenez said.

But the Friday night campfire is more than just marshmallow roasting and s’more making. For one Gurnee family, it also was an opportunity to switch things up a bit.

“Fridays are usually family days,” said Lori Young. “I think now they’ll be marshmallow nights.”

Young and her husband, David, saw the event advertised in the forest preserve district’s newsletter, Horizons, and the couple thought it was a great opportunity to spend time with their three kids, Zack, 10; Gigi, 7; and Justin, 4.

But that only happened for a minute.

Before the Youngs knew it, the three siblings had quickly made friends and disappeared to go play with a ball.

“This is my favorite thing – the kids just coming together to have spontaneous play,” Ward said, as she watched the little ones run after the ball.

Another aspect of the Friday campfire that Ward said she enjoyed was the infinite amount of teaching and learning opportunities available for kids and parents.

“I always have a couple of activities for everyone to do,” Ward said.

On this particular night, ponding or scoop-netting for crayfish had the crowd amazed.

Other activities planned for future Community Campfire Friday Nights are Native American drumming, story-telling and fort-building.

The events are a part of the Leave No Child Inside initiative sponsored by the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

Want to know more?

• The next Community Campfire Friday Night will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 13, near the Lake County Forest Preserve Districts in North Chicago, across the street from the Greenbelt Cultural Center. Use the entrance on the west side of Green Bay Road, and follow the signs to shelter D. The program is free; no registration is required. All ages are welcome.
• S'more-making ingredients will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own bug spray, lawn chairs and drinks.
• Other tentative dates for campfire nights are Sept. 16 and Oct. 14.
• For more information, call the Lake County Forest Preserve at 847-367-6640.