MomsTribute
While the wind chill advisory tells me it is 10 degrees on this February day, it’s never too early to be planning a “Kid-Friendly Summer” in Chicagoland. Check out the various local summer camp offerings to fill those summer days - act quickly, these camps fill up fast!
Summer is a time for kids to relax and have fun, but it can also be an opportunity for them to engage in kid-friendly enrichment activities that can help them grow and develop new skills. With so many options available in the greater Chicago area, kids can explore their passions, develop new skills, and have fun at the same time! Summer Camps that focus on Outdoor Adventures, Creative Arts, and Skill Acquisition are all engaging opportunities for kids to enjoy the long summer days.
Summer camps offer a variety of kid-friendly activities and kid-friendly experiences for kids, ranging from sports and outdoor activities to indoor arts and crafts, music and theater, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Attending a summer camp can help kids develop new interests, build social skills and confidence, and make new friends. Local park district camps provide a unique opportunity for elementary-aged children to socialize with peers outside of their normal social circle.
Camp activities are designed to encourage teamwork, communication, cooperation and critical thinking skills, which are all important for forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Personally, my kids have enjoyed being a part of programming held by the Arlington Heights Park District, but similar programs are available in neighboring towns or by the Chicago Park District.
Outdoor Activities and Exercise: This type of summer camp allows children to send time outdoors, participating in physical activities such as hiking, swimming and playing sports. This is a welcome break from the sedentary lifestyle many kids typically lead, spending hours in front of the screen. Outdoor activities help children to develop coordination, balance and physical strength, and can also boost their overall health and well-being. Camp Duncan in Lake County, Illinois accomplishes all of these and so much more with overnight, specialty camp and day camp options.
Creative Arts camps help kids boost their creativity and imagination by providing an enriching environment that encourages all to be experienced through play. With activities such as storytelling, role-playing, and arts and crafts, kids are free to express themselves and explore their creative side. This is important for overall cognitive development, as it helps to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Metropolis Theater, Hello Art Studio and Thrown Elements Pottery Studios, all located in Arlington Heights, offer summer camp options that engage even the youngest children.
Summer can be a great time for kids to learn new skills and challenge themselves. They can take classes in cooking, photography and coding, or even work on learning a new instrument. Learning new skills can help kids boost their problem-solving skills, increase their self-esteem, and expand their interests. Cook, Cork, and Fork in Palatine, Illinois offers kids camps that allow them to enhance their culinary skills. Photography classes are offered at the local junior colleges such as Harper College in Palatine and Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Illinois. Coding is available at the satellite campuses of Camp Galileo, which in the summer of 2023 will be offered at Our Lady of the Wayside School in Arlington Heights. Each week has a theme that revolves around STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Choose a camp that suits your child best, but know that summer will be here in a flash and you have to plan ahead. In the meantime, pass the hot cocoa!
Dana H
A unique platform for all-things-mom. A shared, nurturing community for moms that empowers, brings convenience, and removes chaos from their everyday lives.
