Summer Camps

Camps for age 5 and up are listed by age groups. Please register your child according to what age they will be by September 1. For 3 and 4-year-olds, your child needs to be the correct age by the first day of camp. For Specialty Sports Camps, please register your child for what age they will be by the first day of camp.

Each camp is supervised by a qualified, experienced coordinator who oversees the day-to-day operations of camp and the counselors. Counselors at each camp are a mix of mature and enthusiastic college and high school students. All staff members complete an extensive training program that includes supervision, safety techniques, curriculum development, CPR certification, and basic first aid.

All campers should wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes to camp. We recommend that campers wear clothing that can get dirty, as our activities are hands-on. 

All items, when not in use, will remain in the backpack.

• Nut-free lunch and snack (reusable containers encouraged)
• Water bottle (reusable encouraged)
• Sunscreen
• For camps that have water play or go swimming, bring a swimsuit and towel

Pick up is promptly at each camp's designated conclusion time. 

All people listed on the camper’s ePACT form under parent/guardian, emergency contact, and authorized pick-up will be allowed to pick-up each camper daily. If carpooling, please make sure the adult is listed on the form. Please do not be offended if the camp staff ask for photo ID; it is for the safety of the children. In the event that a new person must be added unexpectedly, please contact the camp via text or email with the contact information. You may also contact the Camp Supervisor or the Maine Park front office.

A five-minute grace period will be granted for late pick up. If the pick-up person is later than five minutes, a charge of $1 per minute will be issued. If pick-up person will be later than 15 minutes, parents will be notified to pick up their child at After Care.

Many of our camps are accredited through the American Camp Association. This Association has many standards that our camp has to not only verify on paper, but also through onsite inspections. Some of these standards include specific requirements for the hiring and training of staff, transportation, emergency drills, medication procedures, and camper to staff ratio.

In Park District ACA accredited camps, at least 80% of our camp staff are 18 years of age or older. Additionally, staff are a minimum of two years older than the campers that they are supervising. In an effort to provide a safe and adequately supervised program, proper staff-to-camper ratios are maintained at all times. The staff-to-camper ratios are as follows: 

• Ages 3-5: camper to staff ratio is at least 6:1
• Ages 6-8: camper to staff ratio is at least 8:1
• Ages 9-14: camper to staff ratio is at least 10:1

The maximum camper to staff ratio is:

• For ages 3-5 years, 6:1
• For ages 6-8 years, 8:1
• For ages 9-14 years, 10:1 

ePACT provides a private, online site for emergency records. Families enter all their critical health and emergency data online. This information only needs to be entered once and then ePACT shares it between programs. If families update information, authorized staff are alerted.

If your camper is under the age of 8, the Park District will require the individual to use a booster seat. The Park District will provide the booster seat.

Some camps have a snack break during the camp day. We encourage nutritionally beneficial snacks. For full-day camps and camps that end at 1:15pm or later, please send a peanut and tree nut free lunch and a beverage in a labeled, eco-friendly container.

Campers can choose from fresh pizza, pastas, chicken tenders and more from Spuntino Pizza. We provide hot and cold nutritious and delicious lunches delivered directly to your child’s camp. 

Camp lunches are ordered through our registration software, just as you would register for camp. Each day is a separate registration number. Registration for camp lunches will start on May 1 at 8:30am. Orders and changes are due the Wednesday before the first day of each camp session. To make adjustments to your child’s lunch order, please call Maine Park at 847-692-5127 or email camplunch@prparks.org. No changes can be made once the lunch order has been submitted to the provider.

For more information, please contact Meghan O’Neill at 847-292-8906. Please remember there is no lunch service on field trip days.

No. Please do not let your child bring personal belongings from home. We know how important and expensive some items can be. The Park Ridge Park District is not responsible for anything lost, stolen, or broken.

The Park District does not require children to have a medical examination to attend camp. You will receive an email from ePACT to enter participant information that includes emergency information. More details are also available in the Parent Handbook and Park District Medicine Packet. It is very important to complete all necessary medical information in ePACT as soon as possible and well before camp starts. If your child has medical concerns such as asthma or allergies, please include this information on the emergency forms.

If your child needs to take prescription or non-prescription medication, please review the Park District Medicine packet available online or on the Park District’s electronic portal (ePACT). You will need to fill out the Park District Medicine Packet.

Whenever possible, medications should be dispensed or administered by parents or guardians before or after programs and camps. Please note that the Park District does not have medical providers (e.g., licensed medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, etc.) on staff. The Park District reviews requests for dispending of medicine on a case-by-case basis. In some circumstances, the dispensing of medication cannot be performed by Park District staff because of specific and/or complex physician or manufacturer instructions, because a request requires medical diagnosis or judgment from our lay staff, and/or because the medication requires invasive procedures.

As to allergies, the Park District does not provide snack or lunches for campers. On occasion, the District may provide popsicles or a food treat. Please review the Food Activity release in ePact and indicate if you do not want your child to participate in food activities. Please note, staff does not monitor snacks or lunches brought by our campers.

The Park Ridge Park District welcomes participation in all programs and activities by individuals with disabilities and special needs. The Park Ridge Park District is committed to inclusion and providing public recreation services in the most integrated setting, in which interaction between people with and without disabilities is provided to the maximum extent feasible. The Park Ridge Park District works cooperatively with the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation (M-NASR) to facilitate successful participation for participants who register for inclusive programming.

