Summer Program

Recognized as Chicago’s Best Summer Camps of 2024

This is our 3rd Summer at Alcott Elementary School (2625 N Orchard St., Chicago, IL 60614) . We will operate out of Door 1, off of Orchard Street.

June 10 - August 2 | M - F | 7:30a - 6p | All activities, hours, programs, snacks and lunch are included | Ages 5-12

Music

Request a song from our curated Jen’s Camp playlist to belt out a solo or a duet with a friend! Campers are welcome to visit the art area to create performance props!

Outdoor Recreation

Swing on by the monkey bars, shoot some hoops, cool off outside! Summer means we finally see the sun here in Chicago! It is summer, let’s play!

Sewing

From first timer to expert level, skills can be built over time! We welcome all campers to try and learn the art of sewing! We have many campers who enjoy creating with fabric, glue, or needles and yarn too!

Engineering

It all begins with an idea. And if the ideas are not flowing, there are some inspirational project ideas sitting nearby! Endless creations and endless collaborations! We provide the materials the kids need to unleash their creativity and understanding of building as they navigate creating their own projects!

Refresh

Ah, the refresh button! We all need to recuperate some of our expended energy from time to time. Sit back, relax, grab a book or not. Relax! That is what campers do here!

Mascot

Campers can get crafty with clay, making two mascots—one hiding, one guiding. Staff will hide one mascot and put the other on display by our mascot sign. Staff give daily clues that turn the search for the hidden mascot into a mystery and the campers into detectives. We cheer on our campers' creativity and detective skills—it's a blast!

Nature

Our outdoor area is like Mother Nature's playground—fenced in, so she doesn't escape! Campers can magnify the wonder and, for the budding scientists, we've got microscopes! Who wouldn't want to see nature up close and personal? It's like a VIP pass to the great outdoors!

Crochet + Knitting

Campers can use looms, hooks, and weave magic with their very own fingers to create cool bracelets, hats, shawls, and more!

Technology

We think kids can do anything! Especially if we give them the tools and get out of their way! Campers of all levels from beginner to expert are welcome here. From films to photos to stop motion animations, our campers create, direct, act, produce, and edit! These are the only screens campers use at our camp and they are available only during select times of day.

Origami

Whether it's folding playful animals, colorful flowers, mythical creatures, or old school fortune tellers, this space encourages campers to explore their artistic instincts and discover the joy of bringing paper to life. As their hands delicately maneuver paper into unique shapes, they're also enhancing their dexterity and precision—all while chatting with others!

Foam Party Fridays

You read that right! Every Friday that the weather allows, campers can join us outside for a foam party! Our foam is hypoallergenic so the only tears here are tears of joy!

Chalk City

We’ve got chalk for days! Campers can take the positive messages, ideas, and artistic creations to the pavement!

Cooking

What a great skill! While it provides sensory skills, it also can provide confidence and a remedy for hungry bellies! We will help our campers stay clean, safe, and allow them to get creative with their food!

Rubber Band Magic

Our rubberband area is more than just a crafting space; it's a hub of social interaction. As campers immerse themselves in the arts, they naturally engage in conversation with fellow creatives around the table! We find when the campers hands are busy, it takes away some of the social pressure to conversing and it feels a lot easier for many campers!

Indoor Games

Beat the heat without missing out on fun! Enjoy our many games that keep campers’ minds focused on strategy or fun. Relax and connect with classics from chess and checkers, to Giant Sorry and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza….to our very favorite (drumroll please), camper created board games!

…and much, much more!

 

  • At check-in campers choose between a crowd pleasing piece of pizza (gluten free and regular will be available) or a daily feature entree. Along with those options, campers will be offered crunchy carrots to munch on.

    *Half day campers let us know their lunch order in advance via email.

    Below is a SAMPLE of our likely Daily Features. It will be finalized by May of 2024, come back then to view our 2024 menu!

    Daily Features:

    Monday: Mostaccioli - Delicious mostaccioli noodles tossed in a vegetarian marinara sauce

    Want the sauce on the side or no sauce at all? Plain noodles with parmesan cheese to sprinkle on yourself , like the chef you are? That is no problem here. Tell us at check-in and we will make it happen.

    Tuesday: Steak Sandwich - Juicy slices of steak served between slices of local bread

    Wednesday: Cheese Tortellini - Tender cheese tortellini topped with vegetarian tomato sauce

    Want the sauce on the side or no sauce at all? That is no problem here. Tell us at check-in and we will make it happen.

    Thursday: Chicken Fingers - All-natural chicken strips

    Friday: Chicken Caesar Salad - Crisp Romaine lettuce, sharp parmesan cheese and crunchy croutons served with grilled chicken strips

  • Morning and afternoon snack served daily.

  • Week 1: Intergalactic Planetary

    Week 2: Summerween

    (Halloween in Summer)

    Week 3 Music Makers

    Week 4: Travel Tours

    Week 5: Animals

    Week 6: Nature

    Week 7: Kindness

    (Self-Care Too)

    Week 8: Earth - Going Green!

    Each week we at Jen’s Camp we let the camper’s imagination intertwine the weekly theme into our activities and we provide the supplies!

    Caregivers: No need to plan ahead and send your camper(s) with supplies or dressed to theme - we’ve got everything on hand that they need to dive into the fun!

 

Registration will take about 20 minutes per camper. To help expedite the process, we recommend gathering your camper’s health insurance, doctor, and emergency contact/pick-up information ahead of time, as we will ask for all of that information during registration. See you this summer - we can’t wait!