Summer Camps

Registration for the Waukegan Park District’s summer camps will be available on Friday, April 12, 2024! Full-day camps will be offered on weekdays from 9am to 4pm. Open to children from six (6) to twelve (12) years of age, the camps will engage children in safe and enriching activities, including arts, crafts, sports, explorations, and more.

Camp Orientation and Counselor Meet & Greet will take place on Friday, May 31, 2024 from 6pm to 7pm at the Belvidere Recreation Center.

The Waukegan Park District will be offering the following full-day summer camps:

  • Belvidere Explorers at the Belvidere Recreation Center, 412 S. Lewis Avenue
  • Bowen Park Rangers at the Jane Addams Center, 95 Jack Benny Drive
SessionDatePayment Due
Session 1June 3-7May 21
Session 2June 10-14May 28
Session 3June 17-21June 4
Session 4June 24-28June 11
Session 5July 1-5June 18
Session 6July 8-12June 25
Session 7July 15-19July 2
Session 8July 22-26July 9
Session 9July 29-August 2July 16

Before care from 7am to 9am and after care from 4pm to 6pm will be available for participants of Belvidere Explorers for an additional fee. Participants can be registered at the Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center.  

A $30 non-refundable deposit is needed to hold a spot for Full-Day Camps only (Belvidere Explorers and Bowen Park Rangers). The deposit is credited to the specified session’s remaining balance. Whether paying in full or placing a deposit, cancellation of registration (for each session a child is removed from) will result in the loss of the $30 deposit. To retain your child’s spot in camp, final payment is required by the registration deadlines. Final payments are due two weeks before a camp session begins. NOTE: A child is not â€‹officially enrolled until a $30 deposit AND a camp packet has been submitted to Julia Sanchez (jrsanchez@waukeganparks.org) at least two weeks prior to the start date.

The Waukegan Park District will be offering the following art camps:

Art Park Academy Youth Week

Monday, July 15–Friday, July 19 • 12:30-2pm
In this session participants will experiment with light and color, learn how to shape paper into wonderful 3D creations, and create art with elements from nature. Projects include making a simple 3D paper mask to deco- rate and wear, using tissue paper to mimic stained glass, designing creatures with colored glue, and making art with pressed flowers and leaves. On the final day of class, each young artist will display their work from the week at an Artist Reception for friends and family.

Art Park Academy Teen Week

Monday, June 10-Friday, June 14 • 11:30-2pm In this session participants will explore a variety of new materials and techniques. Projects include building up a 3D surface on a small glass vessel then embellishing the surface with paints, learning how to draw metal and glass objects, making a small woven object, and delving deeper into candle making with two new simple techniques. On the final day of class, each young artist will display their work from the week at an Artist Reception for friends and family.

Monday, July 22-Friday, July 26 • 11:30-2pm In this session participants will further their capacity for self expression by comparing and contrasting different art mediums and techniques. Projects include building and embellishing a 3D fox mask to wear, exploring curled paper art, and lastly students will create a large self portrait using several 2D mediums and techniques such as ink, pencil, pigment, printmaking and collage. On the final day of class, each young artist will display their work from the week at an Artist Reception for friends and family.

Students will receive instruction in various art forms from our Arts Park Artist-in-Residence. On the final day of class, each young artist will display their work from the week at an Artist Reception. Arts Park Academy will offer Youth Week for ages 7-11 and Teen Week for ages 12-15. For more information, please contact Angela Marcum at (847) 360-4746 or marcum @waukeganparks.org.

The Waukegan Park District accepts third-party funding from other organizations, such as YWCA and Mothers Trust Foundation, and has financial assistance available.