If you have a special need or request for reasonable accommodation, please contact the Park District in advance - call 847-692-5127 or email drossi@prparks.org. Our recreation team and M-NASR will evaluate each request on a case by case situation to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Once reviewed, the Park District will contact you. Participants who are requesting inclusion services need to adhere to Park Ridge Park District’s Camp Code of Conduct. Please register by May 1 so M-NASR has the necessary time to hire, train, and assign qualified Inclusion Assistants by the first day of camp. Registering after May 1 may delay your start date 2-4 weeks if an Inclusion Assistant is not available.

Yes, but please note that camps do fill up. We have had campers in the past that signed up for many different camps, but then really liked the campers and staff in a particular camp and wanted to stay in that camp for the summer, but the other weeks were full and staff were unable to accomodate the request.

Payment Plans are available for MOST summer camps. If registering online, a payment plan option will be available until February 28. Starting March 1, payment plans can only be set up in-person at the Maine Park Leisure Center. 

If choosing the payment plan option, a deposit of $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents will be charged at time of registration for each qualifying summer camp. Payment dates are March 1, April 1, May 1, and June 1.

If payment is not received, participant will be removed from the program. Child will be allowed to return to the program after the payment is received, if space allows.

For more information, please call 847-692-5127.

Funds are available to assist low income families participating in Park District programs. Assistance is available to eligible Park Ridge Park District residents only. Due to limited space, you can register and pay in full or select the payment plan option and pay the deposit for the camp. Approved applications will be applied to your account and awarded amount will be refunded to you. The financial assistance application is linked below. Complete the form and email it to jgreve@prparks.org.

• Financial Assistance Application
• Registration Form
• Proof of Residency – current driver’s license or current utility bill within 30 days
• Proof of Financial Need – (copy of tax returns, participation in the State subsidized hot lunch program, proof of government assistance – nutrition assistance, welfare)

You may request a withdrawal either by calling 847-692-5127 or by submitting a completed Program Withdrawal Request form and emailing to recreation@prparks.org.

• Refund amounts will be issued according to the specific deadlines indicated on the Camp Withdrawal Chart listed below.
• A refund will be issued as a household (HH) credit on the primary account unless asked for the refund to be returned to the form of payment used when registering. 
• Withdrawal deadlines and fees are per camper, per session, per camp. 
• A full credit will be issued if the District cancels any summer camp.
• Due to the demand for participation in Park Ridge Park District summer camps and the limited number of spots available, refunds will not be issued for camp days that campers are unable to attend due to illness or family schedule conflicts. 

*Plus $5 service fee deduction

The above policy does not apply if you are unsatisfied with a program; the Park Ridge Park District promises to provide quality recreational services. View our Satisfaction Guarantee.

Swimming activities vary by camp and are specified in the camp description. For the convenience of our parents, pool passes are not necessary for campers to enjoy our pools during camp hours. All of our campers will be admitted as part of the camp fees when attending the pools during the camp program. Parents who want their child to use Park District pools after camp hours or on weekends have the option of paying a daily fee or purchasing a pool pass.

Please review camp descriptions, as not all camps go to a swimming pool. Some camps have water days at their camp site. The number of days a week campers swim is approximate, as these days are dependent on many factors including weather, air quality, pool closures, and safety.

Swim levels are determined on or before the first visit to the pool by the Park Ridge Park District’s Aquatic Staff. There will scheduled days you can sign up for prior to the start of camp to determine your child’s swim level. If you do not attend one of our scheduled days, Aquatic staff will be on hand to test campers on the first visit to the pool. Lifeguards are on the deck and in the pool assisting the campers, along with counselors. Based on the results of the swim test, campers will be assigned a colored coded wristband to delineate what area of the pool the camper can use. Bracelets are to be worn every trip to the pool. New bracelets will be distributed as needed. Pool rules will be maintained for all campers, including minimum height requirements.

Red Wristband: Does not meet the criteria for a yellow wristband or does not participate in the swim test.

Yellow Wristband: Must be able to swim the width of the pool at Centennial Aquatic Center or the length of Hinkley Pool to the rope with continuous forward movement. 

Green Wristband: Must complete the yellow testing. In addition, they must jump into the deep end of the pool without goggles, come to the surface, and tread water for 30 seconds.

If your child is attending Summer School, we offer S.S.O. Camp Rewind, S.S.O. Nature Camp, and S.S.O. Teen Trail Blazers as options for camp. Children must be registered for D64 Worlds of Wonder Summer School Program in order to register for these camps.

Yes, please sign up for our Before Care & Transportation to Summer School.

Transportation from Summer School to camp is included in the camp fee for S.S.O. Camp Rewind, S.S.O. Teen Trail Blazers, and S.S.O. Nature Camp. For any transportation questions, please call 847-692-5127.

The school provides a staff member to wait with your child until Park District staff arrives for transportation. Park District staff will accompany children to their camp site.

Campers can attend a full day of camp from 9:00am-3:00pm when D64 Worlds of Wonder Summer School is not in session (June 8, 12, 19, 26, July 3). 

Yes, please let your Camp Site Coordinator know.

Pick up will be at your child’s camp site unless you register for After Care, then pick up will be at the After Care location.