Activities, Camps and After School Classes Near Me

As summer draws to a close, we're giving campers the freedom to choose their creative adventures for the final days of camp. Each day, we'll offer a selection of activities ranging from canvas painting and ceramics to slime making and collage crafting. Campers can decide how they want to spend their day, exploring different mediums and expressing their unique artistic styles. It's a wonderful opportunity for them to dive into what they love most and end their summer with a burst of creativity and personal expression. Join us for these last few days of fun-filled, self-directed creativity!​

Champ Camp’s critically acclaimed summer Adventure Camp for kids ages 7-12 is designed to take kids on epic explorations around the sunny South Bay! From water excursions and rock climbing to trampoline parks and relaxing beach time, with lots more in between, campers are in store for a smorgasbord of adventure ☀️! (Think field trips, but Champ Camp style and wayyy cooler). Important Note: Fees for this program INCLUDE ADMISSION into all Adventures :) FOLLOW US on Instagram! [@ChampCampKids & @ChampCampAdventure]

Discover Fun, Leadership, and New Skills at GrowFit Camp! At GrowFit Camp, kids aged 4-12 dive into a world of sports and games, discovering new athletic passions in a fun, supportive environment. For teens aged 13-16, our Counselors-In-Training (CIT) program offers the ultimate mix of leadership training, community service opportunities, and exciting gameplay with younger campers—all while boosting résumés with valuable experience! CITs work alongside camp counselors under the guidance of a trained coach, learning leadership skills and playing a variety of sports and games. CITs are technically campers, actively participating in all camp activities while building valuable leadership experience. The program is $30/day with limited spots available each week, requiring a full-session commitment. What to Bring: Water Bottle: Stay hydrated! Refill stations are available on-site. Shoes & Clothing: Comfortable athletic shoes and black athletic shorts or pants are required. Each CIT will receive a camp shirt to wear for the week. Food: Please pack a hearty lunch and a few snacks as CITs run around quite a bit during the day. To join the CIT program, applicants must answer three quick questions after adding the program to their cart. Don’t wait—spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

*CPS will be back in session this week! We're headed to the United States of Auradon with Mal, Evie, Carlos, Jay, Uma, and the rest of the crew of DESCENDANTS! (Maybe even Red and Chloe!) This week-long musical theater camp inspired by Descendants 1, 2, AND 3 (with a bit of Rise of Red thrown in too!) will use your child’s favorite songs, stories, and characters to help them develop the skills every performer needs to perform on a Broadway Stage. Campers will spend the week singing, dancing, acting, and rehearsing for an end of the week showcase which will take place on the last day of camp! They’ll also be given the chance to discover what goes on “behind the scenes” with art projects that introduce them to theatrical elements such as costume set design. Don’t worry – it’s not all work and no play here at Stages! We take advantage of the fun and freedom of summer, ensuring campers have time outside each day as well as free play (and rest). Best of all? Our camps are run by professional teaching artists with years of experience on professional stages as well as in the classroom so you can drop-off feeling confident that your child will be in good hands all week long. Whether your child has taken performing arts classes in the past or you’re simply looking for something new to try this summer, Stages is for you! Stages is committed to making our camps accessible for all families. For information regarding free or reduced tuition, please visit https://www.stageschicago.org/tuition-assistance.

