Programs
OPEN offers eight engaging STEAM programs for Oak Park students. All in-school enrichment programs and all middle school after-school clubs are completely free.
Eight programs. One mission.
From in-school residencies to competitive robotics to summer career exploration, every OPEN program is designed around the same belief: every child in Oak Park deserves joyful, high-quality STEAM learning.
In-School Enrichment
Delivered inside every D97 school.
OPEN’s in-school programs are integrated into the regular school day, so there’s no need to register or sign up. The programs come directly to students, giving every elementary and middle school student the opportunity to participate.
Grade K-2
Art Start
Art Start brings professional teaching artists directly into K–2 classrooms for hands-on workshops in visual arts, music, storytelling, and creative expression. While the program is available to all K–2 students, OPEN's primary focus is delivering an up-to-4-week in-school residency to every 2nd grade classroom in D97.
Grade 5
VEX IQ ROBOTICS
Every 5th grader in District 97 learns to design, build, and program a robot. VEX IQ Robotics is a curriculum-based engineering program that gives students hands-on experience with the full design cycle: planning, building, coding, testing, and iterating. Students work in teams, apply math and science concepts in a real-world context.
Grade 6-8
Spoken Word
Spoken Word is a two-part program rooted in the power of language as art. The in-school residency brings a professional spoken word artist into Brooks and Julian Middle Schools, working with all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students through their Arts and Literature classes. Students explore poetry, personal narrative, voice, and performance — discovering that their stories matter.
Grade 3-4
Science Alliance
Science Alliance brings real science professionals into 3rd and 4th grade classrooms to lead authentic, hands-on labs. Students don't just read about science — they investigate it alongside people who do it for a living. Visiting experts span a wide range of fields: earth scientists, ecologists, healthcare professionals, neuroscientists, geneticists, biologists, and more.
After-School Programs
Go deeper. Stay curious.
OPEN's after-school programs extend the learning for students who want more. Middle school after-school clubs are free. Elementary Afterschool Enrichment is offered through each school's PTO and they are fee based - enrollment links are provided for each school below.
Grade 6-8
After-School Enrichment
VEX Robotics Club takes the engineering foundations students build in 5th grade and levels them up. This free after-school club is open to all D97 middle school students (grades 6–8) at Brooks and Julian Middle Schools, and offers two tracks to meet students wherever they are.
Grade K-5
After-School Enrichment
OPEN partners with each D97 elementary school's Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) to offer rotating, hands-on STEAM clubs through each school's after-school programming. OPEN's expert teachers deliver the curriculum; the PTO manages enrollment and logistics through their existing after-school structures.
Summer Programs
Summer is a STEAM adventure
When school's out, OPEN keeps the curiosity going. Our summer programs offer students immersive, multi-day STEAM experiences — from flexible week by week STEAM adventures at BASE Camp to real world career discovery at D97 Career Exploration Program.
Grade K-8
BASE Camp — Build a Summer Education
BASE Camp—which stands for Build A Summer Education—is OPEN's signature summer STEAM camp. Running for six full weeks each summer (plus a pre-week for middle school), BASE Camp gives K–8 students an immersive, experiential week of hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Grade 5-7
D97 Career Exploration Program
This immersive week gives students a genuine look at the world of work — and at themselves as future professionals — through the lens of the National Career Clusters® Framework. Students explore 14 career pathways across six industry groupings, building real life skills and a business mindset ...
“The best part of Lego Mindstorms/Gears was watching a student who normally struggles in school have his moment to shine when we were working with LEGOs. It feels great to give him a sense of accomplishment.”
D97 Teacher
Oak Park, Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Are OPEN programs free?
All in-school enrichment programs — Art Start, Science Alliance, VEX IQ Robotics, and the Spoken Word in-school residency — are completely free to District 97 families. The Spoken Word After-School Club and both VEX Robotics Club tracks (Competitive and Intramural) are also free to all middle school students.
OPEN funds its free programs through a combination of grants, donations, and revenue from BASE Camp. BASE Camp and the D97 Career Exploration Program have associated fees or eligibility requirements. Scholarships are available for BASE Camp; contact us to learn more.
How does my child get access to in-school programs?
In-school programs are delivered through the school so no registration is required. OPEN works directly with D97 schools to schedule and deliver programs during the school day. If you're unsure whether your child's school participates, contact us or ask your school's principal.
Which schools does OPEN serve?
OPEN currently serves all 10 District 97 schools in Oak Park. In-school programs reach every elementary and middle school in D97. VEX Robotics Club and Spoken Word Club are based at Brooks and Julian Middle Schools. Afterschool Enrichment clubs are offered through the PTO at each D97 elementary school.
When does BASE Camp registration open?
Program details, including camp schedules and class descriptions, are available mid-January. Registration opens at the end of January or beginning of February. Scholarship applications also open mid-January. Sign up for OPEN's newsletter to be notified when registration goes live.
How does my child enroll in after-school programs?
For VEX Robotics Club and Spoken Word Club at the middle schools, enrollment information is available through Brooks and Julian directly. For Afterschool Enrichment at the elementary level, enrollment is managed by each school's PTO — use the per-school links on this page to register at your child's school.
Does my child need prior experience for any of these programs?
OPEN programs are designed to welcome students of all experience levels, and no prior experience is required. Whether it’s a kindergartner picking up a paintbrush for the first time or an 8th grader competing in a third robotics season, students have opportunities to learn, explore, and build their skills. The VEX Robotics Club’s Intramural Track, for example, is specifically designed to give students who are new to robotics a place to learn the fundamentals and gain confidence.
Questions?
We'd love to hear from you.
Whether you're a parent wondering which program is right for your child, a D97 educator interested in partnering with us, or a community member who wants to support our work — we're here.
Every Dollar Opens a Door.
OPEN's programs are free to students — and possible because of the generosity of our donors, partners, and community. Your support keeps STEAM exploration accessible to every child in Oak Park, regardless of background.