OPEF has been delivering free, hands-on STEAM enrichment programs to Oak Park schools for over 25 years. In 2017-18 OPEF served over 4,100 D97 students.

Architecture Adventure — Architects design, build and explore the human-made world with 3rd-8th graders.

Art Start — Artists animate the curriculum through visual and performing arts residencies with K-2nd graders.

Geared Up — 3rd-grade students engineer simple machines using specialized LEGOs; also used in the 7th grade science curriculum.

Science Alliance — Working scientists conduct experiments and lead field trips with 4th and 5th graders.

VEX Robotics — Tech experts work with teams of middle schoolers to design, build, program and compete with robots.

Spoken Word — Middle schoolers find and cultivate their unique voices by reading, writing and performing poetry.

Our experts worked with

Brooks students in 2017-18. Enjoy a few highlights from this

past year!

BROOKS Middle School

1 WINning with Geared Up The 6th Grade WIN (What I Need) classes received building and design

enrichment this year thanks to the use of OPEF’s Geared Up LEGO equipment.

2 Photography & Portraits 6th grade art students worked with professional photographer Stephanie

Bassos to learn the finer points of portraiture. The photographs were later displayed at Village Hall.

Geared Up

Art Start

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BASE Camp is a fee-based summer enrichment program that helps support OPEF. More than 900 students enrolled in BASE Camp in 2018.

3 Spoken Word All Brooks 7th graders received a one-week residency in their English classes

from spoken word artist Christian Robinson. The residencies culminated in a school-wide poetry slam. Spoken Word club members performed at various events including the OPEF annual gala and the Respect the Mic poetry slam.

4 VEX Robotics Brooks VEX Robotics team continued to learn and demonstrate new skills.

The addition of an in-house robotics club with less experience required and a lighter time commitment meant that more students than ever participated in robotics.the Respect the Mic poetry slam.

Oak Park Education Foundation

B • A • S • E C A M P

f i t yOak Park Education Foundation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that brings artists, architects, scientists, and technology experts into K-8th grade classrooms at every District 97 school. Learn more at opef.org.

Spoken Word

VEX Robotics