Chicago's affordable afterschool programs are located around the city. ​Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
Free and Cheap Afterschool Programs in Chicago
Photo courtesy of Enchanted Castle
The Best Indoor Birthday Party Spots for Chicago Kids
Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
25 Back-to-School Tasks You Didn't Know You Could Pay Someone Else to Do
Batter up! There are classes for kids of all ages and interests in Chicago.
GUIDE
Guide to the Best Classes for Kids in Chicago
Starved Rock State Park
Visiting Starved Rock State Park With Kids: Things To Do, Places To Stay, and More
Paradise Bay Water Park will cool you down all day. Photo courtesy of the Lombard Park District
Heat Wave Hot List: Best Ways to Keep Cool in Chicago with Kids
Chicago has so many things to do with little kids. Photo courtesy of Aster Hall, Chicago
25 Things To Do With Little Kids in Chicago Before They Turn 5
This August is full of fun things to do in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Howard Street Chalk Fest
30 Best Things to Do in Chicago August 2023 with Kids
We've launched a partnership with Care.com to bring background-checked nannies and sitters to the Mommy Poppins Directory.
Find Trusted Babysitters and Nannies Now on Mommy Poppins–Powered by Care.com
The entering class of Hogwarts.
Harry Potter: Magic at Play at Water Tower Place in Chicago
Try one of these fun Chicago mini golf courses. Photo courtesy of Diversey Driving Range and Mini Golf
17 Mini Golf Courses Near Chicago for Kid-Friendly Putt-Putt
Chicago has many great swim schools in the area. Photo courtesy of Lakeside Swim School
Best Swim Schools and Swimming Lessons in Chicago for Kids
Pool Day Birthday Party. Photo by @anjanettew, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Chicago's Best Parks & Playgrounds for Kids Birthday Parties
GUIDE
Ultimate Chicago Kids Summer Vacation Guide
The Skydeck at Willis Tower has spectacular views spanning four states.
100 Best Things To Do in Chicago with Kids Before They Grow Up
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
Free Public Swimming Pools in Chicago for Summer 2023
The Thompson Strawberry Farm in Bristol, Wisconsin. Photo by the author
  VIDEO
Best Sunflower Fields Near Chicago for Pick-Your-Own Flowers
State parks near Chicago offer more than just hiking. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
State Parks Near Chicago to Hike, Camp, and Swim with Kids
These swimming spots are perfect for summer birthday parties. Photo courtesy of the Whealan Pool Aquatic Center
Swimming Spots to Host a Pool Party for Your Chicago Kid
Rides, a children's museum, and more on Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier
Things to Do with Kids on Navy Pier in Chicago
Take in a free summer concert in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Wiggleworms at Gallagher Way
Chicago's Free Concerts and Outdoor Music Festivals for Families This Summer
White, sandy beaches line St. Joseph. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
St. Joseph with Kids: Best Things to Do in St. Joseph, MI
It's a block party on State Street with Sundays on State. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Loop Alliance
50 Free Things To Do in Chicago This Summer With Kids
There are both woodland and paved trails at the Morton Arboretum. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
Best Places to Hike with Kids Near Chicago
Water comin' at you from all sides! Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks, and Water Playgrounds in Chicago
Millennium Park Summer Film Series offers free outdoor movies in Chicago. Photo courtesy of chicago.gov
39 Free Outdoor Movies in Chicago this Summer for Kids
Strawberries taste sweeter when you pick them yourself at one of these berry picking farms near Chicago. Photo courtesy of Olive Berry Acres
Best Strawberry Picking in Chicago and Summer Strawberry Festivals
The Royal Grocer is a Bucktown neighborhood family-friendly restaurant (with tiki torches)!
Best Outdoor Dining in Chicago at Family-Friendly Restaurants
GUIDE
Chicago Theme Parks & Water Parks Guide
St. Louis has tons of kid-friendly things to do. Photo courtesy of the City Museum in St. Louis
Fun Budget Weekend Getaways for Chicago Families
Tinkering Camp in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Dupage Children's Museum
Free and Affordable Summer Camps In Chicago
Stay cool with an outdoor water park near Chicago.
Best Outdoor Water Parks in Chicago for Family Fun
Stroller hikes make it easier to get outside with babies and toddlers. Photo courtesy of the Morton Arboretum
Best Stroller-Friendly Hikes and Trails Near Chicago
GUIDE
Chicago Summer Camp Guide
Try one of these Chicago salons for baby's first haircut. Photo courtesy of My Kids Place
Best Places for Kids Haircuts in Chicago For Baby or Toddler’s First Cut
Ride high on Maxx Force at Six Flags Great America.
The Best Amusement Parks Near Chicago for Families
Teen Filmmaking Camp is a summer camp for teens in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Chicago Filmmakers
Best Summer Camps for Teens in Chicago
Hit the spa with your kid for a spa party in Chicago. Photo by Lisa Gagne for Canva
Kid-Friendly Spas and Kid Spa Parties in Chicago
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for Chicago Kids
Art summer camps are popular in Chicago. Photo courtesy of ChiArts
Best Art Summer Camps for Chicago Kids
​Chicago History Museum located in Old Town. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
Old Town with Kids: What to Do Just North of Downtown Chicago with Kids
Photo courtesy of Enterrium in Schaumburg
Themed Restaurants in Chicago for Family-Friendly Interactive Dining
