KEEN Chicago – Camp KEEN
Various Locations, 3003 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
About
KEEN Chicago – Camp KEEN offers a wide range of activities, including Field Days, KEEN Sports, yoga, music, aquatics, art, dance, and jiu jitsu. Camp KEEN also includes off-site experiences such as kayaking, sailing, a boat tour, a Navy Pier seek-and-find, a Seadog boat ride, a beach day, a bike camp overnight, a Disability Pride Parade outing, a hike, swimming sessions, and trampoline events. For summer programs, KEEN focuses on special event base camp themed programming instead of its regular indoor schedule.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Camp KEEN runs June–August with activities scheduled on specific dates and times throughout the summer
KEEN's mission is to empower youth with disabilities and impact volunteer coaches through participation in free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs of physical activity and fun, supporting the overall health and well-being of all participants. All programs are entirely free of charge, and participants must be registered for programs they are attending, with no drop-ins allowed. All summer enrollments are confirmed via email by June 10, and some programs have limited capacities, with KEEN allocating spaces as fairly as possible while not being able to accommodate all program requests. KEEN welcomes every child, regardless of the nature or severity of his or her disability, and programs are open, unstructured, non-competitive, and tailored to meet the needs of the individual athlete. KEEN Chicago is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and an affiliate of KEEN USA, which operates programs in Chicago, Greater DC, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and St. Louis.
KEEN Chicago strengthened its impact in 2025 by providing nearly 2,500 hours of free, adaptive recreation that builds confidence, social connection, and a love of movement for youth with disabilities. KEEN "Athletes" gain confidence and self-esteem, and a sense of social belonging through these programs. KEEN Chicago's local Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders, parents, and volunteers. KEEN USA is a GuideStar Gold Participant, and a Gold Seal status is described as the leading symbol of non-profit transparency and accountability. KEEN Chicago collaborates with Chicago Adventure Therapy, Chicago Yacht Club Foundation, Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, Out Our Front Door, and Friends of the Forest Preserve. KEEN is modeled on an innovative program established in Oxford, England by Elliott Portnoy, who brought KEEN to the Washington, DC area in 1992.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Camp KEEN runs June–August with activities scheduled on specific dates and times throughout the summer
KEEN's mission is to empower youth with disabilities and impact volunteer coaches through participation in free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs of physical activity and fun, supporting the overall health and well-being of all participants. All programs are entirely free of charge, and participants must be registered for programs they are attending, with no drop-ins allowed. All summer enrollments are confirmed via email by June 10, and some programs have limited capacities, with KEEN allocating spaces as fairly as possible while not being able to accommodate all program requests. KEEN welcomes every child, regardless of the nature or severity of his or her disability, and programs are open, unstructured, non-competitive, and tailored to meet the needs of the individual athlete. KEEN Chicago is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and an affiliate of KEEN USA, which operates programs in Chicago, Greater DC, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and St. Louis.
KEEN Chicago strengthened its impact in 2025 by providing nearly 2,500 hours of free, adaptive recreation that builds confidence, social connection, and a love of movement for youth with disabilities. KEEN "Athletes" gain confidence and self-esteem, and a sense of social belonging through these programs. KEEN Chicago's local Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders, parents, and volunteers. KEEN USA is a GuideStar Gold Participant, and a Gold Seal status is described as the leading symbol of non-profit transparency and accountability. KEEN Chicago collaborates with Chicago Adventure Therapy, Chicago Yacht Club Foundation, Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, Out Our Front Door, and Friends of the Forest Preserve. KEEN is modeled on an innovative program established in Oxford, England by Elliott Portnoy, who brought KEEN to the Washington, DC area in 1992.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
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