St. Charles Park District: Pursue interests, fun at park district summer camps

This summer your child can play soccer, swim at the pool or hang out with farm animals through the St. Charles Park District’s camps and classes.

Registration is underway for summer camp sessions in which children as young as 2 through age 16 can spend time exploring interests, making new friends and having blast.

“This is all about the fun routines,” said Taylor Krawczyk, assistant superintendent of recreation for the St. Charles Park District. “We have time at the pool, playing games and a chance to go on field trips, too.”

The St. Charles Park District offers several camp options and sites, from nature camps at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center to Farm Camp at Primrose Farm where children can get hands-on experience collecting eggs, grooming horses and even milking cows.

The traditional day camp mixes in daily activities and trips to park district pools, locations near St. Charles and even a round of mini-golf at the River View Miniature Golf Course, said Jazmine Lara, head of school-age programming and day camps for the St. Charles Park District.

“We are so lucky to have the pools and mini-golf and a lot of activities right on-site for our campers to enjoy,” Lara said.

Older campers are invited to check out the park district’s Counselor in Training Program for ages 12 to 14, which includes a leadership bootcamp and the opportunity to gain experience as an assistant counselor. Krawczyk said members of this program have been hired as summer staff. The program mixes an opportunity to help younger campers while still having time to enjoy the fun of camp with time at the pool and trips, too, she said.

“We try to balance the camp leadership with the fun parts of being at camp,” Krawczyk said.

The sports camps give children as young as 3 the chance to learn about a sport while older children build on their skills or explore an entirely new sport such as flag football, beach volleyball or golf.

With the option to register for an activity for one week at a time, families have the flexibility to fit in summer travel with the fun of summer camps.

This year, the park district will host an All Camps Open House from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Pottawatomie Community Center. Parents and campers can meet camp leadership and staff members and ask questions. In addition to St. Charles Park District staff, there will be representatives from the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association to answer questions and share information on programming and services.

“Families can come to one location to learn about the different camps, programs and services,” Krawczyk said.