Eiche is the German word for oak.  Oak symbolizing the strength of body, the strength of mind, and the strength of character we strive to instill in our children.

Turner is the German word for gymnast.  Eiche Turners is a family orientated organization dedicated to bringing social, athletic and cultural opportunities to the Southwest  Chicago Suburbs.

Eiche Turners provide for the social and cultural needs of our membership at our "Turner Halle" in Tinley Park.  Numerous athletic and competitive events and leagues for the adults are provided at the Halle and nearby venues.  The needs of our children are met with Tumbling, Cheerleading, Trampoline and craft classes at our convenient Mokena Gym facility.

Eiche is one of five Turner Sociaties (Turnvereins) in the Chicago suburbs making up the Illinois District of American Turners:  Eiche Turners; Northwest Chicago Turners in Schiller Park; Elgin Turners in Elgin; Lincoln Turners (currently relocating); and Aurora Turners in Aurora, IL.   These Turnvereins are, in turn, all a part of the 54 Societies in 13 Districts scattered across the country that make up the American Turners.

Athletic and cultural competitions between Societies in the Illinois District, other nearby Societies, and District wide and National competitions provide ample opportunity to test ourselves against other Turners.  These competitive events include such diverse sports as softball, bowling, golf, gymnastics and volleyball.  Cultural competitions consisting of fine art, painting, woodcarving, photography; sewing; crafts of all kinds, and every imaginable hobby, such as doll collecting, stamp and coin collecting; and Performing Arts such as singing, dancing, and oration are held for both adults and youngsters.  Every four years (the next is scheduled for 2011) a National Turnfest is held bringing together athletes, cultural competitors, and Turner celebrants from across the nation.  And, we still maintain contact with the Turner movement in Germany; many American Turners attending the quadrennial German Turnfest (held in Frankfurt, 30 May through 5 June 2009).

Our District maintains the Illinois District Turner Camp in the northwest suburbs where many Turners spend large portions of their summers enjoying the pleasant surroundings as well as each others company and gemuetlichkeit (another German word that translates roughly as companionship and good times).  The camp, located on the scenic Fox River, has an athletic field with copious quantities of gymnastic equipment, where children - either those whose families have cottages there, or those staying in the on-site dorms - are taught fundamentals of the sport by camp counselors.  When not working on gymnastics, the youngsters learn crafts or spend their time playing other sports or in the Olympic size swimming and diving pool.