Base Camp Information
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
BASE Camp Registration opens
January 31st, 2027 at 2pm.
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Build a Summer Education for rising 1st-8th Graders.
Summer is a STEAM adventure at OPEN’s popular BASE Camp, where students in grades 1–8 explore, create, and discover through hands-on experiences that bring science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to life. With returning favorites, refreshed offerings, and exciting new camps, families can choose from six weeks of themed adventures. Scholarships are available.
2027 Locations
1st - 6th grade: TBA
7th - 8th grade: Brooks Middle School
Schedule & Dates 2027
June 14th – July 23th
Pre-Week: June 14 – 17 (no camp June 18)
Week 1: June 21 – 25
Week 2: June 28 – July 2
Week 3: July 6 – July 9 (no camp July 5)
Week 4: July 12 – 16
Week 5: July 19 – 23
Week 6: July 26 – 30
Base Camp Resources
BASE Camp Block Registration
Our registration makes summer planning easy by allowing families to enroll in all six weeks of morning and afternoon camps with just one click. Each week features a thoughtfully designed mix of returning favorites and exciting new STEAM experiences, with supervised lunch and recess included and optional add-ons available. Have a question? Email us today
Gift Cards
OPEN offers gift cards for BASE Camp via Amilia.
Camp Descriptions by Grade
BASE Camp Handbook
D97 Partnership
OPEN offers gift cards for BASE Camp via Amilia.
Learn more about our Sample BASE Camps
Science of Sweets
Science of Sweets takes a close look at the delicious science of sugar. Campers examine how temperature influences crystal formation and see first hand how science works to create different textures in sucrose. Density, saturation, and dynamic equilibrium are just a few terms that are explored.
Biking Adventures
During biking adventure, campers learn and practice bike maintenance and biking safety as they ride to destinations such as Thatcher Woods, local cafes and recreation areas. This camp provides opportunities for our campers to become more comfortable on their bike as well as learn more about places that they can bike to in our community.
Experimentation Station
Experimentation Station is all about hands-on experiments with things gooey, strange, stinky, colorful, eruptive, surprising, and always fun! Campers hypothesize about the science behind the reactions they see.
Shoe Drip & Apparel Art
During Shoe Drip/Apparel Art, campers embellish and customize their own gear. Using paints, bling and other materials, campers design their own unique pair of footwear and other apparel that they then take home.
Earth Ambassadors
Our Earth Ambassadors camp is all about the science of sustainability — from climate change to biodiversity to alternative energy — to help our campers become more informed citizens and effective activists. Campers engage in hands-on projects, guided discussion and immersive field trips.
“My kids love OPEN's BASE Camp. They have done the coolest things every summer with amazing teachers and staff. I can't say enough about how lucky we are to have this program here in Oak Park”
Oak Park Parent of Three
Oak Park, Illinois
Every Dollar Opens a Door.
OPEN believes every child deserves the opportunity to experience BASE Camp, regardless of their family's financial circumstances. Our generous scholarship program helps make camp accessible to all families.