By Susan Fong
Looking for fun and educational activities for your kids and teens this summer? Several organizations can provide an answer. Parents can rest easy that their youngsters and teens will be well cared-for and supervised with interesting and helpful activities held under safety protocols.
De La Salle Institute Academic and Sports Camps, 3434 S. Michigan Ave., (312) 842-7355, [email protected]; www.dls.org/summercamp.jsp.
Want to keep your grade school student busy in June and July? De La Salle Institute, a coed Catholic college prep high school, offers a wide variety of academic and sports camps to exercise the mind and body. Whether your child wants to build their math skills, learn how to be a forensic investigator, develop their leadership skills, play a sport, or try something new, De La Salle’s Academic and Sports Camps are a great way for students to spend the summer.
Current De La Salle faculty and staff members lead four- or five-day academic sessions featuring algebra fundamentals, mock trial, forensic science, French language and culture, leadership development, journalism, robotics, and more. De La Salle sports camps offer a wide variety of options for children in second through eighth grades, depending upon the sport. These include football, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse, softball, basketball, boxing, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, cross country, and volleyball. The De La Salle varsity coaching staff runs the sports camps, stressing fundamentals as well as the skills and techniques needed to succeed in all facets of sport. The school also has activity camps in chess, Zumba, and storytelling through dance.
De La Salle summer camps also provide a great opportunity for middle school students to learn more about the high school environment and what it takes to succeed. Camps run from Monday, June 20, through Friday, July 22. For a complete list of camp descriptions, dates, or general questions, visit De La Salle’s website or call or email.
Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St., (312) 786-9428, meritmusic.org/summer.
Turn up the music this summer with Merit School of Music’s line-up of camps, classes, and ensembles.
Everyone knows making music is fun and enjoyable, but did you know music education also benefits your child’s brain, physical and mental health, and general well-being? In fact, the impact of music on a child or teen’s development is more than twice that of sports, theater, or dance.
With options for all ages, instruments, and experience levels, summer at Merit School of Music is a great way for kids and teens to stay social and creative while school is out. Your child will have the chance to study with some of the best music educators in the region while having fun and making friends with young music lovers from across Chicagoland.
Picking up a new instrument over the summer when they have more free time allows students to dive into their newfound talent and build strong practice habits from the start. For more experienced musicians, continuing music instruction over the summer prevents them from losing the gains they made with their instruments or voice during the school year and encourages them to get creative with their music-making.
Merit’s summer line-up has something for every age and experience level: one- and two-week camps, one-day workshops, ensembles, group classes, private lessons, and early childhood classes. Choose from a wide range of instruments, including guitar, piano, voice, violin, trumpet, percussion, and more. Have a music-loving child who is not quite sure which instrument to choose? Check out Merit’s free instrument exploration workshop for beginners.
Registration for summer at Merit School of Music is now open. Financial aid and low-cost instrument rentals are available. To browse classes and sign up today, visit the website.
National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, 215 W. Illinois St., Ste. 1C, (312) 312-1500 www.nkfi.org, nkfi.org/kidney-camp.
From Sunday, July 10, to Saturday, July 16, kids ages seven to 15 are invited to attend the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ Kidney Camp. This overnight camp is devoted to providing a fun and safe environment for youth living with kidney disease and/or a kidney transplant.
Kidney Camp is free of charge and is held at YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, IL. The week-long overnight event offers children a traditional camp experience while under the supervision of trained renal medical professionals. Campers can engage in activities such as swimming, boating, a high ropes course, arts and crafts, horseback riding, team building, and more.
Kidney Camp is made possible by generous sponsors such as the Benjamin B. Green-Field Foundation, a privately endowed grant-making organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and elderly living in Chicago.
Since its inception in 2004, hundreds of kids have been given the opportunity to attend Kidney Camp and connect with peers who have similar conditions, at no cost to their family.
Many children with kidney disease are unable to travel and participate in certain activities due to their health. Kidney Camp enables kids to be independent, build confidence, and forge new friendships, and have a unique camp experience while continuing to receive medical treatment. To learn more about Kidney Camp or to register, visit the website or call.
Soccer Association for Youth (SAY) of Chicago, www.sayofchicago.com.
