Steve & Kate’s Camp – Bucktown

Steve & Kate’s Camp – Bucktown is a summer day camp operating out of Burr Elementary in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood, offering a uniquely flexible and child-directed camp experience for kids ages 4 through 12. Founded in 1980, Steve & Kate’s Camp has built a national reputation around its philosophy of empowering children to make their own choices, fostering independence, confidence, and creativity in a supportive environment.

At the Bucktown location, campers are free to choose from a rotating menu of hands-on activities on a minute-by-minute basis throughout the day. Core offerings include a Media Lab where kids can explore stop-motion animation, coding, and digital content creation, a Sewing Salon for fashion and textile projects, a fully equipped Bakery for hands-on cooking and baking, and a variety of sports and outdoor recreation options including water games during warmer weather. Weekly specials add extra excitement with features like inflatable slip-and-slides, go-karts, dance battles, and slackline demonstrations led by visiting experts.

The camp operates on a flexible Day Pass system that sets it apart from traditional summer camps. Families can purchase any number of Day Passes and use them on any day the camp is open, at any open Steve & Kate’s location, without needing to make advance reservations. A Summer Pass option covers the entire season. All fees include lunch, snacks, and the full camp day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Unused Day Passes are automatically refunded in full at the end of summer. The Bucktown location runs from approximately early June through early August. Steve & Kate’s is a subsidiary of Bright Horizons, and families with Bright Horizons Back-Up Care benefits can use those benefits at camp. Need-based financial aid is also available for qualifying families.