Open Camps 2026
Whether you need additional coverage, or your camper is ready to dive in and explore something new, we still have an ocean of possibilities with available space! Click on the PROGRAM NAME for section details & to register!
FEATURED 2026 SUMMER CAMPS:
Listed by age/grade
Age 3-5
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9:45-11:45 am
- Location: Community Recreation Center
Age 3-5
Introduce your youngest dancer(s) to the summer camp experience with this fun, social 2-hour camp! Aspiring young performers will learn age-appropriate versions of various dance genres such as ballet, hip hop, jazz, and improvisational dance, in addition to general movement and rhythm fun, a snack break, fairytale-of-the-day, and crafts! No dance experience needed. Enroll for one, two, or three sessions* – activities do not repeat. Campers should be able to attend independently and be fully toilet-trained. Extend the day with Preschool Camp Connect and/or Little World Travelers. *Each camp session is now a 3-week experience for fewer social-emotional transitions and triple the fun!
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9:45-11:45 am
- Location: Community Recreation Center
Grade K-2
Learn and play all things safety in a fun interactive setting. Each day campers will be introduced to a new safety topic, including playground safety, bicycle safety, fire safety, what to do in an emergency and when to call 911. We will ride around town in our very own Safety Town behind Mallinckrodt Park!
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 1-3 pm
- Location: Mallinckrodt Center
Grade K-7
For students enrolled in the D39 Summer Enrichment program.
Make the most of your summer with this exciting 6-week camp designed to complement District 39’s Summer Enrichment schedule! Campers will enjoy a mix of fun-filled field trips, beach days at Gillson, and cool afternoons at the Centennial Family Aquatic Center. The camp follows the half-day ESY schedule, with full-day sessions on days when ESY is not in session—giving campers the perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and summer fun!
- Half Days: 11:00 am-3:30 pm on July 6-31
- Full Days: 9:00 am-3:30 pm on June 29-30, July 1-2 & August 3-7
- No Camp: July 3
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 11 am-3:30 pm
- Location: Central Elementary School
Grade 1-3 & 4-8
Participants in this on-the-court camp will learn various drills, skills and how to properly play the game of basketball. We’ll focus on how to improve footwork, dribbling, passing and shooting with Fun and EXCITING drills and activities.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9 am-Noon (Grade 1-3) or 1-4 pm (Grades 4-8)
- Location: Community Recreation Center
Grade 1-6
Campers spend the summer enjoying a variety of sports activities and beach and pool time. Athletic endeavors include soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, kickball, floor hockey and volleyball, Olympic events and whole lot more.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9 am-2:30 pm
- Location: Highcrest Middle School
Grade 1-8
Looking to learn to skate or accelerate through the beginning skate classes of Basic Skills 1-6 ? This is the camp for you! A great way to cool down and learn to skate or accelerate your learn to skate experience. The day will be split into on-ice class time, off-ice conditioning, and supervised practice ice. Snacks and crafts will be provided during any rest periods we can grab! Dress warmly with gloves, fleece jacket and long pants. Rental skates are included in the fee.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9 am-Noon
- Location: Centennial Ice Rink
Grade 1-8
Looking to learn to skate or accelerate through the Hockey 1-Power Hockey? This is the camp for you! A great way to cool down and learn to skate or accelerate your learn to skate experience. The day will be split into on-ice class time, off-ice conditioning, and supervised practice ice. Snacks and crafts will be provided during any rest periods we can grab! Dress warmly with gloves, fleece jacket and long pants. Rental skates are included in the fee.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9 am-Noon
- Location: Centennial Ice Rink
Grade 2-6
Must be recommended by a tennis instructor.
A summer tennis camp designed for kids who are serious about improving their game while having fun. With focus on technical skill development, match strategy and fitness, campers will sharpen their tennis in a supportive and challenging environment. Competitive events will be connected to the camp, along with industry-standardized ball compression training. Ideal for young athletes looking to get tournament ready.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 1-3 pm
- Location: Wilmette Tennis Club
Grade 4-8
Hit the beach this summer to develop your volleyball skills, strategy and technique. We’ll use a combination of fun and active drills, along with daily scrimmages to build a solid foundation. To cool off, participants can take a dip in the lake during our daily swim time.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9 am-Noon
- Location: Gillson Park
Grade 4-8
Must be able to demonstrate ability to swim 25 yards on first day of camp.
Beginner sailors learn basic sailing terms, knots, safety and how to rig a boat. On the water, students will start sailing sunfish and work their way up to catamarans.
