Check out additional summer programs available with a few of our community partners.

Filters:

ALPHA (Advance Learning Program for Higher Achievements)
Year round | Grades 5-12
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ALPHA is a mentorship and violence prevention program with the goal of helping increase the graduation rate. Established in 2020 with programming taking place after school for 11 to 24 years old’s designed to help build the community and encourage cooperation in our community through providing its members with a safe and friendly learning environment to build character, enhance positive thinking and self-respect, discipline, and dedication, while also teaching non-combative de-escalation and how to properly exercise and diet in order to live a healthy lifestyle. Members experience strategic exercises individually and, in a group, in both a classroom and gym setting through practical principles that boost self-awareness and increase communication skills while learning how to maneuver through situations peacefully. Thereby, members can process and release emotions or stress in a positive manner.

Visit the Discovery Center's Summer Camps page

Art Smart
June 16 - June 20 | 6-8 years old
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We’ve got art down to a science! Dive into the fascinating world of color and light, create mind-bending optical illusions, craft musical masterpieces, and experiment with chemistry to bring your creations to life.

Dragons and Vikings
July 20 - Aug. 1 | 6-8 years old
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Do you have what it takes to be a Viking? Join us for an exciting dragon-filled adventure inspired by How to Train Your Dragon! Campers will dive into the world of dragons, discovering the secrets behind their flight and fiery breath. Set sail across icy waters aboard a Viking ship, and craft your very own Viking shield to take home.

Dragon Trainer
Aug. 4 - Aug. 8 | 9-11 years old
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Welcome to dragon training! Join your favorite toothless dragon and discover incredible dragon powers and the secrets of their flight. Campers will experience the Viking way of life by exploring constellations used for navigating the seas and constructing their very own catapult. Get ready for a summer of daring quests and dragon discoveries!

Elements of Energy
July 14 - July 18 | 9-11 years old
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Discover how chemicals mix to create energy, investigate the ups and downs of kinetic energy using roller coasters and put on your engineering hats to design motors and switches in this electrifying week of science!

Energy All Around Us
July 7 - July 11 | 6-8 years old
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Investigate the energetic world around us! Discover the electrifying science of energy and the different forms it takes! Play with static electricity, build roller coasters and find out what gives YOU energy!

STEM studio
June 23 - June 27 | 9-11 years old
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Art and science collide! Campers will explore the science behind vibrant hues and shifting shadows, uncover the secrets of patterns in nature, and experiment with the magic of music and sound waves. Get ready for a hands-on adventure that sparks curiosity and ignites imagination!

Tot Spot Summer Camps: Colorful Chemistry
June 16 - June 16 | 3-5 years old
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Dive into the science of colors! This week we will explore color theory by creating vibrant works of art, making fizzy rainbow reactions and experimenting with mixing colors. Enjoy as our artful discoveries see us creating art both indoors and out!

Tot Spot Summer Camps: Musical Dance Party
June 23 - June 26 | 3-5 years old
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Come explore a summer of sound as we construct our own instruments, sing silly songs and put together our own outdoor music festival!

Tot Spot Summer Camps: Summer Camp Out
July 7 - July 10 | 3-5 years old
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Come discover the basics of that awe-inspiring summer tradition, camping! Through crafts and role-play, you will learn about gear you need, build tents, go on a nature scavenger hunt with binoculars and tell campfire stories!

Tot Spot Summer Camps: Wild Outdoor Adventures
July 14 - July 17 | 3-5 years old
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Use your imagination and immerse yourself into more outdoor camping adventures! We will observe insects and make a bug jar, investigate animal tracks and explore the starry night sky.

Tot Spot Summer Camps: Feathered Friends
July 28 - July 31 | 3-5 years old
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Soar into a week of discovery as we explore the wonderful world of birds and flight! We will learn about types of birds, how they fly and their habitats. Curiosity will be sparked as we make our own wings and construct a giant bird's nest!

Tot Spot Summer Camps: Flying Fun
Aug. 4 - Aug. 7 | 3-5 years old
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Let’s continue our knowledge of flight as we compare how birds take to the skies with how humans fly in airplanes. We will explore wings and feathers, then discover the science behind engines, propellers and jets. Glide through a flight obstacle course, complete a wing shape experiment and fly paper airplanes and craft birds in our wind tunnel!

Northwest Community Center Summer Camp 2025
June 9 - Aug. 8 | Grades 1-5
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Northwest Summer Camp includes group activities, recreation, and technology training, as well as fun-filled educational programming. Weekly programming include tennis, golfing, flag football, arts and crafts, gardening, and Girl and Boy Scouts. In addition, we offer age appropriate field trips.

Summer Camp
June 16 - Aug. 8 | Grades 1-8
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A Summer Program for youth that provides a variety of activities in a safe and caring environment. The 2025 Summer Camp is for a time for fun, recreation, gardening, field trips and learning. We will establish healthy practices to keep everyone well and safe.

Visit the Rockford Area Arts Council Summer Programs page

SPARK! Mosaic
June 16 - June 27 | Grades 6-12
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

SPARK! Mosaic provides an intensive, hands-on, skill-building apprenticeship program to youths who demonstrate an interest in the arts. Youth will work closely with nationally recognized mosaic artist, Susan Burton, in the planning, construction, and installation of a public sculpture. The student’s mosaic work will be recognized publicly by City of Rockford Mayor, Tom McNamara; additionally, there will be permanent signage installed with a SPARK! Mosaic tribute.

