Wiz Kids Camps – Lake View

Wiz Kids Camps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and premier summer day camp serving the Chicagoland community since 2009. The Chicago Lake View campus is housed at the historic Lake View High School at 4015 North Ashland Avenue on Chicago’s North Side, offering an exciting blend of STEM education, arts programming, and competitive athletics in one of the city’s most vibrant and beloved neighborhoods. This campus provides a welcoming and inspiring environment where campers can grow, explore new interests, and thrive during the summer months.

The camp serves students entering grades 1 through 8, corresponding to approximately ages 6 through 14, with developmentally appropriate programming designed for each age group. Campers in grades 1 and 2 participate in morning academic sessions covering reading, math, engineering, and art, followed by afternoon sports electives that include soccer, tennis, swimming, tumbling, track, and dance. Grades 3 and 4 expand the available offerings to include drama, basketball, golf, cheerleading, and additional enrichment activities. Rising 5th through 8th graders engage in Innovation Labs, which are interdisciplinary modules pairing two related subjects for deeper, project-based exploration. These innovative pairings include Culinary Arts with Entrepreneurship, Fashion Design with Visual Arts, Engineering with Coding and Game Design, STEM with Media Arts, Creative Writing with Drama, Financial Literacy with Debate and Public Speaking, and Music and Sound Engineering with Photography. Older campers also participate in sports offerings including volleyball, swimming, basketball, and golf. All academic sessions are led by certified Illinois educators, and every sport and elective is taught by qualified, experienced staff trained in the Wiz Kids methodology.

Camp operates Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM during the summer season, with extended morning and afternoon care available for families who need additional flexibility. Every Friday is a dedicated Field Trip Day, with all campers traveling to cultural destinations throughout the Chicago area including the Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute of Chicago, Brookfield Zoo, Museum of Science and Industry, and other exciting attractions. Field trips are included in tuition. Tuition is structured on a per-week basis, with rates varying by the total number of weeks enrolled and early bird discounts available for families who register before the deadline. A registration fee applies, and camp fees include a free t-shirt. Sibling discounts make the program more accessible for families with multiple children.

The program maintains a low staff-to-camper ratio of approximately 1 to 16, ensuring that each camper receives individual attention and support. Staff include certified teachers, experienced coaches, and trained junior associates, all of whom undergo background checks and receive specialized training in camp safety and youth development. A certified nurse is on-site at all campuses, and the camp follows comprehensive safety protocols including buddy systems, heightened supervision during transitions and field trips, and emergency preparedness plans. Parents receive regular updates on their child’s experience and can reach camp staff at any time. Wiz Kids also offers specialty programs beyond the core summer camp, including Camp University for advanced academic exploration, a Winter Escape trip to Wisconsin, and the Wiz Kids Flight Academy. The organization’s mission is to give young people the opportunity to have life-impacting experiences that foster growth academically, athletically, socially, and emotionally.