Search the Community

Cozy up to children's activities brought to you by Bubbles Academy, talk with Chicago's popular preschools, elementary schools, and summer camps, and learn about the private school application and selection process! MUST KNOW INFO ➤ Raffle prizes for NPN members (Want a chance to win a prize? Become an NPN member today!) ➤ Event schedule ➤ List of participating schools, camps, and more FREE with your RSVP (use coupon code wintersf26), donations welcome! ➤ Click the green button to secure your spot. Mobile users scroll down. ➤ $20 donation at the door. DATE, TIME, PARKING Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026 Time: 1:00-4:00 PM (Opening performance at 12:30. See below for details!) Location: Bubbles Academy, 1308 N. Elston Ave. (across the street from the Salt Shed) Parking: Free and metered street parking along Elston and surrounding streets 🎭 🎶 🎨 Come at 12:30 for a performance and art exhibition from Music and Media Arts students from Chicago Academy for the Arts! ➤By registering for this event, you agree that NPN may share your name and email address with our sponsors. ➤Photos will be taken at this event. By registering for this event, you agree that your photo may be taken and used in NPN materials, both print and online ➤Questions? Email amy@npnparents.org. ⁕ Schools and camps: Register here ⁕ Thank you to our Sponsors

If summer camp is part of your family’s plan, January and February are key months. Many camps start filling up by March, and waiting too long can mean fewer options or settling for something that’s not quite the right fit for your child. If you’re thinking ahead (or trying to catch up), here’s a realistic summer camp planning timeline, along with tips that have helped Chicago parents navigate the process with less stress. A Realistic Summer Camp Planning Timeline for Parents Most families book summer camps 2–3 months in advance, and many of us spend a month or two researching and coordinating before committing. Based on that, here’s a timeline that tends to work well: January - February: Start researching camps and mapping out summer logistics. Will your child attend multiple camps? Do you have family travel planned? Are you coordinating care around work schedules? This is the time to explore options without pressure. March - April: Make camp decisions, secure spots, and complete registration and paperwork. Many popular camps fill up quickly during this window. May - June: The countdown is over! Now's the perfect time to help your child prepare for camp. Talk through expectations, routines, and excitement (and nerves!). Getting kids mentally ready can make a big difference. How Chicago Parents Can Research Summer Camps More Easily Summer camp is more than childcare, it’s an investment of time, money, and trust. Your child will spend hours (or weeks!) there, so finding the right fit matters. Here are a few research tips many Chicago parents rely on: 1. Read reviews from families like yours Parent reviews are often the most helpful place to start. Look for feedback from families with similar-aged kids or priorities. Reviews can reveal what families loved and what they wish they had known. 2. Ask questions directly Don’t be afraid to reach out to camp directors or staff. Ask about safety protocols, staff training, daily schedules, and camp philosophy. The American Camp Association (ACA) offers a great list of questions to guide these conversations. 3. Talk to camps face-to-face when you can Meeting camp representatives in person can make decision-making much easier. You can get a feel for the people behind the program and ask questions in real time, something many parents find reassuring. Finding the Right Camp for Your Child At the end of the day, the “best” camp is the one where your child feels safe, engaged, and excited to go. Here’s what tends to help: Talk with your child and pay attention. Ask what they’re curious about. Art? Sports? Science? Nature? Even young kids often have strong opinions, and including them in the conversation builds buy-in. Have you noticed your kiddo is showing interest in music lately? Don't be afraid to throw out a few ideas to get the ball rolling, too. See what friends are doing - but don’t feel pressure. Signing up with a friend can help hesitant campers feel more comfortable, but every child develops at their own pace. What works for one family may not work for yours. Trust what you know about your child. Age guidelines are helpful and all but they aren’t everything. Some kids thrive in longer days or new environments earlier than others. Choose the camp experience that supports your child’s growth, not one that simply checks a box. So, that might mean pushing that overnight camp that you were excited about back another year if your kiddo doesn't seem ready for that sort of experience. One Easy Way to Get Ahead on Summer (and School) Planning If you’re looking for a simple, low-pressure way to explore summer camps and even start thinking about school options - get both done all in one place at our upcoming Winter School Fair & Summer Camp Fest! Designed to feel more like a family playdate than a formal fair, this event gives parents the chance to meet Chicago summer camps and schools face-to-face, ask questions, and gather information while kids enjoy activities in a welcoming space. If summer camp planning is on your to-do list, this is an easy way to get ahead before spots start filling up. Learn more and register for free here:

Porchlight Summer Camps are back and bigger than ever! Actors aged 4 - 13 join us for foundation classes - Mini Musicals, Broadway Basics, and Intermediate Ensemble - to grow their skills in acting, singing and dancing and then apply them in a titled, full musical. For High School aged actors we’re excited to bring back PMTeens - a one of a kind opportunity for 16 performers to receive professional theatre training, exclusive masterclasses and headshots.

