5 of the Best Summer Camps for Kids in Rockford, Illinois

Looking for fun camps to send your kids to this summer? Here are 5 camps that Rockford-area parents rave about the most.

My kids' last day of school is tomorrow and I am NOT prepared to deal with this.

As a working mom, finding childcare and/or ways to keep my girls entertained during the summer gets old in about 5 days, and I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to the craziness of these next few months. I love my kids, but I am dreading the "I'm bored" whining that will begin once the summer break newness wears off, so I'm combatting that problem in advance.

Whenever I ask parents what summer camps their kids love most, these are the 5 that get mentioned most:

1. Camp Vertical Extreme at Rockford Christian High School - This is a day camp for ages 4 to 15 and features activities based on weekly themes, field trips to pools, games, and more. Registration fees depend on family size, and campers can register for up to 5 days a week.

3. Rockford Park District Camps - There are a TON of options available for kids throughout the summer from adventure camps to pony camps, dance camps, art camps, sports camps and SO much more. The park district also teams up with other organizations like the Burpee Museum of Natural History, Midway Village Museum, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, for more camp experiences too.

4. Discovery Center Museum STEM Camps - This museum offers a range of summer camps for kids, including STEM-themed camps, art camps, and outdoor camps from preschool age up to 12 years old.

5. Whiz Kids at Rock Valley College - RVC offers a variety of summer classes including music, art, education, and theater camps.

The good news for parents with young kids in the Rockford area is that the 5 summer camp options listed above are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to summer fun options. Just start doing a little research, and I'm sure you will find a camp all of your kids will LOVE, and YOU will be able to enjoy a whine-free summer too!

Here are some more tips for your summer survival guide too...just in case you need them.