Obstacle courses and climbing gyms provide indoor fun for big kids. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders
Best Ninja Warrior Gyms and Climbing Gyms in Chicago for Kids
Play inside again at places like Present Place. Photo courtesy of Present Place
Best Indoor Playgrounds in Chicago
Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center
Best Chicago Museums For Kids and Families
Have some fun in the water even in the winter at one of these indoor water parks near Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Kalahari Resort
Best Indoor Water Parks Near Chicago
The Chicago Skydeck offers kids a great view of the city. Photo courtesy of the 360 Chicago Skydeck
3 Days in Chicago with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
An offbeat Chicago museum makes a fun outing for teenagers. Photo courtesy of the WNDR Museum
Chicago's Best Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens To Hang Out
Head to the free Artist's Studio on cold and rainy days. ​Photo courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
21 Free Things To Do in Chicago on Cold and Rainy Days: Indoor Places To Play
Free activities for kids in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is always free. Photo courtesy of the museum via Facebook
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in Chicago with Kids
​Photo courtesy of Kido
Local Baby Stores in Chicago For Gifts, Gear, and More
There are many popular bar and bat mitzvah venues in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Pinstripes
Top Bat and Bar Mitzvah Venues in Chicago
Family-friendly and voted one of the top 5 escape rooms in the USA! Photo courtesy of Escape Factor in Forest Park
Best Kid-Friendly Escape Rooms in Chicago
Top 10 Best Hotdogs in Chicago to Try with Kids
Checking out the exhibits at Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Photo by Maureen Wilkey
Chicago's Adler Planetarium with Kids: Top Things to See and Do
Take pregnancy classes from a birth center or doula if you choose. Photo courtesy of Chicago Family Doulas
Pregnancy Classes and Parenting Classes in Chicago
Cooking classes for kids in Chicago. Photo courtesy of The Kid's Table
Cooking Classes for Kids in Chicago: A Baker's Dozen of the Best Culinary Experiences in the City and Suburbs
Bright Horizons operates more than 1,000 nurturing, enriching, and convenient early education centers across the globe.
How to Find the Right Chicago Daycare or Preschool for Your Kid
Birthday parties at these indoor skydiving venues include a flight class, two flights per guest, and party room time. Photo courtesy of iFly
Teen Birthday Party Ideas in Chicago: 18 Cool Party Places for Teens
Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. Photo by @zoblue, Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Garfield Park Conservatory with Kids: Best Things to See and Do
The Zoo is one of the best things to do with kids in Lincoln Park. Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Park Zoo
Best Things to Do in Chicago's Lincoln Park Neighborhood with Kids
Best Things to See and Do at the Shedd Aquarium with Kids
Get packing and check out this list of hotels in Chicago for a family vacation.
10 Kid-Friendly Hotels in Chicago for a Family Vacation
There are plenty of fishing lakes in Chicago. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Park District
Fishing Lakes Near Chicago and More Kid-Friendly Places To Go Fishing
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry
Free Museums and Free Museum Days for Kids in Chicago
Pancakes served all day long in Chicago's West Loop! Photo courtesy of The Little Goat, Facebook
Things to do with Kids in Chicago's West Loop
Dine with a view at any Chicago riverfront restaurant. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center
Best Restaurants on the River: Chicago River Dining for Families
Chicago's museums are some of the top attractions in the city. Photo courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
Top Attractions in Chicago: Best Things to See and Do With Kids
Semicolon is a Black-owned bookstore in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Semicolon
Black-Owned Businesses to Discover in Chicago
Kids will have a hard time deciding between all the delicious treats at Dinkel's, the 100 year old Bavarian bakery
Favorite Things To Do with Kids in Roscoe Village and North Center
The iconic ConAgra mural in Chicago, created by artist Jeff Zimmermann, is visible from the 606 elevated Bloomingdale Trail. Photo courtesy of jazim.com
Our Favorite Things to Do with Kids in Bucktown and Wicker Park
Spectacular city views of the Chicago Skyline in River North. Photo courtesy of Wendella Boat Tours.
The Best Things to Do In Chicago's River North and Gold Coast Neighborhoods with Kids
The Field Museum is home to some of the country's most complete dinosaur skeletons.
The Land Before Time: How to Do Chicago's Field Museum with Kids
Calling all Chicago Cubs fans! Photo courtesy of Gallagher Way
Things To Do in Wrigleyville with Kids
Happy Kids Chicago offers some of your kid's favorite characters as birthday party entertainers.
The Ultimate List of Chicago Children's Birthday Party Entertainers and Rentals
See the elephants at the Milwaukee Zoo.
The Best Zoos and Aquariums for Chicago Kids
Take your little one for a splash in the Crown Fountain. Photo by Sandor Weisz
20 Things To Do with Chicago Babies Before They Turn One
Chalk Howard Street is one of the street festivals in Chicago this weekend. Chalk art by Anat Ronen, photo courtesy of Chalk Howard Street
Street Fests and More Fun Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend with Kids