SPARK! In the Park (Session One)
July 14 - July 25 | Grades 1-5
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

From color studies and nature compositions to music and movement, your young artist’s creative world will expand and unfold through artistic exposure and hands-on experience. Each child rotates through at least three artistic mediums including, but not limited to, dance + movement, art + nature, visual art, and more. Join us this summer for SPARK in the Park! at the Park District’s beautiful Nicholas Conservatory, Rose Garden, and Sea Scout Lodge on the Rock River.

SPARK! In the Park (Session Two)
July 28 - Aug. 8 | Grades 1-5
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

From color studies and nature compositions to music and movement, your young artist’s creative world will expand and unfold through artistic exposure and hands-on experience. Each child rotates through at least three artistic mediums including, but not limited to, dance + movement, art + nature, visual art, and more. Join us this summer for SPARK in the Park! at the Park District’s beautiful Nicholas Conservatory, Rose Garden, and Sea Scout Lodge on the Rock River.

SPARK! SOMNIUM
July 14 - Aug. 1 | Grades 6-12
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

SOMNIUM Art Camp is an intensive three week skill-building apprenticeship program for young artists who will have the opportunity to work alongside award-winning local and international artists across a variety of disciplines including creative writing, muralism, production animation, prop design and creation, movement and flow arts. The student work created in the camp will be integrated into an immersive outdoor public art production and a literary journal produced by Mentes Extremófilas.

Neon Art Summer Camp
June 9 - June 13 | Grades 3-6
Monday-Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Join artist Jenny Mathews as she guides campers through the exciting world of glowing art! Campers will try out different types of mediums, including clay and acrylics, and will learn the basics of creating light and shadows, perspective and the color wheel.

Acrylic Painting Summer Camp
Aug. 4 - Aug. 8 | Grades 3-6
Monday-Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Join artist Jenny Mathews as she guides campers through the process of learning how to paint with acrylics.

Visit the Rockford Dance Company Summer Programs page

Intermediate/Advanced Intensive
Aug. 11 - Aug. 29 | 14-18 years old
Monday-Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Join us for an exciting three weeks of training to get back in shape for the ‘25 - ‘26 season! Classes included: Ballet, Modern, Variations, Choreography 101, Pointe, Conditioning, Injury Prevention. The Company Audition Week (August 18 - 22) is included in this intensive, auditioning is optional.

Company Audition Week
Aug. 18 - Aug. 22 | 15-18 years old
Monday-Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Audition for the chance to join us for our '25 - '26 RDC Company season! Dancers ages 15 - 18 are invited to audition for our Company program, and all the wonderful opportunities we offer our Company members throughout the season. This week is required to audition and participate in RDC's Company. Classes included: Ballet, Variations, Modern. If you are already enrolled in the Intermediate/Advanced Intensive you do not need to enroll for this week as well.

Nutcracker Workshop Ages 5 - 7
Aug. 18 - Aug. 21 | 5-7 years old
Monday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Prepare for our annual The Nutcracker auditions in these weeklong workshops. During the week your dancer will learn all the choreography they’ll need to know to nail their audition!

Nutcracker Workshop Ages 8-14
Aug. 11 - Aug. 14 | 5-7 years old
Monday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Prepare for our annual The Nutcracker auditions in these weeklong workshops. During the week your dancer will learn all the choreography they’ll need to know to nail their audition!

Nutcracker Workshop Intermediate/Advanced
Aug. 4 - Aug. 7 | 14-18 years old
Monday-Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Prepare for our annual The Nutcracker auditions in these weeklong workshops. During the week your dancer will learn all the choreography they’ll need to know to nail their audition!

Mini Camp: Broadway Stars
June 16 - June 20 | 5-12 years old
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Have a fun-filled week exploring styles and choreography from popular musical theater productions! We’ll make your stars shine with fun themed crafts and a performance to show off their new moves! Camp week will finish on Friday with a special performance to show off our new skills at 11:30 am. There will be daily arts & crafts time. Please pack a snack and water bottle daily. Comfortable attire required.

Tot & Me
June 4 - July 30 | 18 months to 3 years old
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

This class is designed to help your child feel comfortable exploring music and movement with you by their side. Students learn dance movements while developing healthy toddler bodies and coordination. This is the perfect way to spend time with your toddler as they are introduced to the joy of dancing!

Creative Movement
June 5 - July 31 | 3-4 years old
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Students gain balance, strength, and coordination as they explore how their bodies move. The curriculum is carefully designed to gently introduce these students to a structured, safe classroom environment. They will work on listening skills, following directions, and taking turns as they also learn the fundamentals of dance.

Ballet/Tap
June 2 - July 28 | 4-5 years old
Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

This is an introductory class combining skills from both ballet and tap. They will learn the basics of musicality, ballet, and tap as they get more familiar with movement and being in a classroom setting. *Both ballet and tap shoes are required.

Introduction to Ballet
June 3 - July 29 | 6-7 years old
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

This class is an introduction to the basics of ballet. Introduction to Ballet focuses on learning lots of new steps, strength, balance, and coordination, while fostering a love for dance!

YMCA Adventure Camps
June 9 - Aug. 8 | Grades K-6
Monday-Friday, 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Adventure Camps offer a unique blend of indoor and outdoor activities! With a focus on achievement, friendship, and belonging, our camps provide a nurturing environment for creative play, sports, and more! Financial Assistance is available.

Camp Winnebago YMCA
June 2 - Aug. 13 | Grades K-12
Monday-Friday, 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Nestled on over 140 acres, this woodland haven offers archery, canoeing, climbing tower and more! Emphasizing Achievement, Friendship, and Belonging, our camp nurtures every child's potential in a fun-filled environment. Activities like field games, gardening and weekly overnights ensure a blend of learning, excitement, & memory-making! Join us this summer where caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith will guide every adventure!