Academy High is thrilled to be hosting camps at its new, permanent location at 2001 Fox Drive this summer. We're especially excited by the variety of our camp offerings, and the fact that all of our camps are led by Academy High faculty and module instructors. We hope you'll join us!
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Our camps are open to all rising 6th through 8th graders.
If you have questions about summer camp please reach out to summer@academyhigh.org
June 5 - June 9
Design Thinking Maker Space (9-12pm)
Mural Painting (1-4pm)
Improv & Theatre Games (1-4pm)
Limited Space Available - Please Reach Out!
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June 12 - June 16
Science of Baking* (9-12pm)
Limited Space Available - Please Reach Out!
Podcasting 101 (1-4pm)
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June 12 - June 14
Girls Basketball Camp (5-8pm)
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Scroll down to learn more about our camps and instructors.
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*Will be held at the Agricultural Engineering Science Building on the University of Illinois campus!
Register Today
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Step 1
Submit information via our registration form.
Step 2
Add items to your cart and check out.
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​Cost of attendance includes all necessary camp-related materials, including a camp t-shirt if camper is registered before May 1st!
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​Standard Drop Off and Pick Up
AM: 8:45 - 12:15 (+$195)
PM: 12:45 - 4:15 (+$195)
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Late Pick Up (+$25)
AM: 12:15 - 12:45
PM: 4:15 - 4:45
Early Drop Off (+$25)
AM: 8:15-8:45
PM: 12:15-12:45
Refund Policy
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Before May 15th, anyone seeking a refund to cancel their registration will receive 100% of the amount previously paid.
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On or after May 15th, anyone seeking a refund will receive 50% of the amount previously paid.
Week of June 5th - June 9th

Design Thinking Maker Space (9-12pm)
Have you ever wanted to be a superhero or to have the ultimate pet? What superpowers would you have? What kind of animal would be your ultimate pet? Students will work independently and collaboratively to create the ultimate animal and the best superhero or heroine. We will use Design Thinking to empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test until we have created two and three-dimensional versions of our animals and superheroes or heroines.
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About The Instructor, Katrina Widholm:
I am an artist, designer and maker and I love to create things! I have a BFA in Visual Communications, an MFA in Interactive Design from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Art Education from the University of Illinois. I love to travel and have lived in the U.S., Switzerland, Mexico and South Korea. I enjoy creating opportunities for students to explore, create and make things using the process of design! I am a teacher at Holy Cross School and a module instructor at Academy High.

Mural Painting (1-4pm)
Participants in this camp will Brainstorm, plan, create and paint a mural at Academy High! Art materials, acrylic paints, brushes and other media will be provided. Make your mark with a mural!
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About The Instructor, Sasha Rubel:
I am a professional, working artist who creates new, original paintings and drawings for galleries and publishers. I have painted murals commercially in Chicago, Florida, etc. so bring technical and practical knowledge to the process. My primary interest is in creativity, encouragement and fun, while also acknowledging the sometimes challenging aspects of creating original, experimental art and exploration of art media and techniques. The rewards are great if you take part.

Improv & Theatre Games (1-4pm)
Each afternoon will be filled with fun theatre games that focus on self-expression, confidence building, teamwork and character development. Discover new ways you can use your imagination, voice and physicality to create improvised scenes and stories. We'll perform an Improv Showcase at the end of our final session on Friday!
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About The Instructor, Jaclyn Loewenstein:
Jaclyn Loewenstein has taught theatre to young people since 1991 in Chicago, New York City, Austin and Champaign, where she is the owner/director of Class Act performing arts studio. She also teaches at Countryside School and Academy High, directs the Penguin Project (theatre with students who have disabilities) for Champaign Urbana Theatre Company, and serves as Producing Artistic Director at Urbana's Station Theatre.
Week of June 12th - June 16th

Science of Baking (9-12pm)
Baking is all about chemistry! Come spend the week perfecting your baking skills and learning the chemistry behind your favorite baked goods. Each day will be a new concept of chemistry and a new recipe to create. The camp will start out with students optimizing their own cookie recipe by establishing dependent and independent variables and taste testing to collect data. Spend your week in our bake lab, no goggles required!
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*Science of Baking will be held at the Agricultural Engineering Science Building on the University of Illinois campus!
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About The Instructor, Nicole McJunkin:
I have a passion for science, baking and constantly learning new things. My love for science started as a young child experimenting with things I found in my kitchen. This ultimately led me to pursue chemistry and formulation science. I finished my PhD and worked as a research manager and science teacher (I teach at Academy High!). I am thrilled to recreate some of my favorite experiments with you this summer.

Podcasting 101 (1-4pm)
Have you ever wondered what it is like running your own podcast? Students will develop their interviewing, researching, recording, editing, and marketing skills. They will learn to prepare thought-provoking questions and follow up responses. Students will identify a topic they are passionate about and build an entire show around that subject. The instructor will guide them as they gain confidence in public speaking, while learning how to research, write, and present a topic. All equipment will be provided.
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About The Instructor, Elizabeth Hess:
My career led me from anchoring and reporting news, to hosting my own talk show, and ultimately hosting three different podcasts. I have always loved interviewing people; getting people to open up and tell their story is one of my favorite things to do! I love to watch kids confidently develop the skills to ask the right questions and truly listen to the responses.