New interactive map and icons highlight high-demand parks and real-time camp openings, alongside a revamped preparation checklist and a public informational webinar
CHICAGO. IL- The Chicago Park District is launching the first phase of an initiative to improve its Summer Day Camp program registration process and address long-standing registration frustrations starting with the 2026 season. In 2025, nearly 20,000 children enjoyed 6-weeks of an exceptional summer experiences in close to 200 park locations at an average cost of $8.34 per day. As one of the city's most budget-friendly summer programs, the Park District’s camps for ages 6 to 12 offer vital support for working families. With rising costs elsewhere, these camps are an increasingly popular resource for families; driving up the demand for these essential programs. To better meet the needs of Chicago families and enhance equitable access for all summer camp applicants, the Chicago Park District is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its Summer Day Camp program and registration system.
“As Chicago’s leading provider of summer camps, we are committed to ensuring our highly sought-after summer programs are both exceptional and equitably accessible to every family we serve,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “Because we take our role as a trusted resource seriously, this year the Park District will begin the first phase of improvements to the registration system to make the process easier, user-friendly and more intuitive for families that rely on these programs.”
As the Park District moves to improve registration to the cost-effective summer camp, residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback, ask questions and walk-through the camp sign-up process during two webinar sessions led by Park District staff on Tuesday, April 14 at12 p.m. and 6 p.m., the day after the Summer Park Schedule is made available on the Park District website. Residents are invited to submit questions and suggestions for the webinar prior to April 14th by filling out the form available when you register for the webinar hosted on Zoom at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/day-camp. The hour-long webinar will discuss how-to sign-up for a Park District program account and navigate our registration website, utilize the new searchable map feature to find a camp, and add programs to your wish-list to facilitate registration. Registration for the webinar is encouraged and available at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/day-camp.
During the webinar, participants will also learn about the updated camp sign-up features designed to make registration easier for everyone. For this year’s Summer Day Camp registration, the Park District is helping residents plan ahead by making the following updates:
- A new map feature on the Chicago Park District’s registration site will give parents/caretakers the tools to explore all day camp options, and easily discover great alternatives if their first choice is at capacity.
- In addition to using a map to find nearby day camp offerings and backup options if a top pick is unavailable, a newly revamped registration landing page will provide easy, screenshot-guided instructions on setting up an account to ensure a stress-free experience on sign-up day.
- New "High Demand" icons on the registration site will notify caretakers of popular programs that are likely to sell-out, allowing registrants to select alternate camps before registration opens.
In addition to re-evaluating the camp sign-up process to better meet local demand, our staff is assessing capacity at park sites to determine the feasibility of expanded day camp availability citywide.