14 Top Summer Camps for Chicago Teens

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry has exciting opportunities to engage your youth in science, making, and the wonder of this exciting museum! All supplies provided and scholarships are available for students in need of financial assistance.

Leaders in Training is a free summer enrichment program for Chicago teens. Participants experience a mix of nature-based service projects, outdoor recreation activities (camping, hiking, fishing), learning about career opportunities in environmental fields, and hands-on work at Eden Place Farms, including selling produce at the Saturday farmer's market.

Summer at Columbia is a four-week Chicago summer program for high schoolers interested in exploring the arts, media, and communications fields. Take a college-level course with Columbia College Chicago faculty while learning about the creative industries. For teens who end up enrolling as a student at Columbia, Summer at Columbia credits will count toward a degree.

Learn from professional actors at the Goodman Theatre's Musical Theater Intensive (MTI) in this intense, audition-based summer program for Chicago teens who are serious about theater. MTI acquaints students to the demanding lifestyle of performers as they refine their skills in acting, dancing, singing, storytelling, and ensemble work. The program culminates in a final performance of student work.

Nike Soccer Camps are a fun, co-ed camp experience for players looking to improve their footwork, shooting, defending, and decision making skills on the soccer field. These summer soccer camps are offered at multiple locations all around Chicago and the suburbs, for kids of a wide variety of ages from early elementary to teens.

Whether your kid is a budding comedian or just wants to boost self-confidence and communication skills, The Second City’s signature comedy camps offer a summer of laughter and creativity. Campers exercise their sense of play through improv games and exercises that are the foundation of The Second City’s unique brand of comedy. Kids will perform for friends and family at the end of each session. Teens ages 15-18 who have attended two or more camps can join the Advanced Comedy Camp.

Chicago teens who love animals and enjoy working with elementary-aged kids can join the Lincoln Park Zoo's teen summer program and assist counselor mentors with running the PreK-5th grade Conservation Camp. Teen volunteers receive service hours for their work, participate in professional development, and are invited to teen bonding nights.

This high flying camp teaches kids to juggle, climb, balance and have fun on a variety of circus apparatus such as the German wheel, silks and trapeze. Professional circus staff work with program alumni to teach kids in a fun and safe way. Campers will practice different circus skills skills each week, and usually include aerial silks, trapeze, lyra, tightwire, gym wheel, mini trampoline, tumbling, partner acrobatics, clowning, rola bola, diabolo, stilts, juggling and more. Kids show off their new abilities in a free performance for friends and family at the end of each week.

Megan Schumaker Murphy said:  Highly recommend. CircEsteem’s community of amazing coaches and teen junior day camp counselors can’t be beat. CircEsteem is one the most inclusive spaces I’ve ever been in and they helped my shy, anxious kid to become comfortable with performing and trying new things.

iD Tech is a leader in STEM education, and their summer STEM camps teach students in-demand skills in coding, game development, robotics, and creative arts.

Kids in grades 8-10 can apply for CBG Leaders in Training, a two week teenage summer experience where participants spend mornings focusing on building life skills that will help them with future job searches, school leadership roles, and college preparation. Afternoons are spent immersed in camp. Upon completion of the program, LITs will have the option to volunteer with Camp CBG.

At Emagination Computer Camps, kids enjoy the perfect mix of technology learning and summer fun! Campers are assigned to small groups by age and enjoy hands-on learning from well qualified camp counselors. Kids stay in the college's dorms with supervision.

Bartlett Nature Center invites teens who enjoy spending time with children to help with summer camp games, projects and more. Applicants must participate in an interview, and attend a training session if selected for the week-long volunteer program. 

Not your traditional overnight summer camp experience, The Road Less Traveled offers unique life changing travel opportunities for middle school and high school students. Students can travel to places around the United States, as well as internationally, to engage in meaningful community and environmental service opportunities, language immersion programs, and enjoy unforgettable summer adventures.

Attending a summer camp for teens in another country is an unforgettable way to connect with a new culture, and Global Leadership Adventures offers camps for teens that will give them an entirely new perspective on life back home! Sessions take place in different countries around the world, and involve community service, cultural learning, and exciting adventure excursions.