⚙️💡 Ignite Creativity at GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp! Does your child love building things, taking them apart, and imagining what’s possible? GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp invites young creators in grades 1–3 to dream big, test bold ideas, and bring their inventions to life—then burn off energy with an afternoon of action-packed sports! This is where imagination meets movement, and every child becomes a problem-solver, builder, and innovator. Why Choose GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp? 🛠️ Hands-On Building Adventures: Campers use simple materials—cardboard, tape, recycled parts, craft sticks, rubber bands, and more—to design and build their own inventions. Think launchers, bridges, contraptions, machines, and imaginative creations that surprise even them! 💡 Creative Engineering: Through guided challenges, kids explore engineering, design thinking, and “What happens if…?” experimentation in a playful, age-appropriate way. 🧠 Invent, Test, Improve: Campers sketch ideas, build prototypes, test them out, and refine their creations—just like real inventors. It’s all about growth, curiosity, and celebrating the “aha!” moments. 🏅 Active, High-Energy Afternoons: After lunch, campers join our All-Sports Camp for a daily mix of games like soccer, basketball, gaga ball, bounce house tag, and more. It’s the perfect blend of brains and play! 🤝 Teamwork & Problem-Solving: Whether building a tower with teammates or working together on a group invention, campers collaborate, communicate, and cheer each other on. 📈 Full-Week Experience: Each day builds on the last, allowing young inventors to brainstorm, create, and improve throughout the week. Full-week registration is required. Camp Details 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🛠️ Morning: Inventor’s Lab (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location:The Plex Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the BACK of The Plex. Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the BACK of The Plex. 🎒 What to Bring: Comfortable clothes for building, water bottle, lunch, and two snacks. With over a decade of creating unforgettable experiences, GrowFit’s Inventor’s Lab + All-Sports Camp inspires creativity, confidence, resilience, and joy—where ideas take shape and kids discover what they’re capable of! ⚙️ Ready to Invent, Build, and Play? Spaces fill fast—register today and watch your child’s imagination soar! Refunds and Cancellations: 30+ days before camp: full refund minus 10% fee Within 30 days: credit for future GrowFit camps On or after the start date: non-refundable Tax ID: 81-1018163

Budding artists capturing multiple objects tend to begin with the largest or most attractive one first, finish it, and move on to the next. By studying multiple object composition, line and air perspective, as well as color mixing, students learn to depict multiple three-dimensional objects and build a solid foundation for future artistic study. Our academic method of teaching will open the eyes and minds of aspiring artists to see the myriad of colors and tones in everyday objects. With these foundational skills, students will learn techniques to express their creativity. Classes alternate between Drawing and Painting on a weekly basis. All skill levels welcome. Students will learn to draw and paint multiple objects as a group taking into account proportions, depth, structures, along with light and shadows. Using acrylic or oil, students will flex these core principles of composition to attain the freedom to draw and paint three-dimensional still-life, landscapes and fictional paintings. Procuring painting and drawing materials are the responsibility of each student, but we are of course happy to advise which ones we think are best.

Children will begin to experiment with ways to play musical instruments, accompany a song with rhythm, and act out lyrics through movements using both gross motor and fine motor skills. Children know so much about music at this stage, and are at the beginning stages of being able to express themselves musically!

This week we are experimenting with application as we mimic the influential American artist Helen Frankenthaler. Inventor of the soak stain technique, Frankenthaler pushed the boundaries of color field painting in abstract expressionism. So to celebrate this marvelous approach, we too will be pouring paint instead of using brushes! Students will have the opportunity to explore color mixing as we learn about the color wheel and its various approaches. Then, we will give each concoction a chance to shine as it gets cascaded over the canvas in a spectacular free fall.

Give your child the gift of confidence and the joy of cooking! Our culinary program offers hands-on cooking lessons for budding young chefs. We learn more than how to follow a recipe at Lil’ Chef School. We utilize math, science, teamwork, creativity, and more. Children learn about cuisines of the world and enhance their experience with fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices while gaining confidence and experience in the kitchen that will last them a lifetime. Children will make 2 recipes each week and will get a tasting of the food they made at the end of class. Recipes are provided online.

Discover Fun, Leadership, and New Skills at GrowFit Camp! At GrowFit Camp, kids aged 4-12 dive into a world of sports and games, discovering new athletic passions in a fun, supportive environment. For teens aged 13-16, our Counselors-In-Training (CIT) program offers the ultimate mix of leadership training, community service opportunities, and exciting gameplay with younger campers—all while boosting résumés with valuable experience! CITs work alongside camp counselors under the guidance of a trained coach, learning leadership skills and playing a variety of sports and games. CITs are technically campers, actively participating in all camp activities while building valuable leadership experience. The program is $30/day with limited spots available each week, requiring a full-session commitment. What to Bring: Water Bottle: Stay hydrated! Refill stations are available on-site. Shoes & Clothing: Comfortable athletic shoes and black athletic shorts or pants are required. Each CIT will receive a camp shirt to wear for the week. Food: Please pack a hearty lunch and a few snacks as CITs run around quite a bit during the day. To join the CIT program, applicants must answer three quick questions after adding the program to their cart. Don’t wait—spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

During this week campers get to enjoy a different ceramic and slime daily. Although there are options to take part in painting on canvas instead. ​ We know going home we so many slimes and ceramics can be overwhelming - so we have you covered. From fluffy slime to glow in the dark and snow slime - we will keep the campers day filled with exciting activities!

