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Lake Forest Summer Camp

*Information from summer 2024 and subject to change for 2025

LAKE FOREST, IL

Lake Forest Summer Day Camp

Thank you for joining us at camp! Summer camp has now ended for 2024. Sign up to be notified when we open camp next!

All year long, kids find themselves encased in rigid structure.

When summer comes, we give them what they desperately need — freedom to expand and evolve. At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose which activities they do, whom they do it with and for how long. For kids, this experience is pure joy. It’s also a kind of training ground for life, where they’ll need to be empowered and independent and resilient and responsible for their own decisions. Happy human-ing starts here.

Grown-ups adore freedom, too.

We’ve described the magical gift you give your kids when you empower them to make their own decisions. Now let’s talk hardcore convenience for you:

  • Buy a Summer Pass and send your kid to camp any day you want? Check.
  • Drop them off and pick them up whenever you want? Yup.
  • Long camp hours, all included in your camp fee? Totally.
  • Tasty meals and snacks, also included? You bet.
  • Get an automatic refund for unused days at summer’s end? For sure.
  • Do you desire this kind of freedom? Yes, you do.
Activities

The camper’s dilemma.

Coding. Sewing. Baking. Making. Sporting. Lounging. Every day, campers face the excruciating task of choosing from these and many more engrossing activities. Some select a mix of many. Others burrow deep into one or two. Every morning, they face a brand new day bristling with terrible trade-offs and tantalizing possibilities.

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STOP-MOTION ANIMATION

Create animated art in our bustling Media Lab, as you breathe life into your stories via stop-motion “shorts” filmed on our purpose-built animation stages.
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SEWING SALON

Use customized patterns and challenges—and a mix of hand and machine sewing—to manufacture bags, clothing and other fashionable, funky creations. This year campers can even use stencils to design their own fabric.
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CODING

Absorb hands-on coding concepts using curated iPad apps with drag-and-drop platforms that cater to both early and advanced readers. Our approach gamifies the learning process to put power in the hands of new coders.
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THE STAGE

Move and groove with motion-based games like Just Dance, or film your own music videos with friends. New this year campers can also make puppets for our custom theater. Want to burst out in song and dance, or act out a gripping dramatic scene? This is your big moment.
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ROBOTICS

Leverage leading-edge robotic technology to empower your learning and problem-solving. Choose from guided activities and self-directed games, plus tools like robot landscapes and custom mazes.
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BAKERY

Bake up a storm in our wildly popular test kitchen. Choose fillings, spices, and add-ons, explore new flavors, and customize confections to satisfy your discerning palate.
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TINKER LAB

Release your inner innovator with crafts, inventor kits, 3D pens, and giant foam blocks. Construct take-home projects or collaborate on large-scale builds such as forts or thrones. Our hand-selected STEAM-based materials fuel your curiosity and inspire exploration.
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S&K TRADITIONS

Participate in decades-old Steve & Kate’s traditions like Find Chuckie—our beloved, elusive, rubber chicken—and Friday Pie-Day—where you can cap off a productive week by treating friends and camp staffers to a refreshing pie in the face.
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SPORTS & REC

Run, jump, throw, kick, play. Each site is equipped with go-karts and additional athletic gear optimized for the available fields and play spaces. Team up with peers and staffers to play sports, design games, concoct obstacle courses and more.
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WEEKLY SPECIALS

Every day, experience a special, show- stopping activity. A giant inflatable, a musical performance or guest speaker, a movement class, obstacle course—anything’s possible. We’ll announce our official 2024 specials lineup this spring.
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WATER PLAY

On a sweltering summer afternoon, nothing keeps you cooler than games and activities like water tag, inflatable slip n’ slides and giant sprinklers. Wherever space, weather, and local water restrictions allow ‘em, we provide ‘em.
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LOUNGE

Enter a pulsating paradise of foosball, marble mazes and other indoor diversions. Retreat to a quiet corner with sensory objects, puzzles and fidget toys. Or immerse yourself in a selection from our library of books curated for all ages and interests.

Extra action.

