The Summer Camp Guide

ART

Art Summer Camp @ Olín Studio

Olín Studio Chicago, 1957 W. 23rd St. July 6–July 31 (four weeks), Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm. Ages 7–12. $575 for the full duration, all art materials included. Weekly rates available upon request. Register before May 31 for $50 off. (773) 877-3211. olinstudiochicago@gmail.com. olinstudiochicago.com/summer-camp-2020

Send your young one to a “culturally rich summer experience” at Olín Studio in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood, offering lessons in different visual arts, Mexican folk dances, music, and more. (Sam Stecklow)

The Revival Summer Camps

The Revival, 1160 E. 55th St. Week-long camps: held from August 3–August 28. Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm. Ages 6–12. $299. (Financial assistance available; email theater@the-revival.com for information.) classes@the-revival.com. the-revival.com/camps

The Revival, the five-year-old comedy club in Hyde Park, is offering week-long camps throughout the month of August. Attendees will participate in improv and music–related activities at The Revival’s theater, the nearby church, and neighborhood parks. Each week will culminate in a Friday performance in front of friends and family; for shyer campers, participation is “encouraged but not mandatory.” (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan)

Young Chicago Authors Write to the City

UIC School of Art & Art History, 400 S. Peoria St. July 8–12. $200. (773) 486-4331. bit.ly/WriteToTheCity

A group of more than 100 young poets, artists, and activists will take field trips to a wide variety arts and culture institutions across Chicago. They’ll also build up their body of work through a series of workshops led by poets and artists. (Rachel Schastok)

Hyde Park Art Center Creativity Camp

Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. June 15–September 4. Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm. $395-$710, one- and two-week long sessions. Camps available for PreK–10+. (773) 324-5520. hydeparkart.org/education/youth/creativity-camp

Hyde Park Art Center is offering one-to-two-week-long camp sessions throughout the summer where kids of all ages can explore a combination of visual and performance arts, as well as participate in field trips and more intensive studies. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan)

DANCE

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Camps

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, 1147 W. Jackson Blvd. June 29–July 31, Monday–Friday, times vary. Ages 4–14. $225 to $450. (312) 850-9744. youth@hubbardstreetdance.com. hubbardstreetdance.com/summercamp

The Little Movers camp for kids ages 4–7 years old, Dance Explorers camp for ages 6–14, and the Summer Intensive for kids ages 8–12 years old are all designed to provide a rich and unique dance experience for young people across Chicago at the renowned Hubbard Street Dance. There’s a camp to please any dancer of any skill level to help them take their craft to the next level, or just explore a fun new art form with friends. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan)

Forward Momentum Summer Camp

Two locations: Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72nd St., and a second camp in Avondale. More details forthcoming. June 22–July 30, 9am–4pm. Ages 5–14. (773) 844-0764. forwardmomentumchicago.org/summer-dance-camp

Calling all dancers interested in learning everything from Ballet to Hip-Hop! Over the course of six weeks, dancers of all skill levels will join the talented instructors at Forward Momentum for a summer of dancing, performances, and fun weekly field trips around Chicago. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan)

FOOD & LAND

Chicago Park District Day Camps

Various city parks. June 22–July 31. Most $1–$3/hour. Camp information listed April 6 at chicagoparkdistrict.com. Registration starts April 20. bit.ly/cpdcamps
The Park District offers a variety of summer camps, including traditional six-hour-long day camps that run Monday through Friday for kids between six and twelve years old. Kids enrolled in these camps will go on field trips, do crafts, engage with nature, and play sports and games. Camps for younger children and teens are also offered at select parks. (Tammy Xu)

Pilsen Urban Garden Project: The Art of Community

Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton Rd. July 1–August 8. Monday–Wednesday, 9:30am–12:30pm; Thursday 4pm–8pm. Stipends available. SSN not required for application. Ages 14+. Must be enrolled in high school. Apply on afterschoolmatters.org. (312) 226-7767. elevarte.org

