Still trying to figure out the perfect summer program for your young one? Below are a few local opportunities.
Howard Mohr Community Center
The Howard Mohr Community Center will hold two programs for children and teens this summer.
Summer Clubhouse at the community center is for children age kindergarten to fifth grade. The camp activities include swimming, field trips, structured games, creative projects and free play. The one-week sessions begin on June 10 and are provided every week through August 16. The cost per resident child per session is $125, and for non-residents kids $150.
Teen Clubhouse at the community center is for children in grades 6 to 9. Participants will experience everything provided in the summer clubhouse plus their own field trips and the development of leadership skills. The cost for residents is $130 per person, and $150 for non-residents.
Call the Howard Mohr Community Center at 708-771-7737 for more information. There is no deadline to register.
Park District of Forest Park
The Park District of Forest Park has three programs scheduled for kids of different ages.
Children who are pre-kindergarten through first-grade can enroll in Kamp Kiddie, and go on field trips, engage in arts and crafts, games, child-centered play swimming and more. All programs are focused on developing children’s gross and fine motor skills. The camper to counselor ratio is five to one.
Kids who are in grades two through five can enroll in Summer Day Camp—Unplugged!, which will include structured games, free play, swimming, arts and crafts and weekly field trips.
Weekly sessions for both camps begin June 10 and end August 12. The cost per session is $125 for residents, and $190 for non-residents.
Students enrolled in sixth through eighth-grade can enroll in Teen Summer Adventure Club for trips to the Indiana Dunes, Navy Pier and Great America.
Call the park district at 708-366-7500 for more information. There is no deadline to register for the park district camps.
Bears Scouting Director to bring football camp to Proviso East
Champ Kelly, the director of pro scouting for the Chicago Bears, is bringing his two-day CHAMP Camp to Proviso East High School, 807 S. 1st Ave. in Maywood.
The camp, which takes place June 20 through June 21, is for young people ages 10 to 18.
“CHAMP Camp teachers campers football specific skills while educating campers on important core values of a successful life,” according to information on a flyer distributed to market the camp.
“Younger campers will learn basic drills while older campers will engage in more advanced training,” the flyer said. “Drills included one-on-ones and extensive group work.”
The camp features a range of guest speakers, including former college and NFL players and local community leaders, among others.
Campers will get a limited edition CHAMP Camp t-shirt and lunch. Registration is free if done by May 26. There is a $25 fee for those who register after May 26.
To register or access more info, visit: http://heartpowerinc.org/events/champ-camp/
Registration for Proviso East summer program drawing to close
Registration for Proviso Township High Schools District 209’s expanded free summer programming has been open since last month and will end by June 5, D209 officials said.
During a regular meeting on March 12, the school board voted unanimously to continue and expand on last summer’s program model. In addition to offering credit recovery and accelerated courses, the district’s summer school will also include a five-week STEAM Camp for incoming freshmen.
“That program, led by one of our fabulous science teachers at Proviso West, will challenge students in a very exciting curriculum,” said Nicole Howard, the assistant superintendent for Academics and Student and Family Services.
Board members added that the teacher is also a Proviso West alum. Howard said that at the end of the summer the district will showcase the projects students complete during the STEAM camp.
Last summer, Howard, said the district provided “opportunities for credit recovery, skill development and enrichment” to approximately 1,100 students. This year, the district’s Summer Theme Camp, which features literacy and STEM components, will be opened up to sophomores.
At the March 12 meeting, Supt. Jesse Rodriguez said that the district’s summer camp has come a long way from what it was just a few years ago, when students were only offered remedial programming.
The district’s retooled and expanded summer programming, he said, will give D209 an edge over private schools and other districts in the competition for students.
Rodriguez credited district leadership, particularly the board’s Student Achievement and School Innovation committee, which is helmed by board member Claudia Medina, who works closely with Howard, for the summer program upgrades.
“This is what students need,” Rodriguez said. “Many school districts and private schools are competing with us.”
In a statement the district released on May 10, Rodriguez outlined the changes to the summer program, explaining that last summer, the district “launched an enrichment that included original credit courses in journalism, mural arts, and consumer education.
“This year, we have expanded our summer programs to include freshman STEAM programs where students must create a product and execute a real startup company.”
Students and parents can access a list of summer course offerings by clicking here. In order to enroll for original credit courses, students must meet with their counselors to obtain a registration form and return the form before the June 5 registration deadline. There is no fee for D209 students, but non-district students will be required to verify their residency and pay a course fee.
Students can enroll for the STEAM course by completing an application form available in the main offices at each D209 high school and online here. Applications must be submitted by May 20 in order to be considered.
Those participants who have been selected will be notified by May 24. Acceptance forms must be returned by June 1 to secure spots in the program.
Students who want to enroll in the transition and sophomore enrichment camp must complete an application form available in the main offices at each D209 high school and online here. Spots will be awarded in the order that district officials receive the applications, which are due by May 24.
West Cook YMCA
The West Cook YMCA will hold Camp Magellan at St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave. Camp activities include visits to forest preserves, swimming, games, sports and field trips.
To register go to www.westcookymca.org/camp, contact the youth development department at 708-366-2764 or daycamp@westcookymca.org or register at front desk at the West Cook YMCA building in Oak Park, 255 S. Marion St.
Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Chicago is offering three summer sessions.
It will hold Cougar Kids Baseball Camp for children ages 7 to 12 that will focus on “learning the game of baseball, teaching campers to be athletic and allowing them to have fun.” Each camp day will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The four week-long sessions are scheduled for June 10, 17, 24 and July 8. The cost for one session is $400, two sessions $700, three sessions $900, and all four sessions $1000. Email CUCBaseballcamp@cuchicago.edu for more information.
Concordia is also offering Creative Composer Camp for Pianists, a program scheduled for August 5 to 9 that will be available in a morning session (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and an afternoon session (1 to 4 p.m.).
Students will learn how to use music theory to create original melodies and compositions, improvisations, turn songs into electronic music using computer software, and much more. Tuition for the piano camp is $295 per student for either the morning or afternoon session, or $495 for the entire day. A minimum of two years of previous piano lessons is high recommended.
Concordia will also offer Ultimate Frisbee Camp for youth ages 9 to 17. The first session is slated for the week of June 24, and the second is for August 5. Participants will learn technique, drills to improve their skill level, and enjoy competition. The camp will take place on Concordia’s football field, with the first session slated for the afternoon and second in the morning. The cost is $120 for the first camper and $100 for each additional family member.
Call Concordia at 708-771-8300 for more information.
Dominican University
Dominican University will offer its Summer Gifted and Talented Program for highly-motivated, academically-gifted and talented students entering grades 2 through 8, and 9 through 12 in the fall. Courses are one-week long, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and there are four weeks of course offerings in math, science, writing/humanities, and fine/performing arts, plus a high school week dedicated for rising 9th to 12th-graders. The four sessions are scheduled for the weeks of June 17, June 24, July 9, and July 16.
Forest Park Public Library
The Forest Park Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will kick off with a Field Day with activities and food at the Park District of Forest Park on June 1. More information is available online at the fppl.org and in the library’s summer program guide.
Staff Reporter Michael Romain contributed to this report.
