Creator Camp – Naperville Covenant Church

Creator Camp is an innovative technology and creative arts camp program for children ages 5 through 13, offering hands-on, in-person summer camps, after-school programs, and online workshops that teach kids to use technology as a tool for creativity and self-expression rather than passive consumption. Featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, Creator Camp was founded in 2021 with a mission to transform how children engage with screens by empowering them to become digital creators — making films, animations, games, music, and more — rather than simply scrolling. The company operates across multiple cities nationwide including Chicago, where it offers summer camp programming at partner venue locations throughout the city. Creator Camp also offers year-round online workshops accessible to families anywhere, as well as after-school programs delivered through partnerships with local schools.

Creator Camp’s programming is organized around two main camp formats: three-day creative camps and two-day tech camps, giving families the flexibility to mix and match sessions throughout the summer based on their child’s interests and schedule. The creative camp track covers disciplines such as filmmaking, where kids learn to shoot, edit, and add special effects to create their own short films; Lego and clay animation, where campers craft stop-motion masterpieces frame by frame; and music production, where young creators compose and produce original beats. The tech camp track includes Roblox game development, where kids code and build their own virtual worlds; Minecraft game design; 3D game development with advanced mechanics like combat systems, inventory management, and level design; coding fundamentals; and robotics and engineering projects. Additional camp themes include YouTube content creation, where campers learn to design channel branding, plan and record videos, edit with professional techniques, and build confidence in front of the camera, as well as entrepreneurship workshops that teach kids to develop and pitch their own creative business ideas. All videos created during camp are shared directly with parents via email rather than being uploaded publicly, giving families the choice of whether to share their child’s work online.

Each camp day is designed to balance screen-based creative work with off-screen activities, including recess, collaborative group projects, and team-building exercises. Camps are led by passionate creative professionals from diverse backgrounds in filmmaking, animation, game design, music production, and digital content creation, who serve as mentors and share real-world industry insights with campers. The staff-to-camper ratio is kept low to ensure personalized attention, and all team members undergo background checks and safety training. The program emphasizes teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and a growth mindset alongside the technical creative skills, helping children develop confidence and life skills that extend well beyond the camp experience.
A compatible iPad is required for most Creator Camp programs, and families have the option to bring their own device or rent one through Creator Camp at the time of enrollment. Compatibility requirements are provided during registration so families can confirm their device will work with the camp software. Campers receive take-home items from their sessions, and lunch is not included, so families should plan to send their child with a meal.

Beyond summer programming, Creator Camp offers online workshops year-round for kids ages 8 through 14, delivered in four-week virtual formats covering topics such as Minecraft world building, filmmaking techniques, 3D modeling, Blender animation, and vocal mixing. After-school programs bring Creator Camp’s curriculum directly into school settings during the academic year, extending the creative technology experience beyond the summer months. The Creator Camp Club membership provides unlimited access to online workshops and additional digital resources for families seeking ongoing enrichment. The company is actively developing a franchise model to expand into additional communities, reflecting growing demand for its unique approach to youth technology education.