• 8th annual student art auction to benefit OPEF, May 14-June 1 at Magic Tree Bookstore

    Stop by 141 N. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park to see -- and buy -- beautiful bird-themed art, starting at just $15, created by Oak Park middle schoolers.

  • Registration is now open for our exciting roster of summer B.A.S.E. Camp classes!

    B.A.S.E. Camp includes unique, fun and educational classes for students entering grades 1-9, and runs from June 4-29. Classes vary in start dates, times, lengths and locations. Our camps filled up fast last summer, so register soon!

  • Thanks to all who made the Staszak Dinner & Benefit a HUGE success!

    OPEF's biggest fundraiser of the year was a sold-out celebration of our honoree with fast-paced auction bidding, lively conversation and a surprise appearance of students and robots.

  • Frog science at Whittier!

    Ms. Darley's 4th/5th graders have had an exciting Science Alliance partnership with Dr. Brian Mitchell from Northwestern University.

  • Art Start, Nature, and Irving Second Graders

    Second graders at Irving create felt pillows with Harrison Street artists Pam Penney and Jeanette Durand.

  • How is a building like a human body?

    Architecture Adventure Kindergartners compare body parts to building parts.

  • Second graders explore the Underground Railroad

    Artist Vickie Casanova and Ms. Schweigert's Beye students learn first hand how quilts tell stories.

  • OPEF Vex Robotics team takes 2nd place in the National Championship!

    We are beside ourselves with excitement! All three Oak Park teams made it to the finals of the Vex Robotics National Championship in Omaha, Nebraska March 15-17, and one team finished second in the tournament!

  • Human organs visit Whittier

    Dr. Callum Ross, evolutionary biologist from the University of Chicago, visits Ms. Wennerberg's 4th/5th graders with body parts for the class to examine.

  • Cave painting and fossils at Longfellow

    Art Start artist Jonathan Franklin works with Megan Leahy's second graders on a project that digs deep into their studies of the earth.

  • Art Start after school club at Julian creates a 4-story mural

    Art teacher Chris Worley, visiting artist and graphic designer Marc Linne, and after school art club students have designed a dynamic mural about the earth and its environment in the main "spine" hallway at Julian.

  • Irving 3rd graders build simple machines using LEGOs

    All Irving 3rd graders are taking part in OPEF's Geared Up program, learning about gears, pulleys, levers, friction, mass and more by building with LEGOs.

  • Check out the Oak Park Education Foundation's 2010-2011 annual report

    We've just published our first annual report, featuring great photos, key numbers, program highlights and a list of all our wonderful supporters. Contact us if you'd like a hard copy..

  • Classroom turns electric at Whittier

    Students experiment with electricity and magnetism and learn how they're interrelated.

  • Here's our community -- made out of LEGOs!

    Holmes 2nd grade team conducts an in-depth study of their Oak Park neighborhood, including elaborate scale models using LEGOs.

  • Follow us on Facebook

    Follow us on Facebook to stay current on the latest news and see pictures and videos from the latest OPEF programs.

  • Donate Now

    Read more about supporting exciting educational opportunities for Oak Park kids, or click here to give any amount to OPEF now.
Architecture. Robotics. Art. Science. Technology. OPEF programs bring experts into District 97 classrooms to work hands-on with students and teachers. These experts inspire students, mentor them, and open their eyes to interests and abilities they never knew they had. Our kids go home and say, "Guess what I did in school today!"
5/11-6/1/12: Student art show/auction at Magic Tree Bookstore
6/4/12 - 6/29/12: B.A.S.E. Camp
OPEF  •  970 Madison Street  •  Oak Park, Illinois 60302  •  (708) 524-3023  •  dabrahamson@op97.org  •   facebook   •   flickr