20 Chicago and North Shore Summer Camps for Kids of All Ages

The vaccine is widely available to kids 5 and up, and summer is just around the corner — which means you can officially get your darling children out of the house for a glorious eight hours at a time (trust me, they’ll be thrilled too). On top of that, more camps than ever are opening their doors to kiddos this summer. But with the whole, wild world of summer camps, where should you send your brood? Here are 12 summer camps around Chicago and the North Shore that are sure to appeal to any future camper.

For the little one:

Little Beans Café and Playspace

Little Beans is perfect for the small ones who will surely grow up to while away the hours in their favorite coffee shop. And what better way to start them off than this fun-filled camp for kids between the ages of 2.5-9? Each week of camp has a fun, unique theme that is incorporated into all of the activities and classes. With imaginative play, sports, art classes, outdoor games and more, your little one will never want to leave the café. Plus, parents: if you forget to pack lunch one day, a healthy meal can be purchased for just $5. That’s the kind of café we never want to leave. Bonus: they do birthday parties and also function as a space for working parents. Pass me a cappuccino, please.

1809 W. Webster St. Chicago IL, 60614
773-251-1025

North Shore Montessori Schools Summer Camp

North Shore Montessori Schools are accredited by the American Montessori Society. They pride themselves on providing children with the freedom to move at their own pace and engage in hands-on learning. Their camps are nine weeks long, and are located in Riverwoods and Glenview.

Riverwoods: 3140 Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods, IL 60015
Glenview: 305 Waukegan Road, Northfield, IL 60093
847-945-8661

For the budding botanist:

Camp CBG at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Children in a garden
Chicago Botanic Garden

If your little buddy is always digging in the dirt, then the summer camp at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe is just what they need. Surrounded by some of the loveliest landscaped and wild gardens, campers ranging from pre-k to 7th grade will find out just how neat nature can be. Each day, campers will visit a different area of the Garden, conduct a science investigation, do an art project, and prepare their own healthy snack as they learn more about the natural world at the Garden. Plus, you can sign up for a single day or the whole week, depending on your needs. Your kiddo might be a little muddy when they get home, but you can bet this summer camp will help them bloom.

1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022
847-835-5440

For the techie in training:

iD Tech Summer Camps at Northwestern University

For kids ages 7 to 17 interested in all things technology, this is the STEM camp for them. Campers learn coding, game development, design and robotics in small groups. At the end of the program, everyone receives an iD Tech diploma and skill certification to add to their portfolio.

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208
888-709-8324

For the burgeoning chef:

Oui Chef

Children cooking in the kitchen
Oui Chef

For the kid who always wants to be in the kitchen (and has maybe already mastered Bisquick pancakes), there’s Oui Chef, for kids 5-12 years old. Campers will learn to make both sweet and savory pastries, breads, and more. This is the perfect place to help your child learn and grow in the kitchen… without you having to do any of the dishes when they’re done cooking. It’s a win for all parties involved, especially if they bring home any of the treats at the end of the day.

2622 N. Halsted Street Chicago, IL 60614
773-799-8451

For the soon-to-be Jackson Pollock:

Summer Camps at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

For the kid who can never put down the crayons (or, perhaps, has already graduated to pastels), there’s the dream: summer camp at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Campers between the ages of 4 and 9 will complete exciting, creative projects and visit the Art Institute on a daily basis. If art is a family affair, there’s even a Family Camp option for kiddos 4+ (with at least one adult attendee). Campers will express their inner artiste with a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, mixed media, fibers, performance, wearables, and animation. Each session has a different project, so students can sign up for multiple weeks. This will be a summer full of artistic exploration — so clear a spot on your refrigerator door!

