Beat the boredom at these exciting holiday break camps for Chicagoland families

Winter Break is always a tough time for parents to try to keep their children entertained. You can take away the pressure of it all by signing your son or daughter up for a winter break camp this year.

Chicagoland has some great camps – including STEM camps, circus camps, zoo camps and more. Choose from our list of camps we’ve found in Chicago and the suburbs.

Make sure to register for these holiday break camps in advance because they do fill up fast! 

Kids STEM Studio Chicago Winter Break Camp

8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 20-23 and 27-30, 2025

• Address: Kids STEM Studio Chicago, 770 W. Gladys Ave., Chicago
• Cost: $90/day

The theme for Dec. 20-23 is 3D Game Design with Roblox and Hands-on Engineering and the theme for Dec 27-30 is Minecraft Architecture and Hands-on Engineering. The camps are for kindergarten through grade six and campers get to take home their engineering models. Each day of camp consists of half technology and half hands-on engineering. Must bring lunch and snacks.

Chicago-North Center Winter Break Camp

8 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 22, 2025-Jan. 2, 2026 

• Address: Coonley Elementary, 4046 N. Leavitt St., Chicago
• Cost: $124/day 

At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose what activities they are interested in. Snacks and meals are included in the cost. Kids ages 4-12 can experience different things at camp such as Stop-Motion Animation, Sewing & Stitching, Tinker Lab, The Stage, Arts, Crafts, & Lounging and Sports & Recreation.

Chicago-Wicker Park Winter Break Camp

Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

• Address: LaSalle II Magnet School, 1148 N. Honore St., Chicago
• Cost: $124/day 

At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose what activities they are interested in. Snacks and meals are included in the cost. Kids ages 4-12 can experience different things at camp such as Stop-Motion Animation, Sewing & Stitching, Tinker Lab, The Stage, Arts, Crafts, & Lounging and Sports & Recreation.

Circus Arts Camp at MSA & Circus Arts

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 22-26, 2025 and Dec. 29, 2025-Jan. 2, 2026

• Address: MSA & Circus Acts, 1934 N. Campbell Ave., Chicago
• Cost: $360 

This camp combines gymnastics, acrobatics, dance and theater. Campers ages 6-15 will learn aerial skills and lyra, juggling, trampoline, handstands, flexibility and contortion and more. It features lunchtime, snack time and supervised free play.

Coding Camps with Code Ninjas

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 2025; Jan. 2, 2026

• Address: Code Ninjas, 2735 Pfingsten Road, Glenview
• Cost: $99/day 

These Code Ninja camps are for ages 5-14. Each day has a different theme. The themes are: Dec. 22 is Roblox: World Creators, Dec. 23 is Scratch Game Lab, Dec. is Lego Robotics,  29 is Roblox: The Next Level, Dec. 30 is Minecraft: Agent Robot and Jan. 2 is 3D Design & Printing.

Winter Break Art Camp

9 a.m.-3 p.m. for full days. 9-11:30 a.m./12:30-3 p.m for half days, Dec. 22-23, 26-30, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026

• Address: Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst
• Cost: $122-$180/ages 5-7, $180/ages 8-12

Campers will enjoy painting, sculpture and more. All supplies will be provided. Bring a water bottle and snacks.

Ultimate Ninjas Winter Break Camp

9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. for the morning session, 12:45-3:30 p.m. for the afternoon session. Dec. 22-23, 26, 29-30 2025; Jan. 1, 2026

• Address: Ultimate Ninjas North Shore, 3054 N. Lake Terrace, Glenview
• Cost: $55/first session, $50/each additional session that week; 20% off sibling discount

This camp is for ages 5-15. Campers will be grouped by age and rotate through stations at Ultimate Ninjas. There will be time for open play and at the end of the camp. Students will go through the course with their coaches like they do on the TV show.

Winter Break Camps

All camps begin at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 22-23 and 29-30, 2025 

• Address: Simkus Recreation Center, 849 W. Lies Road, Carol Stream; Fountain View Recreation Center, 910 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream
• Cost: Costs vary

Carol Stream Park District offers a few choices for winter break camps. Jr. Director Theatre Camp and Holiday Hoopla Gymnastics/Dance Camp are Dec. 22-23, Princess Dance Camp is on Dec. 29 and Swiftie Dance Camp – In My Dance Era is Dec. 30. They also have a Preschool Winter Break Mini-Camp option for ages 3-5, where each day is a new theme. Dec. 22 is Fun with Santa, Dec. 23 is Reindeers, Dec. 29 is Snow Fun and Dec. 30 is Polar Pals.

Winter Break Camp at BCC

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23, 26, 29-30, 2025 and Jan. 2, 2026 

• Address: Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett
• Cost: $43/daily for resident, $48/daily for non-resident, $116/three days for resident, $131/three days for non-resident 

This winter break camp features arts and crafts, swimming, board games, gym time, card games, movies and more. Campers need to bring their swimsuit, towel, gym shoes, cold lunch and a water bottle.

Adaptation Adventurers Winter Camp

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 29-31, 2025; Jan. 2 and Jan. 5, 2026

• Address: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
• Cost: Varies by camp.

Ages 4-8 can enjoy a fun winter camp at the Nature Museum that allows them to explore the exhibits and collections inside as well as the museum grounds outside.

Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.