Chicago’s Remake Learning Days festival this year will give caregivers a chance to sample different learning organizations and programs with their children and determine which programs would interest them for the summer.

“One of the really cool things about the timing of this festival is that it is like a decision point for caregivers and educators alike,” said Lizzie Nolan, Chicago’s Remake Learning Days project manager. “They’re trying to figure out what their kids are going to do for the summer. How are we going to supplement our kids’ academic and social experiences? So, these events offer them an opportunity to try out some of these learning opportunities and see what organization they like before signing up for those kinds of things in the summer.”

Chicago’s third Remake Learning Days will feature many different events for kids from May 19 to May 22. This year, the festival is expanding city-wide into about five neighborhood hubs. Between the five neighborhood hubs and organizations, there will be events spread across the breadth and width of the city.

And more fun keeps getting added: The festival is still registering events. The in-person events already planned focus on robotics, broadcasting and more.

“We’ve got a bunch of cool events going on this year,” said Nolan. “For us, and I think for everyone else, something we’re really happy about us to be hosting in-person again. I would say that our events are leaning towards physical, active events this year, which is going to be a nice change from the focus on virtual in the last couple of years.”

5 Events to look forward to during Remake Learning Days Chicago this May 19-22

1. 5/21- Tinkering, Tours, and Tech with Innovation One: Play with robots or build something new in the tinkering lab and tour the Truman College Campus, where the event will be held.
2. 5/21- Pond Dip Discovery: Use a dip-net to discover the plants and animals living below the surface of Trailside pond at the Forest Preserves of Cook County Trailside Museum.
3. Multiple dates- Artist Studio: Create hole punch pattern art and other creative studio projects in the recently renovated Ryan Learning Center at the Art Institute of Chicago.
4. 5/20- CAN TV- Be the Voice of Chicago: Tour CAN TV broadcast studios and make your own video using the green screen at CAN TV studios.
5. 5/14- Writing Through Mental Health Awareness: Complete writing exercises and experience the connection between mental health in this workshop facilitated by the Teen Writers Studio at 826CHI.

All of these learning-driven events wouldn’t be possible for the festival without valuable partnerships. WTTW Kids, Project Exploration, Chicago Public Schools Family and Community Engagement, Chicago Park District are just a few of the organizations partnering to bring different events to the region.

One of the biggest partners is Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot. Mayor Lightfoot has a campaign called “My CHI. My Future.” It connects young Chicagoans with possibilities throughout the city.

“In addition to the work they’re doing for My CHI. My Future., we’re partnering over the Learning Days festival, and it’s going to coincide with the launch of an application that they have for young people,” said Nolan. “We’re doing a lot of similar work, so it really made sense to partner and this will be a great opportunity for the young people here.”

The opportunities and events through the festival have a large focus on family-engaged learning driven by the learner’s interest. For example: If the learner is interested in technology, the technology events can involve and connect the family to the local tech community.

“We know that the spirit of Chicago [Remake] Learning Days is to connect families to 21st-century holistic learning opportunities and resources,” said Nolan. “Frankly, it’s more necessary now than ever, for all of the obvious reasons associated with the pandemic, but also just the way that learning is changing. We’re hoping to be at the forefront of that change.”