Summer Academy

This Sports in America: History & Economics course takes a deep dive into the importance of sports and athletes in shaping American identity and the sports industry. It will examine the culture of fandom, the gravity of sporting events, and the history and impact of sports on society in general, and economics in particular. Using historical examples and current events, students will better understand the relationship between fans and athletes and the role of both men's and women’s sports in American life. The course builds on writing and analytical skills, and benefits from students' knowledge of sports icons and events, past and present. Take this class if you want to become a better writer, a more thoughtful analyst, and to flex your ability to make connections between sports and American identity. 

In addition to the class, students will attend one evening sporting event in the Chicago area to immerse themselves in the fandom which this course explores.

This camp is designed for campers at the basic-intermediate level who want to strengthen their understanding and communication in Spanish. Camps will be taught entirely in Spanish using a project-based learning method, and campers will learn and discuss current events and cultural topics.

Level up your brainpower! In this camp, campers will unlock essential executive functioning skills like flexible thought, organizing and prioritizing materials and time, study methods and memory skills, self-monitoring skills, and self-regulation mechanisms. Campers will leave with several tools and templates that they can use to organize themselves and prepare for the upcoming school year.

This fun and engaging camp offers an exciting hands-on introduction to the world of computer science. Campers will dive into coding to solve puzzles, navigate maps, and learn about computational thinking. They'll develop problem-solving skills by breaking down complex problems into manageable steps and designing algorithms to find solutions. This camp provides an excellent foundation for campers interested in Advanced Computer Science Principles, with optional challenges around algorithms for those who want to explore more advanced concepts. It's a perfect starting point for anyone looking to build a strong understanding of computer science in a fun and interactive way.

As the old saying goes, “If it bleeds, it leads,” it’s true: fictional mysteries have captivated hearts and minds for centuries. This week-long camp will introduce campers to the timeless tropes of the detective fiction and mystery genre, focusing on reading, discussing, analyzing, and emulating these genre conventions.

This Theater camp invites aspiring young playwrights to unleash their creativity. Through engaging workshops, students will learn the fundamentals of playwriting, including character development, dialogue, and script formatting. They will participate in creative writing exercises, collaborate with peers, and even bring their own original works to life at the end of the session. This camp provides a fun and supportive environment for middle schoolers to explore their theatrical talents and discover the joy of bringing stories to the stage.

Do you like to design things? Build or engineer things using everyday items? Test and modify designs to perfect their purpose? In this week-long camp, we will design, construct, and modify different building projects. It will be messy at times and some things won't work perfectly the first time (or the second time...). We will work to fix failed designs and improve working designs. In doing so we will collaborate with peers and think creatively and analytically. The projects we will work on are common build events in Science Olympiad competitions, such as mousetrap cars, miniature catapults, and marble runs.

In this interactive camp, you’ll experience a hands-on introduction to the science of Anatomy and Physiology. You’ll learn about the skeletal and muscular systems, the nervous system, the senses, and the circulatory system through cool activities, demos, and yes—dissections! While there will be some delivery of important information, most of the time will be spent in the lab, getting up close and personal with real biological specimens. On the final day, you’ll take part in the ultimate dissection—a fetal pig—where you’ll explore how all the body systems work together in one amazing specimen.

This introductory ceramics camp will expose campers to basic hand-building, including pinch, coil-building, slab-building procedures, and wheel-thrown techniques. Campers will construct a variety of utilitarian and non-utilitarian projects. Campers will also engage in fundamental glazing and basic electronic kiln firing techniques. All projects will include exposure to various tools, methods, and visual art elements and principles. Last but not least, campers will be introduced to a brief history and aesthetic appreciation of ceramics art via global lenses, as opposed to only European arts.

This Mindful Movement camp will boost your focus, improve your athletic performance, and feel more balanced. Through yoga in the gardens, calming meditations, and invigorating sensory walks, you'll discover the benefits of mindfulness. Learn practical tools to handle stress, improve concentration, and bring more awareness to everything you do – from schoolwork to sports and beyond. Get ready to move, breathe, and connect with yourself and the world around you.

This camp can be taken as a solo afternoon camp or as an extension to the Executive Functioning camp in the morning.

In this dynamic and creative camp, campers will discover the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and machine learning. They'll learn how computers use data to make decisions and predictions, gaining insights into the power of AI in real-world applications. Campers will develop machine learning projects around real-world data and will have the opportunity to design their own machine learning app to solve a problem that is personally relevant to them. The camp blends creativity with technology, allowing campers to explore how AI is shaping the future while giving them the tools to build their own AI-powered solutions.

