Summer Camps: Great Opportunity for Family Fun

Summer camp photos

This summer, the office of conference services and camps brought approximately 1,700 children from ages six to 18 to campus for North Central staff and faculty-led camps in activities such as football, volleyball, soccer, girls’ wrestling, boys’ lacrosse and more. 

Each summer, the camps do more than provide an opportunity for seasonal fun. They also create revenue and exposure for the College, especially among families in surrounding communities who perhaps are not familiar with North Central.

Another benefit is that faculty and staff receive a generous discount when enrolling their children to attend the camps. This year, North Central employees received a 30 percent discount on camp registration fees—an increase from 10 percent last year.

Beyond the financial perk, the camps offer a special, shared experience between employees and their children. Plus, staff who lead the camps get to know their colleagues’ children. Jake Fiedler ’20/M ’22, assistant director of conference services and camps, said that creates “community and a unique opportunity for North Central faculty and staff.”

Chris Drennan ’09/M ’11 is not only the director of conference services and camps at North Central, he’s also a camp parent. “Speaking personally, I’m glad that my kids can go to the camps,” he said. “It gives me a sense of pride when they say, ‘We’re going to camp at Daddy’s work today!’”

The office of conference services and camps also coordinates with external groups to rent out North Central’s spaces, which brought an additional 3,500 people to campus this summer through Chicago Cubs, Chicago Fire and Chicago Red Stars youth camps; a summer internship program; the Golden Apple Scholars program; and more.