Ela Township Community Center

10/26/2026

If you are an Ela Resident on Medicare- grab an appointment now to see our SHIP counselors Lisa and Lina to get your Medicare review. Appointments are required.

10/25/2026

What a great Oktoberfest! There was delicious food, great music… and even dancing!

10/25/2026

10/22/2026

What a delightful surprise! The Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford is such a hidden gem. Will not ever come to Rockford again without stopping here!

10/22/2026

What????? You didn’t sign up for our Rockford day trip? Silly goose! You’re missing an amazing day!

10/20/2026

Interested in architecture?
Interested in vegetarian food?
Interested in different cultural traditions?

If you have not yet been to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett we highly recommend you join us next month for a visit!

Join us on Tuesday November 10th, 1-6pm for a trip to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for a spectacular and vibrant New Year celebration! We will explore the mandir, learn about Hindu traditions and view the beautiful Annakut (offering of food).

November 10th marks the beginning of the new year. On this day, an annakut, or a ‘mountain of food,’ is offered to Bhagwan as a symbol of appreciation and gratitude. Devotees lovingly prepare vegetarian delicacies and offer them to Bhagwan while singing thal or devotional hymns. People will join together wearing their finest clothing and participate in the first aarti ritual of the New Year.

Along with the beautiful celebration, there will be vendors selling food, and other various items.

Call 847-438-9160 or stop by the center with questions and to sign up.

10/20/2026

❄️☃️ WINTER BREAK CAMP IS COMING! ☃️❄️
Looking for something fun and exciting for your kids to do over Winter Break? Ela Township's Winter Break Camp is the perfect way to keep the fun going while school is out! 🎉
Join us for days filled with exciting field trips, games, crafts, activities, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends! Our camp provides a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where kids can enjoy their winter break!
📅 Dates: December 21–23, 28–31, & January 4
💲 Cost: $60 per day
🎒 Grades: Kindergarten – 6th Grade
📍 Location: Ela Township Community Center
✨ Whether your child joins us for one day or all eight, there's plenty of winter break fun waiting for them!
Spots are limited, so don't wait to register!
❄️ Register today and make this Winter Break one to remember! ❄️https://register.capturepoint.com/reg/cat_program_list.cfm?season_id=37046

10/19/2026

One of the most unexpected highlights of our Douro River cruise was experiencing the river’s remarkable locks and incredibly low bridges!
The locks act much like enormous water elevators. Our ship entered a narrow chamber, the gates closed behind us and water was added or released to lift or lower the entire vessel. The Douro has five navigation locks that allow ships to overcome a total elevation change of approximately 410 feet as they travel through the valley.
Standing inside one of these chambers, surrounded by towering concrete walls, gave us an entirely new appreciation for the engineering that makes cruising the Douro possible.
Then there were the bridges! Some were so low that portions of the upper deck had to be lowered and everyone remained seated as our ship carefully passed underneath. Watching the bridge move just a few feet above us was both a little nerve-racking and incredibly exciting!
It was fascinating to see how the ship, river, dams, locks and bridges all work together—and it gave us another memorable experience to share as a group.
Take a look at the video and tell us: would you have stayed on the upper deck or headed safely inside? 😄

10/19/2026

Porto rewards those who look a little closer! 🎨🇵🇹
During our first evening walk, we found art everywhere—from traditional Portuguese tiles and colorful storefronts to bold murals tucked along narrow streets. Each doorway, wall and shop window seemed to reveal another little piece of Porto’s personality.
This is one of the joys of traveling together: slowing down, noticing the unexpected and sharing the discoveries we might otherwise have walked right past.
Which detail caught your eye?
DouroRiverCruise

10/19/2026

Our first night in Porto could not have been more perfect! 🇵🇹✨
After enjoying an amazing dinner aboard our Douro River cruise ship, we headed out to experience Porto after dark. Around every corner, we found something beautiful—glowing streets, lively squares, quiet cobblestone lanes and historic buildings illuminated against the night sky.
It was the perfect beginning to our adventure and a wonderful reminder that sometimes the best travel memories happen after the day’s itinerary is finished.
Which nighttime view would you most like to step into?