Summer Camp: Helping your kids have the best summer EVER in Champaign-Urbana
Welcome to the 2023 Champaign-Urbana Area Summer Camps guide. If you are looking for quality experiences for your child this summer, you’ve come to the right place. Registration for summer camps is already up and running at many organizations, although some may not have information ready yet.
Editor’s Note: We will keep adding and making updates to this list, so come back often. Camps listed below have confirmed they will be running camp in 2023 but may be finalizing details.
Thank you to Indian Acres Swim Club and Champaign County Forest Preserve District for presenting this article.
Indian Acres Swim Club
Indian Acres Swim Day Camp is known for its excellence in swim instruction. They meet your child in their current skills and work with them at their level to increase confidence and ability in the water. Indian Acres Swim Day Camp is a traditional outdoor camp that focuses on physical activity and fun!
Read more about camp at Indian Acres in the “outdoor” section below and visit its website.
Champaign County Forest Preserve District
Looking for a summer camp that allows your son or daughter to enjoy hands-on learning on everything from nature to archaeology? The Champaign County Forest Preserve District has what you are looking for.
Read more about camp at the Champaign County Forest Preserve District in the “outdoor” section below and visit its website.
ACTIVE | CREATIVE | EDUCATIONAL | OUTDOOR
We have created this menu and legend to help you sort through the different camps in the Champaign-Urbana area. Camps with featured listings are paid sponsors with chambanamoms.com. The lists included at the bottom of each section are to help you sort through other available options in the community. Chambanamoms.com does not endorse any camp over another and we encourage you to do your own research to find the best fit for your family this summer.
- ACTIVE – While nearly all camps are inherently active, these camps include sports, swim, martial arts, play-based day camps to reach a broad audience of participants and much more.
- CREATIVE – These camps focus on the arts, including but not limited to drama, music, maker camps and more.
- EDUCATIONAL – These include STEM camps, academic enrichment and other camps with an educational focus.
- OUTDOOR – Many camps (including most of our “active” camps) are held outdoors, but the camps in this category focus on experiencing nature as part of the camp experience. This is also where you’ll find most of our overnight camps (which are almost entirely outdoors, excluding some sports camps) a short drive from Champaign-Urbana.
LEGEND
😎 – BIG KID, includes camps for kids over 12 years of age
🖍 – PRESCHOOL, camps for kids not yet entering kindergarten
💦. – SWIM, camps that include swimming daily or weekly as part of the schedule (not necessarily a swimming camp)
💲. – CCRS accepted at this camp
🕗. – EXTENDED DAY, before/after care available for a fee
Jump to camps by name: Academy High | Amara Yoga & Arts | Camp Invention | Champaign County Forest Preserve District | Champaign Park District | Champaign’s Best Summer Camp™ | Class Act | I-Power | Indian Acres Swim Club | Urbana Park District
ACTIVE
ACTIVE CAMPS may include sports camps, swim camps, martial arts and play-based day camps
Many summer camps include physical activity; these stand out as having the most physical activity as part of their day-to-day schedule.
Champaign’s Best Summer Camp & After School
At Champaign’s Best Kids, they care about their students’ success in school, sports and life. Their coaches are level 2 background checked and they have a zero tolerance for bullying. You and your child are going to love this fun, active and safe camp. Save your spot today!
Dates
Camp will be open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for all weeks of summer break for Unit 4. Drop off between 7:30 and 9 a.m. and pick up between 5 and 6 p.m.
Ages Served: 5-12 (13 and up special offer)
Location: Leaders for Life Martial Arts, 2413 Village Green Place, Champaign
For More Information: Website, Facebook and Instagram
Champaign Park District 💦 💲 🕗
Activity-filled days for kids, worry-free days for parents. Participants will enjoy a variety of activities such as sport activities, games, weekly pool days, and field trips. Parents: Participant packets must be completed and submitted by the first day at drop off before a child can attend. Packets are both online and at the facilities for pickup.
Scholarships are available and information is below.
Summer Youth Program information and pricing for 2023 is coming soon! Registration will open mid-March for residents first and later non-residents.
Dates: May 30 – Aug. 4
Ages Served: 6-12
Location: Champaign Park District
For More Information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
I-Power 😎 🖍 🕗
I-Power camps will keep your camper active & engaged, enjoying fitness & friends this summer! School age campers will work on gymnastics, play active group games, workout in the ninja gym, enjoy crafts, outdoor playtime and swimming one day a week. Preschool campers’ morning includes gymnastics, ninja, group activities, creative learning, and themed activities including music, games, water fun, and crafts.
Dates: TBD; ages 5-13, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pre and post care available); ages 3-5, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ages Served: 3-13
Location: I-Power School of Gymnastics, 215 S. Staley Rd., Champaign
For More Information: Website, Facebook and Instagram
Urbana Park District 🖍 💦 🕗
The Urbana Park District has announced its summer programming in the January-April program guide. Specific details on camps coming to this post soon! Check out the program guide here. Registration for camps is already open, with Super Early Bird Prices in effect through April 5.
More Active Camps in Champaign-Urbana:
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Savoy Parks and Recreation
CREATIVE
CREATIVE CAMPS may include camps that focus on drama, music, the arts and more
While many camps incorporate creative activities into their day, these camps feature it as a key component of their programming.