Best STEM Summer Camps in Chicago Area

Work on STEM skills with a fun summer camp in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Camp Invention
Work on STEM skills with a fun summer camp in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Camp Invention
3/14/22 - By Jessica Laird

If architectural model making, video game development, battle bot competitions, 3D printing, and Harry Potter science sound like the makings of your kiddo's perfect summer, you're in luck. Chicago is jam-packed with STEM camps available at local universities, museums, and other nearby centers, offering a wide range of enriching, hands-on programming. And as science, technology, engineering, and math become increasingly important in our tech-centric world, you can give yourself a pat on the back for helping to hook your kid up with skills that will serve them long after their school days.

Still not quite ready for in-person camps? Here are our picks for the best Chicago area STEM camps. For more of the best Chicago summer camps, check out our Chicago Summer Camp Guide, or our directory of summer camps in Chicago.

Editor's Note: Summer camp information for the 2022 season is changing daily and camps are filling up fast. We have not included any camps that were completely sold out at the time of publication. Please click the links to the individual camps for the most up-to-date information.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Photo by Keith Shegan, courtesy of Kids Science Labs, Roscoe Village
Photo by Keith Shegan, courtesy of Kids Science Labs, Roscoe Village

Kids' STEM In-Person Summer Camps in Chicago

KidzToPros Summer Camp

Chicago (North and Northwest), Elgin, Glenview, and Hoffman Estates
Explore, learn, and thrive at KidzToPros STEM, sports, and art summer camps for kids in pre-K to 8th grade. KidzToPros provides the perfect opportunity for kids to develop valuable skills in a fun, creative, and safe environment. READ MORE

Kids Science Labs

South Loop, Northbrook, Roscoe Village, and Wheaton
Campers ages 4-12 can explore everything from what's inside everything to space to Jedis vs. spies at Kids Science Labs' summer camps. At the South Loop Center, special camps are also offered for 5th-8th graders in advanced topics. READ MORE

Camp Invention

Far North Side, Niles, Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Naperville and More
With the theme "Wonder," the flagship summer camp of the National Inventors Hall of Fame helps kids in grades K-6 develop problem-solving skills. Projects include building a mini skate park, reconstructing a robot, and opening a pop-up shop. READ MORE

