Summer Day Camp 2026
June 22 - July 31
The Chicago Park District is looking forward to providing Chicago’s youth with a fun-filled summer through our Day Camp program. Every summer our staff and campers look forward to reconnecting by engaging in fun, safe, and inclusive activities.
The 6-weeks of summer fun includes sports, arts, fitness, and outdoor activities with the following ideas woven throughout the camp experience.
- Civic Engagement
- Environmental Awareness
- Inclusion
- Collaboration & Team Building
- Brain Play
- Reflection & Journaling
- Friendship & Kindness
View Camps with Availability
Many camps still have spots available. Click on the button below to view a map showing all full-day camps (runs 6 hours a day for 6 weeks) with availability.
Additional Information
An account is required to register for a program, whether registering online or in-person. Accounts can be created online or in-person at the parks. To create an account: Create an Account
Make use of the following resources to help prepare for online registration:
- Registration Webinar - NEW
We hosted two webinars on April 14 to allow patrons to provide feedback, ask questions, and walk through the registration process. Both webinars covered the same information, including how to create an account and navigate our registration website, how to utilize a new searchable map feature to find camps, and how to add programs to your wish list to facilitate registration, among other things. Review a webinar recording and learn more. - Registration Check List - UPDATED
The registration checklist and instructions have been updated to be more extensive, and highlight key information such as program search and filter options, viewing program search results on the new map, and registering multiple children in the same program. - Registration FAQ's
Registration dates are listed above.
The standard 6-week day camp program is for children 6-12 years old, as determined by the child's age on September 1st following camp.
A number of Special Recreation camps are offered over the summer for various ages. See a complete list of camps here. Instructor permission is required to register. Once you find a park you’re interested in, contact the park about instructor permission.
Reasonable accommodations and additional support may be available for individuals with disabilities. Eligibility is determined through a required assessment with our Inclusion services team. More information is available here.
The 6-week camp program runs June 22 - July 31, 2026. Most camps run for six hours a day, from 9 am – 3 pm or 10 am – 4 pm. Times vary by park.
The Park District is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at an accessible price.
- The highest-cost camp in 2025 was $4.00 per hour, while the average cost across the District was just $1.39 per hour—ensuring an enriching camp experience at an affordable rate.
- No child will be excluded due to an inability to pay - financial assistance is available for Chicago residents.
The Chicago Park District day camp team is dedicated to providing an engaging, uplifting, fun, and safe environment for campers. Learn about the different team members who make up a park's day camp team: Day Camp Staff
Throughout the summer, parents and campers can have interaction with the following park staff members:
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Park Supervisor/Playground Supervisor (year-round staff)
In respect to day camp, the Park Supervisor is responsible for all aspects of the program, which includes meeting with the Day Camp Director to review and approve the camp calendar and schedule, establish expectations, train all summer and year-round staff regarding day camp at their park, and oversee day camp operations to ensure the safety of all campers, patrons and staff. The Park Supervisor reports to the Area Manager.
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Day Camp Director (year-round staff)
Typically a full-time instructor from the park fulfills the camp director role. At some parks, the park supervisor performs the camp director responsibilities. These responsibilities include both the planning and execution of day camp. Planning work includes creating the camp calendar and daily rotation schedules including all planned activities, researching and scheduling field trips, and setting up the parent orientation. Camp execution includes preparing and conducting local training for seasonal staff; providing direction, leadership and conflict resolution for staff and campers; handling disciplinary issues with campers and/or parents if needed and communicating with parents/guardians regularly. In addition to the year-round recreation training these employees receive, prior to camp each Director receives eight hours of specialized camp training. The Camp Director reports to the Park Supervisor.
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Recreation Leader (year-round & seasonal staff)
The Recreation Leader is responsible for leading and participating in all camp activities and games with the group of campers for which he/she is responsible. As part of this role, the recreation leader helps to establish and enforce camp rules and standards, accompanies groups of campers on field trips (including bus rides), works with the Day Camp Director to help plan daily activities, and most importantly keeps campers active, engaged, and safe. All individuals in this position participate in a four-day Recreation Leader training. The minimum age requirement is 16. Recreation Leaders report to the Day Camp Director.
To be employed by the Chicago Park District, applicants must complete our hiring and selection process.
The Chicago Park District is a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Children enrolled in park programming during the summer can receive up to one free meal and snack (varies depending on park) per day. These meals are reviewed by a registered dietitian and are specially crafted to meet the nutritional needs and preferences of growing kids. The menus and allergen information will be posted here prior to camp. For questions on the menus please speak to the Day Camp Coordinator/Director at the park.