Amara Yoga & Arts – Kids Art & Yoga Camp
Kids Camp at Amara will be a blend of art and yoga in a fun and relaxed environment. Activities will be open–ended and provide an opportunity for the kids to feel empowered and be themselves. Kids will learn basic yoga elements through focused breathing, play, storytelling, balance, meditation, and creative visualization.
Amara wants the kids to have a stress free, magical, safe environment where they can grow and flourish. Each week will have a theme that will inspire exploration through art making activities using all kinds of materials and will be loosely directed by the teachers so kids can have ownership of their own creative process.
The mornings are more structured with opening arts and crafts for kids to choose to work with, followed by a yoga class. The yoga class will include breath work, meditation, poses, chanting, storytelling and lots of games ending with creative visualization and savasana – all presented in a playful and collaborative manner. Following the yoga class will be free time outside and time to work on bigger art projects related to the weeks theme. Afternoons are less structured with time for kids to self direct their own art making, an option for a more advanced yoga class, or quiet time and play outside.
Dates
Camp hours 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Week 1 June 5-9 – Marvelous Monsters and Super Heroes
Week 2 June 12-16 – Inner and Outer Space
Week 3 June 19-23 – Bubbles, Orbs and Buddha Paintings
Week 4 June 26-30 – Public Art and Famous Paintings
Week 5 July 3-7 – All Kinds of Self Portraits 2d, 3d, 4d! (no camp on the 4th)
Week 6 July 10-14 – Magical Mandalas, Mobiles, and Wands! Plus a Dragon or 2
Week 7 July 17-21 – Build a Fairy House and Fairies to Live in it
Week 8 July 24-28 – Treasure Boxes and Treasure to go in them. Maps and Hunts included!
Week 9 July 31-Aug. 4 – Sewing, Weaving and Yarn Art
Ages served: 5-12
Location: Vine Street Side of Lincoln Square, 300 S. Broadway, Urbana
For More Information: Website, Facebook, Instagram or call (217) 417-2591
Class Act 😎
CLASS ACT is Champaign-Urbana’s only performing arts school offering a variety of theatrical camps and classes for budding actors, singers, clowns, performers and moviemakers.
All camps are taught by experienced professionals and educators: Jaclyn Loewenstein, Joe Reichlin, Kat Downs and Rachel Berry.
Dates coming soon
Ages Served: 6-17
Location: Academy High & Countryside School
For More Information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
Academy High 😎
Academy High is pleased to offer a number of exciting summer specialty camps for rising 6-8th grade students. These innovative, half-day offerings are taught by Academy High faculty and module instructors, and can be taken separately or combined for a full-day experience.
Dates
June 5 – June 9; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m.
June 12 – June 16; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 4pm
Early drop off and pick up are available
Ages Served:Entering grades 6-8
Location: Academy High, 2001 Fox Dr., Champaign
For More Information: Website, Facebook or Instagram; call (217) 239-6000
More Creative Camps in Champaign-Urbana
- Words on Fire Writing Camp for Teens
EDUCATIONAL
EDUCATIONAL CAMPS may include STEM/STEAM camps, programs with an academic emphasis and camps that focus on certain professions, trades or skills
Education can happen in a number of ways (including spending time outside and in creative, unstructured moments); the camps in this category have more of an emphasis on curriculum/instruction as part of their camp programming.
Camp Invention
Spark your child’s curiosity and creativity with an all-new Camp Invention® program, Wonder! Campers in grades K-6 will collaborate with friends to take on fun, hands-on STEM challenges. From building a mini skate park to launching a pop-up shop to transforming a robot into a stuffie, each experience adds up to an imagination-stretching, confidence-boosting summer. Visit invent.org/local to secure your spot! Use promo code SUM25 by 3/30 to save $25.
Dates
Various camps throughout the summer!
Ages Served: For children entering grades K – 6
Location: Various locations
More Educational Camps in Champaign-Urbana
- Coming soon!
OUTDOOR
OUTDOOR CAMPS conduct nearly all of their camp activities outdoors (weather permitting) during the summer
It may seem like nearly all of the camps in this post have outdoor activities and that may in fact be true; the camps on this list identify as “outdoor camps” in that nearly all of the camp activities (weather permitting) are held outside.
Indian Acres Swim Club 😎 🖍 💦 🕗
Indian Acres Swim Day Camp is known for its excellence in swim instruction. The club meets your child in their current skills and work with them at their level to increase confidence and ability in the water. Indian Acres Swim Day Camp is a traditional outdoor camp that focuses on physical activity and fun!
Dates coming soon
Ages Served: 3-13
Location: Indian Acres Swim Club, 1 Arrow Road, Champaign
For More Information: Website or call (217) 352-9538; Facebook and Instagram
Champaign County Forest Preserve District 😎 🖍
Looking for a summer camp that allows your son or daughter to enjoy hands-on learning on everything from nature to archaeology? The Champaign County Forest Preserve District has what you are looking for.
Dates coming soon
Ages Served: 3-17
Location: Various
For More Information: Website, Facebook or Instagram
More Outdoor Camps in Champaign-Urbana
- Adventure Play Summer Camp at University Primary School
Are you interested in highlighting your summer camp? Email us to find out more information about listing your camp in our 2023 summer camp guide.