*Mid-session registration: If you are signing up AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF THIS SERIES OF 8 CLASSES, email info@marvegos.com about a possible project conflict before you arrive for class.* Our school year curriculum for ages 4.5 to 7 includes a mix of works on paper and sculptures that offer a variety of media and opportunities to develop the student's understanding of basic concepts and terminology used in fine art making. This program does not require students to have prior art-making experience.

*Mid-session registration: If you are signing up AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF THIS SERIES OF 8 CLASSES, email info@marvegos.com about a possible project conflict before you arrive for class.* Designed for students ages 10 to 12, the Expanded Fundamentals program bridges the gap between Fine Art Fundamentals and Advanced Exploration. It builds on foundational techniques while offering more opportunities for independent decision-making. Prior completion of Fine Art Fundamentals isn’t required, but familiarity with basic art concepts is recommended. All students new to Expanded Fundamentals will receive a notification to sign up for a one-time, prerequisite Online Form Class, which must be completed by the third week. This class teaches students about form, values and composition. If your child has already completed this class as part of Fine Art Fundamentals, they do not need to take it again.

*Mid-session registration: If you are signing up AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF THIS SERIES OF 8 CLASSES, email info@marvegos.com about a possible project conflict before you arrive for class.* Our school year curriculum for ages 4.5 to 7 includes a mix of works on paper and sculptures that offer a variety of media and opportunities to develop the student's understanding of basic concepts and terminology used in fine art making. This program does not require students to have prior art-making experience.

This is open gym play time including bubble/gymbo time. One class pass per child (can also use as a make-up class). Members with monthly memberships are discounted. $10 per visit.

A Week-Long Exploration of Cells, DNA, Microbes & Real Lab Techniques Budding biologists and lab lovers this camp is for you! Let’s Get Cultured is a week-long deep dive into the exciting world of cells, genetics, microbiology, and metabolic science. Campers ages 12–16 will work with authentic lab tools, learn real scientific techniques, and explore the microscopic organisms and molecular systems that keep life running. Each day focuses on a new area of biological science, packed with hands-on experiments, microscopy, DNA investigation, and microbial challenges. Teens leave with stronger lab skills, greater scientific confidence, and an unforgettable appreciation for the hidden world of biology. All Summer Campers receive a free TCSL t-shirt!

In Game Art Studio, campers explore the world of pixel art and animation using Aseprite, a professional tool used to create graphics for 2D video games. Students learn how to design characters, environments, icons, and animated sprites while building strong foundations in color, shading, and animation timing. Throughout the week, campers create original game-ready artwork such as character walk cycles, enemies, backgrounds, and user interface elements. They also learn how pixel art is used in real games and how their creations can be exported for use in 2D games, Scratch or Flowlab projects, Godot or Unity games, Minecraft-style mods, and animated GIFs. This camp is ideal for creative kids who love games and want to bring their ideas to life. No prior art or coding experience is required. Recommended for ages 10 - 15.

Travel across Latin America—without leaving the kitchen! In this immersive, hands-on summer camp, young chefs will explore the bold flavors, rich cultures, and iconic dishes of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the Andes, the Southern Cone, and Brazil. Campers will cook fresh tortillas, empanadas, pão de queijo, moqueca, alfajores, and more while learning about traditional ingredients like corn, cassava, plantains, and tropical fruits. Each day blends cooking skills, cultural stories, teamwork, and plenty of delicious tasting. Perfect for curious cooks who love food, flavor, and fun!

