Register by Feb. 17 for discounts on Northbrook Park District’s summer camps
For the last two summers, Claire Hart has progressively honed her acting, singing and dancing skills at the Northbrook Park District’s Theatre Arts Workshop camp, an experience her mother highly recommends.
Camp gave her daughter Claire, now 10, a platform to explore her creative side in a supportive and collaborative environment, J.J. Hart said.
“We are super big fans of the program,” she said. “They (staff) created a really great safe zone to explore things that could potentially be nerve-wracking, overwhelming or anxiety inducing. It teaches kids they can overcome anything. And the end result is always an amazing show!”
Theater is one of the park district’s 23 summer camp options for children ages 3 to 14 from June to August. The lineup also includes soccer, golf, visual arts, STEM, ice skating and dance, chess, skateboarding and hockey, along with general recreation and variety sports camps that provide opportunities to learn, move and play in multiple ways.
Many camps offer the option to attend for one week at a time, which allows children to explore different activities and families to find the best fit for their schedules.
Camp takes place at park district facilities and local schools with activities in parks, playgrounds and swimming pools, as well as field trips.
According to the National Camp Impact Study published in 2023 by the American Camp Association, high-quality camp experiences promote in children an affinity for nature, independence and social awareness, as well as long-term grit and willingness to try new things,
“Seeing campers return year after year and grow in their independence and social skills while exploring new interests is one of our staff’s favorite things to witness,” Northbrook Park District Superintendent of Arts and Recreation Erin Sweet said. “Our team is already planning an exciting season ahead, and we are looking forward to seeing our campers enjoy new experiences together this summer.”
Among returning campers will be 5-year-old Maverick Richmond, who had a positive experience attending World Explorers camp last summer, said his mother, Julia.
“He enjoyed the variety of activities and learned new facts about different places around the world, she said.
As a parent, Richmond said, it was reassuring to know this particular camp doesn’t include visits to the pool, because of her child’s limited swimming abilities at the time. This summer, Maverick will attend Kaleidoscope Kids camp, which includes pool time.
Overall, camp is run smoothly, and car drop-off and pick-up are easy to navigate, Richmond said, adding she appreciated receiving email newsletters from staff that keep families informed of happenings.
The Northbrook Park District offers a wide range of variety and flexibility for families looking for a camp to fit their needs this summer.
There are half-day camps (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) for ages 3 to 5 and full-day camps for ages 5 to 14. This year, campers can enjoy a longer day, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at most full-day camps. Extended care is available before camp, starting at 7 a.m., and after camp until 6 p.m.
The full lineup includes:
• Camp Sunshine and World Explorers for preschoolers
• Kaleidoscope Kids, Lil’ Artists and Little Champions for grades K to 2
• Sports Mania for grades 3 to5
• Summer Escapades and Artistic Explorers for grades 3 to 6
• Theatre Arts Workshop for grades 3 to 8
• Athletic Adventures for grades 6 to 8
• Hockey Training Academy for grades K to 7
• Skate and Dance for grades K to 8
• Northbrook Golf Academy camps for ages 4 to 15
The park district also offers a Counselor in Training program for grades 9 and 10, preseason camps (Summer Kickoff, Nogging Builders STEM, Asylum Skateboarding and Spartan FC Soccer) and postseason camps (Skate and Dance, Awesome August, Chess Wizards, Asylum Skateboarding and Spartan FC Soccer).
Summer camp registration is open. Those who register by Feb. 17 can save 10% on most camps.
More information is available in the park district’s “Spring into Summer” guide at nbparks.org.
Established in 1927, the mission of the Northbrook Park District is to enhance the community by providing outstanding services, parks and facilities through environmental, social and financial stewardship.