The Champaign-Urbana area has a variety of offerings for kids classes, activities, lessons and teams during the school year
Activities that keep your kids active and engaged? Check. Activities that stretch your kids’ brain power? Check. Activities that your kids will be asking to go to? Check. We have the info on a variety of extra curricular activities that kids will enjoy all year long.
Registration for fall activities are up and running at many organizations, although some may not have information ready yet. Please note that all listings are paid sponsors of chambanamoms.
Top Tier Lessons
Top Tier Lessons believes that lessons are more than just learning skills. Top Tier believes every child deserves more than a coach, they deserve a mentor and a role model. Top Tier Lessons was created to do that by partnering with current student-athletes at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who are passionate about inspiring the next generation of athletes. Your coach may be an All-American, national champion, or even an Olympic contender.
Every time a lesson is booked through Top Tier Lessons, you are helping support local college athletes. Their teaching team is composed of current student-athletes, who understand the demands of college athletics and are committed to helping you in any way possible.
For more information: Website or Facebook
Champaign Gymnastics Academy (CGA)
At CGA, every child is encouraged to celebrate their individuality in a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment. They offer structured gymnastics classes for ages 2–18, along with infant and adult open gyms—providing opportunities for everyone to explore, discover, and grow through the sport of gymnastics.
Classes offer more than just gymnastics—they help children develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of movement. CGA is a place where kids feel supported, celebrated, and encouraged to be themselves. With a focus on safety, positive coaching, and developmentally appropriate progression, we’re here to help every child thrive.
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
Champaign Park District
Coming soon!
Locations: Various
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
Central Illinois Youth Chorus
Since 1978, CIYC has provided choral music instruction, vocal training, and performance opportunities for singers in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The chorus offers four choir levels to meet the needs and interests of its singers, and members are taught sound vocal technique, musicianship, musical styles through a diverse range of languages and composers, and performance etiquette. CIYC singers present two concerts per year and perform with the CU Symphony and with the University of Illinois School of Music. CIYC singers experience the joy, discipline, pride, and teamwork of high-quality choral singing.
Location: Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
Stephens Family YMCA
At the Stephens Family YMCA, children can explore, play, and grow in a welcoming, supportive environment. Their programs encourage curiosity, teamwork, and healthy habits while giving kids opportunities to discover new interests. Every experience is designed to be inclusive, engaging, and meaningful for all members of our community.
Location: 2501 Field S Dr., Champaign
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
Champaign Ballet Academy
While some CBA students go on to professional careers in ballet, most students are here for the fun, the challenge, and the reward of an inspired ballet experience. Leadership plays a vital role at CBA, as older dancers nurture and inspire younger ones. Many opportunities arise in this atmosphere, and each dancer is encouraged to discover their unique potential – whether their talent lies in dancing, teaching, coaching, choreographing or costuming! At CBA, they enjoy developing the whole person: body, mind and spirit.
Since 1998, Champaign Ballet Academy has been providing quality ballet training to Central Illinois. CBA students have been awarded scholarships to American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Internationale, Ballet Chicago, Ballet Met, Salt Creek Ballet, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, The Harid Conservatory, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Location: Champaign Ballet Academy, 2810 W Clark Rd., Champaign
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
Class Act
Class Act is CU’s only performing arts training studio offering a variety of classes and private coaching for students age 3–adult. Their students explore and develop skills in musical theatre, acting, creative drama, theatre games and improvisation. Fall classes begin Sept. 8, with Early Bird Discount through August 25.
With Class Act training, students of all ages and levels build the confidence and skills needed to go out and audition for community theatre, park district, and school productions, as well as local films. Students receive plenty of individual attention from experienced, nurturing instructors (with an average student:teacher ratio of 7:1).
Location: Academy High, 2001 Fox Dr., Champaign
For more information: Website or Facebook
YMCA HEAT Swim Team
At HEAT, they provide every athlete an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success at his or her level of ability, from novice to international competitor. It offers stroke development levels up to national- and international-level competitive swimming.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Will Barker, HEAT offers high quality, professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. They intend to do this by challenging each athlete to harness the power of positive thinking, learn the values of good sportsmanship and teamwork, develop good time management skills, set goals that will foster personal improvement both in the pool and on land, and value each other, coaches, parents, and our program through honesty, caring, and respect. HEAT is based at the Stephens Family YMCA and registered with Illinois Swimming, Inc. (ISI), USA Swimming, and YMCA Swimming.
Location: Stephens Family YMCA, 2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign
For more information: Website, Facebook, or call (217) 239-2806.
Urbana Fine Arts Center
Dance classes conducted by professional artists and educators, focused on the needs of each child, in a warm and safe environment. They offer ballet, tap, musical theatre, hip hop and contemporary dance for children and teenagers ages 3 to 18.
Location: Urbana Fine Arts Center, 2860 S Philo Rd, Urbana
For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
