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Best Summer Camps for Teens in Chicago

Teen Filmmaking Camp is a summer camp for teens in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Chicago Filmmakers
Teen Filmmaking Camp is a summer camp for teens in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Chicago Filmmakers
4/9/23 - By Maureen Wilkey

Summer camps for teens prove that summer camp fun doesn't have to end at the end of middle school! High school kids can still get in on the action by finding a summer camp in Chicago that caters to their interests, whether that's art, sports, theater, or STEM. Some colleges even offer programs to help get students ready for college courses while they're still in grades 9-12. We even found some unique Chicago summer camps for aspiring filmmakers, circus artists, and kayakers.

Got big kids who are bored but don't want to go to camp? Check out our lists of best indoor places for teens and tweens to hang out or best birthday party spots for teens and tweens. Or just tell them to go take a hike!

Kidstreet Camp is great for budding artists. photo courtesy of Lillstreet Art Center
Kidstreet Camp is great for budding artists. photo courtesy of Lillstreet Art Center

Top Chicago Summer Camps for Teens

Kidstreet Camps at Lillstreet Art Center

Ravenswood
Lillstreet Art Center provides Kidstreet Camps for kids ages 3-16 who are interested in developing their artistic skills, including drawing, clay, mixed media, and more. This summer's half-day camps feature themes like Acrylic Painting, Art like an Egyptian, Art of the Graphic Novel, and Cosmic Creations. READ MORE

CircEsteem Summer Circus Camp

Uptown
CircEsteem offers children ages 8-16 the opportunity to explore the Circus Arts, including trapeze, acrobatics, clowning, juggling, stilt walking, gym wheel, rolling globe, tightwire, rolla bolla, aerial silks, and mini-trampoline.  READ MORE

iD Tech Summer STEM Camps and Classes

Lakeshore East, Evanston, Lisle, and Lake Forest
iD Tech Virtual Tech Camps are a great virtual option for kids wanting the collaborative spirit of an in-person program. Days follow a balanced schedule including 2 hours of live instruction and 2 hours of self-paced project development per day. And with an average of just 5 students per instructor, there's time for personalized learning and socializing. READ MORE

Sur La Table Cooking Classes & Camps

Downtown, Skokie, and Naperville
Kids and teens can enjoy summer and winter break cooking camps at Sur La Table locations along the Mag Mile, at Old Orchard Mall, or in Downtown Naperville. Kids classes are designed for young chefs ages 7-11 and cover themes like Cooking Adventure, Bake Shop , and Chef School while 12-18 year-old cooks can take classes like Better Than Take out or Culinary Excursion. READ MORE

Northwestern University Pre-College Program

Evanston
Northwestern University in Chicago offers several in-person pre-college programs, including expensive and intensive three- to six-week residential college credit courses, or shorter more affordable two-week seminars. Additionally, in partnership with Chicago public schools, a tuition-free, three- to eight-week bridge program is available for local students to sample campus life and earn one college credit. Daytime only programs are also available. READ MORE

Urban Kayaks Summer Classes

Downtown
Kids ages 10 and up can learn to kayak and paddle board safely in Monroe Harbor during these one-week camps. In addition to kayaking, kids will take part in swimming, sports and games, arts and crafts, outdoor education, and more!  READ MORE

Marwen

River North
Marwen is a no-cost program for young people in Chicago looking to explore their interest in the arts. Sixth through 12th graders can take courses in photography, animation, illustration, drawing, ceramics, sewing, video, and more at this River North studio. Summer camps include two sessions, each two weeks in length. READ MORE

One River School Summer Camp

Evanston
Kids and teens can spend the summer exploring a wide range of studio art and digital art at One River. Full and half day options are available. READ MORE

After School Matters

Various locations throughout Chicago
After School Matters offers Chicago teens opportunities to explore and develop their talents in the arts, communication, leadership, sports, STEM and more. Students get hands-on experience with projects and work alongside professionals who will expose them to new career paths.  READ MORE

Chicago Fire FC Summer Camps

Naperville
With more than a dozen suburban outposts, the Chicago Fire Soccer Club's summer camps focus on a different aspect of the game each day. Kids will learn about ball mastery, taking the space, keeping the ball, and creating goal scoring opporutunities. Day camps are available for kids ages 6-14; players ages 12-16 can attend residential camp. READ MORE

Chicago Blackhawks Summer Camp

West Loop or Mount Prospect
Hockey players of all skill levels can benefit from these camps at the Chicago Blackhawk practice facility at Fifth Third Arena or Mount Prospect Ice Arena. Camps focus on skills such as power skating, edgework, agility, puck handling and shooting. Families can watch games on the Friday of each week of camp. New in 2023 is the Big Strides Summer Camp exclusively for girls ages 11-18. READ MORE

Galileo Summer Camp - Chicagoland

10 Chicago area locations
Camp Galileo combines traditional summer camp excitement with lasting, innovation-igniting learning for kids in grades K-10. With locations in the city, North Shore, Northwest Suburbs, and Western Suburbs, the camp has themes that include Traveling Circus, Dinosaur Disguises, Stained Glass Paintings, and Remote Control Bots. READ MORE

Second City Summer Comedy Camps

Old Town
Spend summer laughing at the birthplace of sketch comedy, The Second City. Kids ages 12-18 develop skills like creative thinking and self-confidence while learning improv and writing for the stage.  READ MORE

Chicago Filmmakers Teen Filmmaking Camp

Edgewater
Teens can get a crash course in filmmaking at these two-week summer camps that teach skills including creating shot-lists, scouting locations, setting up camera angles, using green screen, post-production editing, and sound design. Students work collaboratively on short film projects throughout the sessions. READ MORE

IIT Summer Programs

Bronzeville
High school students interested in engineering, food science and nutrition, chemistry, business, or pre-law can sign up for daytime or residential summer programs at Illinois Institute of Technology. These programs give campers the chance to explore topics they are interested in up close in an academic and fun environment. READ MORE

Merit School of Music

West Loop
Merit’s offerings include group classes, private lessons, ensembles, and summer camps—with options for all ages, instruments, and experience levels. Kids can choose from a range of instruments including guitar, piano, voice, violin, trumpet, and percussion. READ MORE

School of Rock Music Camps

20 Chicago area locations
School of Rock offers music camp for all skill levels, and most end with a live show performed by the campers. An 80's Rock Performance Camp takes place June 13-17, for ages 7-18. Rock 101 Camp is offered June 27-July 1, for ages 7-12, and The Best of the 90's Performance Camp is July 25-29, for ages 7-18. READ MORE

GUS Camp 2023

Andersonville
Explore a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and musical theater at the northside studio this summer. Dancers are placed into levels between beginner and advanced for each one-week session. All campers will perform multiple dances at the end of the week. READ MORE

Camp Tech Revolution at the British School

Lincoln Park and South Loop
Kids ages 6-16 can explore more than 50 technology topics at British Schools in Lincoln Park or the West Loop this summer. Learn about robotics, app development, 3D modeling and printing, Minecraft, cybersecurity, and more. READ MORE

Doug Bruno Girls Basketball Camp

Naperville
Join the fundamentals camp or the shooting camp of this overnight camp focusing on girls' basketball. The camps focus on development techniques, self-discipline and game play tactics through personalized basketball intensive instruction. READ MORE

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