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Article by Elena Ferrarin
Communications Coordinator
Northbrook Park District
The Northbrook Park District’s Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences has debuted a new outdoor summer production that combines arts, music and nature for 2- to 5-year-olds.
“Toddler Hiking Club: an Imaginative Nature Walk” is an interactive walking play for very young children and their caregivers taking place along the Trail through Time at Techny Prairie Park and Fields.
Professional actors play a variety of characters who encourage the children to participate in music, art and creative drama games as they walk along the trail.
The program features two trail guides (Trail Guide Bunny and Trail Guide Rat) and a cadre of friendly and silly “musical animals” (such as Duck, Frog, Squirrel and Skunk) playing instruments including the guitar, ukulele, flute tambourine and bells.
“Children attending this production will benefit from a connection to nature that will spark engagement and imagination, along with physical activity and a sense of community,” Northbrook Park District Visual and Performing Arts Manager Drew Kambach said. “This is going to be a really fun experience for everyone, with the benefit of introducing the audience to one of the park district’s most beautiful natural settings.”
The production director is Ashley Laverty, who conceived the idea and also directed the original production for the Chicago Park District opens in new tab last year. Laverty is the founding artistic director of Kerfuffle, an award-winning midwestern theatre and dance company that creates performances for children.
The plot and characters of “Toddler Hiking Club” were devised with the help of young children who engaged in creative drama and improvisation. The original idea came to her during her many walks alone in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laverty explains.
“I always thought it would be so neat to create something that leans into the magical mysteries of being on a hike,” she says. “Like, what would happen if the skunk you’re following turned around and spoke to you? What if that duck swimming the lagoon was strumming a ukulele?”
“Toddler Hiking Club: an Imaginative Nature Walk” is best enjoyed by children ages 2–5 with their caregivers.
The audiences will be invited to walk 0.1–0.3 miles on a gravel walking path. Everyone should wear appropriate walking shoes.
Tickets are $17 per person, with performances in the mornings through August 2.
Techny Prairie Park and Fields is located at 1700 Techny Road, Northbrook. For more information and tickets, please visit nbparks.org/theatre or call (847) 291-2993.