This summer, RPS 205 students can jump into a world of fun with awesome camps and activities – there’s something for everyone.

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Check out additional opportunities available with some of our community partners.

Beauty in the City
July 7 to July 18 | Grades 6-11
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students will explore the region’s rich and various locations and document their discoveries in a digital format. Students will be exploring Rockford with a focus on historical sites, the role and evolution of downtown Rockford, the importance of the Rock River, various parks, and recreational offerings along with a focus on architectural achievements. Students will be walking daily.

Beauty in the Valley
July 7 to August 1 | Grades K-11
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.

Outdoor Art
July 7 to July 18 | Grades 3-5
July 21 to August 1 | Grades 6-8
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We will be offering two sections of Outdoor Art for Elementary Students grades 3-5 during Weeks A & B along with two sections of Outdoor Art for Middle School Students grades 6-8 during weeks C & D. Outdoor art will take participants into the community and provide opportunities for students to creatively express themselves while observing various landscapes and areas within the surrounding community. Students will be capturing what they observe in their own creations using a variety of artistic approaches.

My Community Retreat – New in 2025!
July 28 to August 1 | Grades K-3
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us as we travel around Rockford and meet various people and learn more about their professions and how they come together to form our larger community. Students will learn about civic engagement while building their understanding of the variety of careers available in Rockford and how they help to make our city function.

Outdoor Education at Atwood
July 7 to August 8 | Grades 3-10
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Situated along the beautiful Kishwaukee River, Atwood Park boasts 334 acres of diverse natural area, including forest, marsh, and prairie land. The Rockford Park District’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (ORE) program focuses on engaging participants in the outdoors with hands-on experiences. The ORE program coordinates high-quality outdoor experiences with Illinois State Board of Education Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. Students will be walking daily.

Outdoor Education at White Pines Ranch
August 4 to August 8 | Grades 3-5
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participants will enjoy learning through hiking in a naturally-formed sandstone canyon, searching for fossils from the Ordovician Period, studying aquatic life in a stream along erosion banks, grooming and riding horses, investigating local history in a cemetery, and other hands-on activities in the outdoors. Students will also develop lasting relationships as meals are eaten family style and the instructors build enjoyable groups. Students will be walking daily.

Outdoor Recreation
July 7 to August 1 | Grades 6-11
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us as we expand our previous Fishing and Kayaking retreat to include additional recreational offerings around the area. Participants will learn aspects of fishing, kayaking and outdoor golf. Emotional health, physical fitness, environmental awareness, and community action are all incorporated into this retreat.

Severson Dells
July 7 to August 8 | Grades 3-5
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Severson Dells Nature Center will provide five days of nature education programs that combine hands-on explorations, guided activities, and games to engage students in the natural learning laboratory that Severson Dells Forest Preserve provides. Students will get a field backpack with a field journal, hand lens, bug box and measuring tape to use for the week and be able to take home at the end of the week to continue their outdoor explorations and observations.

Water, Water, Water
July 7 to August 1 | Grades K-8
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.

Wilderness Walks
July 7 to August 1 | Grades 5-8
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us as we explore various park settings around the Rockford area. Explore new places and see familiar locations through a natural perspective. Learn about the history, ecology and other environmental topics and challenges associated with our wilderness areas. Connect with nature, engage in physical activity, and have fun while hiking through the various area offerings. Participants will be walking daily.

Soccer, Wrestling, Weight Lifting, Bowling, and Flag Football
July 7 to July 10 | Grades 3-7
Monday-Thursday, 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Our coed summer sports camps offer RPS 205 students a fun and engaging way to build fundamental skills, gain sports knowledge, and develop a love for athletics. Campers select one sport per week, and we encourage registration for multiple weeks to explore different sports. Led by RPS staff and coaches, our camps provide a supportive environment where students can grow their athletic abilities and passion for sports.

Locations:

• East High School, 2929 Charles Street, Rockford, Illinois 61108.

• Bowling: Don Carter Lanes, 4007 E State Street, Rockford, IL 61108

Basketball, Cheer, and Baseball
July 14 to July 17 | Grades 3-7
Monday-Thursday, 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Our coed summer sports camps offer RPS 205 students a fun and engaging way to build fundamental skills, gain sports knowledge, and develop a love for athletics. Campers select one sport per week, and we encourage registration for multiple weeks to explore different sports. Led by RPS staff and coaches, our camps provide a supportive environment where students can grow their athletic abilities and passion for sports.

Location: Jefferson High School, 4145 Samuelson Road, Rockford, Illinois 61109

Football, Tennis, Dance, and Softball
July 21 to July 24 | Grades 3-7
Monday-Thursday, 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Our coed summer sports camps offer RPS 205 students a fun and engaging way to build fundamental skills, gain sports knowledge, and develop a love for athletics. Campers select one sport per week, and we encourage registration for multiple weeks to explore different sports. Led by RPS staff and coaches, our camps provide a supportive environment where students can grow their athletic abilities and passion for sports.

Location: Auburn High School, 5110 Auburn Street, Rockford, Illinois 61101

Volleyball, Track & Field/Cross Country, Golf, and Swimming
July 28 to July 31 | Grades 3-7
Monday-Thursday, 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Our coed summer sports camps offer RPS 205 students a fun and engaging way to build fundamental skills, gain sports knowledge, and develop a love for athletics. Campers select one sport per week, and we encourage registration for multiple weeks to explore different sports. Led by RPS staff and coaches, our camps provide a supportive environment where students can grow their athletic abilities and passion for sports.

Locations:

• Guilford High School, 5620 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, IL 61114

• Golf: Aldeen Golf Club, 1902 Reid Farm Rd, Rockford, IL 61107

Coding and Robotics at the Discovery Center
July 7 to August 8 | Grades 3-5
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This class is geared towards elementary students who are interested in robotics and coding. Students will learn about programming, coding, and different topics as they relate to the field of robotics. Students will have hands-on experiences with a variety of topics and challenges that require creative thinking.

Computational Thinking and Making
July 7 to July 11 | Grades 6-8
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This summer program will offer students an opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on projects using different Making tools, robotics kits, and craft materials. Students will work with Dr. Pi-Sui Hsu and other Northern Illinois University teaching personnel.

Khan Online Coaching
July 7 to August 1 | Grades K-11
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Location: Online)

Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from an RPS 205 certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced, and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles – New in 2025!
July 14 to July 18 | Grades 5-10
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On this retreat, students will learn about the history, advances, and innovation in three technologies in transportation that not only transformed this country’s landscape, but are now fields in which the United States has been the leading innovator. They will learn about these technologies and how they relate to them on a local level (Rockford), state level (Illinois), and national level (westward expansion). They also will learn about careers in both aviation and automotive technology.