Kids STEM Studio

West Loop and Lincoln Park
Campers in grades 1 through 7 can explore engineering, technology, robotics, and more through hands-on tinkering and experiments at Kids STEM Studio.  Each day of camp includes a half day of technology and a half day of engineering, along with an outdoor recess. READ MORE

Galileo Summer Camp - Chicagoland

Chicago, North Shore, Northwest Suburbs, Western Suburbs
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

Noggin Builders Camps

Northbrook
STEM Adventures for Curious Kids! Each week of camp is filled with fun, hands-on activities including STEM, problem-solving, and teamwork games. Camps are available for kids entering grades PreK 3-8th Grade.  READ MORE

BitSpace

Lincoln Square
Let your child turn their idea into a reality using the newest tools and technology available. By the end of a week of camp, kids will have turned their vision into a product and developed critical thinking skills. Kids 7-14 can choose from camps including Bad Robots, Warping Wood, Fashion Futurism, and Dream Houses. READ MORE

Chicago Architecture Center Summer Camps

Kids ages 8-14 can learn about many aspects of Chicago's achitecture at these unique camps at the Chicago Architecture Center, Illinois Institute of Technology, or online. Select from camps with themes like Playscapes, Taking the LEED, and Civic Superheroes. Girls Build! Camps focus on female-led archictecture. READ MORE

Snapology Summer Camps

Downtown and Lakeview
Hayes Building, 4043 N. Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613 The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel, 171 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 Snapology believes that children are meant to learn through play. When children are engaged in interactive, hands-on learning activities, their creativity flourishes and they show an increased interest in school. Snapology helps your child grow up with a thirst for knowledge. How do we do it? Snapology engages children ages 3-14 using LEGO® bricks, K'Nex and technology!  With dozens of programs to choose from, there's something for everyone. From fun themed... READ MORE

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Camp

Lincoln Park
Kids ages 4-9 can enjoy indoor and outdoor nature and science activities at Lincoln Park's Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's fun and educational camps. Themes for the full day camps include Sustainable Stewards, Outdoor Explorers, Nature Detectives, and Animal Architects. Camp focuses on nature and science education utilizing the Nature Museum’s outdoor and indoor spaces. READ MORE

Code Ninjas Summer Camps

Oak Park, Elmhurst, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Naperville and more
Kids ages 6 and up can learn web development, modding, stop motion animation, and You Tube stardom at these camps in the suburbs. Camps vary by date and location READ MORE

DuPage Children's Museum Tinkering Camp

Naperville
Kids use real tools and materials to make launchpads and rockets, flying devices, musical instruments and more at these weeklong half-day camps at the DuPage Children's Museum. Kids will be in small groups with other children in the same age group-- 4-7 or 8-11. READ MORE

Brookfield Zoo Camps

Brookfield
Kids can discover animals and everything that goes on at Brookfield Zoo at half or full-day camps on zoo grounds. The camp offers a variety of ways to connect with nature and animals. Four and five-year olds can register for half-day camp while six and seven year olds sign up for full-day camp. READ MORE

Morton Arboretum Summer Science Camps

Lisle
Kids ages 4-14 can explore the 1,700 acres of the Morton Arboretum and learn about trees and nature at the Morton Arboretum at weeklong half and full day camps this summer. These camps provide a foundation for the next generation of young conservation and environmental scientists, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts.  READ MORE
Learn illustration and animation. Photo courtesy of Digital Media Academy Online Tech Camps
Learn illustration and animation. Photo courtesy of Digital Media Academy Online Tech Camps

Kids' STEM Virtual Summer Camps

iD Tech Summer STEM Camps and Classes

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

Digital Media Academy Online Tech Camps

Launched by tech educators at Stanford University, these college-based camps offer loads of courses for kids 9-17, covering everything from wearable tech to virtual reality to music production or animation. READ MORE

Chicago Architecture Center Summer Camps

Kids ages 8-14 can learn about many aspects of Chicago's achitecture at these unique camps at the Chicago Architecture Center, Illinois Institute of Technology, or online. Select from camps with themes like Playscapes, Taking the LEED, and Civic Superheroes. Girls Build! Camps focus on female-led archictecture. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: