Base Camp
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Build a Summer Education for Rising 1st-8th Graders.
BASE Camp, which stands for Build A Summer Education, is OPEN's signature summer STEAM camp for students K - 8 and is offered over six weeks of the summer, with an additional pre-week for middle school students. BASE Camp gives an immersive, hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Each weekly camp session centers around a unifying theme that weaves all five STEAM disciplines together, creating a rich, connected experience. Camps are tailored to different grade levels and led by experienced educators - most of them District 97 teachers, along with community partners who bring their fields to life.
Scholarships are available to ensure every family can participate, regardless of financial circumstances. Scholarship applications open mid-January. Program details, camp schedules, and class descriptions are available mid-January; registration opens at the end of January or beginning of February.
What students will explore
STEAM integration
Week-long experiential STEAM exploration anchored by a unifying theme
Experiential learning
Hands-on projects that integrate all five STEAM disciplines
Creativity
Expert-led sessions by D97 teachers and community partners
Collaboration
Collaboration with peers across D97 schools
Exploration
A summer full of creativity, discovery, and joy
"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's programs are free to students — and possible because of the generosity of our donors, partners, and community. Your support keeps STEAM exploration accessible to every child in Oak Park, regardless of background.