Meeting families where they are is a priority for Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL) and its community partners.
Launched in 2016, Learning On the Go (LOG) has grown into an 8-week summer initiative in Elgin, Hanover Park, and Streamwood. Each week, families with children birth to five gather in neighborhood play areas to create playful learning experiences, story time, and families to resources in health, nutrition, education, and social services.
Learning On the Go brings early learning and family engagement directly into neighborhoods through play-based experiences for children birth to five and their families. Each summer, children receive backpacks with books and learning tools, while families gain weekly readiness materials to extend play at home and strengthen connections with local libraries, schools, and community partners.
With the launch of The Basics Greater Elgin initiative in April 2025, LOG now weaves these principles and messages throughout its programming, giving families added support and reinforcing that they are their child’s first and most important teacher. Sessions feature story time, readiness activities, lunch, and take-home materials—all rooted in The Basics Principles, five powerful strategies that nurture brain development and early learning.
Participation & Reach
- 603 adults and 1,137 children participated in the program across 8 weeks in summer 2025.
Family Engagement & Learning
- 63% of survey respondents reported applying the first Basics Principle, Maximize Love, Manage Stress, within the past week of completing the survey by hugging or cuddling with their child many times a day.
- 55% of survey respondents expressed interest in learning more about library services.
Expanding Literacy Access
- EPEL distributed over 1,000 new books to families in their preferred language, supporting early literacy and helping children build home libraries.
Connections to Resources
- 68% of survey respondents reported being enrolled in the free Basics Texting Program, which supports children’s development from birth through age five.
- 5,780 diapers were distributed through EPEL’s local diaper partner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, giving families peace of mind and reducing stress around meeting everyday needs for their children.
- 768 families were served through five summer mobile pantries in Elgin, and one in Hanover Park serving 77 families. All mobiles were in partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and EPEL at Learning On the Go sites, providing access to nutritious food and essential resources.
- 21 parents memorized the Basics Principles, empowering them to put these learning practices into action every day with their children and share them with other parents in their community.