The complete guide for busy parents — 30+ camps across the Park District, Lyman Woods, Downers Grove Museum, and more. Updated March 2026.
Downers Grove is one of the best-served suburbs in DuPage County for summer camp. The Park District runs a full lineup from Kinder Camp through Teen Trekkers (a travel-heavy program that gives middle schoolers real excursions instead of a rec room). What sets DG apart is Lyman Woods — a 143-acre forest preserve where the Park District runs genuine nature camps — and the Downers Grove Museum's rotating specialty camps, including an Introductory Archaeology program that lets kids actually dig.
Registration runs through the Vermont Systems platform (dgparks.myvscloud.com). Specialty camps at Lyman Woods and the Museum tend to fill first.
The Downers Grove Park District runs six traditional day camp programs from June through mid-August, each with an included themed activity structure, weekly swimming at Sea Lion Aquatic Park, and field trips. All run out of Lincoln Center or Cathy Mahoney Rec Center.
Half-day camp designed for preschoolers new to the camp experience. Themed days, songs, crafts, outdoor play, and a supportive small-group structure. Parents ease their youngest into the camp routine without the overwhelm of all-day programming.
Register via DG Parks →Full-day themed camp for incoming kindergartners with daily crafts, songs, group activities, and outdoor play. Weekly swimming at Sea Lion Aquatic Park or field trips. Camp t-shirt included. Before care (7–9 AM) and after care (4–5:30 PM) available for additional fee.
Register via DG Parks →Full-day camp with themed group activities (Superheroes, Olympics, Animal Planet), weekly swimming at Sea Lion Aquatic Park, and one field trip per week. After care is included in the price — no pickup scramble at 3pm. Before care available for additional fee.
Register via DG Parks →Separate from the 1st–2nd grade group — same structure (weekly swimming, weekly field trips, themed weeks) with age-appropriate programming for older elementary kids. After care included.
Register via DG Parks →Teen camp built around getting out. Weekly swimming plus 2–3 field trips per week to arcades, museums, water parks, laser tag, bowling, mini golf, amusement parks, sports facilities, and beaches. More destinations, less sitting around. After care included. Camp t-shirt included.
Register via DG Parks →Leadership training program where rising high schoolers assist camp counselors across the traditional camp programs. Develops real skills — communication, youth management, problem-solving — while being part of the camp team.
Register via DG Parks →End-of-summer celebration camp mixing the best activities from across the season — field trips, swimming, games, and a big-finish week mentality. Good option for kids who need coverage the last week of August.
Register via DG Parks →Lyman Woods is a 143-acre forest preserve along the DuPage River — one of the most ecologically diverse natural areas in the western suburbs. The Park District runs four distinct nature camp tracks here, making DG one of the stronger options for outdoor-focused families in DuPage County.
Full-day immersive nature camp at Lyman Woods with hands-on exploration of the forest preserve, wetlands, and DuPage River corridor. Weekly field trips to forest preserves, wildlife areas, and conservation sites beyond Lyman Woods. After care included.
Register via DG Parks →Gentle introduction to nature for the youngest campers. Hands-on exploration, bug hunts, pond dipping, animal observation, and simple outdoor science activities in the Lyman Woods preserve. Half-day format keeps it manageable for preschoolers.
Register via DG Parks →Nature exploration for early elementary kids — creek walks, plant identification, animal habitats, and hands-on environmental science in the Lyman Woods forest preserve.
Register via DG Parks →More advanced outdoor science for older elementary campers — ecological investigation, water quality testing, wildlife tracking, and stewardship projects in the Lyman Woods preserve.
Register via DG Parks →Downers Grove Museum runs one of the most distinctive specialty camp lineups in DuPage County. The Introductory Archaeology Camp with real dig activity is genuinely rare — most suburban museums don't offer hands-on excavation experience. Plus: art, history, and a wildly messy art program that kids ask to do again.
Hands-on archaeology camp where kids learn excavation techniques, artifact identification, and archaeological methods — including working at an actual dig site. Field archaeology skills for ages 7–10 in a museum setting. This program fills quickly.
Register via DG Parks →New for 2026 — hands-on discovery activities, local history investigations, and artifact exploration at the Downers Grove Museum. Good intro before Archaeology Camp if you want to see how your kid takes to museum-style learning.
Register via DG Parks →Spooky history camp exploring local legends, ghost stories, and mysterious historical events through investigations, crafts, and storytelling. Great for kids who roll their eyes at "boring history" — this version isn't boring.
Register via DG Parks →Camp built around American Girl history — exploring historical periods, crafts, and stories from the American Girl book series. Bring your doll if you have one. Highly popular with girls ages 5–8 who are into the American Girl world.
Register via DG Parks →Young kids create with splatter painting, erupting volcanoes, slime, and other messy-but-deliberate art experiments. Science-meets-art in the best possible way. Wear the clothes you don't care about.
