1. Signed and notarized Participant Forms

2. Registration is between 2:00 and 4:00. Please arrive no earlier than two as we will need the morning and early afternoon for project prep.

Other Springfield Day-Off Ideas: 

Horseshoe Sandwiches: Bread, choice of meat (or veggie if your weird), topped with fries and a special cheese sauce. The Horseshoe sandwich has been featured on many national television shows and is unique to the area.  The best place to get a Horseshoe: D'Arcys Pint (local favorite - similar environment to Applebee’s).  D’Arcys Pint is a popular tourist destination, however there are many restaurants throughout the city that serve the Horseshoe.  If you don’t think you can handle the full shoe, you can order a Ponyshoe which is a half order. 

Shopping:  Most of the premium shopping is on the west side of the city along Veterans Parkway.  There you will find the White Oaks Mall, and all manner of assorted restaurants and retail including an in-mall movie theater and stand alone theater or two. 

Movies:  There are several options for movies in addition to the west side of the city.  Near our lodging is the Show Place East, and there is even a real old-fashioned drive in theater not too far away. 

Theme Park:  Knights Action Park offers a small water park, mini-golf, go-carts, and other attractions including the previously mentioned drive-in theater.  The park is within proximity to the west side shopping/restaurant district. 

Parks:  There are many parks around Springfield including a nice park attached to our lodging grounds.  One of the largest parks in the city, Washington Park, is located very close to the shopping and eating district.  Washington Park is noted for Wednesday night free concerts featuring a large Carillon.

Springfield’s biggest claim to fame is that it was home to our nations 16^th President, Abraham Lincoln.  Lincoln and his family are buried in Springfield and there are numerous Lincoln tourist attractions in the city and surrounding area.  Here’s a rundown of some interesting Lincoln sites: 

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum:  The museum/library was opened in 2005 and is the finest of its kind in the country.  At a build cost of over $35,000,000 the museum features Hollywood special effects wizardry and interactive exhibits that are sure to keep the attention of your most ADD challenged kids and adults.  I would say that this is the premiere must see attraction in Springfield; your folks will be debating the reality of the “Ghost of the Library” show for days. 

Lincoln’s Home: The only home Lincoln ever owned is in Springfield and is open to tours.  In fact, the entire street Lincon lived on is preserved just south of downtown Springfield.  Interior tours are free, but do require some forethought so be sure check out the website for information.  If you do the museum tour, you might want to drop by the home as well as it’s only a few blocks away.  

Lincoln’s Tomb: Lincoln and his family are buried in Springfield at Oak Ridge Cemetery.  The tomb was dedicated in 1874 and is an impressive granite and marble structure capped by a 117’ obelisk sitting on a 12-acre plot.

Springfield became the Illinois state capital in 1837 with the help of a young lawyer and politician named Abraham Lincoln. He lived in the city until he left to become the 16th President of the United States, in 1861. From that moment on, the city’s history and future have been inexorably tied to this most famous and beloved American citizen.

Springfield is the center piece of Illinois political activity. The state capitol building contains a flurry of legislative activity each fall and spring as Illinois is one of the largest and most influential states in the U.S. Several internationally known political and historical icons have risen to prominence through Springfield including presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and most recently, presidential candidate Barack Obama.

A crossroad of America, Springfield has earned its place in history for more than just politics. Springfield sits in the heart of Illinois' U.S. Route 66 and boasts some of America's favorite Route 66 icons. The familiar Corn Dog on a stick was invented at the Cozy Drive in 1946, and the first drive through window in the country is still in operation at the famous Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop. One of the few remaining Route 66 drive in theaters is still in operation from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Health conscious beware, only in Springfield will you find the “horseshoe sandwich,” created in 1928 at the old Leland Hotel. Named for the shape of the ham once used to top this open-faced sandwich, it features a secret cheddar cheese sauce lavishly poured over a meat of your choice (hamburger and turkey are popular) and topped with a generous pile of french fries. The dish has been featured on many national television shows, most recently "Roker's On the Road" with Al Roker, and the popular show "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" on Food Network.

Springfield has a vibrant art scene with multiple performing arts organizations and has an active music scene as well. Several films have either been created or had segments filmed in Springfield including Legally Blond 2, National Treasure 2, and the upcoming The Informant starring Matt Damon. Recently Springfield made headlines after being narrowly edged out by Springfield, Vermont as the tongue-in-cheek official home of The Simpsons.

Yesterday I took a trip to Springfield and met with the school officials at Rochester Middle School. Although I took many photos, only some turned out due to a glitch in my camera. Even so, these should give you some idea of what we are working with.

The school is very nice and should provide and excellent home for our week. A park-like setting surrounds the school and an actual community park is within short walking distance. Really great place for us.

Click on the photo for a link to the rest of the photos.

Rochester Middle School
456 Education Avenue, Rochester, IL 62563

If You're Coming I55:

Stay on 55 until exit 96A.  You're looking for highway 29 which exits off I55 and goes to Rochester.  Take exit 96 south to Rochester.  You'll go through a stop light before Rochester.  Turn right at the next stop light, West Main (it is located in front of the high school).  Go approximately 1/4 of a mile and turn right before the grade school.  Follow that road back to the middle school.  Coming from the North?  Still take 29 South off I55 and you'll follow directions as stated above.

From Taylorville: Take State route 29 north. When you enter Rochester, make a left turn at the 4^th stop light (West Main). Go approximately ¼ mile and turn right before the grade school. Follow that road back to the middle school.