Top Summer Camps that also provide Gifted STEM Programs for Kids

Top Summer Camp Chicago

Summer in Chicago is a time for kids to explore, learn, and have fun. For parents, finding the right summer camp can be a challenge, especially with so many options available. Whether you’re looking for an affordable program, a specialized camp, or an unforgettable science experience, we’ve got you covered. Here are our top 5. 

1. Kids Science Labs: At Kids Science Labs, we focus on providing a unique summer camp experience where kids explore their scientific curiosity. With weekly themes, our camps are packed with interactive experiments and creative problem-solving. In 2025 our camps rotate every 4 weeks as a part of our Engineering University, and the camp titles are Our world according to Physics, Gadgets and Inventions, Design Time Live!, and Chem Busters. You can learn more about our popular and engaging camps here on our website. 

2. Chicago Park District: Affordable day camps offering activities like sports, arts, and swimming in local parks.

3. YMCA Camp: A trusted favorite with programs focusing on teamwork, physical activity, and community building.

4. All About Dance Summer Camp: Perfect for kids who love to move, featuring dance classes and creative choreography projects.

5. Altitude Chicago Summer Camp: For adventure enthusiasts, this camp includes activities like trampoline games and physical challenges.

Affordable Summer Camps in Chicago

Finding a high-quality summer camp that fits your budget can be tough. Fortunately, Chicago offers a variety of affordable options without compromising on educational value and fun. Many local organizations, including community centers and schools, provide:

• General Day Camps: These camps offer diverse activities, including sports, crafts, and games, at reasonable prices.

• Special Interest Camps: Some camps focus on art, music, or nature and often have sliding scale fees or scholarships available.

At Kids Science Labs, we’re proud to offer engaging, educational science camps that are competitively priced. Our week-long sessions are designed to maximize value for families, providing hands-on learning experiences that kids love and parents appreciate.

Why Science Camp is Worth It

Science camps offer much more than just experiments and labs. Chicago Science Camps, like those at MSI< Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and Kids Science Labs, nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, all while being incredibly fun. Here are a few reasons why science camps are a great investment in your child’s summer:

1. Hands-On Learning: Kids don’t just listen—they experiment, build, and create.

2. Real-World Skills: Camps often focus on teamwork, communication, and innovation.

3. Inspiration for the Future: Exposing kids to STEM fields early can spark lifelong interests and even influence career paths.

4. Fun and Friendship: Science camps combine education with play, ensuring kids form lasting memories and friendships.

Why Kids Science Labs is the rated as one of the best Summer Science Camps in Chicago

Kids Science Labs is more than just a camp—it’s a place where kids’ imaginations come to life and they build growth mindsets in students to solve real problems with real science. When you think about your Chicago Summer Camp choice, here are a few reasons why you should at least consider a few weeks at Kids Science Labs

• Engaging Curriculum: Each week has a unique theme that challenges kids to think critically and creatively. From designing eco-friendly cities to exploring space science, every session is packed with excitement.

• Expert Educators: Our Teachers and counselors are passionate about making science accessible and inspiring for kids of all ages.

• Hands-On Fun: We focus on experiments and activities that encourage kids to ask questions, test ideas, and learn through discovery.

• Beautiful Facilities with Adjacent Green Space: Our labs are fully equipped with tools and materials to support an engaging STEM experience.

• Flexible Registration: Unlock most other Chicago Summer Camps, Kids Science Labs allows parents to register for 1 week, or all 12 weeks of summer, with flexible and affordable memberships for families. With multiple sites across Chicago, there’s a higher chance that you will find a Kids Science Labs Summer Camp near me.

At Kids Science Labs, we believe that every child is a natural-born scientist and curious about the world around them. Our camps are designed to tap into that potential and make summer an unforgettable season of exploration and discovery.

CONSIDER WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY, ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES, AND THEN ENJOY YOUR SUMMER PEACE, WHILE YOUR KDIS ARE LOVING CHICAGO SUMMER CAMPS

Don’t let summer pass by without giving your child an amazing experience. Check out other top summer camp guides to find the perfect camp for your little scientist. With hands-on activities, expert instructors, and a focus on fun, you can find what you are looking for in a chicago summer camp and just be ready to make this summer the best one yet!

Best Birthday Party Ideas for Kids in Chicago

Best Birthday Party Ideas for Kids in Chicago

Planning a memorable birthday party for your child in Chicago is an exciting endeavor, especially with the variety of kids birthday party venues available. Here's a comprehensive guide to four popular options: Dave & Buster's, WhirlyBall, Chuck E. Cheese, and Kids Science Labs. Each offers unique amenities, party packages, and themes to ensure an unforgettable celebration.

Dave & Busters is a great birthday party idea

Dave & Buster's combines dining with a vast arcade, making it a fun birthday party for kids who love games and interactive entertainment. One of the most popular birthday party venues for sports kids, its a good choice for tweens and teens in Chicago looking for a fun birthday party idea.

• ●  Location: 1030 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610

• ●  Party Packages:

  • Ranging from $28.99 - $38.99 for food packages, this birthday party venue definitely knows how to provide both food and interactive entertainment

• ●  Amenities:

  • ○  Over 200 arcade games.

  • ○  Multiple TV screens for sports and entertainment.

  • ○  Various room types to accommodate different group sizes.

• ●  Add-Ons:

  • ○  Dessert options.

  • ○  Appetizer upgrades.
    