Register via DG Parks →Bigger, bolder version for older kids — large-scale splatter art, chemical reaction experiments, and explosive art projects designed for ages 9–12. More complex experiments, same level of mess.
Register via DG Parks →Beyond Teen Trekkers, DG Parks offers two specialty programs designed specifically for middle and high school-age campers.
Fashion design camp for teens — sketching, pattern basics, construction, and styling. Culminates in a mini runway show or fashion presentation. Good fit for creatively-minded teens who want something beyond standard art camp.
Register via DG Parks →Wilderness and outdoor skills for older campers — navigation, ecology, survival basics, and multi-day outdoor challenges in the Lyman Woods / DuPage River system. For teens who want more than a field trip.
Register via DG Parks →Sticky Fingers Cooking School is a national camp brand that partners with park districts — DG Parks hosts their program for summer 2026. Hands-on cooking with real recipes, not crafts-with-ingredients.
Kids cook real dishes from scratch — Sticky Fingers Cooking emphasizes kitchen confidence, food science, and actual culinary skills vs. "decorate a cookie" camp. Programs adapt by age group. A genuine cooking experience for elementary-age kids who have an interest in food.
Register via DG Parks →Safety Town is a DG Parks staple — a classic community safety program for incoming kindergartners that's been running for decades.
Two-week session teaching pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, fire safety, stranger awareness, and basic community safety through activities in a miniature "Safety Town" setup. A beloved DG tradition for incoming kindergartners.
Register via DG Parks →Downers Grove Park District runs its sports programs through the All Star Sports series — multi-sport, soccer, T-ball, flag football, and tennis for young kids — plus a full lineup of youth leagues and camps for older kids including basketball, beach volleyball, pickleball, and a Power Through Basketball park camp.
Multi-sport fundamentals covering basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball, and football with a focus on sportsmanship and teamwork for the youngest athletes. Min 6 / Max 16 per session.
Register via DG Parks →Introductory soccer focused on coordination, self-esteem, and soccer fundamentals. Kids bring their own soccer ball. Multiple session days/times available (Mon, Wed, Fri, or Sat). No class Jun 19, Jul 3, or Jul 4.
Register via DG Parks →Youth T-ball teaching hitting, fielding, throwing, catching, and base running through drills and weekly games. Kids bring their own glove.
Register via DG Parks →Introductory flag football with route running, flag-pulling, passing, and scrimmage games. Non-contact format designed for young kids building football fundamentals.
Register via DG Parks →Youth tennis instruction through the Downers Grove Park District — skill levels from beginner through intermediate. Multiple session lengths and age groups available.
Register via DG Parks →Outdoor basketball camp focused on skill development — dribbling, passing, shooting, defense — in a park setting. Casual camp vibe with structured skill-building.
Register via DG Parks →Youth beach volleyball instruction on outdoor sand courts — passing, setting, hitting, and match play. Good summer option for older kids interested in volleyball without committing to a competitive club.
Register via DG Parks →Youth pickleball instruction — one of the fastest-growing sports for kids and adults. Good entry point for elementary and middle school kids who want to try the sport before it's everywhere.
Register via DG Parks →The Downers Grove Park District runs the largest and most varied summer camp program in town, including full-day camps for kindergartners through 8th grade at Lincoln Center and Cathy Mahoney Recreation Center. For specialty experiences, the Downers Grove Museum archaeology and history camps are genuinely unique in DuPage County.
DG Parks camps fill on a first-come, first-served basis via the Vermont Systems registration platform. Specialty camps like Nature Camp at Lyman Woods and Museum camps have smaller caps and tend to fill weeks after registration opens. Traditional full-day camps (Adventure Camp, Kinder Camp) have more capacity but specific themed weeks can fill. Register at ildownersgroveweb.myvscloud.com.
Yes. Pee Wee Camp (ages 3–5) and Safety Town (entering kindergarten) are designed for the youngest campers. Sticky Fingers Cooking Camp runs for ages 5–10. Half-Day Nature Camp at Lyman Woods starts at Pre-K/Kindergarten age. The Park District's All Star Sports programs start at age 3 for multi-sport, soccer, and T-ball.
Yes — Lyman Woods Nature Center runs three separate nature camp programs: Half-Day Nature Camp (Pre-K/K, 1st–2nd, and 3rd–5th grade tracks) and a full-day All-Day Nature Camp for 1st–5th graders. Lyman Woods is a 143-acre forest preserve on the DuPage River — one of the best settings for nature camp in the western suburbs.
Downers Grove Park District uses Vermont Systems for registration at ildownersgroveweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/. You can also browse programs at dgparks.org/summercamps or pick up the 2026 Summer Recreation Guide at Lincoln Center (935 Maple Ave) or Cathy Mahoney Recreation Center (4500 Belmont Rd).