Summer 2026 Youth Programs

Join us for summer camp at the Champaign County Forest Preserves, where kids and teens get outside, explore nature and history, and learn through hands-on activities. From wildlife encounters and nature hikes to golf and historical programs, every day is full of discovery, fun, and new experiences.

Registration opens Monday, March 2 at 8 AM!

Pop-Up Programming

We’re excited to announce the return of our popular pop-up programming! Back by demand, we’ll once again be offering summer camp experiences as staffing allows. From spontaneous outdoor adventures to a day in the life of a school marm at our one-room schoolhouse, these programs are designed to create unforgettable memories and bring even more excitement to your summer. Stay tuned to our Facebook pages (@ccfpd) and website (champaignforests.org) for updates—pop-up programs will be announced up to two weeks in advance. Best of all, these unique experiences are completely free! Join the Pop-Up Programming e-mail list here!

Historical Mythbusters

Choose one date/location:

Time: 10 AM-11:30 AM
Age: 13-15 years
Fee: $10

Questions: 217-586-2612, [email protected] 

This program will prompt campers to investigate a series of popular local myths throughout history. From bigfoot to local hauntings and UFO sightings, we will learn about myths, how they originate, and how to challenge them. Working in groups, campers will be tasked with proving or disproving a claim through a series of activities engaging in critical thinking and scientific research skills. 

Teen Outdoor Adventure Camp

Choose one date/location: 

Time: 10 AM - 2 PM
Ages: 12-17 years old
Fee: $20 
Questions: Patrick Ahasic, 217-896-2455 or [email protected]

This camp will allow teens to learn about local wildlife and develop a deeper appreciation of the nature around us. Throughout the day your teen will hone plant and animal identification, practice essential wilderness survival skills, and connect with their peers in a setting made with them in mind. Campers will participate in hands-on activities which promote teamwork and foster a deeper connection with nature.  

Historical Roots - County Kids

Dates/Location:

Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21, 28 @ Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods | Register here

OR

Thursdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30 @ Salt Fork Center, Homer Lake | Register here


Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Ages: 6-12 years
Location: Tuesday at Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods; Thursday at Salt Fork 
Fee: $40

Questions: 217-586-2612, [email protected] 

This summer, campers will explore the history of Champaign County through the eyes of kids from the past and present. Over four weeks, campers will travel through time to learn how children across generations lived, played, and had fun. Each week includes hands-on activities, movement-based learning, and creative projects. 

Week 1: Early Kids of Champaign County

Campers will step into the lives of the earliest people of Champaign County and explore what childhood looked like long ago. Campers will learn how early communities lived, traveled, and played, and gain an understanding of daily life in the past.

Week 2: Kids Before the 21st Century

Campers will explore what life was like for kids growing up in Champaign County before the 21st century. By stepping into the past, campers will discover how children spent their days helping with chores, playing games, and finding fun in everyday life.  

Week 3: Kids of Today

This week is all about today’s kids! Campers will explore their own lives in Champaign County and discover how everyday moments become part of history. 

Week 4: All Together

This week is all about bringing it all together! Campers will jump across time to explore how kids from long ago, not-so-long ago, and today are connected through games, stories, and everyday fun. Campers will celebrate all the generations of kids who make Champaign County what it is and see how they’re part of that story too. 

Eco-adventures Day Camp

Choose a date/location:

Time: 10-11:30 AM
Age: 3-11 
Fee: $40 per child

Questions: 217-896-2455, [email protected]

Week 1: Fur and Feathers 

Campers will learn about native mammals and birds. Campers will handle biofacts like mammal pelts and skulls, feathers, and other materials to help us learn. We will also use tools like binoculars and bird call recordings to sharpen our identification skills. 

Week 2: Tiny Wonders 

During this week of camp campers will investigate insects, study spiders, and gain a greater appreciation for the tiny animals that call the forest preserves their home. 

Week 3: Aquatic Adventures

This week of camp will be focused on lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands. We will learn all about these amazing ecosystems and focus on the animals that call them home! 

Week 4: Nature’s Games

The final week of camp will be all about having fun before summer ends. Campers will play nature inspired games, make crafts, and spend one last camp session hanging out with their day camp leaders and fellow campers. 

Historical Roots - Experimental Archaeology

Register here

Dates/Location: 

Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29 @ Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods

Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Ages: 13-15 years
Fee: $40

Questions: 217-586-2612, [email protected] 

This hands-on program will guide campers through creating a variety of their own artifacts using materials and techniques known from early peoples of Illinois. Over four weeks, campers will use scientific methods to learn about local natural resources and how they were used to make everyday items such as tools, ceramics, and inks.  