At Steve & Kate’s, enough is never enough. So every week we supplement our main offering of awesome activities with thrill-inducing weekly specials. Here’s what’s coming this summer to your location:

June 10 - 14

Drag Queen Story Hour

Jun 12, 2024 8:30am
Circus Jumpy

Jun 13, 2024
Jump in a classic bounce house

June 17 - 21

Kids Create Studio Art – 2:00pm

20’ Double Slide

Jun 20, 2024
What is more fun than a Giant Slide towering over 19 feet in the air and offering campers hours of fun, this amazing inflatable Double Lane Slide.

June 24 - 28

Shark Water Slide

Jun 26, 2024
It’s much more than just a water slide. First, the kids will love climbing up the back of this giant inflatable (don’t worry, there’s safety netting and a soft landing if they tumble back down!). When they get to the top, they’re misted with cool water – perfect on a hot summer day! Then they’ll slide down and splash into a pool, and then start all over again!

July 1 - 5

Closed 7/4

Alligator Slip and Slide

Jul 3, 2024
Don’t have fun in the belly of a whale, YOUR campers will have the most fun in the belly of this massive alligator slip and slide.

July 8 - 12

Hot Air Balloon Jumpy

Jul 9, 2024
With our Hot Air Balloon Adventure campers will have a splashing time with this Four In One moon jump.

July 15 - 19

Disco Dome

Jul 16, 2024
Are you ready to ROCK?!? Our Disco Dome Party inflatable bounce house is sure to get our campers movin’ and shakin’!

July 22 - 26

Brown Dog Jump House

Jul 24, 2024
This giant-sized brown dog is fun for all ages to jump in!

Foam Party

Jul 26, 2024
A foam party is a great social event in which participants jump and dance, while covered in several feet of suds or bubbles dispensed from our foam machine.

July 29 - August 2

Silent Disco

Jul 30, 2024
Come join us for dancing fun!

Shark Slide

Jul 31, 2024
First, the kids will love climbing up the back of this giant inflatable (don’t worry, there’s safety netting and a soft landing if they tumble back down!). When they get to the top, they’re misted with cool water – perfect on a hot summer day! Then they’ll slide down and splash into a pool, and then start all over again!

August 5 - 9

Dinosaur Jumpy

Aug 7, 2024
Jump in a classic bounce house

August 12 - 16

Drumline 12:00pm

Aug 14, 2024
Entertaining Drum show

CARNIVAL DAY AUGUST 16

On the last day of camp we’ll trade in our traditional activities for a giant end-of-summer celebration! Get excited for carnival games, inflatable axe throwing, trackless train, extra treats, and plenty of chances to win prizes!

Youngest campers fly solo, but there’s a net.

Most kids take to life at Steve & Kate’s like the naturally hardy individuals they are. For some, especially our younger campers, it can take a little longer to get their wings. That’s why each camp has staff dedicated specifically to supporting our youngest campers. Helping these campers discover their camp magic is the whole point of our Youngest Camper Support Staff, and every time it’s exhilarating to behold.

Food

Eat your heart out.

Life without delicious food sucks. That’s why our cuisine de camp features a mouth-watering array of tasty, nourishing grub. In partnership with fan favorite restaurants, we keep kids fired up with food they love — from piping hot pizza to salubrious Caesar salads to tangy tomato soup, and much more. Our menus include rotating specials as well as healthy snacks and sides kids can grab whenever their fuel gauge dips into the red. Chomp, chomp. Munch, munch.

What’s on the menu.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
DAILY SIDES & SNACKS
Fees

What camp costs.

Perhaps you are a grown-up who loves to plan. Or maybe you’re an expert of the fine art of logistical improvisation. Miraculously, our camp fees are designed to scratch both of your respective itches. Buy any number of Day Passes or a Summer Pass, and use them whenever you want during the summer. Don’t even bother to let us know when you’re coming — just roll up. If your plans change, don’t sweat it. We’ll automatically refund your unused Passes in full at summer’s end. How many other camps can offer you that level of flexibility?*

*Not one that we know of.

Day Pass and Summer Pass fees cover the entire Steve & Kate’s experience, including lunch, snacks, activities and the entire day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Fee includes lunch, snacks, activities and all hours 8:00am to 6:00pm.

