The event is staffed at a ratio of one staff to 20 students by park district employees and volunteers, plus Student Resource Officers (SROs) from the larger junior highs. SROs are a great asset because they know many students who attend. Participants are required to sign-in and out by a parent/guardian. No one can leave without signing out.

The first T.P.H. in 1995 was attended by 80 students from Schaumburg's 1,500 junior high student population. As word spread, attendance dramatically increased. A record was set last May when more than 800 students attended the final T.P.H.

Although the park district enforces a "zero tolerance" policy when it comes to drugs, smoking or aggressive behavior, the number of participants ejected or suspended is very low. Kids are just looking for a place to 'hang-out" and to be with friends. T.P.H. gives them a safe, well-supervised place to do that.

For more information, contact Bill DePue, Schaumburg Park District, 847.985.2141

Battle of the Bands

For more than 10 years, the Battle of the Bands has been an ongoing teen event, involving 15 to 20 bands from the Palatine, Salt Creek and Rolling Meadows park districts. The bands audition each May in hopes of becoming one of the five bands chosen to perform at the Palatine Amphitheater in June.

Designed for ages 13 to 19, this program offers an alternative program in a fun, safe and supervised environment. The Battle runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free to all surrounding communities. The five bands chosen to perform are given ten minutes to play. Prizes such as coupons, gift certificates and CDs are given to all bands that participate.

To defray costs, park districts ask area businesses to sponsor the prizes. Participating businesses are listed on a sponsorship board at the event and in each district's fall brochure.

This year's Battle of the Bands was held on June 18 Head-liners included Flow of Hands, Mad Mardigan, Seven Day Wait Empyrean and Zero Hour. Sponsors were The Drum Pad, Circuit City Einstein Bros., Tower Records, Subway, Pepsi and The Music Room.

Contact Mindi Rosebaum, Rolling Meadows Park District, 847. 818.3202

Battle of the Middle Schools

This program was developed by the Wheaton Park District recreation staff in 1989 to fill a very real and long-standing need for high quality programming specifically designed for teens. Our first step, naturally, was to ask teenagers what they wanted. We asked what kind of event they would attend; what types of competition would entice them to form teams and sign up; plus, what extras it would take to grab their attention and keep them interested.

Not surprisingly, a common response was challenging races and events requiring various degrees of strength and agility. The concept of the "Battle" evolved to ensure that all members of every team would have an equal change regardless of size and strength, plus to widen the appeal of the event and draw a large number of cheering spectators. Our third goal was to provide an avenue in which all participants could meet before the day of the battle to practice their skills and socialize. Utilizing all features of Wheaton's Rice Pool and Water Park, the plans for the Battle took shape.

The Battle of the Middle Schools is offered every year on the first Friday after school lets out for the summer. Teens in the area have learned to plan ahead for the date. Between 15 and 20 teams with more than 200 participants compete in sand castle building, inner tube races, water slide competition, boat races and sand volleyball tournaments. Throughout, a deejay plays the season's biggest hits. Prizes awarded include sweat shirts, T-shirts, pizza parties and free water slide tickets.

Contact Mike Toohey, Wheaton Park District; 630.668.3371.

Summer Youth Theatre
For the past six years, young people ages 6 to 18 in the greater Urbana-Champaign area have had an incredible opportunity to perform in a fall-scale professional theater production. The Urbana Park District Summer Youth Theatre offers teens a chance to sing lead roles, which are usually performed by adults.

One of the most important elements of the program is teamwork. Teens not only sing, act and dance, they learn every aspect of a professional theatre production: costume and lighting design, character development and set construction. The 10-member staff is also assisted by parents involved in the production, from ushering to sewing to building sets.

The production begins in late-May with auditions and ends with six performances in late-July. Actors meet four nights a week for six weeks to rehearse. This production is unique because as a "no-cut" show, every child who auditions is cast. The emphasis is on the music and the experience, not competition. Over the history of the program, the cast has had anywhere from 100 to 250 performers in productions such as "The Mikado," "The Music Man," "Finian's Rain-bow" and "The Wizard of Oz." This year's performance is "Meet Me in St. Louis."

Contact Janet Soesbe, Urbana Park District; 217.367.1544