This is just for the checkin process. Will update later with academic review and if it was "worth…read moreit". The kids this summer get to stay in a nice dorm with AC. My kid is a rising sophomore and one of the oldest in her cohort - it seems like primarily 9th graders. The checkin process was smooth, there are 4 kids to a suite with a shared bathroom, and they send a few emails before the start date with details. The packing list could be a little more robust (vs the one my friend got for Center for Talented Youth.. that program seemed a bit more dialed in). We ended up going to Target right after checking into the dorm to buy little things that would make it slightly more comfortable for 3 weeks of a residential program. For example: hand soap, dish soap to wash water bottles, paper towels, and a few snacks. We also brought our own linens, but they rent them if you prefer. I think my kid is going to be spoiled bc the dorm was built in 2017 and way nicer than most that I have seen.

My child attended several of their in person weekend and summer programs from 2017-2019 when they…read morewere in 3-5th grade in Chicago and Skokie. The classes that they did were great in terms of providing challenge, enrichment and social opportunities with other gifted kids. This summer as a rising 11th grader they did a 3 week summer residential academic program in Evanston. It was a wonderful experience that was sufficiently challenging and fun. My child learned a lot and completed an independent research project that they were both proud of and showed a lot of creative thought within the parameters of the project. As a parent I feel that the program communicated sufficiently and when small issues arose, they addressed them quickly and effectively. I would recommend CTD's in person programs for any kid who needs/wants more challenge than they get in their regular school experience and/or social connections with other gifted kids.

The City Staffing team is exceptionally kind and communicative! They got me staffed in no time…read more What else can you ask for?!

They never responded back to my inquiry for assistance at all. Not sure in this economy how humane…read morethat is.

Other creative recruiting companies have left a bad taste in my mouth, especially the big machines…read morethat churn spam email out. You know the place. It's... circular. Wunderland has changed the game and my perspective. They're extremely thorough from start to finish with every opportunity. They constantly check up on me and every person that I talk to genuinely cares. When I went to the office, everyone introduced themselves to me, shook my hand and expressed their excitement to work with me. It's definitely something you don't experience anywhere else. They really do work hard for you and make sure you're happy. I landed a gig a mere week after our initial meeting. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a new position.

One word to describe Wunderland Group - amazing! My friend referred me to Wunderland Group 4 years…read moreago after she spoke so highly of the staffing agency/team she worked with that helped placed her with a direct hire opportunity at Northwestern University. After connecting with Marisa Vrona, she was amazing keeping me in the loop of current career opportunities that best fit my level of experience and very personable! Fast forward to now, I met with Marisa and her colleague Alyssa Rubnitz for coffee yesterday since I've been in contact with them so long and never officially met them in person. They were both very bubbly, personable and I can see why we all stayed in contact for so long! They don't treat you like just another candidate, but like you're apart of the Wunderland family. Thanks to Alyssa, she placed me in a previous contract assignment with Choose Chicago and recently Northwestern Medicine as a Project Manager and had an overall amazing experience within both roles. I look forward to staying in contact if I never need further assistance within my career search and will continue sending referrals :)

My son entered the Northwestern Music Academy as a beginner cellist with limited skill but much…read morepotential and talent. Mindy Park is an outstanding educator who was born to teach children music. Her pedagogy is rooted in technique and skill rather than route memorization. Within two semesters, she was able to place my son far ahead of his school group. NMA offers unparalleled group and individual concerts and recitals in grandiose halls, where pupils learn to play in a professional music setting at a young age. We are excited to see how he grows in his musicianship throughout the years through this prestigious program.

I was so surprised to see that Kindermusik has not been reviewed yet and we've only known about…read moresince 2009 when we became parents! One of the important things to us as parents was to introduce our kids to music at an early age. We have tested out a variety of different music options here in Evanston, and our favorite is Kindermusik through the Music Academy at Northwestern University. You can start as young as newborn in the Kindermusik Village where both my kids have started - my daughter just finished up the Kindermusik Village session this summer and loved it. She went from just humming songs and melodies to actually having 4 songs memorized and singing very loudly and proudly! Their Our Time is the 18 months - 3.5 years session where it's a parent/tot activity. My son just recently wrapped up Kindermusik's Image That series where he loved the fact that he was dropped off for 30 minutes (it was our Saturday morning coffee break routine while he was in class) and then, we rejoined the group for 15 minutes sharing time. The classes are really great - you have quality materials (books, dvd, toy, etc) and the teachers are really fantastic. Julie Friend is an amazing resource, personable, talented, and we have really loved having her as our teacher. I'm most excited for my son who will be starting Kindermusik for the Young Child, Year One with Pat Heinenman this year because he'll be learning how to play the glockenspiel and sight reading, which is an essential tool for learning any musical instrument. Year Two is learning how to the two-stringed culcimer and the soprano recorder. The other music places are good, too, but our personal preference is Kindermusik as both my children will continue their music education here. They're great to work with, their schedules are flexible and accommodate both the stay-at-home parent and the working parent. The quality of the music education is proven through the results that I've seen with my children.