Art and gardening go hand in hand. That’s the guiding idea behind this summer program for high schoolers run by the Pilsen-based arts education studio ElevArte. Four days a week, students will learn how to grow, compost, build, and curate. To round out the six-week program, students will invite family and friends for performances, exhibitions, and a presentation of the work they’ve done in the garden. (Tammy Xu)

 South Side YMCA Summer Day Camp

South Side YMCA of Metro Chicago, 6330 S. Stony Island Ave. Camps from June 8–September 4. Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm. Costs vary based on membership status, financial assistance available through Illinois Action for Children. Extended childcare in the morning and evening available for certain camps. (773) 947-0700. https://www.ymcachicago.org/southside/pages/summer-day-camp

A wide variety of summer camps are available at the South Side YMCA of Metro Chicago, ranging from adventure camps to gardening classes, creative intensives, basketball programs, and more! With options for kids ages five to fifteen, you’re sure to find something that your child will love. Sample schedules are available online, and breakfast and lunch are included in camp fees. (Ashvini Kartik-Narayan)

INTERNSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS

Field Museum Women in Science Internships

1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. June 22–August 3. Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm. bit.ly/fieldinternship

The Field Museum Women in Science and Women’s Board are sponsoring paid interns—five high school students and five undergraduate students—to work in various departments throughout the Field Museum on collections-based research and science communication. The goal of the program is, in part, to increase representation within the sciences. To be eligible, students must reside in Chicagoland or northwest Indiana during the duration of the internship and be sixteen years old by June 22. The deadline for all application materials, including online questions and a letter of recommendation, is March 2. (Michelle Anderson)

Collins Engineers, Inc. CPS Internship

550 W. Jackson Blvd. Late June–mid-August. 24 to 32 hours per week, 8am–5pm. $15/hour, offers CTA transportation reimbursement. bit.ly/collinsinternship

Collins Engineers, Inc., a Chicago-based civic and structural engineering firm, is offering an eight-week paid internship for a rising CPS junior or senior. The position offers on-the-ground learning about engineering, and the intern will learn to conduct research, develop skills in computer-aided design, and perform other administrative tasks. The application requires responses to online questions, an unofficial high school transcript, and one or two letters of recommendation. The deadline to apply is March 6, with downtown interviews scheduled for the week of April 6. (Michelle Anderson)

Adler Planetarium Summer Teen Intern

1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. June 29–August 21. Monday-Friday. bit.ly/AdlerSummerPacket 

Adler Planetarium is looking to hire twenty high school students who are enthusiastic about science and excited spend their summer participating in event planning, creating communication materials and interacting with museum guests. The deadline to apply is March 15 and the initial online application includes a cover letter, resume and a recommendation letter from a non-relative. Those selected for an interview will also need to provide a transcript (unofficial is acceptable). The group interview is currently slated for early April, and the fact sheet provides more in-depth information about their process. (Michelle Anderson)

Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) 

602 E. 61st St. June–August. Paid internship. Contact: (773) 217-9598, info@stopchicago.org

Want to learn the art and science of community organizing? Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) offers an 8-week summer organizing internship based in Woodlawn. STOP is interested in working with teenagers to collaborate around community organizing and training, field trips, and ongoing campaigns. Whether you’re interested in developing restorative alternatives to police in schools or fighting for a community benefits agreement with the Obama Presidential Center, reach out on or before May 1. Email a resume and paragraph stating your interest in the opportunity to info@stopchicago.org. (Michelle Anderson)

Free Spirit Media Flash Forward Internship

Nichols Tower, 906 S. Homan Ave., floor 5. Paid internships. Application window opened March 1. Questions: contact (331) 251-2620 or pathways@freespiritmedia.org. freespiritmedia.org/flash-forward

Free Spirit Media is offering paid six-week internships, fellowships, and assistant positions to young adults (ages 16–24) this summer through their Flash Forward program. Students interested in media will have the chance to work with casting agencies & local news stations to gain first-hand experience in film production audio casting, and much more. All positions come with a stipend. (Michelle Anderson)

MISC.

