Oak Park Education Foundation – BASE Camp

Oak Park Education Foundation’s BASE Camp is a comprehensive summer education program designed for rising 1st through 8th grade students in Oak Park. The program runs for six weeks each summer, typically from mid-June through late July, offering hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning experiences.

BASE Camp offers an impressive variety of specialized camps that make learning exciting and memorable. Science-focused camps include Science of Sweets, where campers explore the chemistry of sugar and crystal formation; Experimentation Station, featuring hands-on experiments with gooey, colorful, and surprising reactions; and Earth Ambassadors, which teaches sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, and alternative energy through hands-on projects and field trips.

Creative and active camps include Shoe Drip & Apparel Art, where students customize their own footwear and clothing using paints and embellishments; Cardboard City, a camper-led engineering experience building small-scale cities from upcycled materials; and Biking Adventures, which combines bike maintenance, safety skills, and community exploration through rides to local destinations like Thatcher Woods and neighborhood cafes.

The program operates in partnership with Oak Park Elementary School District 97, aligning with the district’s Portrait of a Graduate framework. Each day includes games, warmups, small group activities, and age-appropriate STEAM challenges led by amazing teachers and staff.

OPEF is committed to making BASE Camp accessible to all families through a generous scholarship program, ensuring that family income does not prevent any child from participating. Registration opens in early February with both general registration and block scheduling options available for families who want to book all six weeks at once.