36 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60603
312-629-6100

For the superstar athlete:

Girls in the Game

For your girl who can’t bear to miss a Bears game, and gets positively bullish about watching the Bulls, there’s Girls in the Game: a summer camp dedicated to making sure girls get fair play in the wide world of sports. Girls will spend the summer not just playing sports and having their athleticism encouraged, but learning leadership skills and confidence as well. For older kids, there’s Teen Squad, a program that engages high school girls to participate in health, sports and leadership workshops. Teens will start the summer off with training from Girls in the Game and learn how to lead workshops about healthy lifestyle for younger children. Other activities include fitness challenges, skill-building workshops and other fun all-squad activities. This summer’s Teen Squad will be fully virtual due to COVID precautions, so your teen can partake in the skill-building no matter where you spend the summer. 

1401 S. Sacramento Dr. Chicago, IL 60623
312-633-4263

For the naturalist:

Field Museum Summer Camps

Kids at summer camp virtually
The Field Museum

The one who has to stop and stare at every leaf…inspect every bug…can never have too many books about dinosaurs (this was the author, for the record — right down to the collection of cicada shells)… there is summer camp at the Field Museum. Tragically, they cannot accommodate overeager 29-year-olds, but they can offer programming for everyone between pre-k and eighth grade. Young ones can attend dino camp, while older kiddos can engage in more immersive science and natural history experiences.  Summer camps are scheduled for the last three weeks of June, for two weeks in July, and for three weeks in August. For dates, please check the summer camps page for the desired grade. Sessions are available for purchase in one- and two-week packages, starting at $500.

1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605
312-922-9410

For the future Grandmaster:

Shulman Chess Summer Camp

If your kid has been practicing the Queen’s Gambit and you’re tired of losing, send your future prodigy to the Shulman Chess summer camp, sponsored by Chess Without Borders. Hosted at Barrington High School, kids can parry, block, and strategize to their hearts’ content for two weeks. Visiting chess Grandmasters will rotate between small groups, offering tips and advice, and players will compete in a tournament at the end of the session. Beginners and students of all ages are welcome. 

616 W Main St, Barrington, IL 60010
312-375-7475

For the avid snorkeler:

Summer Splash Camp at the Shedd Aquarium

Yes, you can go to summer camp at the Shedd Aquarium. Yes, the author is blind with jealousy. Catering to campers K-5, kids will learn about different aquatic animals (like the penguins who famously got to wander around the rest of the aquarium at the start of the pandemic) and various aquatic habitats for five magical days. Plus, if you have multiple campers sign up for the same session, you get a discount — a perfect opportunity for siblings to learn about the wonders of the watery world together.

1200 S Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605
312-939-2438

For the future veterinarian:

Summer Zoo Crew at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Zoo children's summer camp
Lincoln Park Zoo

A “lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” joke might be tired in this instance, but your camper is unlikely to tire of the fantastic two-week-long summer zoo crew at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Kids from rising 5th grade to 8th grade will do hands-on activities, learn about conservation, and, of course, meet the animals. Campers take field trips, have conversations with zoo experts, learn about animal habitats, and explore various themes surrounding animals of all stripes, spots, and feathers. Even better? On the last night, there’s a special sleepover. By the end of the summer, they might be headed for a career in zoology…or they might just have a well-developed love of the beautiful animals on our beautiful planet. COVID-19 vaccination is required for all eligible campers. 

2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
312-742-2056

For the Future Martha Graham:

American Dance Training Camp

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ADTC Dance Camps – Official (@danceadtc)

If your kiddo just can’t stop twirling and tapping, a summer dance camp might be exactly what they need. American Dance Training Camp is an overnight camp for students ages 8-17. Girls will work with dance teachers and choreographers in a variety of dance styles including hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. There are also elective classes for ballet, tap, and world dance along with a wide variety of other dance disciplines. Dancer-campers will get the full sleepaway camp effect, staying in dorm rooms and doing camp activities such as swimming, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and more. 

1500 Kennedy Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045
866-383-ADTC

For the Scene Maker:

Lookingglass Theatre Company Summer Camp

Lookingglass Theatre Company invites students to create theatre magic this year with an exciting return to in-person Summer Camp! The camp will offer a four-week immersive experience in theatre, movement, music, and art, for young people in grades 3-8. Under the guidance of its long-standing director Emilio G. Robles, camp will continue its long running tradition of theatrical adaptation (a Lookingglass core artistic value) through a youth centered lens of multicultural storytelling. Young artists will receive training from professionals in the core values of Lookingglass Theatre: Collaboration, Transformation, and Invention.  

