Article by Elena Ferrarin
Communications Coordinator
Northbrook Park District
In the latest episode of Northbrook in 90, we took the minute and a half to highlight the Northbrook Park District’s awesome Summer Camp lineup for children ages 3-14. Families can choose from a wide variety of camps from June through August each summer. Let’s unpack everything from the episode and dive deeper into the program.
Northbrook Park District offers half-day camps for ages 3 to 5 and full-day camps for ages 5 to 14. Camps are held at park district facilities and local schools, with activities in parks, playgrounds and swimming pools, and plenty of field trip opportunities. Under the guidance of trained and dedicated staff, camps provide a balance of outdoor and indoor activities, skill-based learning, creativity, team building experiences and fun.
“In addition to helping children develop new interests and passions, camp offers opportunities for kids to learn and practice skills like sharing, working together and cultivating friendships in an environment where young people feel safe trying out new interests,” according to Youth Program Manager Mary Mucci. “Through the experiences our campers have with us at the Northbrook Park District each summer, they provided ample opportunities develop social skills and build self-confidence which help them as they grow academically and interpersonally.”
To explore more of the day to day camp happenings, Summer Camp Site Directors Nicholas Horvat and Grace Wilson were able to speak to their experiences.
“I have been working as a camp counselor in different places since 2018,” said Horvat. “I really think that the Northbrook Park District offers an amazing range of summer camp options. There is something for all ages, interests and skill levels.” In 2024, Horvat was the site director for Little Champions, a sports camp for ages 5-7, where campers get the opportunity to try all kinds of sports, including hockey, basketball, pickleball, kickball, whiffle ball and more.
Horvat added, “we also include activities like fun science experiments, craft days and field trips, so each day is different and exciting for the kids.”
“I grew up in Northbrook, and I loved attending the park district’s summer camps in elementary school,” said Wilson. “I remember making so many friends who went to different schools and being so happy to see them again every summer.” Wilson started working at Northbrook Park District as a summer camp counselor in 2017, and is now the site director for Camp Sunshine, a camp for children ages 3-5.
“During the school year, both Nick and I also work for the park district’s Adventure Campus, which is our after-school program,” continued Wilson. “Seeing the same families year-round is a positive experience for the kids. The counselors genuinely care about them, and always make sure to provide a light-hearted and positive environment. It is so much fun to be around kids and their energy, and it’s great to see them grow up and come back year after year.”
“As counselors, our interactions with the campers are based on praise and positive reinforcement,” said Horvat.
Northbrook Park District strives to offer families as much flexibility as possible by offering one-week registration options that allow children to explore different activities so families can find the best fit for their scheduled. New in 2025, many camps now start at 8:30am instead of 9am, and extended before and after camp care is offered so children can attend for longer hours if needed (as early as 7am or as late as 6pm).
To reduce barriers to access, Northbrook Park District also offers financial assistance including scholarships and payment plans. The District is a partner with Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (also known as NSSRA) and offers inclusion services to campers at no additional cost.
Northbrook Park District takes pride in providing an extraordinary summer camp experience for families, and wants to make that as accessible as possible for the entire community. To enroll your children in a Northbrook Park District Summer Camp, please visit nbparks.org/summercamps or call 847-291-2993.
…and that’s Northbrook in 90, unpacked!