CHANGES TO PROGRAMMING 2026

PROGRAM REGISTRATION PROCESS 

To ensure we can financially sustain, safely plan staffing, group sizes, and meaningful programming, we will be moving to a more structured registration timeline and review process. We want to share a few important reminders and updates as we head into the upcoming session:

• Once registration closes, we will finalize rosters and cannot accept late submissions.
• Each registration is considered a request. Submission does not guarantee a spot, – We must review all requests based on program capacity and staffing before they are final.
• If a program is full, Warriors will be offered other spots if open and automatically placed on the waitlist. Families will be notified promptly if a space becomes available.
• Attendance will only be approved for Warriors who have submitted a registration for that session.This ensures we can plan appropriately and maintain safety and quality in our programs.

PROGRAM SESSION & CALENDAR ADJUSTMENTS

We have made several updates to the 2026 OK Programs Calendar and want to share the key changes with you. Your feedback was critical in helping us recognize these opportunities, and we look forward to offering programs in this new format. We hope the longer sessions will be beneficial to your family’s schedule and allow us longer stretches of time to create a more meaningful experience in programming.

Session Names
Our former “Spring” session will now be called Sprinter, a combination of Spring and Winter. This name better reflects the timing of the session, which begins in early January and runs through May, spanning multiple seasons. (And with approval from the king of combining words – Patrick O’Rourke!)

Session Structure & Lengths
Previously, our calendar included two Spring sessions, two Summer sessions, and two Fall sessions. Beginning in 2026, we will shift to one Sprinter session, one Summer session, and one Fall session, each with varying lengths:

• Sprinter Session: 20 weeks (January 6 – May 22)
• Summer Session: 11 weeks (June 2 – August 14)
• Fall Session: 17 weeks (August 25 – December 18)

These updates allow our programming to better align with local school calendars. They also remove many of the week-long breaks that were mentioned as a challenge for families and CILA providers. This adjustment was primarily informed by feedback from our recent family survey. The final product acknowledges those expressions, while also preserving our intentions with professional development and work-life balance for our team.

Registration Frequency & Format

Registration will continue to be offered one session at a time.Our goal is always to welcome as many Warriors as possible while providing the high-quality, intentional programming that our community values. These updates help us stay organized, ensure fairness, and build a structure that supports our long-term growth.

We truly appreciate your partnership as we continue strengthening Opportunity Knocks for the future. If you have any questions or need support with the registration process, please feel free to reach out! We’re here to help. 

GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

OK Programs is a dynamic, person-centered and community-based day program that engages the voice of all Warriors, thrives on interdependent connections, encourages exploration, centers on holistic wellness and fosters healthy relationships. Activity offerings are developed inside 8 areas of focus, and a blend of ongoing initiatives and new creations that evolve with Warrior, staff and family input collected during the Thematic Planning Process.

SESSION LENGTH & REGISTRATION PROCESS

Starting in 2026 sessions will vary between 20, 11, & 17 Weeks. OK will host open registration for each session, as the posted calendar states. Registration is on a request basis vs automatic enrollment due to considerations of staffing, space, and safety.

HOURS of OPERATION

Mondays – No Programs
Day Programming: Tuesday thru Friday, 9AM – 2:30PM
PM Programming: Tuesday & Thursday, 3PM – 6PM

LOCATION

River Forest Community Center (RFCC)
8020 Madison St., River Forest, IL 60305

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

The program is open to Warriors of all abilities.

Eligible participants must be older than 14.5 years of age.

PROGRAM COST STRUCTURE UPDATE

The program cost structure breakdown that is listed below is based on the Sprinter’s 20 week session and an hourly program rate of $20. The program can be accessed through private pay option or by utilizing waiver funding.

Financial Assistance Applications are available for Warriors & Families that apply and qualify. The program fee structure is evolving as we grow. Additionally the fee framework is undergoing some ongoing development while we complete our transition to becoming a state licensed provider of Community Day Services. 

It is our objective to overcome financial barriers so that this program and all OK programs are accessible. Please contact Mike Carmody at mike@opportunityknocksnow.org with inquiries and to learn more.