For children entering grades 3–8
A safe, high-energy, and rewarding program based on core values of trust, communication, and teamwork
Registration for Summer Lab 2022 has closed.
At Lab, we know that learning is a year-round experience, which can, and should, take many forms. Our Summer Lab programs offer so many different opportunities for children to learn, connect, and discover—from sports and theater to urban adventure and academics. The programs are fun and like everything at Lab, they are designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence in each child.
Summer Lab builds on over 70 years of summer programming at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Summer Lab brings together the resources and faculty of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools with exciting new programs offered by experts from across the city.
In an environment that focuses on kids, Summer Lab students and campers make new friends, learn new skills, play, make art, explore the environment, perform, and much, much more. All of this takes place in and around an unparalleled university setting that enriches our summer fun in incomparable ways and helps our Summer Lab children make the most of the promise of summer.
Summer Lab is open to all students and campers in the Chicago metro area entering Nursery–grade 12. Students and campers may choose a single activity for all six weeks, or vary their schedule between the first three weeks (Session I) and the second three weeks (Session II). Mornings and afternoons offer additional opportunities for variety.
Dates, Deadlines, and Important Information
Program Dates
Full Session: June 21–July 29
Session I: June 21–July 8*
Session II: July 11–July 29
*Closed June 20 and July 4 in observance of holidays
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received in writing no later than May 15 for a full refund minus the non-refundable fee. If a family has to cancel for any reason after May 15, no refund will be issued.
| times & locations | |
| Nursery–Grade 2 | Grades 3–8 |
| Earl Shapiro Hall 5800 South Stony Island Ave Arrival: 8–8:15 a.m. Classes start at 8:15 a.m. Dismissal: 3:30–3:45 p.m. Late Day: 3:30–5:15 p.m. Dismissal: 5:15–5:30 p.m. |
Historic Campus 1362 East 59th St Arrival: 8–8:15 a.m. Classes start at 8:15 a.m. Dismissal: 3:30–3:45 pm Late Day: 3:30–5:15 p.m. Dismissal: 5:15–5:30 p.m. |
COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
Summer Lab prioritizes the health, safety, and well-being of its students, employees, and the broader community. In consultation with University partners and medical experts, Summer Lab will implement appropriate COVID mitigations this summer. Our policies will take into account guidance and directives from the Chicago Department of Public Health and current pandemic indicators. More information will be provided prior to the start of camp.
Summer Lab is guided by the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools’ mission, and enrollment is open to all students. The continuing challenges to which our distinguished faculty members rise each and every summer is to keep their material fresh, relevant, and truly engaging for their students. Their ability to do so is one key element—among many—that sets Summer School at Lab apart.
For Nursery–grade 2, classes will consist of approximately 16 students who will remain together for most of their day.
Grades 3–8 are able to select from a variety of camps and classes throughout the day.
Late Day is available to all children Nursery–grade 8 from 3:30–5:15 p.m.
Cost: Session I $250
Session II: $300
Please check meeting times and dates in each listing that follows, and feel free to contact the Summer Lab office with questions about structuring your child’s days:
summerlab@ucls.uchicago.edu
773-834-7766
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For children entering grades 6–8
Offering a full menu of team sports including soccer, basketball, and baseball
For children entering grades 6–8
Your red carpet to a great summer of music, dance, acting, fun, and friends! Join all your favorite Madagascar characters
For children entering grades 6–8
In this class we will study and learn from the games of grandmasters and world chess champions alike
For children entering grades 6–8
Develop your child’s intellect through the royal game of chess
For children entering grade 3
This class is designed to provide review and practice to strengthen key areas with proficiency as the goal
For children entering grade 3
Topics will range from multi-digit operations, fraction and mixed number operations, measurement, and data analysis using a variety of graphs, as well as two- and three-dimensional geometry
For children entering grade 4
Review and practice to strengthen important math skills, namely multi-digit operations, understanding and working with fractions and mixed numbers, gathering data, and creating graphs to interpret information
For children entering grade 4
Multi-digit operations, working with fractions and mixed numbers, decimals, percentages as well as two- and three-dimensional geometry will be covered
For children entering grades 3–5
Develop your child’s intellect through the royal game of chess
For children entering grade 5
We will review fourth grade concepts and preview fifth grade topics; your child will be exposed to a variety of math tools
For children entering grades 3–5
In this class we will study and learn from the games of grandmasters and world chess champions alike
For children entering grades 10–12
The Krupnick Approach’s SAT workshops will cover all subjects of the SAT
For children entering grades 10–12
The Krupnick Approach’s ACT workshops will cover all subjects of the ACT
For children entering grade 6
This class is designed to teach your child the key executive-functioning strategies and study skills needed for success in school and daily life
For children entering grades 6–8
Your learner will become familiar with a variety of animation episodes spanning the last one hundred years of animation while learning to talk and write about them through a different lens of the Humanities
For children entering grades 6–8
This course will focus on cultivating DEI relationships that establish social awareness and enhance community involvement
For children entering grades 6–8
This course allows your budding roboticist to design, build, and code a robot to draw and paint their own artwork
For children entering grades 6–8
What is the connection between Hamilton, hip hop, and Shakespeare’s sonnets?