Do you want to learn how to play in a band or learn to write songs? School of Rock Andersonville offers a wide variety of music camps and workshops that cover topics such as these. Our local music camps are perfect for musicians of various skill levels who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or vocals.

Do you want to learn how to play in a band or learn to write songs? School of Rock Chicago West offers a wide variety of music camps and workshops that cover topics such as these. Our local music camps are perfect for musicians of various skill levels who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or vocals.

Fairytales Can Come True – The Princess and the Frog We all know our family would have a great time on vacation at The Most Magical Place on Earth, but does a STAYcation have the same spellbinding appeal? With a few simple tricks, you too can enchant the kids and keep everyone’s spirits high. A Little Thought for Others Makes all the Difference – Winnie the Pooh The first rule of thumb for any time off is to plan ahead. Enlisting suggestions from everyone in the family helps create a schedule that makes all feel included. Then have choices in the event you need to switch up your plans. And don’t forget to note transportation options and remember your Ventra card! What… are you eating? - Ratatouille Have a good supply of snacks on hand and do your restaurant research. Modern-style food courts like Aster Hall at 900 North Michigan Shops offer something to suit all palates. Alternately, head over to Hamburger University on West Randolph and sample some of McDonald’s global menu items for the surprise factor. Or combine neighborhood exploration with cuisine sampling, such as traveling to Chinatown and taking in a post-lunch stroll in Ping Pong Memorial Park. Have a Nice Day - Hercules Do you have an actor-in-the-making or a budding scientist? Be sure to focus on their interests when looking for activities. There are plenty of children’s show venues in Chicago such as Apollo Theater or Chicago Children’s Theater. For artists or engineers, check out the Free Museum Days for Illinois residents or reserve a Digital Museum Pass online through Chicago Public Library. Don’t forget that the staycation is your vacation too! The current immersive experience craze can be enjoyed by littles dancing to the music and grown-ups appreciating the graphic interpretation. You’re Never too Old to be Young - Snow White Sloomoo Institute offers slime making for all (surprisingly therapeutic), while a trip to Lincoln Park Zoo (free) will always bring out the child in you. Haven’t yet ridden the Ferris Wheel? Head over to Navy Pier and act like a tourist. Just strolling and watching the boats alone is a relaxing activity. Our lakefront should never be underestimated as an inexpensive destination. The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway - Frozen Don’t let the weather get you down during a winter staycation. Chicago has two beautiful conservatories where you can warm up: Garfield Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory, both with inspiring exhibits that would appeal to the whole family. Movies are another good option for snuggling up inside. Check out the free screenings at Chicago Public Libraries, or the Kid Flix series at Gene Siskel Film Center. And if the icy climes don’t bother you, there is ample ice-skating to be had both indoors (at McFetridge Sports Center) and outdoors (at venues throughout the city). Fill the World with Sunshine - Snow White Who cannot take pleasure in a sunny day in Chicago? During the summer months the beaches are a treat. Favorites include the child-friendly Montrose Beach with its good parking, bathrooms, and proximity to Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. At sunset, grab your lawn chairs and take in something on the schedule with Movies in the Parks. Another firm favorite is Millennium Park with the Crown Fountain ‘splash pad’ and the neighboring Maggie Daley Park, providing everything from mini golf to a play garden. Adventure is Out There - Up Isn’t a traditional vacation all about going and trying something new? So, seek out somewhere you’ve never been before or something you’ve never tried. Have you camped out in a Chicago park? You can do that through the Chicago Park District! What about trying your hand at fishing? You can do that with them too! Or how about hopping on a water taxi and following your nose? The Only Limit is Your Imagination - Big Hero 6 So, never feel like a staycation is second best to a vacation. It can truly be the best of both worlds; you get out and about while having home comforts greet you at the end of the day. In the words of Merida, in Brave: “you control your destiny – you don’t need magic to do it.”

You are invited to a FREE entrepreneurship camp for girls 8-12 years old with Female Strong sponsored by Forward Space! Female Strong Camp is an empowering experience that engages participants in meaningful discussions about confidence, passions, goals, and innovative solutions to real-world challenges. It's a unique opportunity for young girls to connect with peers, hear from inspiring Chicagoland professionals, and focus on personal growth in a supportive environment. What to expect: Engage with peers about each other’s unique selves, confidence journeys, passions, and goals! Hear from Forward Space employees with different roles about how to achieve goals, take risks, mess up, and stay true to yourself in the process! Reflect on your dreams & ideas and develop an action plan to make them happen! This is a free camp, but RSVP is required. Please go here to register. Free parking is available in the side lots. This is an external partner event. Please contact the organization directly with any questions or concerns: sabrina@femalestrong.org.