- Days: Monday-Thursday
- Time: 9:30-11:30 am or Noon-2 pm
- Location: Sailing Beach
Grade 4-8
Must be able to demonstrate ability to swim 25 yards on first day of camp.
Intermediate sailors get a review of the basics then move to more independent time on the vessels. We will also cover wind, currents and safety skills.
- Days: Monday-Thursday
- Time: 2:30-4:30 pm
- Location: Sailing Beach
Grade 5-8
Must be able to demonstrate ability to swim 25 yards on first day of camp.
Get ready to dive into a world of aquatic fun! Experience the excitement of Aquatics Camp, nestled on the scenic shores of Lake Michigan at Gillson Park’s Swimming Beach. Explore the shore while stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, embark on thrilling banana boat and catamaran rides, and swim in our beautiful lake. We will kick off your aquatic journey with a safety class ensuring you’re ready to navigate the waters safely.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9:30-11:30 am or Noon-2 pm
- Location: Gillson Swimming Beach
Grade 5-8
Must be recommended by a tennis instructor or currently enrolled in an Excellence class.
With an emphasis on game play and friendly competition, campers enjoy fun tennis drills, tennis stroke contests, and singles and doubles match play. This camp is the perfect way to have fun in the sun while learning a healthy lifetime skill.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 1-4 pm
- Location: Community Playfields Tennis Courts
Grade 5-9
Each session of this performing arts camp is jam-packed with acting, singing, dancing, lighting, audio and stage crew activities that culminate in a full-length junior production, complete with costumes and set! Theme days, outdoor games, cast parties, trips to Gillson Beach, and a field trip to a professional performance round out this spectacular theatrical adventure! No experience is necessary, and campers receive equal opportunity to perform or work behind the scenes.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9 am-3 pm
- Location: Community Recreation Center
Grade 6-9
Must be able to demonstrate ability to swim 25 yards on first day of camp.
Gillson Beach lifeguards teach first aid, rescue techniques, CPR, and rip current education in this lifeguard fundamentals program. In addition to the fun we will have along the way, participants are rewarded at the end of the session, when we celebrate with games and present certificates of completion!
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 9:30-11:30 am
- Location: Gillson Beach House
Grade 7-12
The world’s fastest-growing sport is now a camp kids will love. Pickleball has been described as a combination of tennis, badminton & ping pong. The game is easy to learn and tons of fun. You’ll hit a ton of balls, work hard, meet new friends, and laugh a lot. You will leave camp with a new enthusiasm for the game and greater on-court self-confidence.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 3-5 pm
- Location: Community Playfields Tennis Courts
Grade 8-11
Are you a motivated, responsible teen who wants real experience in the camp world? The Junior Counselor Academy is an intensive training program designed specifically for ambitious 8th-11th graders who are ready to step into leadership. This program is ideal for teens who love working with kids, are eager to learn, and want a serious, hands-on introduction to what it takes to be a summer camp counselor.
Throughout the session, junior counselors will rotate between multiple camps at different locations, gaining exposure to a variety of program styles, age groups, and responsibilities. Participants must have reliable transportation or be able to independently travel to assigned camp sites. Junior counselors may also join camps on field trips, pool days, and beach outings, depending on the weekly schedule.
This is not a social or “hang out with friends” camp—it’s a structured leadership and training experience. Junior counselors will complete specific training modules, participate in skill-building workshops, and take on meaningful assignments that mirror the real duties of camp counselors. From practicing effective communication to assisting with activities and learning behavior-management strategies, participants will gain an inside look at the counselor role.
By the end of the program, you’ll be better prepared, more confident, and fully equipped to apply for a counselor position the following summer.
- Days: Monday-Friday
- Time: 8:45 am-3 pm
- Location: Various Camp Locations
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Aloha! ¡Hola! Bonjour! Nǐ hǎo! In this fun and social 2-hour stepping stone to the full summer camp experience, preschool travelers will immerse themselves in a new culture each week through visual arts and crafts, music, dance, stories, native animals, language, and a variety of other activities. Past countries/regions visited have included Australia, China, the South Pacific, the East African grasslands, the Alaskan tundra, and many more… but the world is our oyster and we might go anywhere! Enroll for one, two, or three sessions* – destinations will not repeat. Campers should be able to attend independently and be fully toilet-trained. For a longer day, pair Little World Travelers with Preschool Camp Connect and Preschool Dance Camp or Tiny Tots. *Each camp session is now a 3-week experience for fewer social-emotional transitions and triple the fun!