Week 1: Recording History

Campers will learn about different methods of sharing historical information both by early Native American people and European Settlers. Using natural resources to create various inks and paints, campers will learn how each is processed and used. 

Week 2: Tool Making 

Campers will learn about different local materials used to make a wide variety of everyday tools. Resourcefulness and inventiveness of early people will be highlighted as campers learn to create and problem-solve using materials found around them.  

Week 3: Ceramics

Campers will learn about the different styles and materials found in ancient Illinois history as well as contemporary Native artists. Throughout the day, campers will have the chance to create their own ceramic vessels.  

Week 4: All Together

Campers will put what they’ve learned together through a final set of activities demonstrating the many forms of evidence which tell us about our region’s history. 

Homer Lake Wild Wednesdays

Register here

Dates (Choose one or multiple dates):

  • Wednesday, July 8
  • Wednesday, July 15
  • Wednesday, July 22
  • Wednesday, July 29

Time: 10 AM - 11:30 AM

Ages: 5-12 years

Fee: $10 per day

Questions: 217-896-2455, [email protected] 

Join us for an adventure where each camp day brings a brand-new theme and hands-on exploration! Campers will discover the natural world of Homer Lake Forest Preserve through games, crafts, investigations, and outdoor discovery.  

Week 1: Mammal Tracks

Campers will learn all about the mammals of Illinois. Campers will learn how to identify common mammals using a variety of hands on biofacts. They will also practice their skills as we search for these furry animals around the preserve. 

Week 2: Insect Investigations

Campers will come away from this program with a greater appreciation of these six-legged creatures. We will learn through games, crafts, and have the opportunity to sweep for live insects so we can see them up close! 

Week 3: Lake Life

Campers will investigate the amazing world surrounding the aquatic life of Homer Lake. We will learn through biofact exploration and collect live specimens with pond dipping nets to discover what wonders lie within Homer Lake! 

Week 4: Field Day

On our final Wild Wednesday we will bid farewell to summer camp season with games, crafts, and fun. Come out and enjoy one final chance to explore Homer Lake with the summer camp staff! 

Junior Clinics - Beginner Level

Dates: June 2, 9, 16 and 23
Time: 

  • Ages 8-11, 1:00-2:30 PM
  • Ages 12-15, 2:30-4:00PM

Location: Lake of the Woods Golf Course

Questions: 217-586-2183, [email protected] 

Register

Get your youngsters involved in the wonderful world of golf. Our golf professionals and staff will provide them with all the skills they need to enjoy the game of golf in this group setting. 

  • Option 1: $60 per junior 

    • 4 hours of instruction 

    • Handout materials 

    Option 2: $75 per junior 

    • Option 1 plus comeback coupons for Par 3 Course and Driving Range 

Junior Golf Camp - Intermediate Level

Dates: July 6-9
Time: 8 AM-12 PM
Age: 10-17 years
Fee: $150 per junior

Questions: 217-586-2183, [email protected] 

Register

The Junior Golf Camp is designed for intermediate experienced golfers ages 10-17. This program is a more hands on and in-depth teaching of the game of golf, its rules, and proper etiquette. The camp includes rules seminars, video analysis, handout materials, logo shirt, and one on one instruction from PGA Professionals. 

One Day Camps

Wilderness Explorers

Choose one or multiple dates:

Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Age: 6-12 years
Fee: $10 

Questions: 217-896-2455, [email protected]

Investigate nature through woodland expeditions, scavenger hunts, and games! We'll hike through the forest preserve’s natural features and learn about artifacts that tell the history and culture of the environment around us.   

Little Adventurers

Choose one or multiple days: 

  • Tuesday, June 9 @ Homer Lake Forest Preserve | Register here
  • Thursday, June 11 @ Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve | Register here

Time: 10-12 PM
Age: 3-5 years
Fee: $10

Questions: 217-896-2455, [email protected] 

Join us for a fun sensory hike and hands-on activities designed for preschoolers and their adults! Together, we'll explore the sights, sounds, textures, and smells of nature! Children will have the chance to touch leaves, listen to birds, spot colorful flowers, and much more as we discover the wonders of the outdoors in a playful, interactive environment. This program encourages curiosity and learning through hands-on experiences, making it an exciting adventure for young children and adults alike! Adult participation required.  

Registration Opens March 2 @ 8:00AM

Click here to register 

Need assistance? 

Junior Golf Clinics/Golf Camp: David Sebestik, [email protected] 

All Other Camps: Stacey Clementz, [email protected] 

Scholarships Available

Scholarships are available that cover half the cost of individual camps and open to all children. If you are interested in receiving a scholarship for your child(ren) please contact Stacey.

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