Summer Camps in the Chicago Area
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Chicago KidsOutAndAbout Summer Camp Newsletter March 16, 2026 |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Here at KidsOutAndAbout.com, we love promoting summer camps as a way for kids to learn, expand their friendship circles, and have fun without the pressure of grades or consequences. Local summer camps have pulled out all the stops to ensure your kids have a great time.
After getting inspired by the camp descriptions below with programs for preschoolers through teens, head over to
our Week by Week Guide to Summer Camps and what's been posted so far for 2026. Bookmark that main portal page to get where you need to go quickly to search by date or subject. New camps are being added constantly, so check back frequently. I hope you enjoy our special-edition camp newsletter, and
that you forward it to your friends who may also be shopping for summer camps. We'll be back with your regularly-scheduled weekly newsletter on Thursday!
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
Summer camps 2026: week by week Week of June 7, 2026 Week of June 14, 2026 Week of June 21, 2026 Week of June 28, 2026 Week of July 5, 2026 Week of July 12,
2026 Week of July 19, 2026 Week of July 26, 2026 August 2, 2026 August 9, 2026 August 16, 2026 August 23, 2026 August 30, 2026 Find summer programs by subject!
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Camp Galileo invites rising K–8th graders to a summer where innovation and fun unite. Campers dive into hands-on STEAM projects and design challenges, transforming everyday materials into imaginative creations. Grounded in the Galileo Innovation Approach,
our program helps children develop lasting confidence, creative problem-solving skills, and perseverance.
“Excellent camp experience! Well-organized, engaging activities, and caring staff. My child had a blast and came home happy and excited every day. Highly recommend!” - 2025 Family
Weekly sessions, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. camp day with extended care. Enrollments accepted via Bright Horizons. Financial aid available. Use code 26GALKOAA25 to save $25/week. Applicable on future purchases only.
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Helping kids encounter Christ through summer camps, year-round retreats, and outdoor education in East Troy, Wisconsin. Camp Timber-lee has spent over five decades building engaging, faith-centered communities where kids from 2nd grade through high school
grow spiritually, form lifelong friendships, and enjoy God’s creation. With dynamic programs and caring staff, the camp is dedicated to making every moment meaningful through summer camps and retreats.
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Creator Camp is coming to Chicago for Summer 2026! Our program, featured on Shark Tank, is the midwest’s premier destination for kids interested in filmmaking, animation, and technology. We provide an immersive environment where students learn to use
professional software to create YouTube videos, design games, and produce original music. Our weekly sessions are designed to be social, educational, and high-energy, ensuring every camper has a blast while learning valuable 21st-century skills. From the Loop to the suburbs, help your child become a digital leader this summer. Registration for our Chicago locations is now open!
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The Field Museum, a hub of natural history and culture since 1893, invites visitors of all ages to connect with science and the human story through exciting exhibitions and immersive experiences. Its Field Explorer Camps encourage young scientists to
explore, discover, and think critically during a week of hands-on investigation inside the museum. Guided by expert educators, campers engage with real specimens, explore exhibitions, and learn how curiosity leads to new insights. Grouped by grade for age-appropriate learning, returning campers build confidence, expand their skills, and nurture a lasting sense of wonder for the natural world each year.
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In the heart of a city known for its ever-rising skyscrapers, Lincoln Park Zoo stands as Chicago’s hub for wildlife experiences, inspiring children to love animals, adults to rediscover a sense of wonder, and everyone to make nature a priority. Its camps
for kids in grades preK–8 offer hands-on activities and animal encounters that highlight the wonders of the zoo and the Earth, with scholarships available to ensure access for all who wish to join.
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Merit School of Music has, for over 45 years, provided Chicago-area youth with broad, high-quality music education accessible to all. Its programs unite students of diverse ages and backgrounds to learn from top local educators through group classes,
private lessons, Early Childhood offerings, and more. The school also offers Summer Music Camps for kids and teens, with options across ages, instruments, and experience levels, making summer a time to stay social and creative while out of school.
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Ready for a rockin’ camp experience? At our summer camps, kids develop confidence in themselves through rock climbing and other inclusive activities. And, if there’s anything we know about kids, it’s that they need to move! So, drop your kiddos off with our
experienced coaches for the week this summer! No experience or parental supervision necessary.
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The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, one of the largest science museums in the world, features over 400,000 square feet of interactive exhibits that inspire curiosity and creativity in STE(A)M. Through Griffin MSI’s education programs, children
connect with science beyond the classroom, supported by families and communities essential to their growth. The Museum’s Camps offer fun, hands-on experiences that encourage exploration across diverse STE(A)M fields. Designed for students from PreK through 12th grade, these one-day and week-long camps keep learning alive and engaging even when school is not in session.
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Pedalheads has spent over 30 years leading children’s programming that builds life skills through fun, active learning. Our classes help kids grow confidence and abilities—from learning to ride a bike to mastering the front crawl—while ensuring they have a
great time. We offer bike and trail camps and a range of programs across Illinois, with summer camps and locations in Chicago, Arlington Heights, Clarendon Hills, Evanston, Elmhurst, Highland Park, Naperville, Park Ridge, River Forest, Schaumburg, Wilmette, and more.
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Since 1980, Steve & Kate’s has put kids in charge of their own learning experience. Campers choose from a variety of activities in real-time, including sewing, coding, film, sports, and more! As kids try, fail, and learn on their own, they learn to
trust their own judgment, and tackle the challenges of an ever changing world with creativity and confidence.
Families can buy any number of days, to use at any time–no weekly reservations required. Or, buy a Summer Pass, which covers the whole season. If your plans change, we’ll automatically refund any unused days at summer’s end. Lunch, snacks & 8am–6pm included.
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Ninja training offers an exciting, challenging, and confidence-building experience that enhances kids’ fitness, agility, and determination. Led by professional ninja athletes, Chicago Ninja classes and Ultimate Ninjas Camps teach children to conquer fun
obstacle courses inspired by those seen on TV. Campers are grouped by age, coached through each obstacle, and given time for open play to practice and master their favorites. With half- and full-day options, kids build strength, confidence, and teamwork while having a blast. Every camp ends with a final course run where participants showcase their new skills and celebrate their amazing progress, ninja-style!
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The all-new 2026 Camp Invention® program, Spark, is coming to curious kids in your community this summer! Rising K-6 campers will collaborate with friends to tackle hands-on, open-ended challenges. They’ll team up with robotic capybaras, ride the waves of
entrepreneurship, uncover the power of protecting their ideas and build a DIY space rocket! Each experience is designed to spark confidence, build persistence and create unforgettable summer memories. Visit invent.org/save/camp to secure your spot! Register using CIFUN25 by 3/31 to save $25 or CIFUN20 by 4/28 to save $20 when you register. Interest-free payment plans are available, making camp affordable for all families.
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iD Tech: The World's #1 STEM Summer Camp! BattleBots® Camp? You can only get it here. Roblox Camp? We've got that and more in our Summer '26 lineup. Register today at the top-rated tech camp for 25 years and counting! iD Tech is the very best
experience built around your child—their interests, their skill level, their goals for the future. Trusted by 75+ of the world’s top universities and over 1,000,000 parents, iD Tech is where kids and teens learn from the best—coding, game dev, robotics, and more. The future starts at iD Tech!
Click here for more information about your local iD Tech opportunities! Virtual camps are also available!
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