After the Peanut

10/07/2026

📬 Fresh off the press! Our mid-October newsletter has two NEW ways to explore with your little ones:

🍬 At-home science: a candy corn experiment you can do tonight
📅 Community calendar: free family events across Will County, all in one place

Plus everything you need to know about our free STEAM Spooktacular on Oct 24! 🕵️

💛 And a warm welcome to our intern, Annamarie! We're so excited to have her on the team. Stop by the comments and say hello! 👋

Which will your family try first, the experiment or an event? Tell us below! 👇

👉

This month: two October events you won't want to miss, a new face joining the ATPF family, a kitchen-table science experiment for your kids, and more happening around town. Grab a cup of coffee — let's get into it.

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/05/2026

Who knew a putter could teach physics? 🏌️‍♀️⛳

Kids start asking why the ball curves. How an angle changes a putt. What happens if they swing a little softer.

That was the scene at After the Peanut Foundation's STEM Behind Golf event at Pershing Elementary School in Joliet, IL! Students and families hit the mini-golf greens together for hands-on STEAM learning, exploring force, angles, and motion one swing at a time.

Thank you, Old National Bank, for your continued support. 💙
You help us expand access to STEAM education for Joliet youth, and moments like these don't happen without you.

Big thanks to the City of Joliet, the Pershing community, our volunteers, and every family who came out to swing into STEAM with us.

If you like hearing about the good happening in our community, like this post! 👍

09/28/2026

When community shows up — this is what it looks like. ✨

This summer, we came together at the historic Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet, Illinois for the Summer Soirée 2026 — The Ultimate Party for a Purpose.

200 guests. Live music. Casino fun. Incredible food. Six STEAM Innovation Award honorees. And a room full of people who believe that the youth of Will County deserve access to excellence.

The After the Peanut Foundation exists to change what young people see — and believe is possible for them. Every program, every experience, every door we open exposes youth in underfunded communities to excellence, opportunity, and the people who can change the trajectory of their lives. When young people see themselves in spaces of innovation and possibility, everything changes.

Nights like this one fund that mission. And they remind us why it matters. 💛

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors and program supporters who made this night possible:

🔗 Flip through the full digital program book —

After the Peanut Foundation Summer Soirée 2026 official program book. 200 guests, 6 STEAM Innovation Award honorees, Joliet IL. Flip through the full event recap.

09/25/2026

Meet Annamarie, our amazing intern! 💛

She loves After the Peanut Foundation so much, she’s out recruiting volunteers to join her. From event planning to marketing and outreach, Anna has been helping bring our upcoming events to life.

Know a high school student who needs volunteer hours? 🙋🏽‍♀️ Come help us at our STEAM Spooktacular Family Fun Event! 🎃👻

📅 Saturday, October 24
⏰ 11AM–1 PM
📍 Joliet Area Historical Museum

📧 Use this link: https://tinyurl.com/3vb2y2nv

09/23/2026

🎃 Tickets are officially LIVE for Costumes & Cocktails!

If you're looking for the best R&B and House Halloween party in Joliet, this is it. Three floors. Three bars. A dance floor that doesn't stop until DJ T-Bone says so. This is the night you get dressed up, let loose, and dance like nobody's watching (because everyone else will be dancing too).

Here's what's waiting for you:
🍸 Your first two signature cocktails (or mocktails) are covered
🍽️ Boo-ti-ful bite stations on every floor
🎧 DJ T-Bone keeping the floor packed all night
🏆 A costume contest worth showing up for
🔎 A real-life Clue mystery game, if you're brave enough to play

📍 Joliet Area Historical Museum
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 7:00 PM

And here's the best part — every ticket supports After the Peanut Foundation's mission to bring hands-on STEAM education to youth across Will County. So you're not just buying a ticket to a great night, you're funding the next generation of engineers, coders, and problem-solvers.

🎟️ Get your tickets now — early bird pricing won't last.
https://tinyurl.com/yw9799me

09/21/2026

We are thrilled to be partnering with Joliet Public Schools District 86 Jefferson Elementary this Fall! We can’t wait to start our STEAM Explorers program!