Updated on 6/7/2016

After the final school bell has rung for the year, it is time for summer camp! Now is the perfect time for busy moms and dads to start checking out great local summer camps that will keep kids active, entertained, and most of all, happy! Just 90 minutes outside of Chicago, McHenry County features beautiful lakes and nature trails that are perfect for summer adventures and exploration.

Sage YMCA:  Located in Crystal Lake, Sage YMCA of Metro Chicago offers a variety of weekly day camps for children ages three to eighth grade. Kids can enjoy taking a dip in the pool for swimming lessons, playing sports, participating in character development  activities (honesty, caring, respect and responsibility), and much more! Other activities include art, disc golf, archery (campers fifth grade and older), special events, outdoor exploration, and field trips. In addition to its weekly summer camp, the Sage YMCA will offer specialty camps such as Cheerleading/Pom Pons Camp/Dance, Mega Sports Camp, Archery Camp, Tennis Camp and What’s Cookin’ Camp. For more information on summer day camps available at Sage YMCA, call 815-459-4455.

YMCA Camp Duncan: Located just outside of McHenry County in Fox Lake, Illinois, Camp Duncan has provided overnight summer camp experiences since 1921. Ran by the YMCA of Greater Chicago, Camp Duncan offers quality camping programs for boys and girls ages seven to 15 and Teen Adventure Camps for 15 to 17 year olds. Campers will stay in their own cabins (grouped according to age) and learn to live cooperatively by sharing chores, working together, and support one another. Exciting highlights of Camp Duncan include a high ropes course, climbing wall, mountain biking, horseback riding, boating, fishing and much more. For a full list of activities or for more information on Camp Duncan, call 847-546-8086.

McHenry County Conservation District: The McHenry County Conservation District has something for all ages during the hot summer months, inviting campers to enjoy fishing, arts & crafts, outdoor adventures and lots of fun in the sun. Five- and six-year-olds can get a taste of the day camp experience while 12 and 15 year olds can take part in an overnight campout. Spaces at these camps are filling up fast, so parents must act quickly to register their children. For more information or to register, call the Prairieview Education Center at 815-479-5779.

McHenry County College: For sports lovers and future athletic superstars, the McHenry County College (MCC) ScotStars camp gives children the opportunity improve their basketball and soccer skills by training with MCC coaching staff at camp this summer. Basketball camp will be held from June 20 through 23, soccer camp from July 11 through 14 and soccer striker and goalkeeper camp from July 18 through 21. For more information on these sports camps, including registration information, click here. For children in pre-k through 9^th grade, MCC will host Kids and College camp, where children can enjoy MCC’s beautiful campus while participating in outdoor activities, games and hands-on educational classes that are fun and entertaining. For more information on Kids and College, call 815-455-8597.

Summer camp not only offers kids fun opportunities to play and learn, but also helps them develop skills that they will use throughout their lifetimes. Research shows that summer camps can nurture a child’s resilience to future life stresses while assisting in their psychological development. Fortunately, the great summer camps listed above are just minutes from Gerstad Builder’s beautiful homes at Liberty Trails in McHenry and The Trails of Pheasant Ridge in Richmond. If you are looking to purchase a new home in McHenry County, visit the Gerstad Builders website today!