By Sue Zeiler

Find fun Winter Break Camps to make sure your kids stay busy and have fun while school is out! Find single-day camps or mini break sessions in categories including art, music, dance, sports, theater, STEM and more. Register now while there's space available and before winter break boredom sets in! Here are some of our picks for the best Winter Break Camps taking place for kids in and around Chicago.

Visit our Winter Break Camps listing page to find even more options.

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"Snow"stoppers Musical Theatre Camp
Imagine Performing Arts at the Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway St., Chicago
December 29, 30, 31; January 2, 5. For ages 4-13. 9:00am - 4:00pm. $90. Grab your dancing shoes and get ready to belt out your favorite Broadway tunes! In this camp, we'll play drama and improv games, create, original stories and characters, design our own costume and set pieces, and learn a new showstopping musical number each camp day. Campers will learn the basics of theatre and hone performance skills all while making new friends and having a (wintry) blast! Learn more...

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Adaptation Adventurers Winter Camp
Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Drive, Chicago
December 29 - January 5. 9am - 3pm. Ages 4-8. Explore nature and science on your days off school! Nature Museum Day Off and Winter Camps give children the opportunity to join us for outdoor and indoor fun. Campers will observe the natural world around them, grow their comfort with scientific skills, and explore the outside world around them, all while having a blast! Learn more...

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Kids Winter Camp
Brain Builders Academy, 225 S. Sangamon St., Chicago
Steam in Session runs December 22 and 29 - 31, from 8:30am - 3:00pm. At Brain Builders Academy's "Day Off of School" Camp, kids enjoy a fun-filled day of hands-on STEAM activities, games, and creative projects. Whether they're building, experimenting, or exploring, our small class sizes ensure each child gets personalized attention, making it a perfect mix of learning and play. For ages 3-9. $150 per day. Learn more...

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Griffin MSI Camps
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable, Chicago
Make the most of your winter break by joining a three-day camp full of STE(A)M exploration. Students can discover winter around the world, craft mini-machines or use 3D printers. Programming is available for grades K through 12. Monday, December 29 – Wednesday, December 31, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $300 per camper ($270 for Griffin MSI members.) Learn more...

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Hi-Five Winter Break Sports Camp
Ogden School at LaSalle Language Academy, 1734 N. Orleans, Chicago
December 22-24, 26, 29-31, Jan 2. 8:30am - 3pm. Full week or by the day. $135/$115 per day. For ages 4-12. Our School Break Camps offer kids a chance to try various sports under the leadership of our experienced coaches, focusing on sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun. Like our Summer Camp, we feature core sports, such as basketball, baseball/softball, flag football, soccer, floor hockey, plus popular games like Gaga, Dodgeball, Tug-of-War, and Capture the Flag. Learn more...

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Lincoln Park Zoo Winter Camp
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
December 22-23, 29-30. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. each day. $125 per day; members get 15% off. For PreK–Grade 5.Winter Break Camp offers exciting, in-person exploration opportunities for animal and nature lovers in grades PreK–5. Each Winter Break Camp group will explore the zoo and participate in activities to learn about animals, the environment, and the ways in which Lincoln Park Zoo cares for different species at the zoo and conserves them in the wild. Learn more...

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Steve & Kate's Camps
Coonley Elementary, 4046 N Leavitt St. and LaSalle II Magnet School, 1148 N Honore St., Chicago
At Coonley Elementary (4046 N Leavitt St.) and LaSalle II Magnet School (1148 N Honore St), Chicago. When school’s out, we give them what they desperately need — freedom to expand and evolve. At Steve & Kate’s, campers choose which activities they do, whom they do it with and for how long. For kids, this experience is pure joy. It’s also a kind of training ground for life, where they’ll need to be empowered and independent and resilient and responsible for their own decisions. Happy human-ing starts here. Learn more...

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Taste Buds Kitchen Holiday Cooking Camp
Taste Buds Kitchen, 2521 Waukegan Road, Bannockburn
December 22-23, 26, 29-31, Jan 2. Featuring a variety of daily camps for ages 4-8 and 9-13. School Break Cooking Camps, for ages 4-13, are an ideal opportunity for gaining kitchen confidence, learning essential cooking skills, and making new friends. Spend your time off from school in our a hands-on culinary adventure courses! Learn more...

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Chicago Blue Dolphins
2222 N. Elston Ave., Chicago
Winter Break Intensive Swim Camps run December 26th – 30th, 2025 | Ages 4–12 | 9:00am–12:00pm. $165 per child, per day. Chicago Blue Dolphins’ Winter Break Intensive Swim Camps are the perfect mix of learning, fun, and holiday energy-burning. Learn more...

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Find more options in our Winter Break Camps page.