Summer Camps in Chicago
Make their summer memorable
“Find a balance between active play and enriching activities”
At Just For Kids in Chicago, our summer camps are designed to keep your child engaged while they’re out of school for the summer. Our camp is a mix of sports and active play balanced with enrichment activities to provide them with an exciting summer. Make sure you get your child’s spot reserved now!
Learn more about summer camps at Just For Kids in Chicago!
Learn more about summer camps at Just For Kids in Chicago!
Visit our open house to learn more about Just For Kids!
We have summer camp transportation available
Meals (breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks) are provided
Let your children enjoy our theater room, dance classes, and more!
Summer Camps for Kids in Chicago
Open House Dates:
Friday, April 26
5pm - 7pm
Friday, May 17
5pm - 7pm
Friday, May 24
5pm - 7pm
Saturday, May 25
10am - 1pm
Saturday, June 1
10am - 1pm
Summer Camp in Chicago
Historically, the school year allowed a summer break so that children could help on their family farms during peak growing season. As we became an industrialized nation, summer break transitioned into summer vacation where children and families began to take a rest from the school year and engage in leisure activities. However, parents don’t get a summer vacation from work and life, and children tend to get bored without direction, and so summer camps were created! Summer camps are a wonderful way to get children out of the house and active with other kids with similar interests. Summer camps come in all forms — summer day camp, overnight camp, science camp, church camp, scout camp — and offer a variety of activities ranging from purely adventure and leisure to an extended learning experience. Regardless of what kind of summer program your child attends, there will be some significant benefits for you and your child.
Camp Provides Summer Activities for Kids
Whether you choose to enroll your child in a licensed daycare learning center's day camp or opt for a week-long overnight science camp at a Chicago summer camp, you can expect a wide range of activities that prioritize outdoor adventures. These thoughtfully designed activities not only keep children engaged and entertained but also contribute to their overall well-being. With a focus on promoting physical health and preventing conditions such as diabetes and childhood obesity, Just For Kids summer camps ensure that children receive the recommended amount of physical activity throughout the day.
Summer Camp Encourages Ongoing Learning
Summer break can pose a challenge for kids as they risk losing valuable math skills and reading comprehension developed during the school year. However, at Just For Kids in Chicago, we have designed our summer camp to ensure that children remain mentally stimulated and engaged. Our learning programs go beyond traditional methods and actively involve children in hands-on activities, fostering a dynamic learning environment. By participating in various activities, kids not only stay physically active but also keep their minds sharp and their "thinking juices flowing." Our summer camp offers a unique opportunity for children to learn through action and experience, providing a refreshing and effective approach to knowledge acquisition.
Summer Programs Teach Teamwork
In the dynamic realm of summer camps for kids, children have the chance to refine their teamwork abilities beyond the familiar environment of the home. While having siblings may instill a sense of forced teamwork, the summer programs we offer at Just For Kids present a unique opportunity for children to further develop and strengthen their collaborative skills.
Summer Camp Helps Children Learn Independence
Although it may seem contradictory to discuss both teamwork and independence, these qualities go hand in hand with a child's development. At summer camps, children have the opportunity to learn independence by facing challenges, trying new things, and taking responsibility for their actions. Through interactions with their peers and sharing spaces with new faces, children discover their own capabilities and learn to navigate the world outside their comfort zone. This newfound independence often translates to their home life, where they may exhibit an increased willingness to take initiative, help with household chores, and make decisions about everyday activities.
Summer Programs Expand Social Circles
Your child has their current social circle that likely includes family, classmates, neighbors, and other members of extracurricular activities or after-school programs. At summer camp, kids will meet a new collection of people who they can develop close relationships with quickly. These friendships typically last and turn into pen-pal or long-distance friendships that can be rekindled at the following year’s camp.
Summer camps offer a variety of benefits for both you and your children including psychological, physical, and educational benefits. If you want more than a lazy summer for your children, enroll them in a Chicago summer camp program today.
Summer Camp Program in Chicago
Join us at Just for Kids for an incredible 10-week summer camp adventure designed for children aged three to 14 years! Each week, we'll delve into a captivating theme and take age-appropriate field trips that enhance the learning experience. With our dedicated team, your children will be in safe hands as they learn, explore, and forge friendships.
Summer Camp Age Groups
Our summer program is distinct from our regular preschool and daycare program in Chicago. When you enroll your children, they will receive a cool t-shirt, a handy water pack, and a backpack. We also offer multi-child discounts. Contact us now to inquire about pricing and secure a spot for your children today!
Why Summer Day Camp Is Important For Your Child
Summer day camps, like the ones offered at Just For Kids in Chicago, provide more than just a babysitting service with activities to keep your child entertained. They play a crucial role in your child's health, development, and overall success during the summer. Let's take a closer look at how these camps benefit your child in various ways:
Prevents Separation While Encouraging Independence
Many families struggle with the decision of what to do with their kids over summer vacation from school — send them to summer school, take the summer off with them (but who can afford that?), leave them at home while you work, send them to a family member’s house for the summer, or send them away to summer camp? While many kids say that summer camp sounds exciting, once they are there, many kids and parents alike struggle with the separation that leads to the child having less than positive memories of their time away at camp. Day camps provide a middle ground where children can go to experience the same activities that they do at overnight camps, but go home and tell their families about it over dinner.
