The facilities at First UMC Park Ridge are extensive enough to accomodate partnerships with several community groups to share in ministry. In hosting and facilitating our partners, we express our social mission and strive to meet community needs. We are thankful for the opportunity to support their ministry!
Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America Troop 1, Venture Troop 1 and Cub Scout Pack 1 are chartered by First UMC. Many of the members at First UMC are involved in Scouting, and we recognize our Scouts each year in worship. Troop 1 is proud of its long history of excellence in Scouting as it continues its mission to provide a quality, traditional values-oriented program for boys aged 10 1/2 to 18. Scout leaders endeavor to develop physical, mental, and emotional fitness as well as a high degree of self-reliance in its members. Camping outings are scheduled for every month of the year.
Troop 1 meets each Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Boy Scout Room in the basement of the church. Venture 1 Crew (high adventure) meets from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., every first and third Tuesday of each month, in the third floor Fireside Room.
Ellen Valles, Scout Master ellen.valles@ey.com,
Lorie Bartel, Charter Representative bartelsan@aol.com
Gale Fabisch, Venture 1 Crew Advisor gwfabisch@msn.com
Cub Scouts
Park Ridge Cub Scout Pack 1 is open to all boys aged 7 – 11 who are interested in learning new skills, making friends and having FUN. Our dens, each comprised of boys in the same age group, meet monthly in various locations. Our Pack meeting, for all boys and their families, are monthly and held in Jorgeson Hall at the church at 5:30 p.m. Date varies each month.
Jon Morrison, Cub Master jonathanmorrison7@icloud.com,
Lorie Bartel, Charter Representative: bartelsan@aol.com
Montessori Academy of Illinois
Montessori School is held Monday through Friday from 6:45 am to 6:00 pm on the first floor in some of our classroom space. Montessori Academy of Illinois has been providing a quality education for almost two decades using a foolproof equation: Highly Experienced Certified Teachers, A Great Educational Program (Use of the Montessori Method), and Love. For more information, click here.
Language Stars
Language Stars utilizes classrooms on the second floor throughout the week to provide language classes to young children. The Language Stars Park Ridge satellite center offers Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin Chinese language classes for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school children. Children from 12 months to 10 years attend our morning or afternoon language programs. For more information, click here.
Families Anonymous
Every Monday night at 7:30 pm, we open our doors to Families Anonymous, providing recovery for those suffering from a loved one’s addiction. For more information, click here.
Toastmasters
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday, our 3rd floor comes alive with the activity of the Toastmasters. Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. For more information, click here.
Al-Anon
Al-Anon offers strength and hope for friends and families of problem drinkers. They meet twice weekly (Tues, Thurs / 8pm) in our Jorgeson Hall. Fomore information, go to al-anon.org.
Jazzercise
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 5:45pm, we host a Jazzercise group in Jorgeson Hall, our multi-use community room. “Jazzercise is a pulse-pounding, beat-pumping fitness program. It’s a calorie-torching, hip swiveling dance party with a hot playlist to distract you from the burn.” http://www.jazzercise.com/