Online enrollment now is open for one of Chicago’s most popular summer soccer leagues. Established in 1999, SAY of Chicago is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit, co-ed recreational youth soccer organization dedicated to “kids having fun.” It is a part of a national organization dedicated to providing an affordable, safe, and enriching environment in which youngsters ages four through 15 learn the basics of the game, as well as the merits of teamwork and good sportsmanship.
Celebrating its 23rd year, SAY serves more than 450 children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds throughout the city. The season runs from late June through mid-August. This year, SAY will be celebrating the 2022 FIFA World Cup by using uniforms from various countries participating in the tournament.
SAY is a recreational league and is divided into five different co-ed age divisions: U5, U7, U9, U12, and U15. All divisions will play two games per week on Tuesdays and Fridays at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) turfed fields located on 14th and Morgan Streets; these fields are considered some of the best in the city.
Early bird registration, which ends Sunday, May 15, is $115 (for U5 and U7) and $135 (for U9, U12, and U15). Fees include eight weeks of soccer (weather permitting), team uniform, player photo, award, and referees (for U9, U12, and U15). All divisions are expected to fill up quickly; if interested, sign up as soon as possible on the SAY of Chicago website
SAY is run and operated 100% by parent volunteers; the league is dependent on participation of parents to accomplish its mission. Additionally, through the generous support of sponsors, it is able to provide a well-run, enriching program for players and one of the most inclusive and affordable summer sports programs in the nation. Volunteer opportunities include coach, assistant coach, and team manager. Descriptions of each position as well as details of the season can be found on the SAY Chicago website.
Sean Phillips Soccer Day Camp, held at UIC Athletic Fields, (312) 848-6106, [email protected], www.seanphillipssoccer.com.
Sean Phillips celebrates his 16th year operating soccer camps on the campus of UIC. As the leader of one of Chicago’s premier environments for soccer players of all ages, levels, and interest, UIC Soccer Head Coach Sean Phillips surrounds himself with a talented and experienced staff who work to develop each camper’s abilities and further a passion for the game. Coach Phillips and his staff provide every player with the opportunity to train within a competitive environment and further their soccer development. Campers are divided by age and ability. Sessions focus on fundamental soccer skills and technical development. Individual and small group activities and games ensure further enjoyment of the game and improved performance. Players also are exposed to tactical ideas using various small and large sided games.
Sean Phillips Soccer Camp offers a choice of three individual half-day and three individual full-day weekly camp sessions. Weeks start on the Mondays of June 20, June 27, and July 11. Camps are open to boys and girls, ages four through 14. All campers should bring a snack to camp. Full-day campers should bring lunch or may choose a lunch option for an additional $80 per camper for the week. Early drop off and late pick up options are also available.
Half-day camps are from 9 a.m. to noon and are for players ages four to 14. Full day options are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are for ages five to 14 years old. Morning sessions focus on technical development, while the afternoon focuses on game play Register online at the website listed above. Sign up for multiple sessions and save.
Saint Ignatius College Prep, 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd., (312) 421-5900, www.ignatius.org, www.ignatius.org/student-life/summer-programs.
Saint Ignatius College Prep is excited to offer a variety of engaging summer courses and camps for both prospective students and current students. Whether your student is interested in global affairs, baseball, science, or beyond there is a place for your student with the Wolfpack this summer.
The six-week programming begins on Monday, June 13, and ends on Friday, July 22, with courses and camps running throughout this time frame. There will be no classes or camps on Monday, June 20, and Monday, July 4, in observance of Juneteenth and Independence Day. The cost is $140/week.
Courses and camps fill quickly. All academic and most co-curricular offerings are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so Saint Ignatius staff encourage early registration in order to have the best opportunity to take the courses or camps selected.
A note for rising fifth through eighth grade students:The summer programming is scheduled so that students have the opportunity to take academic courses and camps in the morning (8 a.m. to noon), have a lunch break, and then join in athletic and co-curricular camps in the afternoon (typically 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.). This schedule allows for a balanced day of learning and enrichment, and also provides students with the full Ignatius experience.
Staff recognize that learning and growth occur both in and out of the classroom and designed the summer programs to reflect this belief. Participants are encouraged to build a schedule of courses and camps that are most interesting and exciting for the student.
Saint Ignatius staff look forward to welcoming youngsters to the Wolfpack this summer. Detailed information about courses and camps can be found on the specific program pages on the website.