Park District of Oak Park

The Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) offers a comprehensive selection of camps throughout the year for children of all ages and interests, operating from multiple facilities across Oak Park. The district is proud that many of their camps are accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA), meeting nationally recognized standards for program quality, health, and safety.

Summer camps form the core offering with traditional SPARK day camp serving as the flagship program providing classic camp experiences with swimming, sports, arts and crafts, field trips, and special events. Additional specialty summer camps focus on specific interests including sports camps (basketball, tennis, soccer), arts camps for creative expression, nature and science exploration camps, chess camps, LEGO building camps, cooking camps, and more. Half-day preschool camps cater to younger children ages 3-5 with age-appropriate activities and lower staff ratios (1:6). For older elementary and middle school campers, full-day programs run from morning through afternoon with ratios of 1:8 for ages 6-8 and 1:10 for ages 9-13.

School’s Out camps provide full-day care during teacher institute days, holidays, and other school closures throughout the academic year, offering a mix of recreational activities, crafts, games, and special programming. Winter and Spring Break seasonal camps operate during school vacation periods with themed activities and special field trips.

The Park District facilities include the Community Recreation Center, Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex, Gymnastics Center, and various parks throughout Oak Park. Programs maintain strict safety protocols with health and emergency contact forms required before camp participation. Staff receive training in CPR, first aid, and emergency procedures. Parents must sign children out daily unless written permission is provided for older campers (10+) to sign themselves out. A Financial Assistance Program is available for families needing support, with applications accepted year-round. Registration typically opens in early February for summer camps with discounted rates for Oak Park residents.