Summer Camp will take place June 27 – July 22, Mondays – Fridays from 9:30AM – 3:15 PM at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. 

915 E 60th Street Chicago, IL 60637 
773.477.9257. X 1040

For the all-around experience: 

Discovery Day Camp

Discovery Day Camp has been in the business of enriching campers’ lives since 1984, and this author can personally attest to the wonderfulness of a summer there. For campers ages 4-14, there are all of the classic aspects of summer camp: from daily swims, to arts and crafts, to sports, to lanyards, to a ropes course, to glasses of bug juice at lunch, Discovery has it all. Caring counselors, small troop sizes, and good-old-fashioned fun are in abundant supply at Discovery Day Camp.

241 US HWY 45 Lincolnshire, IL 60061
847-367-2267

North Shore Country Day School Day Camp

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by NSCDS Summer Programs (@nscdssummerprograms)

Offering a variety of day camps for kids ages 3 to 13, North Shore Country Day School camps include age-specific activities such as gymnastics, swimming lessons, archery, outdoor adventures and more. Choose from a selection of two-week sessions led by talented educators and counselors.

310 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, IL 60093
224-286-6798

McGaw YMCA Day Camp

McGaw YMCA Day Camp

For rising first through eighth graders, the McGaw YMCA’s day camps give kids the opportunity to explore different “camp-tivities” including fishing, drama, crafts, field trips and STEAM enrichment. This camp is great for children looking to experience a variety of activities.

1000 Grove St., Evanston, IL
847-475-8580

Banner Day Camp

At Banner Day Camp, campers participate in sports, aquatics, arts, adventure programs and more. Swimming is essential to the camp experience and participants enjoy swimming at least once a day. The non-competitive environment is designed to help children develop social skills and self-esteem in small groups, with one staff member for every three campers.

1177 Riverwoods Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
847-295-4900

Park District of Highland Park’s Crew Camp

The Park District of Highland Park offers a broad range of summer camps for kids in grades 1-8 and include 7-week, 4-week, 3-week, early summer and end-of-camp options. Camps range from Sports and Nature to Performance and Golf, and some even include swimming at Rosewood Beach and Hidden Creek Aquapark.

Park District of Highland Park, IL 60035
847-579-3128

Gorton Community Center Camps

Gorton Community Center offers several camps including Art Camp, Sewing Camp, Acting Camp and more. The week-long sessions allow students to learn new artistic and STEM skills, and improve the ones they already have. Best of all, there are options for kindergarten-age children up to age 15 .

400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
847-234-6060

JCC’s Camp Firefly

For kids who might struggle with traditional summer camp settings as a result of social disorders or challenges, JCC’s Camp Firefly can help provide them with the summer experience they’ve always dreamed of. Camp Firefly is for kids ages 9-18 who have been diagnosed with social disorders, such as social anxiety, OCD, PDD, Asperger’s syndrome, non-verbal learning disorder and high functioning autism. Your kiddo will get to experience the joy and magic of overnight camp at Camp Chi, where they’ll learn all about cabin life in a safe and secure environment. Campers will get to enjoy therapeutic group activities with transition and break times always in mind. 

PO Box 104 Lake, Lake Delton, WI 53940
844-4-JCC-CHI


Want more?

To browse a list of the best summer camps in the area, check out our 2022 Summer Camp Guide:


How to help:

Many are finding that helping others is an effective way to help combat feelings of powerlessness in the face of COVID-19. Here are some deserving nonprofits, including food pantries, that need your support.


More from Better:


Jessica Suss is a native Chicagoan residing in Washington, D.C. She is currently getting her master’s degree in secondary English education at the University of Maryland. She enjoys petting other people’s dogs and is faithful to Lou Malnati’s alone. Jessica is also a supporter of MAZON and No Kid Hungry

  Who We Are       NFP Support       Magazine       Programs       Donate    

X