  • Buy any number of Day Passes and use them anytime
  • Upgrade to a Summer Pass at any time by purchasing 30 Day Passes per a given child
  • Unused Day Passes are automatically refunded in mid September

Fee includes lunch, snacks, activities and all hours 8:00am to 6:00pm.

  • One fee covers the entire summer–that’s up to 48 days of camp in Lake Forest
  • If you purchase a Summer Pass and use less than 30 days of camp, we’ll calculate what you would have paid at the Day Pass rate and refund you the difference automatically in mid September
Camp details

Here are the details you were looking for.

DATES

Jun 10 - Aug 16

NOTES

Closed 7/4 & 7/5

HOURS

8am to 6pm

AGES

4-12

ADDRESS

Lake Forest Country Day School
145 S Green Bay Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045

CALL/TEXT

224-310-1642

Additional info for denizens of Lake Forest

Virtual Camp Orientation & Drop-off/Pick-Up Procedures

Check out our virtual camp orientation for everything you need to know before your first day of camp, coming this spring. Once we get closer to summer, we’ll email registered families a link to our virtual, camp orientation. This will provide important information such as camp drop-off & pick-up procedures, how to check-in and check-out of camp each day, what to bring (and not bring), and a few more camp details.

Campus & Accessibility Details

Lake Forest Country Day School is ADA-accessible

Testimonials

These people are very smart. You should listen to them.

Our daughter has been attending Steve & Kate’s camp for 3 summers at the West Loop location. Steve & Kate’s has been a great experience for our entire family. As a parent I love the convince of an open time frame throughout the day. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the staff connected me with my daughter, learned her name, and my name as well. Getting to really know and relate to the staff helped ease my mind about leaving my daughter at camp for the day. In fact, as a family we have befriended 2 -3 of the staff members and they are now more like family. The facility was always clean, organized, and well maintained. We are grateful to have found Steve & Kate’s camp and so grateful to have connected with Amy the director. Our daughter looks forward to eventually mentoring at Steve & Kate's in a year or two.
Rachel G.

(S&K parent)

Want to see more reviews or add your own kudos? Check us out on Google, Yelp, or Facebook!

Steve & Kate’s is amazing. My daughters talk about going all year long! It can be difficult to drop your kids off somewhere all day while you work. In three summers at Steve & Kate’s, I️ have never once had my kids say they didn’t want to go in the morning... and they have often complained I️ pick them up too early. It’s a wonderful feeling to know your kids are not only safe but having tons of fun. The staff is amazing, they are people who are genuinely interested in working with kids. Would recommend Steve & Kate’s to anyone!
Kate F.

(S&K parent)

Want to see more reviews or add your own kudos? Check us out on Google, Yelp, or Facebook!

My son loves Steve & Kate's! He started going there when he was 4 and though I was initially worried about how he'd do in the new environment everyone was so supporting and helpful that he did just fine. He's now 6 and is eager to get back there as soon as he can. I love that they promote self-exploration. He's come home with superhero masks and capes he made himself as well with a new found knowledge of checkers and chess. I also like that they rally all together every morning and value equity and diversity. There is a lot of kindness and support at Steve & Kates, which helps teach my son the type of values I want him to have as he grows.
Monica S.

(S&K parent)

Want to see more reviews or add your own kudos? Check us out on Google, Yelp, or Facebook!

Staff

So much more than
a job.

For our team members, giving kids the space to liberate their true potential becomes a kind of calling. Think of them as a high-energy, warm-hearted crew of child advocates who deftly balance two invaluable skills — that of providing structure and guidance, and that of staying the heck out of campers’ ways. If that’s not enough, they’re all background-checked and trained in CPR and first-aid. Say “hi” to them at camp — they’d love to meet you.

Events

Steve & Kate's Events

Join us at an upcoming virtual Information Session to learn all the camp basics. We’ll give a quick presentation and overview on our program, and then answer any questions you have. Please note that Information Sessions are open to all Steve & Kate’s Camps, and are not specific to any given location. All Information Sessions are listed in ET.

Local Events

Your camp director

Get in touch.

Feel free to contact us anytime with your questions about life at Steve & Kate’s, or questions about life in general.

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