Only a bear would want to hibernate through winter in St. Charles. With sledding hills and skating rinks, miles of open space perfect for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, the St. Charles Park District is a haven for those who would rather head out than stay in.

Feel a case of the wintertime blahs setting in? Want to cheer up? Chill out! Outdoor activities can help release the “happy hormones” of adrenaline and norepinephrine, and even just 15 minutes’ exposure to sunlight can help supply the vitamin D necessary to build strong bones.

Though one’s inclination may be to hunker down and wait it out until spring, experts advise getting outdoors in the winter as the best way to shake off the blues and burn up some calories.

So where to go and what to do? To make winter slip-slide away, swap out the sneakers for a pair of skates and head over to any one of four ice skating rinks maintained by the St. Charles Park District. Ice skating is available at Davis, Lincoln and Timber Trails parks, and ice hockey can be played at Langum Park. Rinks are open daily, and lighted until 9 p.m. for nighttime skating.

The park district starts prepping the rinks in November, according to Jeff Goodrich, assistant superintendent of parks.

“To begin freezing water for the outdoor rinks, we need about three consecutive days where the temperature stays at 15 degrees or lower with no snow in the forecast,” said Goodrich.

This then has to be followed by another five snow-free days where the temperature stays below 32 degrees before the rinks are safe for skating.

“It’s tricky,” Goodrich admits.

All told, about 250 hours of advance work go into preparing the ice rinks, followed by regular maintenance several times a week to check for resurfacing.

With the rinks prepared, Goodrich and his staff also monitor conditions optimal for snow sledding, snow shoeing and other fun winter activities.

“We want to see a uniform covering of snow,” said Goodrich. “If we can see grass showing through on about half of a sled hill, we’ll close it so no one gets injured trying to sled or snowboard on grass.”

Snowboarding and sledding are permitted at Langum Park, on the hill facing Route 25 and at Timber Trails Park. Cross country skiing can be done along any of the walking trails throughout the park district. Popular spots for snowshoeing are Hickory Knolls Discovery Center and Primrose Farm. The park district offers pairs of aluminum-framed, adult-sized snowshoes and plastic child-size snowshoes for rental for individuals, families or groups at both facilities.

But with so much to do and so many ways to do it, having fun in winter weather can also be a bit of a challenge. Conditions can change in a matter of hours, which is why the park district maintains a Winter Activity Hotline for people to call to check conditions at ice rinks and sled hills.

“We update our system whenever conditions change,” said Goodrich.

Interested parties can call 630-513-4320 each weekday between noon and 5 p.m. to get the latest conditions at all St. Charles Park District facilities.