University Primary School Adventure Play Summer Camp:

Registration opens January 20, 2025 @ 7:00 AM!

Adventure Play Summer Camp is an immersive, engaging, child- directed day camp at University Primary School. Children from all schools are welcome at camp (ie. you need not be enrolled at Uni Primary to attend camp).

Here, each child can have their own, individualized version of the "best camp ever!" where trained, adult playworkers support and respect children while prioritizing play. Imagine a place full of interesting materials where children are in charge of their time, what they do and how they do it:

Some children may want to build forts, roll tires down a hill, or create elaborate costumes for theater.
Other children want to run, splash in water, or create big games with lots of friends.
Still others play in the mud or find a quiet place to read or open a business.

Now imagine all of that happening at once under big shade trees and an open prairie!

This is Adventure Play!

Grounded in agreements of care and with a sole purpose of play, this magical camp holds space for authentic expression of self through play almost 100% outside as weather allows. Using loose parts, children transform the site daily using materials that change according to their use and imagination projected onto said material. The space is filled to the brim with play, excitement, and options for everyone.

Research shows that play is infinitely important for cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development, as well as a main form of communication for children. Knowing play is so impactful for children, trained playworkers invest lots of effort into creating welcoming environments, full of interesting materials that are ripe for all play types with children’s needs in mind.

Playworkers serve as play researchers, co-regulators, mediators, building helpers, safety inspectors and caring, authentic, invested witnesses to children’s worlds as shown in their play.
Playworkers work to gently support children's play, create and hold inviting environments where kids feel freedom, permission & support to play, with a foundation of felt safety.
Playworkers hold a deep respect for children, belive the best in them, and prioritize their play.

You won't find a daily adult-led activity at this camp--these camps are structured by the children and their play, which means each day and each week is fresh and new and customizable based on the childrens' interests. Settings that prioritize time, space, and permission to play are exceedingly rare for children today, and Adventure Play at University Primary School is honored to hold space for children to be their truest selves through play.

Contact

For questions about summer camp sign up, contact Christine Wyant in our school office.
For questions about Adventure Play Camp overall, contact Kelsey Langley our summer camp and after school director.

2025 Camp Registration Process Information

Summer Camp 2025 Information: When registering for Summer 2025, please note, this camp is wildly popular and always fills to capacity in mere hours. Because of this, you will register to request enrollment beginning on January 20 7:00 AM and we will confirm via email by February 17 what weeks we are able to offer your child(ren) based on your request(s), along with payment details. Thanks for your understanding!

Registration Requests go live Monday, January 20, 2025 at 7:00am and have historically filled to waitlist status in just a few hours.
Please request only dates for which you intend to register and pay. We turn down other requests based on your initial selections and may not be able to honor multiple weeks requested.
Responses to registration will be sent by February 17, 2025 and will include a link for payment.
- Please add CWyant@illinois.edu and KLangley@illinois.edu to your contact list so information does not go to spam!
Payment are due by March 3 at 11:59 PM unless other arrangements are made ahead of time with cwyant@illinois.edu. Once your payment link expires, registration is automatically forfeited and we will fill that spot via the camp waitlist.

Optional Step: Complete Tuition Fee Waiver Application Form

Families must submit tax documentation to affirm their waiver application. Families may choose to submit tax documentation in person by visiting the school office. Families may choose to submit tax documentation electronically, using the secure box folder found through this tuition fee waiver application form link below. Do not email your tax form. Social Security Numberss are on tax forms. We will temporarily collect a tax form electronically for affirmation of waiver information and then electronically dispose of the form. Families have the option to black out a SSN on their tax form, when submitting electronically or in person. After submitting a tax form via the secure box folder, remember to remove the tax form from your own computer/recycle bin, etc. if no longer needed!

Tuition Fee Waiver Application Form

2025 Older Camp Sign-Up

· Full Day 8:30am - 3:00pm

· Ages 6/7 year olds - 12/13 year olds

· Cost: $270 per week

· Add on extended camp hours 3:00-5:00 pm, $85 additional per week

· Extended camp cannot be added after the registration period, so make selections thoughtfully.

· There are no half day options this summer for the older camp, though families can retrieve their child whenever works best.

Weeks of Camp

· Week 1: June 9-13

· Week 2: June 16-20 (*No camp 6/19, fees pro-rated)

· Week 3: June 23-27

· No camp week of June 30- July 4

· Week 4: July 7-11

· Week 5: July 14-18

· Week 6: July 21-25

Sign-Up for 2025 Older Camp

2025 Younger Camp Sign-Up

Registration live Monday, January 20 at 7:00am and historically has filled to waitlist status in just a few hours.

· Camp Hours: 8:30am - 12:30pm

· Cost is $185 per week.

· Ages 3*years - 6/7 years

· *Child must be bathroom independent to attend summer camp

· Packed lunch from home served at 11:30am

· More details regarding what to pack for lunch will be sent closer to camp.

· No extended younger camp hours offered past 12:30pm