For children entering grades 6–8
Your athlete will participate in a variety of basketball-themed activities
For children entering grades 6–8
This class takes your learner into Lab’s own darkroom to teach them in a tactile way about the relationship between light and time, and how those two things come together to create a photograph
For children entering grades 6–8
This course will provide a review of middle school math concepts and an introduction to problem solving
For children entering grades 6–8
Your young poet will read and discuss a variety of poems and review their knowledge of literary elements and poetic techniques and learn the basics of podcasting and listen to models of poetry podcasts
For children entering grades 6–8
Your young hero will work cooperatively together with peers and use creative problem-solving skills while playing the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game
For children entering grades 6–8
Unlock the creative world of plants! Learn how we can paint, dye, and print with plants
For children entering grades 6–8
Learn the magic of handcrafting your own accessories and garments by knitting
For children entering grades 3–5
Your young artist will learn how to use their doodling skills by doing design projects for local nonprofits or small businesses
For children entering grades 3–5
Your child will learn the skills of a game maker through conceiving, designing, and creating their own mobile app games
For children entering grades 3–5
In this specialty camp, your child will learn how to “hack” through fun coding (and code-breaking) games
For children entering grades 3–5
In this innovative hands-on coding and tech camp, your young programmer will learn the skills of a coder and the mindset of an entrepreneur through building apps
For children entering grades 3–5
Act, move, and dance in this lively theatre class for young performers
For children entering grades 3–5
Act, move, and dance in this lively theatre class for young performers
For children entering grade 5
This class will focus on honing the analytical reading and writing skills your child will need as their reading class advances
For children entering grades 3–5
Your artist will learn hand-building techniques, like pinching, coiling, and slabs and about the stages of clay and how to make an object that survives drying without breaking
For children entering grades 3–5
Learn how to read a map, make heads or tails of a compass, and recognize flags from places far and near
For children entering grades 3–5
In this “Advanced” class, we focus more on the rules of D&D while still exploring ecology
For children entering grades 3–5
Your young adventurer will learn teamwork, creative problem solving, storytelling, and math, and so much more
For children entering grades 3–5
Your child will learn the basics of knitting and fabric construction and much more
For children entering grades 3–5
Your child will learn the basics of the loom, different weaving techniques, and how to create 2D and 3D objects with their fabric
For children entering grades 3–5
A photo class where every step of the process is done on the tablet, from initially taking the picture, to basic editing and much more
For children entering grades 3–5
We will learn basic art concepts, receive guided instruction, and experiment with a variety of art materials
For children entering grades 3–5
Offering a full menu of team sports including soccer, basketball, and baseball
For children entering grades 3–5
A warm, joyful, and supportive environment that celebrates each day with a variety of fun, “on-your-feet” games and exercises
For children entering grades 3–5
A dance class that will expose your child to several different dance forms
For children entering grades 3–5
Can a LEGO® robot create a masterpiece of art?
For children entering grades 3–5
Using the frameworks of legends, myths, fairy tales, and more, your child will learn the basics of acting and more
For children entering grades 3–4
Come have fun while learning with us this summer! We promise your child will get excited about this reading and writing class
For children entering grades 1–2
This half-day program will help your child develop and practice skills of strategy and planning
For children entering grades 1–2
Morning enrichment classes with afternoons filled with dance and improv
For children entering grades 1–2
Morning enrichment classes with afternoon engineering and machines
For children entering grades 1–2
Morning enrichment, afternoon robots and chess
For children entering grades 1–2
Using the frameworks of legends, myths, fairy tales, and more, your child will learn the basics of acting and more
For children entering grade 2
Come have fun while learning with us and get excited about this reading and writing class
For children entering grade 1
Join us for a summer of excitement as we gear up for first grade
For children entering grade 1
This class is designed for readers who continue to work on letter-recognition skills, sight-word memorization, or beginning blending skills
For children entering Kindergarten
Using the frameworks of legends, myths, fairy tales, and more, your child will learn the basics of
For children entering Kindergarten
Cultivate an understanding, appreciation, and love of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math
For children entering Kindergarten
Summer Kindergarten is a time for children entering kindergarten to connect, play, and explore
For children entering Nursery 3 or 4
Join us for an unforgettable kaleidoscope of summer fun
For children entering Nursery 4 and Kindergarten
Calling all story lovers! We will spend our summer days together playing with stories