Arts Circle Drive on Northwestern's campus is really nice. Being in my hometown, we've been here…read moremany times over the years for various productions; our favorite being their dance company's annual spring production of Danceworks at the Josephine Louis Theater. Each year it's very well done and there's not a bad seat in the house. We love this center; it makes it easy to support our local performing arts!

I need to start by saying that the Northwestern Campus is AWESOME and really, really well kept up…read more I walked around feeling smarter just by being there. I also found that they have at least two theater buildings which is beyond cool. I was floored to see how nice Barber Theater was and how well equipped they were (think Looking Glass construction but with more seating). The seats are so comfortable and spacious, I don't think there is a bad view in the whole house. Seriously, I could rave about this building all day, I wanna live here. So I need to tell you that I'm not a fan of musicals. I don't know what it is but they bug me and I would rather be repeatedly poked in the eye before seeing one. My date and I went to see "Rent" which I've seen the big Broadway stage production before and I have to tell you... FLOORED again!! It was better then Broadway, I kid you not. It's been days and the performance is still stuck in my head. The set design, the live music, the costume, ALL were dead on. Of course what made it all so mind blowing were these college students. They have SO MUCH talent!! Who can sing, be extremely physical running and jumping around the stage, dance, and also act anymore... these people can!! I'm more then excited to have season tickets here. **** Remember support the Arts!!! ******

Amazing place. Amazing group of women who model kindness, creativity, and positivity. Our son and…read moredaughter went there and it is obvious they have been taught what it means to be part of a supportive community that values teamwork, conflict resolution, and inclusivity. We couldn't be happier with their experience and if we had another kid they would also be going there.

Families Together is well worth the monetary investment. Now having my second child at Families…read moreTogether Cooperative Nursery School, I can clearly see how children are given so much 1:1 attention, they learn how to share, communicate their thoughts, and learn how to work together with other little humans(& adults). If they've happened to develop and habits that are not as pro-social as you would like them to be, the staff and teachers at FTCNS have an amazing way of positively redirecting then and teaching them the skills they will need in life. It's really the best foundation you can give your 2.5 to 5 year old! P.S. Being a teacher myself, I can say that they also have such a rich, diverse and inclusive curriculum!

These folks are certainy talented! I went to one of their concerts at the Pick Staiger Concert Hall…read moreat Northwestern and I was impressed. When you listen to small groups like this you can really appreciate the skill of the musicians. Any mistake would stick out like a sore thumb and matching tone and style becomes imperative. If you enjoy classical music, check this group out. They know their stuff. It would probably be more enjoyable in a smaller venue than Pick Staiger, though. It seems kind of silly to play chamber music in a huge concert hall.

I attended a concert by CCM recently at Northwestern and did enjoy myself. They have a talented…read moreensemble including a few grammy nominees and winners. They have concerts regularly throughout the year Memberships and individual tickets are reasonably priced including discounts for students and those under 40. I would definitely recommend checking them out.

We could not be more pleased with our experience at Lakefront Children's Academy. It offers the…read moreperfect combination of a strong, challenging academic curriculum and a warm, nurturing environment where children are truly known, encouraged, and supported. One of the school's greatest strengths is its low student-to-teacher ratio, which allows teachers to provide individualized attention and recognize each child's unique strengths and learning needs. The teachers are dedicated, caring, and highly engaged, creating a classroom environment where children feel confident, excited to learn, and comfortable challenging themselves. The academic foundation students receive is outstanding. Children graduate from kindergarten not only well prepared for elementary school, but often performing at an impressively advanced level. Many graduates have gone on to gain acceptance into some of the most competitive test-in and advanced academic elementary programs, which speaks volumes about the quality of the curriculum and preparation they receive. What makes this school particularly special, however, is that academic achievement never comes at the expense of childhood. The environment remains loving, encouraging, and nurturing, allowing children to develop socially and emotionally while building strong academic skills, independence, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. For families looking for a school that combines academic excellence, small class sizes, individualized attention, and truly caring teachers, we cannot recommend this school highly enough. It provides an extraordinary educational foundation and prepares children beautifully for the next stage of their academic journey. Lakefront Children's Academy has been serving the New Eastside / Lakeshore East community since 2000. Great school! On-site piano lessons are an added ++!

Lakefront Academy and the teaching staff have been absolutely phenomenal. We are so appreciative to…read morehave been part of this community. As a former educator, I am deeply thankful for the amazing support they provided for my son over his two years at the daycare. During this time, he was able to develop strong literacy and math skills along with the socio-emotional growth that built his confidence and led to his acceptance into a Gifted Center for Kindergarten. I have tremendous respect for this team and cannot recommend them highly enough. I would be happy to speak with anyone who has questions about our experience.