Each park will hold a Day Camp parent/caregiver orientation meeting before the start of camp. Patrons who register will be contacted by park staff with more information regarding orientation. Parent/Caregiver Orientation materials will be available on this page prior to those meetings.
Refund requests will be issued as a credit card/check refund. A 15% service charge will be applied to the amount credited. All refund requests must be made at least two weeks before the camp’s scheduled start date. No refund requests will be accepted after the two-week point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to some of the commonly asked questions about Day Camp below. For questions specific to registration, visit: Registration FAQs
Q: What is the determination of the age of day camp participants?
A: The typical age range for Day Camp is at least 6, but less than 13. The age calculation date for all youth and teen camps is September 1, 2026. There are some programs offered for those who are younger than 6, the best way to search for those is using the age range filter, or age group of Early Childhood.
We also offer Teen camps as well as our Rec Leader in Training programs for residents at least 13 years but less than 16 years old. In order to sign up for the Rec Leader in Training program, please contact the park for more information.
Q: What time do the camps start and end, and are there programs before and after those times?
A: Most camps run for six hours a day, from 9 am – 3 pm or 10 am – 4 pm. Times vary by park. Some parks will have programs before and after these times called “Early Bird” and “Extended” Day Camp, respectively. If you are interested in finding such programming, look for camps offering these programs.
Q: How much is camp?
A: The Park District is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at an accessible price. The highest-cost camp in 2025 was $4.00 per hour, while the average cost across the District was just $1.39 per hour, ensuring an enriching camp experience at an affordable rate. No child will be excluded due to an inability to pay; financial assistance is available for Chicago residents.
Q: Are there payment plans available?
A: Yes, Full-day camps will include the option to pay with a payment plan. Payment plans require 50% payment at the time of registration, with the remaining 50% due two weeks prior to the first day of camp (on or before Monday, June 8, 2026). Opting into the payment plan will require agreeing to automatic payment on the due date, if the balance is not paid sooner.
Q: Is financial assistance offered?
A: Yes. Full information on how to qualify is available here: Financial Assistance | Chicago Park District. Qualification is good for the school year ending July 31 each year, and needs to be renewed annually. After qualifying, the discount will apply automatically during registration.
Q: How can CHA residents sign up?
A: A detailed explanation of how to qualify for the CHA resident discount is available here: Program Fees for CHA Residents | Chicago Park District
Q: Is there a discount offered when registering multiple children?
A: When patrons register for two or more family members in programs with the teen, youth, or early childhood age group labels on the same receipt, the most expensive program is full price and the additional programs are discounted by 10%. The discount is available for online and in-person orders, but cannot be combined with other discount programs (Financial Assistance, military, senior, or CHA). All family members should be included in the same family account in the registration system to qualify.
Q: Are meals provided during Day Camp?
A: Children enrolled in park programming during the summer can receive up to one free meal and snack (varies depending on park) per day. These meals are reviewed by a registered dietitian and are specially crafted to meet the nutritional needs and preferences of growing kids. See the menus and allergen information below. For questions on the menus please speak to the Day Camp Coordinator/Director at the park.
Q: When and with whom do I communicate that my child has an allergy or other medical condition?
A: There is a question addressing this during the account creation process, you can add this information at that time. If you missed that or need to update your answers, look on your main account page for the link “Change Answers to Questions.” The medical needs question is under the heading of “Account creation questions.” You can revise your answers for any family members that way.
Q: My child has a disability. Are there day camps for them, or are there any additional accommodations available?
A: A number of Special Recreation camps (specifically for individuals with disabilities) are offered over the summer for various ages. See a complete list of camps here. Instructor permission is required to register. Once you find a park you’re interested in, contact the park about instructor permission.
Q: How do you register two kids for the same program?
A: Please see our Registration checklist linked here. Screenshots and instructions showing the quickest way to register two kids for the same program are available under the drop-down “Adding multiple people to the same program or adding multiple programs.”
For FAQ's specific to the registration process, visit: Program Registration FAQs
Important Dates
View Programs Online
Monday, April 13, 2026
Online Registration
Monday, April 20, 2026 @ 9am for parks West of California Ave.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 @ 9am for parks East of California Ave.
In-Person Registration
Saturday, April 25, 2026 or Monday, April 27, 2026, varies by park
Camp Runs
Day Camp Runs (6-week camp): Monday, June 22, 2026 - Friday, July 31, 2026