Summer Boat Building Class 

Southern Shore Yacht Club, 6401 S. Richards Dr. July 6–18. Monday–Friday, 10am–3:30pm. Lunch provided. Deposit and fee required, scholarship requests accepted. Boat Launch Day: Saturday, August 15, 9:30am–noon. bit.ly/boatbuildingclass

You might have missed them at the Chicago Boat, RV, and Sail Show, but up to sixteen youth aged 11–15 can participate in building a full-size, fully-functional boat in this two-week program. Once it’s built, participants will practice their rowing in the inner harbor of Jackson Park. Launch Day is a family affair. $50 deposit secures a spot. The total fee is $500 for two weeks. Once a deposit is paid, a family may request a scholarship. (Michelle Anderson)

One Summer Chicago (OSC)

City-wide program. Contact OSC: (312) 743-0208, onesummerchicago.org.

The City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services supports youth ages 14–24 through subsidized employment and internship opportunities. Operating the second-largest summer employment program in the country, the collaboration between city government, community organizations and employers is called One Summer Chicago. Applications will be accepted beginning mid-March 2020, but detailed resources online allow applicants to start now. OSC typically receives more applications than slots available, so early submission of quality materials may make the difference. (Michelle Anderson)

Morgan Park Academy’s Summer Camp

Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St. For students Pre-K to 8th grade. June 22–July 31, dates and times vary by camp. Tuition varies by camp ($300–$1,658). After & before care provided for an extra fee. (773) 881-6700. Apply at mpasummercamp.org

Morgan Park Academy is offering three two-week sessions for a variety of summer activities. The programs have something for any student to explore their interests. Everything from traditional “day camp” for younger kids to a games and video games camp or sports camp is available. The application is online, and early bird applications are accepted through May 1. (Michelle Anderson)

Project Pipeline Architecture Summer Camp

Crown Hall, 3360 S. State St. Dates and more information coming soon. Registration slated to open March 1, 2020. Incoming sixth graders through recently-graduated eighth graders. i-noma.org/project-pipeline-summer-camp

Enroll your junior architect in this short five-day course from the Illinois chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, hosted at IIT, a school famous for innovative design, both in its students and throughout its campus. There they will be guided through all stages of design by real-world architects and planners. This 5-day camp is open to rising 6th through 9th graders. (Michelle Anderson)

STEM

Adler Kids

Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. Open to students pre-K–9th grade. Tuition varies by camp ($160–440); members receive discount. For questions, contact summercamp@adlerplanetarium.org or(312) 322-0329. Register at adlerplanetarium.org/summer-camps.

The Adler Planetarium offers a variety of half-day, full-day and weeklong camps throughout the season for kids interested in space exploration and technology. Astro Camp focuses on the moon; Astro-Biotics teaches students about telescope viewing and robotics; Sky Show explores sky show visualization; Mission Near Space Camp lets students learn about balloon launch fieldwork; and Summer Worlds Tour brings students to Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and The Field Museum. This year, the camps will also offer after are for an additional fee. (Michelle Anderson)

Boating Skills and Maritime Ecology Program

Southern Shore Yacht Club, 6401 S. Richards Dr. June 22–26. Monday–Friday, 10am–3pm. Lunch provided. Deposit and fee required, scholarship requests accepted. bit.ly/SouthernYachtCamp.

This one-week program emphasizes water safety and navigation of small boats, including rowboats, kayaks, and sailing dinghies, as well as the environmental importance of Chicago’s local waterways. Each camp can accommodate up to 16 mariners, who must be between 11 and 15 years old. A $50 deposit secures a spot. The total fee is $250 for the session. Once a deposit is paid, a family may request a scholarship. (Michelle Anderson)