CHICAGO

Academic Summer Camps

Our Reading Enrichment camps are back for the 2025 summer months with options for Rising Kindergarten to Rising 3rd grade students. Held at St. James Lutheran School in Lincoln Park, these camps are taught by a licensed teacher and combine the fun of summertime with the literacy content needed to “bridge the gap” that often comes with longer school breaks.

Academic camps are offered from 9am to 12pm. Campers must attend both weeks of camp, but please reach out if you have a special circumstance. Additionally, campers can join camp at 8:05 for early arrival at a small fee.

Reading Enrichment Camp

This camp will use a multi-sensory and systematic approach to Reading instruction to provide literacy exposure to elementary aged students in a fun and engaging way. Each day, students will engage in themed read alouds, group and individual literacy lessons, hands-on activities and book-based crafts.

Students will focus on phonics instruction, literature exposure and typical, fun camp activities, too! Using a low instructor to student ratio is key in this camp and ensures successful delivery of reading, spelling and writing strategies to bridge the gap to summer learning. Through structured and individualized lessons, students will leave camp with a better understanding of the foundations of phonics and spelling. This camp will be perfect for both students who are hoping to improve their reading ability and students who love to read already. Click on the grade level below for more specific details.

Rising 1st Grade: July 21st to August 1st, 9am to 12pm

Rising 2nd & 3rd Grade: July 7th to July 18th, 9am to 12pm

Kinder Camp: A Kindergarten Readiness and Reading Camp

This camp will provide incoming Kindergarten students with the structure, routine and literacy instruction they need to jump in to Kindergarten! Each day, our youngest learners will be greeted at camp with hands-on, play-based activities, crafts and engaging group work focused on literacy and print concepts. 

Students will get to explore books with a focus on being an active listener and connecting our own stories with those we read in literature. Instruction will be rooted in daily themed read-alouds. Phonics instruction will be geared towards an organic introduction to letter names, letter sounds, blending and phonological awareness through hands-on activities. Students will have daily opportunities to interact and communicate with one another through social emotional learning activities, as well. Using a low instructor to student ratio is key in this camp and ensures successful delivery of instruction. Our goal is to make learning fun this summer!

This camp will also touch on "school firsts" taught by former or current Kindergarten/Early Childhood teachers. Students will participate in activities through the day to help them learn to work in a group, be a classroom helper, share with friends and function in a classroom. Each day will end with a themed craft based on our read aloud that will allow students to practice using art and classroom materials, while fostering a love of literacy and learning. Click below for more specific details.

Rising Kindergarten: August 4th to August 15th