Have you ever wanted to solve a forensic mystery? Would you like to go on an archeological dig? In this week-long camp campers will learn the methods for analyzing evidence. They will learn how archeological techniques are utilized alongside forensic techniques while they excavate a burial site. Then they will begin to develop deductive reasoning skills to justify their conclusion. By the end of the week they will use forensic investigative techniques to resurrect information about an ancient crime that will culminate with facial reconstruction. Evidence and techniques studied will include bones, soil, DNA, excavation, fiber, facial reconstruction, and pollen.

This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Campers will separate dyes, turn copper into silver, determine how much blue dye is in sports drinks, make a potato clock, learn how to make ice cream (and then eat it!), solve a mystery and much more.

Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of acting! In this camp, you’ll dive into the tools of the actor through fun and engaging theatre games and scene work! Using your voice, body, and imagination, you will bring characters to life from a variety of new and different perspectives. Whether you're a beginner or have experience, this camp culminates in a showcase of your scene work and is perfect for anyone looking to explore the creative possibilities of the stage.

This week-long camp will embark on a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of myths and legends from around the world. We will delve into ancient tales of gods and goddesses, heroic quests, mythical creatures, and the enduring power of storytelling in both the ancient and modern age.

This camp invites campers to explore the profound connection between literature and the natural world. We will examine various short works that depict the beauty, fragility, and interconnectedness of our planet and venture outside as much as possible!

This Theater camp invites aspiring young playwrights to unleash their creativity. Through engaging workshops, students will learn the fundamentals of playwriting, including character development, dialogue, and script formatting. They will participate in creative writing exercises, collaborate with peers, and even bring their own original works to life at the end of the session. This camp provides a fun and supportive environment for middle schoolers to explore their theatrical talents and discover the joy of bringing stories to the stage.

This camp is designed to make learning to code both fun and interactive. Campers will engage with Blockly Games, solving puzzles and navigating mazes while learning programming concepts like loops, conditionals, and functions in a visual and easy-to-understand format. As the camp progresses, campers will use Game Lab to create their own animations and interactive games, further developing their programming skills. This camp is perfect for middle schoolers and beginners who want a hands-on, creative introduction to coding, allowing them to make their own projects and share them with friends and family in a fun and engaging way. Optional : available for minecraft game design.

Do you like to design things? Build or engineer things using everyday items? Test and modify designs to perfect their purpose? In this week-long camp, we will design, construct, and modify different building projects. It will be messy at times and some things won't work perfectly the first time (or the second time...). We will work to fix failed designs and improve working designs. In doing so we will collaborate with peers and think creatively and analytically. The projects we will work on are common build events in Science Olympiad competitions, such as mousetrap cars, miniature catapults, and marble runs.

A Look at Current Fossil Fuels and Sustainable Energy: In this camp, campers will explore the different forms of energy we rely on today, including fossil fuels and renewable resources, and learn about their environmental impacts. Through interactive lessons, hands-on activities, and DIY projects, students will gain a deeper understanding of how energy is produced, consumed, and how it affects our planet.

This camp will delve into the captivating world of Young Adult (YA) literature and its cinematic adaptations. We will examine how these stories resonate with adolescent experiences, explore the challenges and triumphs of translating literature to the screen, and analyze the impact of both mediums on contemporary culture.

This project-based introductory camp to Global Competence guides campers in exploring the world outside their immediate surroundings through visual art. Campers will be introduced to the concepts and skills of understanding and valuing diverse perspectives and fostering cross-cultural communication. By creating art projects to express and communicate their ideas, campers will strengthen critical thinking, analytical, and presentation skills, equipping them to make meaningful contributions in a globalized world.

*This camp will have a field trip on Friday June 20: tour of Humboldt Park with tour guide. The price includes the additional field trip fee of $50.

Get ready for an exciting journey into the world of acting! In this camp, you’ll dive into the tools of the actor through fun and engaging theatre games and scene work! Using your voice, body, and imagination, you will bring characters to life from a variety of new and different perspectives. Whether you're a beginner or have experience, this camp culminates in a showcase of your scene work and is perfect for anyone looking to explore the creative possibilities of the stage.

This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Campers will separate dyes, turn copper into silver, determine how much blue dye is in sports drinks, make a potato clock, learn how to make ice cream (and then eat it!), solve a mystery and much more.