2. Kids Science Labs has been on every best kids birthday party venue list since 2011

For a hands-on, educational experience, Kids Science Labs offers science-themed birthday parties that inspire creativity and curiosity. Known for having the best private birthday party venue in Chicago, where you and your guests have full access to the facility for the duration of your party.

Unlike other kid’s birthday party venues, Kids Science Labs parties are hands-on and fully customizable by parents in their beautiful locations near Lakeview, South Loop and for Northshore Families looking to arrange a special kid’s birthday party experience.

Kids Science Labs is one of the few birthday party venues in Chicago that offers 100% private birthday parties from start to finish.

• Convenient Birthday Party Locations in Roscoe Village, South Loop, and Northbrook

• ●  Party Packages:

• ○ Standard Package: Full Private Venue for starts at $575. Includes a 90-minute private party with interactive science experiments led by experienced instructors.

○ Additional Children: $30 per child for extra kids allows parents flexibility if siblings, cousins, or extra fiends show up that were unplanned.

● Birthday Party Amenities:

○  3,000 sq ft private lab space.

○  Customized science experiments tailored to the birthday child's interests.

○  All necessary materials and safety equipment provided.

● Kids Birthday Party Add-Ons:

○  Customized slime kits including safety googles

○  Additional time or specialized experiments upon request

3. WhirlyBall is a Chicago Favorite Birthday Destination

WhirlyBall offers a unique blend of lacrosse, basketball, and bumper cars, providing an active and engaging experience for older children and teenagers.

●  Location: 1825 W. Webster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614

●  Party Packages:

Customized based on group size and activities.

○  Options include WhirlyBall, laser tag, and bowling.

○  Contact the venue for specific pricing and package details.

● Amenities:

○  Multiple activity options (WhirlyBall, laser tag, bowling).

○  Private event spaces

○  On-site dining with customizable menus.

● Add-Ons:

○  Event planning assistance.

○  Themed decorations upon request.

4. Chuck E Cheese is still a fun arcade themed birthday party for kids

A super classic choice for younger children, Chuck E. Cheese offers a fun-filled environment with games, pizza, and live entertainment. For decades, parents and kids have appreciated the open arcade and animatronics, integrated with live entertainment and food.

• ●  Location: 1770 W. Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614

• ●  Party Packages:

  • ○  Fun Package: $99.99 for 6 kids. Includes 2 hours of unlimited gameplay, unlimited soft drinks, decorated table, and the Chuck E. Cheese birthday show. Additional kids can be added for $19.99 each.

  • ○  Mega Fun Package: Per child pricing varies. Offers 2 slices of pizza per child, a dedicated party host, collectible cups, and upgraded prizes (250 bonus E-Tickets).

  • ○  Ultimate Fun Package: Per child pricing varies. Includes additional large pizzas, Dippin’ Dots ice cream, and the highest prize upgrades (500 bonus E-Tickets).

  ●  Amenities:

  • ○  Live Chuck E. Cheese birthday show.

    ○  Exclusive Birthday Ticket Blaster experience.

    ○  Variety of arcade games suitable for all ages.

  ●  Add-Ons:

  • ○  Dippin’ Dots ice cream.

    ○  Collectible cups with free lifetime refills.

    ○  Themed decorations and party favors.

If you are interested in some other kids birthday party ideas, you can find additional birthday party ideas here:

Elementary Students Learn Heat Transfer in preparation for Mid-Winter Break Seattle

Our Seattle Summer Camps are special, and as we prepare for the upcoming Mid-Winter Break in Seattle, Heat Transfer is on the agenda at Kids Science labs

Anyone who has stayed outside during cold or warm weather, especially, if you were at the top of Mt. Rainier, understands that hot things make adjacent items hot (sit closer to camp fire to warm up), and similar with cold temperatures (don’t put your hands on the ice if you want them to be warm).

How can you explain Heat Transfer in a Seattle Summer Camp for Kids?

Kids are brilliant and a simple experiment and experience can teach them what they need to know for true conceptual understanding. For nearly 15 years, oru Seattle Summer Camps have taken this approach to asking kids interesting questions, that present real problems, where a simple experiment is the answer to learn in a fun way.

Without getting too much into the science, the basic question is “Why does it burn my hand when i touch a pot, but the pot handle is not nearly as hot”? Well, the basic answer, as our students at Kids Science Labs learned today on a Middle School Field Trip, is Heat Transfer. Cold temperatures and hot temperatures can “transfer” the heat through any conductive materials (i.e. metals).

A Pot Handle is designed with either a hollow core or specialty materials and shapes to dissipate heat. In our Seattle Summer Camps and our STEM Programs for Kids, we are focused on teaching heat transfer to our students using real science and real hands-on experiments.

Seattle Summer Camps that teach kids heat transfer at Kids Science Labs

At home, run some warm water over plastic vs. a stick and ask kids which of the materials got “warmer” and how long did it take. Now do the same experiment over a spoon…and you will have insights into the type of basic science that is powerful for kids.

Our Summer Camps are powerful opportunities to engage elementary kids outside of field trips, and give Seattle Summer Camps something special to build kids Science Facts to outperform long-term in life.

Kids Science Labs unlocks the curiosity and creativity in every child, through the joys of hands-on science

Kids Science Labs is for all students.  We love it when kids are passionately interested in science, engineering, and medicine, but our program is very successful in engaging  our target kids 2-12 that love learning how things work, fixing problems, being creative, and understanding the world around them.  We know from years of teaching and curriculum development, that kids, and especially early learners, have a natural curiosity that is well suited for learning science.  They live it everyday at the breakfast table, building in the playroom, and using their imagination.