Prevents Obesity and Supports Active Learning
The problem with leaving your kids at home while you work, aside from the unsupervised mischief, is that they tend to participate in sedentary activities — sleeping, watching television, playing video games, or reading. While all of these activities are perfectly fine in moderation, if they are what summer vacation consists of, your child is at risk for losing everything they learned over the school year in addition to gaining unhealthy amounts of weight. When your child attends summer day camp, they will engage in a full day of activities that supports learning and keeps them active — which means they will also be tired when you pick them up! This can help them maintain a healthy weight (in addition to teaching healthy choices) as well as prepare them for the next school year.
Provides Structure and Discipline
Maintaining a structured environment is essential for children, as they are accustomed to the discipline and routine of school and home. During summer vacation, this structure may be absent, making it challenging for them to adjust when school resumes. This can result in persistent behavior issues. By enrolling your child in a summer day camp, you provide them with a structured setting where they are accountable for their actions.
According to the American Camp Association, sending your kid to summer day camp is one of the most productive things you can do for your child this summer. At Just For Kids, our summer camp costs the same as you would pay for childcare, and includes everything your child needs to have fun and learn, all summer long! Contact us for registration information today!
Packing for a Day at Summer Camp
When your child has ditched their textbooks and calculators for the summer, making the transition to summer camp can leave you stumped as to what to load in their backpack for a day of adventuring. Here is a list of must-have items to pack along with your kid for a successful day at summer day camp:
Drinking Source
Pack along a bottle of water, preferably reusable, so that they can stay hydrated, no matter the activity. A reusable water bottle is a great long-term investment that will allow your child to simply refill their water source once it is exhausted. If your child uses it for anything other than water, make sure to thoroughly wash it at the end of the day to prevent mold from growing!
Extra Clothes
Include a full extra set of clothes and put them in a plastic bag to keep them from getting wet. Include a clean shirt, shorts, socks, underwear, and shoes. Compared to regular school, the activities at day camp are notably more active, ensuring an exciting and energetic summer experience for your child. Summer day camps offer a wide range of engaging activities, from slip n' slide adventures to creative finger painting. Our Chicago camp counselors will guide and supervise the children, ensuring they stay comfortable and avoid excessive messiness or wetness during their engaging activities. If your child needs to change their clothes, the plastic bag can hold the soiled ones until they get home.
Sunscreen/ Sunglasses/ Hat
Camp directors are good about making sure children are protected from the sun and bugs, but it is helpful to pack protection along with your little one to prevent negative outcomes.
Jacket or Sweatshirt
For the days that get cool! This is especially helpful during storms or toward the end of summer when it begins to cool earlier. If camp activities require children to go into air-conditioned buildings, it can also get uncomfortable and require a little warmth.
Swimming Gear
Although your summer day camp schedule should alert you to when swimming days are, it is best to keep a suit in your child’s backpack, just in case! Pack along a towel, flip-flops, goggles, and anything else your child uses at the swimming pool. Place the items in a plastic bag so when they are done swimming, they can put their wet gear in the bag until they get home.
Favorite Snack With a Note
The camp will provide all the snacks and food your kiddo needs, but including your child’s favorite snack or treat with a note letting them know you are thinking of them, love them, and are proud of them, will be just the reminder of home they need.
At Just For Kids Summer Day Camp, we provide everything else your child should need — food, snacks, drinks, and craft materials. For questions or more information about what your child needs to attend our summer camp, contact us today! Register your child today so they don’t miss out on the fun!
What to Look For in a Summer Day Camp
If you have made the great decision to send your child to a summer day camp during their break from school, the next step is finding one! While you may have a few characteristics in mind that are important for the camp that they attend — price, location, safety — there are a few things you should consider before trusting the camp with your child and your money.
A Solid History
Summer day camp is not a new idea; in fact, camps have existed for nearly a century. With that in mind, any camp you send your child to should be well-established and have a proven track record. While every camp has to have its first years, unless you are a member of the staff, or personally know the staff, we recommend you trust the tried and true camp instead. The history will allow you to do some research on what the camp offers and how it turned out — reviews, injuries, etc.
Philosophy and Values
What are the philosophy and values of the camp? It is easy for any organization to put together a camp, but to make it worth your money and your child’s time, make sure that the philosophy matches your needs. For instance, if you are simply looking for someone to look after your child while you are at work, a summer day camp run by your local daycare is a great option for providing activities to keep your child busy. If your intent is to reinforce your religious values that are not taught in public school, a church camp may be a better option. Or, if you are hoping for your child to lose weight, learn a special skill, or overcome learning disabilities, there are special summer camps tailored to specific needs and themes that you can find.
Safety
Wherever you send your child, you want to have the peace of mind that they are safe in your absence. Check out the facility and credentials of the staff who will be caring for your child. Ask about safety plans for various activities such as swimming. Inquire about the background checks that the camp does on the staff that works for the camp, to ensure your child is not being left with a predator. Also, ask about communication — how often will you hear from the camp staff, who will alert you if your child is injured, etc.
What is Included?
An important element when deciding where to send your kid is what is included for the price. For instance, if a summer day camp provides activities at their facility and you have to provide meals and craft supplies, it is simply a daycare and the price should match. If the camp includes meals and supplies, you may end up paying a little extra, but it means that your child will have everything they need to participate in all of the activities. Find out what the schedule of activities is and if your child will go on field trips or be afforded the opportunity to explore beyond the facility’s grounds. You want to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth and that your child will enjoy their time at camp as well as get something out of it.
For a summer day camp full of activities to keep your little one busy and learning all summer long, contact us at Just For Kids today! We are dedicated to providing your children with a healthy outlet for summer energy while encouraging them to explore and learn. Meals and supplies are provided. Our staff is expertly trained and both our daycare and our summer camp are backed with experience. For more information or to register your children, contact us now, camps start soon!