Teen Summer Camps in Chicago Parents Should Know About
A curated list of Chicago camps designed for teens 13–17 with real interests.
By Sara Yaniga
January 27, 2026
Image Credit: ChatGPT Image
- The Road Less Traveled - Adventure & service-oriented travel programs for 6th–12th grade students combining outdoor adventures and community projects during summer. Experiences range from coastal restoration in Maine to caring for elephants in a sanctuary in Thailand.
- 2026 Teen Filmmaking Camp (Chicago Filmmakers) - In-person filmmaking camp for ages 13-17, where teens learn storyboarding, shooting techniques, editing, and sound design in a collaborative setting.
- iD Tech Camps (STEM & Coding) - Week-long camps for kids up to age 17 (coding, robotics, game design, AI, digital art); held at Loyola and Northwestern campuses. Excellent for teens interested in tech and future careers. Some campuses also offer overnight camps as well as day camps, perfect for the kid looking for an adventure outside of the city.
- Summer Comedy Camps (Second City) - Summer improv and comedy camp for ages 12-18. Great for teens interested in comedy, performing, storytelling, and also a great wayt to build confidence.
- Porchlight PMTeens Musical Theatre Camp - A theatre intensives where teens ages 14-17 receive advanced training in acting, singing, dancing, and audition prep. This two-week program will leave participants with polished audition materials & skills, plus live performance experience with the Porchlight Teen Showcase.
- Chicago Adventures Youth Camps (Bobby’s Bike Hike) - Includes a Lakefront Legends group for ages 13–16. This camp combines high-energy fun (think biking, kayaking & team games) with deeper lessons in urban living, confidence and community engagement.
- Play by Play Sports Broadcasting Camp - A summer experience that takes place in July (in Skokie) for kids ages 10-18. Kids are given the opportunity to learn more about broadcasting, podcasting, social media all while developing communication, professional development and team building skills. Camps are also available in other cities across the country, plus online courses are available as well.
- After School Matters/Gallery 37 Arts Programs - Although not a traditional day camp, this citywide summer arts, media, and leadership program offers teens enrolled in Chicago highvschools hands-on classes in arts, tech, performing arts, and apprenticeships. Application opens in April 2026
- Early College Programs (SAIC) - These programs offfered by faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are designed for students ages 14-18 and offer opportunities to study subjects such as Figure Drawing, Animation, Comics & Graphic Novels and more. College credit may be available for some programs.
- Summer at UChicago Pre-College - The University of Chicago's Summer Session offers high schoolers the opportunity to discover diverse programs designed to challenge and engage teens this summer. Residential programs vary in length from a one-week enrichment session to a four-week practicum which includes a 10 day field study to Wyoming. Remote programs are also available and range from 3 to 8 weeks in length.
