Award-Winning Programs
Architecture Adventure
Architects design, build and explore the human-made world with K-8th graders.
Art Start
Artists animate the curriculum through visual and performing arts with K-2nd graders.
Geared Up
3rd-grade students engineer simple machines using specialized LEGOs.
Science Alliance
Working scientists conduct experiments and lead field trips with 3rd-8th graders.
Spoken Word
Middle schoolers find and cultivate their unique voices by reading, writing and performing poetry.
Vex Robotics
Tech experts work with teams of middle schoolers to design, build, program and compete with robots.
What’s New
Recreating History with Harmonicas
Children from Mr. Podlasek’s second-grade performed at Oak Park’s Belmont Village last week, sparking smiles and warming hearts for the residents. The students have been working with OPEF’s Art Start artist John Milan, who taught them songs to sing and...
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Voices Shake the House at School of Rock
OPEF Spoken Word students shook the house at the School of Rock with their raw honesty and powerful words last week. The poetry slam, titled Respect the Mic, fostered creativity and self-expression while giving kids the opportunity to speak about their...
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Robot Rumble!
Six teams of VEX Robotics students at Julian Middle School designed robots, then built and battled each other in a Robot Rumble, exploring the various aspects of technology in competitive fun. The hands-on projects were organized in small groups, and kids...
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JOIN US FOR THESE AND OTHER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR!
Summer's End Soiree
September 2019 – Late summer gathering with food, drinks, and conversation–all to benefit OPEF’s BASE Camp Scholarship Fund.
Super STEAM Saturday
November 2019 – Join us for a family friendly fun day of science and art and learn a little more about OPEF and our programs.
Battle of the Bots
March 2, 2019 – Exciting all-day competition for local middle school VEX Robotics teams
Bingo Bash
March 15, 2019 – Join us for Bingo Bash, a new kind of FUNdraising.
Respect The Mic Spoken Word Slam
May 7, 2019 – Middle School Spoken Word Club members gather at School of Rock to showcase their poetry and writing skills
See Us in Action!
“There isn’t any other part of our curriculum that is like this. It gives students a glimpse into a very specific world of science through a person who is making a career of it, but it also carries over into our everyday science units in school. I appreciate the time the scientists give this program.”
District 97 Teacher