Join us this summer for a week full of cooking, learning, and virtual travel as we explore the culinary traditions of Asia! We’ll be preparing food from China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. We will learn the principals of sauces, flavoring, cooking techniques, doughs, wraps, noodles, rice dishes, dim-sum, and more. We will be preparing classic desserts such as mochi and custard tarts. Each day will include a snack break and conclude with a complete meal.

🧱✨ Build, Create, and Imagine at GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp Calling all young builders and creative thinkers in grades 1–3! GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp at Valle Verde Elementary delivers a full day of creativity, engineering challenges, movement, and fun. Mornings spark imagination with LEGO® builds—afternoons keep kids active and energized with our All-Sports Camp. It’s the perfect blend of hands-on creativity and play! ⭐ Why Choose GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp? 🧱 Hands-On LEGO® Building: Campers dive into daily themes—from bridges and vehicles to towers, mazes, robots, and entire LEGO® worlds. 🧩 STEM-Inspired Challenges: Kids practice problem-solving, design thinking, and early engineering skills through playful, engaging activities. 🤝 Collaboration & Creativity: Campers brainstorm, build, and test ideas together—building friendships and gaining confidence along the way. 📈 Full-Week Progression: Projects grow more complex each day, so drop-ins are not available. Full-week registration ensures campers get the most out of this immersive program. 🎉 Active All-Sports Afternoons: After lunch, campers join our All-Sports program for a rotating lineup of games like soccer, basketball, gaga ball, bounce house tag, and more! Camp Details — Walnut Creek 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🧱 Morning: LEGO® Camp (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location: Valle Verde Elementary School Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the GrowFit desk in front of the school Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the Gymnasium What to Bring: Comfortable clothing Water bottle Two snacks Lunch With over a decade of experience delivering engaging, confidence-building camps, GrowFit’s LEGO® + All-Sports Camp gives kids the perfect balance of creativity, movement, problem-solving, and fun. Your child will come home proud of what they built—and excited for the next day’s adventures! 🛠️ Ready to Build Something Amazing? Spots fill quickly—register today! Refunds and Cancellations 30+ days before camp: Full refund minus a 10% fee Within 30 days: Credit for future GrowFit camps Day-of or after camp begins: Non-refundable

🎨✨ Unleash Creativity at GrowFit’s Art + All-Sports Camp Calling all young artists in grades 1–3! GrowFit’s Art + All-Sports Camp at Valle Verde Elementary gives campers the perfect full-day experience: imaginative, hands-on art projects in the morning and high-energy sports fun in the afternoon. It’s the ideal balance of creativity and movement! ⭐ Why Choose GrowFit’s Art + All-Sports Camp? 🎨 Hands-On Art Projects: Campers paint colorful masterpieces, create leaf print art, sculpt with clay, explore mixed media, and experiment with new tools and textures. 🖌️ Creative Skill Building: Each day introduces new techniques that help kids build confidence, express themselves, and discover their unique artistic style. 🤝 Collaborative Fun: Campers create side by side, share ideas, and celebrate each other’s art in a warm, supportive environment. 📈 Weeklong Creative Journey: Art projects progress throughout the week, so drop-ins are not available. Full-week enrollment ensures campers fully explore their creativity. 🎉 Active All-Sports Afternoons: After lunch, campers join our All-Sports Camp for games like soccer, basketball, gaga ball, bounce house tag, and more—keeping their bodies moving and spirits high! Camp Details — Walnut Creek 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Full-Day Program) 🎨 Morning: Art Camp (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) 🏅 Afternoon: All-Sports Camp (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) 📍 Location: Valle Verde Elementary School Drop-off: 8:45–9:00 AM at the GrowFit table at the front of the school Pick-up: 3:30–4:00 PM at the gymnasium What to Bring: Comfortable clothes that can get messy Water bottle Two snacks Lunch Extra clothes are recommended for younger campers With over a decade of experience creating joyful and engaging hands-on programs, GrowFit’s Art + All-Sports Camp helps young artists express themselves, build skills, stay active, and make new friends—all in one unforgettable week. 🎨 Ready to Create, Imagine, and Play? Spots fill fast—register today! Refunds and Cancellations 30+ days before camp: Full refund minus a 10% fee Within 30 days: Credit for future GrowFit camps Day-of or after camp begins: Non-refundable