“Camp was not just a way to pass the summer break, but a vital part of who we became.” Michael Eisner, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, talking about how he and his business colleagues look back on their summer camp experiences.

The wonderful summer sports camps run by the park district offer your child seven weeks of fun and games, running around outdoors with their friends.

And that used to be enough.

Now, the experienced coaches, counselors, and student-athletes who teach the fundamentals of a wide range of sports—including baseball, basketball, golf, and soccer—provide campers with much more than a respite from school and a glimpse of glory as “the boys & girls of summer.” We’ll get to the extras after this short break to tell you what happens each week.

• Games, games, and more games. With plenty of instruction on how to throw, catch, run, kick, pass, swing, putt, pitch, bat, shoot… you get the picture. All the little stuff that makes playing really fun.
  • Swimming lessons, once each week for campers in grades 1 & 2. At Hidden Creek AquaPark or beautiful Rosewood Beach.
• Mini golfing at our own River’s Edge course.
• Field trips! Kids love ‘em, we’ve got ‘em. Day trips to the best adventure and entertainment venues including Action Territory in Kenosha, Funtopia, and Santa’s Village, where your camper can go bowling, climb rock walls, bump bumper cars, ride coasters, and balance their way through an awesome elevated ropes course.

While all of that fun is happening, kids are learning some mighty important life skills, from caring adults they trust—their coaches and counselors:

• Good sportsmanship.
• Teamwork.
• Self Esteem. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new!
• Be resilient. Mistakes happen. It’s how you fix them that makes you better.
• Compassion, empathy, and a respect for differences.
• Communication.
• Problem-solving.
• Leadership skills.

Troy Hoffmann, Athletic Supervisor at the Park District, said “These are things that help shape kids into good people, and we emphasize them every day. Happily, none of them require looking at a screen!”

• In addition to everything we’ve listed above, Varsity campers also play more competitive games that require advanced skills, like Capture the Flag, Floor Hockey, and Lacrosse.
• Field trips that include Go Karts, Parkour, and Water Parks.
• Pro baseball games, including the Chicago Dogs!

While the Varsity Sports Camp is great fun for everyone, if your young sports enthusiast is a girl in grades 3–6, take a look at our Girls Play Strong camp. It’s filled with special features designed specifically for them.

We’re looking forward to seeing your child this summer!