PARK DISTRICT INFORMATION
Registration Information
Welcome! This page is dedicated to all things registration. Click through the tabs below to learn a variety of information, and select the red links for more details.
General Information
Be Prepared
Household Account Required
You must have your user ID and password to gain access to our registration system.
- Click HERE to create a household account! If you have created a Household Account and have not received a user ID and password, please contact us at 847-256-6100.
- If you are a Wilmette resident, you will be asked to provide proof of residency when creating your Household Account.
- Make sure to check your username and password before registration day to ensure quick access!
Resident and Non-Resident Fees
Programs are listed with fees for Wilmette residents: “R” and for Non-residents: “NR”. For an official definition of residency and the “fair share” concept, please click here.
District Designation
Not sure if you qualify as a Wilmette Resident? Click HERE and enter your address into the search bar. Once you find your address click on the “layers” tab and filter for Park District information.
Know Your Age and Grade
The majority of our seasonal programs are structured by age range; however, certain programs (gymnastics, sports leagues, school programs and summer camps) are structured by grade.
- When registering for an age range program, select the age range your child will be on the first day of the program.
- When registering for a program structured by grade, select the grade your child will be in on the first day of the program. For summer programs and summer camps structured by grade, register for the grade your child will enter in the fall of the coming school year.
Pre-Registration Checklist:
- Have I logged in to ensure I have my correct username and password?
- Have I set up or reviewed my Household Account for overall accuracy?
- Have I ensured children’s birthdays are correct in my Household Account?
- Am I a non-resident with a child who attends a Wilmette Public School? If so, make sure this is reflected in my Household Account.
If you have questions, please call us at 847-256-6100, or email your questions to connect@wilpark.org prior to registration day.
How to Browse/Register
Planning your perfect season should be a breeze! Whether you enjoy the convenience of browsing online or prefer flipping through a catalog, we offer a few ways to explore our seasonal offerings. Likewise, we have multiple methods to sign up for programs in a way that suits you best.
Our Program Pages provide the most up-to-date seasonal offerings. You can easily search and shop these pages. Use our filters on the top of every program page to quickly navigate different seasons and find all the programs available in your desired age ranges, days and times.
- On registration day, click on the “Register” button on your program(s) of choice to jump directly to our Registration Site where you can add your desired program(s) to your shopping cart and register.
Explore! Digital Program Guide
View our seasonal programs in online Program Guide form! You’ll have the same page-turning experience as a printed book, plus live hyperlinks to take you to your selected program category in our Registration Site. You can also download and/or print the Program Guide, if you like.
- When registration opens, you can navigate to our Registration Site through the hyperlinks in the Program Guide. From there, you can add your desired program(s) to your shopping cart and register.
- Occasionally, there may be an error that appears in our Program Guide regarding days, times, fees, or other information. Please refer to our website’s Program Pages or the Registration Site for the most up-to-date information. Thank you for your patience and understanding when these situations arise.
Registration Site (Online Registration)
All online registration transactions are completed through our Registration Site. The “Register” buttons on our website’s Program Pages and the hyperlinks in our Programs Guide link directly to the Site for easy registration, or you can browse programs directly through the Site.
- Already know what programs you want to sign up for? Save time on registration morning by logging straight into our Registration Site and use the Quick Enroll feature to purchase your preferred programs!
- You will be prompted to enter your Wilmette Park District Household Account user ID and password. Don’t have a household account? Call us at 847-256-6100 and we’ll help you set one up.
- You’ll need the program’s Activity Code (six digits) and the section number (two digits).
- Want to organize your favorite programs in convenient list? Your household account is equipped with a Wishlist feature on the Registration Site. It’s the perfect tool to save your selections and plan ahead for registration day!
- While logged in to your household account and browsing active programs, if you find something you’d like to add to the Wishlist, click on the vertical dot menu (usually located next to the class name) and select “Add to Wishlist” from the (top navigation) menu.
- Activities on your Wishlist will remain until you manually remove them.
- For detailed information about the Wishlist, view the Wishlist FAQ tab or watch the Wishlist Tutorial Video below under Registration Site Information.
- Google Chrome is our preferred internet browser for the Registration Site. Consider using Chrome for the most seamless experience.
- If you run into technical challenges when completing your purchase, call us at 847-256-6100 and we’ll help.
Registration is first come, first served and begins at 10 a.m. on the assigned dates for residents and non-residents. With the anticipated expediency of online registration, we strongly encourage you to register online; however, we do offer in-person registration as well as form and fax registration.Y
Register In Person at a Front Desk
In-person registration begins immediately when registration opens, and is processed while you wait. You can register for any program at:
- The Park District Administration Office in Wilmette Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Avenue, 2nd floor
- Community Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road (at Skokie Boulevard)
To help our team work quickly to serve you, they’ll need three key details:
- Child’s name
- Program name
- 8-digit program number (activity code + section number)
In-person registration cannot be processed before registration start dates.
Register Via Form or Fax
Complete and sign a program registration form, available HERE or at the front desk at the Park District Administration Office or the Community Recreation Center. Mail-in, drop-off and fax registrations are processed randomly beginning at 10 a.m. on registration days. You will receive confirmation by email. Include proof of residency and payment by check or credit card.
- Mail to: Wilmette Park District, 1200 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091
- Fax to: 847-256-0739
Cancellation & Refund Policies
The Wilmette Park District reserves the right to cancel, postpone or combine programs, or change instructors. If insufficient enrollment causes a program to be cancelled, we will notify you and refund the full program fee.
- Withdrawals prior to the start of a programs, or stated withdrawal date, receive a full refund. A prorated refund will be issued for withdrawals after programs begin.
- Camps (see below), swimming and diving lessons, sports leagues and year-round childcare programs have separate refund policies.
To view additional Wilmette Park District policies, visit our Policies, Ordinances and Disclaimers webpage.
Registration Site Information
What to Expect During Online Registration
During particularly high-traffic registration seasons, we may activate a “Virtual Lobby” to manage the volume of simultaneous visitors and ensure reliable and fair access to our registration system. Similar to the experience when purchasing high-demand concert or sporting event tickets, patrons will be placed in a queue for quicker and more efficient registration.
- The Virtual Lobby will be active briefly at the start of registration when traffic is high. If you’re waiting in the Lobby, you should have only a short wait before you can register. This makes online registration the fastest way to sign up for the programs you want.
- Once you receive access to the Registration Site, start by adding your highest-priority program to your cart first to reserve the spot during your active session. Then add additional programs and add-ons to your shopping cart, and complete your purchase.
- If you start registration online, you must finish it online. Otherwise, you might lose your spot in the programs in your cart. If you begin registration on a mobile device while waiting in line at the Administration Office or Community Recreation Center, our staff will help you complete your online registration.
- Once a class is added to “Your Cart,” it will be reserved for you as you continue to browse or add more classes to your Wishlist or Cart. However, your spot in the class will be lost if you sign out during your session or remain completely inactive (no site navigation or clicks) for 20 consecutive minutes.
For detailed information about entering the Virtual Lobby, receiving your assigned number, and generally how the technology works, view the Virtual Lobby FAQ tab below.
Many of our popular programs fill up quickly. When enrollment reaches its maximum it activates the section’s “Waitlist”, a feature of the Registration Site that allows patrons to save a spot “in line” should an enrollment spot become available.
- If you’d like a chance to join a program with an active waitlist, simply add the program to your cart and complete your checkout to save your spot “in line.”
- Enrollment offers are sent in the order of the Waitlist as space becomes available. Patrons have a 48-hour window to accept or decline their enrollment offer before they forfeit their spot, which is offered to the next family on the Waitlist.
- The majority of our Waitlists are managed by an automated system. Enrollment offers are sent via email, so make sure your household email is correct and up to date!
- PLEASE NOTE, Enrollment offer emails are sent from an @rectrac.com address. These are legitimate emails from our system.
For more details pertaining to the Waitlist and enrollment offers, view the Waitlist FAQ tab below.
Wishlist FAQ
About the Wishlist
- What is the Wishlist?
The Wishlist is a feature on the Registration Site that saves your selections to easily add to your shopping cart later. Think of it as your personal list of favorites or a reminder list for classes you might want to take in the future. - Can I create more than one Wishlist on my account?
No. Each account has one Wishlist where you can collect as many programs as you want! - Why use the Wishlist?
- Convenience: Quickly save classes and programs you’re interested in.
- Easy Access: When registration opens, you can add your Wishlist programs directly to your cart.
- Organization: Keep all your potential classes in one place.
How to Use the Wishlist
- How do I add a class to my Wishlist
- Log In to Your Account: You need to be logged in to use the Wishlist feature.
- Find a Class: Use the Activity Search feature to browse classes and programs.
- Add to the Wishlist:
- Once you find a class you’re interested in, click on the vertical-dot menu (found next to the class name).
- Select “Add to Wishlist” from the dropdown menu.
- How do I view and manage my Wishlist
- Access Your Wishlist:
- On any page within the registration site, use the top navigation menu.
- Select “Wishlist”. Here, you will see all the classes you’ve added.
- Register for a Class:
- When you’re ready to sign up, find the class in your Wishlist and click the “Add to Cart” button.
- Follow the prompts to complete your registration. You can select multiple family members for a class, but you can only register for one class at a time.
- Remove Classes from Your Wishlist:
- To remove a class, using the vertical-dot menu simply click the “Remove from Wishlist” button next to the class you no longer want.
- If you want to clear everything, click the “Clear Wishlist” button to remove all items at once.
- Access Your Wishlist:
How Does It Work?
- What information is displayed in the Wishlist?
Once you’ve added programs to your Wishlist, they will automatically populate on the Wishlist page. Each program will display name, code, date range and time. The “Add to Cart” button will also be present, allowing for quick and easy registration. - Will my programs remain on my Wishlist after I register for them? What about as the seasons change?
Yes! Any program you add to the Wishlist will be saved there until you manually remove it (see above, Remove Classes from Your Wishlist). This means as seasons change and programs become inactive, they will remain on your list for you to look back on; however, you will not be able to register for an inactive season. Can I assign a program to a specific member of my household when I add it to my Wishlist?
No. Once you add programs from the Wishlist to your shopping cart, you will be prompted to assign them to household members before completing your purchase.
Tips for Using the Wishlist
- Keep it Updated: Regularly check your Wishlist to ensure it still reflects your interests.
- Plan Ahead: Adding classes to your Wishlist ahead of time can make the registration process quicker and easier.
- Stay Logged In: Your Wishlist is saved under your account, so as long as you’re logged in, your Wishlist items will stay there until you decide to remove them.
Using the Wishlist feature is a great way to stay organized and make sure you don’t miss out on the classes and programs you’re excited about. Start building your Wishlist today and make registration a breeze!
Wishlist Tutorial Video
Virtual Lobby FAQ
Entering the Virtual Lobby
- When is the Lobby active?
The Virtual Lobby is activated when inbound traffic on our Registration Site reaches peak levels. Our Lobby ensures that registration volume does not exceed the Site’s ability to provide a fast and efficient registration experience.
The Registration Site will be monitored the hour before registration starts, and the Lobby will be activated if traffic reaches its peak—depending on traffic behavior, this may be before, at or after registration starts. - How do I enter the Lobby?
On the morning of registration (if/when inbound site traffic reaches its peak), the Virtual Lobby will be activated on our Registration Site. Visitors accessing our Site while the Lobby is active will be automatically redirected to the Lobby queue.
*If you are accessing the Registration Site before registration starts, we recommend refreshing your page regularly so that you are redirected to the Lobby queue if the Lobby is activated during your session. This action will ensure you are assigned a random place in line once registration opens. - How do I join the Lobby after registration opens?
If you visit the Registration Site after 10 a.m. and registration traffic is at its peak, you will be redirected to the Virtual Lobby window and automatically assigned the next available number at the end of the line.
When It’s Your Turn
- What happens when it’s my turn?
Your wait in the Virtual Lobby will be relatively short, so we recommend you keep your page open while you wait. When it’s your turn to register, the Registration Site will automatically open for you.
If your Lobby page is not open when it’s your turn to register, when you return to the page a popup will notify you that it’s your turn, and confirm that you want to proceed. - When it’s my turn, how long do I have to complete my registration?
Once it is your turn you can browse and register at your own pace. There’s no time limit while you are actively using the Registration Site and completing your transactions. - Once it’s my turn, if I leave the registration site and come back, will I have to wait again?
No. Your Virtual Lobby number is device-specific. This means, once the Lobby assigns your number, you may leave the Registration Site and return without needing to wait in line again.
Other Questions and Answers
- Why am I waiting?
Rest assured that your wait will be short. Our Virtual Lobby ensures that registration volume does not exceed the Registration Site’s ability to provide a fast and efficient registration experience. - Can I lose my place in line?
No. Once you have entered the Virtual Lobby, you retain your place in line, even if your phone goes to sleep, you lose your internet connection, or you close the Lobby page. When you return to the page, you will see your updated progress in the line. If you return and receive a time out message, just refresh your browser and/or double-check your internet connectivity. - What happens if I try to access the registration site from multiple devices and/or internet browsers?
Virtual Lobby numbers are device/browser-specific. As such, each device or internet browser used to access the Registration Site receives its own Lobby number.
*Once released from the Lobby to begin registration, a Household can only maintain one active session at a time. Subsequent logins using the same Household on an alternate device or browser will be presented with a Login Warning giving the new session the option to “Continue with Login” to override the previous session. If continued, any items in the cart from the previous session will transfer to the new session, and the previous session will be ended and logged out. We advise against using multiple devices/browsers for the same Household to avoid confusion while completing your registration. - If I had logged into my Household account before entering the Lobby, will I still be logged in after I leave the Lobby?
Yes. The Registration Site will retain your page and login status while you are in the Virtual Lobby. Your Household will log out only if you access the Site from a secondary device or browser that was released from the Lobby prior to your current session. - Does one Household have to log out of the Registration Site before a new Household can exit the Virtual Lobby and enter the Portal?
No. The Virtual Lobby is managed solely by metering the inbound site traffic to ensure the number of new users accessing the Registration Site remains within the Site’s performance thresholds. Long-running, abandoned, or logged-out sessions do not impact the rate at which new customers are released from the Lobby.
Waitlist FAQ
About the Waitlist
What is the Waitlist and how does it work?
The Waitlist is a feature of the Registration Site that allows patrons to save a spot “in line” should a registered participant withdraw from the program and an enrollment spot become available. Waitlist patrons are served in the order in which they join as enrollment spots become available.
Once a spot becomes available our system notifies the next patron on the Waitlist with an enrollment offer. When the offer is accepted and registration has been processed, the patron will be moved off the Waitlist and into the program enrollment. Everyone remaining on the Waitlist will move up one spot “in line”.
If the enrollment offer is rejected or the window for the enrollment offer expires, that patron will be removed from the Waitlist, and the opening will be offered to the next patron on the list.
Where can I view my Pending Enrollments?
View your enrollment offers and any Waitlists you are actively on under the Pending Enrollments Page on the Registration Site. Here’s where to find it:
- Log into your household account
- Click the down arrow under your profile
- Look under My Account and select Pending Enrollments
- Here, you can also see your Waitlist position number for all classes
How do I know when I have an Enrollment Offer?
When you’re next in line to enroll and a spot opens in your selected program, we’ll send a series of automated emails (or phone calls for certain programs) with your enrollment offer and a direct link to complete your registration. The email notification schedule includes:
- 48-Hour enrollment offer
- 24-Hour enrollment offer
- Expired offer notification
We don’t mean to clutter your inbox – if you act promptly to either accept or reject your offer, any remaining notifications will not be sent.
PLEASE NOTE, Enrollment offer emails are sent from an @rectrac.com address. These are legitimate emails from our system.
Responding to an Enrollment Offer
How long do I have to respond to my Enrollment Offer?
We provide a courtesy 48-hour enrollment offer window for you to accept and complete your registration.
Why do I see two items in my Shopping Cart at the checkout?
When you accept your offer and add the enrollment to your shopping cart, you will see two items displayed at checkout:
- The “Enrolled” section for your selected program
- The “Enrollment Offered” section with an associated fee of $0.00
Make sure to process both items at checkout as they function to transition you out of the Waitlist and into the program enrollment.
What happens if I miss my Enrollment Offer?
If your enrollment window expires without you taking action to accept or reject your offer, you will receive one final notification that your offer has expired. You will be automatically removed from that program Waitlist, and the available spot will be offered to the next patron on the list.
Should you change your mind and wish to enroll after your offer expires, you will need to rejoin the Waitlist, and you will be added to the end of the list.
What if I don’t want to accept the Enrollment Offer?
If you changed your mind and no longer wish to enroll, you can reject your enrollment offer by following the link in your notification or visiting the Pending Enrollments Page.
We greatly appreciate your prompt action should you choose to reject the offer. It will allow us to immediately offer the open spot to the next patron on the Waitlist. Be a good neighbor and pass it along!
I lost the email; how do I complete my enrollment?
No worries if you lost track of the offer email! You can access your active enrollment offers from the Enrollments Page on the Registration Site. Here’s where to find it:
- Log into your household account
- Click the down arrow under your profile
- Look under My Account and select Pending Enrollments
- Here, you can also see your Waitlist position number for all classes
Phone calls and who to contact
Why do I get phone calls for certain Waitlists?
We are still manually managing Waitlists in some instances. This could be due to staffing changes or skill progressions throughout a session. We’ll provide you with a similar enrollment offer window and multiple phone notifications when it’s your turn to transition off the Waitlist.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
You can contact our office at (847) 256-6100 for assistance during business hours.
Summer Camp Registration Information
Camp Payments, Refunds and Friend Requests
Camp Payment Information
A $300 deposit per camp session is required at the time of registration. The balance will be auto-debited from your checking account or credit card prior to the start of camp. Camp fees under $300 must be paid in full at the time of registration. You may register online, via fax or mail, or in person.
- Camp fee balances are collected via auto-debit prior to the start of camp. The deadline for camp fees to be paid in full is posted when summer camp programs become available. Camp balances can be auto-debited from either your checking account or your credit card. When you register for a camp, we will request the appropriate information to process the deadline auto-debit.
- Camp fees under $300 must be paid in full at the time of registration, so no auto-debit information is required for those camps.
Camp Refund Policy
- We will refund 100% of the fee paid any time prior to two weeks before the start of a session.
- Within two weeks of a program’s start date, we will refund your fee paid, less a 25% administrative fee.
- After the start of a session, a prorated refund for any full weeks remaining will be issued, less a 25% administrative fee.
This policy is strictly enforced to allow completion of camp preparations, ranging from staff hiring, camper groupings and supply purchasing to informational mailings. Your understanding is deeply appreciated.
Camp Friend Requests
Camp is a great opportunity to make new friends! We do not accept requests to place your child’s friend in the same group as your child. There are ample opportunities for each child to be with their friends, old and new, during the camp day, even if they are not in the same group. Our camp groups are designed for the safety of all children, and are based on camper-to-staff supervision ratios. Thank you for understanding.
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