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! 

Chicago Winter Break Camp

Dec. 20-23, 27-30, 2024 

• 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

Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

• Address: Coonley Elementary, 4046 N. Leavitt St., Chicago
• Cost: $120/day 

At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose what activities they are interested in. Snacks and meals are included in the cost. Kids 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: $120/day 

At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose what activities they are interested in. Snacks and meals are included in the cost. Kids 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

Dec. 23-27, 2024 and Dec. 30, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025 

• Address: MSA & Circus Acts, 1934 N. Campbell Ave., Chicago
• Cost: $390 

This camp combines gymnastics, acrobatics, dance and theater. Campers 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

Dec. 23, 26, 30, 2024; Jan. 2-3, 2025

• 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. 23 is Roblox Studios, Dec. 26 and Dec. 30 are both Minecraft Coding, Jan. 2 is Dojo Design & 3D Printing and Jan. 3 is Roblox Studios.

Klub Fun

Dec. 23, 26-27, 30, 2024; Jan. 2-3, 6, 2025

• Address: Eastside Community Center, Murphy Gym, 14 N. Van Buren, Batavia
• Cost: $60/day 

This structured recreational program includes crafts, gym time, field trips, special guests and activities, snacks and more.

Winter Break Art Camp

Dec. 23-24, 26-27, 2024 and Dec. 30-31, Jan. 2-3, 2025 

• Address: Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst
• Cost: $140-$228/ages 5-7, $205-$228/ages 8-12

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

Winter Break Camp

Dec. 23, 26, 30, 2024; Jan. 2-3, 2025

• 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. The morning session is from 9 a.m.-noon and the afternoon session is from 12:30-3:30 p.m. 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

Dec. 23, 26-27, 30, 2024 and Jan. 2-3, 2024 

• 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. Barbie Dance Camp is Dec. 23, Holiday Hoopla Gymnastics/Dance Camp is Dec. 26-27, Swiftie Dance Camp – In My Dance Era is Dec. 30 and Theatre Camp is Jan. 2-3. They also have a Preschool Winter Break Mini-Camp option for ages 3-5, where each day is a new theme. Dec. 26 is Gingerbread Man, Dec. 27 is Reindeers, Jan. 2 is Snow Fun and Jan. 3 is Winter Animals.

Winter Break Camp at BCC

Dec. 23, 26-27, 30, 2024 and Jan. 2-3, 2024 

• Address: Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett
• Cost: $41/daily for resident, $46/daily for non-resident, $110/three days for resident, $130/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

Dec. 30-31, 2024 and Jan. 2-3, 2025 

• Address: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
• Cost: Contact for prices

Ages 4-9 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. Camp is held from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Winter Break Camp

Dec. 30-31, 2024 and Jan. 2-3, 2025 

• Address: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
• Cost: $360/members, $400/non-members 

Winter Break Camp at the museum is broken up into different grades. Grades pre-K through first grade is Mini Winter Winderkinds, grades two through four is Fab Winter Tinkerers and grades five through eight are Winter Wonder Tour. Snacks will be provided at this camp, but lunch will not.

Winter Break Camp

Dec. 30-31, 2024 and Jan. 2-3, 2025

• Address: Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
• Cost: $125/day (members get 15% off)

This zoo camp is for grades pre-K to fifth grade and is great for animal and nature lovers. It takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. You may register for one, two, three or all four days. The themes include: Dec. 30 is Big and Small, Dec. 31 is Young and Old, Jan. 2 is Hot and Cold and Jan. 3 is Blending In and Standing Out. If you want to add on a lunch, it is $12 extra.

Holiday Break Camp

Jan. 2-3, 2025

• Address: MAX McCook Athletic & Exposition, 4750 S. Vernon Ave., McCook
• Cost: $75/one day, $120/two days 

Girls ages 6-12 can enjoy a holiday camp led by Red Stars Academy staff, coaches and players. They’ll learn passing, receiving, foot skills and finishing techniques. Campers will receive a t-shirt and other Red Stars swag.

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