Registration Opens For Kane Co. Forest Preserve Summer Camps

KANE COUNTY, IL — Registration has opened for day camps with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

The registration fee is $149 per child per camp and advance registration is required. To register, visit www.kaneforest.com/register, call 630-444-3190 or e0mail programs@kaneforest.com.

Summer camp is for two age groups: Children entering 1st through 5th grades and children entering grades 5th through 8th grades. Kids will explore the woods and fields with our naturalist staff during these camps. Fresh air and fun times will be the main agenda for these week-long adventures.

Here is a look at the camps that will be offered this summer:

“Summer Unplugged,” from Monday, June 10 - Friday, June 14, from 9 a.m. - noon at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts. This camp is for children entering grades 1st-5th. Campers will enjoy a much-needed break from screen time during this “unplugged” week of nature-based fun. Our forest preserves serve as classrooms and playgrounds, and we plan to take full advantage of both during a week of naturalist-led hikes, games and activities. Your child will dissect and examine owl pellets; crack open their very own geode; use binoculars, sweep nets and hand lenses to catch and study local animals. They won’t have time to miss their devices .

“Nature-Built Games,” from Monday, June 17 - Friday, June 21, from 9 a.m. - noon at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. This camp is for children entering grades 1st through 5th. Who doesn’t relish a good game? During this week of camp, your child will not only have a blast playing outdoor games, but will learn about the natural world while playing them. Enjoying games with nature themes, we’ll explore local ecosystems and learn about plants and animals in engaging ways. Your camper will delight in running games, card games, trail-exploration games, and more — there will be something for everyone.

“Tracking & Survival,” from Monday, June 24 - Friday, June 28, from 9 a.m. - noon at Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora. This camp is for children entering grades 1st-5th. Children will view the forests, prairies and wetlands differently after attending this camp. Daily games, crafts and activities will focus on discovering and identifying signs of animal activity throughout the forest preserve. After learning the ways that animals survive sometimes harsh environmental conditions, we’ll apply these same principles to developing our own wilderness survival skills, including constructing a shelter, learning map reading, building a fire, and fishing. This newfound expertise will be sure to increase your child’s confidence and enjoyment during time spent outdoors.

“A River Runs Through It,” from Monday, July 8 - Friday, July 12, from 9 a.m. - noon at Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva. This camp is for children entering grades 1st-5th. Fresh air, active games, and nature exploration are on the agenda for this week of riverside summer camp. Situated along the fabulous Fox River, Fabyan Forest Preserve provides the perfect playground for kids to enjoy the great outdoors. Each day will include a variety of activities designed to encourage team building and healthy competition. Nature-themed crafts will allow us to unwind and round out each day. This camp provides plenty of opportunities for a memorable, wet and wild summer.

“Circles of Life,” from Monday, July 15 - Friday, July 19, from 9 a.m. - noon at Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn. This camp is for children entering grades 1st-5th. Coyotes and Cottontails. Monarchs and Milkweeds. Dragonflies and Mosquitoes. Let’s all discover the unique interactions unfolding beyond our doorsteps every day. During this camp, the naturalist educators will incorporate games, crafts, activities and hikes to help your child explore the fascinating relationships and cycles that occur in nature. Each day, campers will investigate different connections between plants and animals in the wild and leave with a new appreciation for the wonders of nature.

The sixth camp is “Mad Science,” from Monday, July 22 - Friday, July 26, from 9 a.m. - noon at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. This camp is for children entering grades 5th-8th. Grab your lab coats and safety goggles and prepare to become a mad scientist. While attending this camp, your child will leap into the amazing realms of physics, chemistry and biology. Daily games, experiments and crafts will help campers experience and understand real science and the ways it is woven into the natural world. Camp days will all include time indoors using genuine laboratory equipment and plenty of time outdoors applying scientific hypotheses within native environments. We’ll create glow-in-the-dark slime, build a catapult, dissect an animal specimen and catch aliens in the creek to set your camper on the path to becoming a certified mad scientist.