Sunflower Camp

Sunflower Camp includes daily themed activities such as stories, songs, small group games, a special art project, a game, and sensory exploration. Campers also have in-house field trips and, for Pre-K Sunflower Campers, free swim three days per week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Theme weeks have included “Help My Garden Grow,” “Ice Cream Shoppe,” and “Under the Sea.”

• Ages: 0–4 years old
• Schedule: Session runs June 15, 2026 – August 7, 2026, with infant full-day, toddler, twos, threes, and fours half-day and full-day options offered 2, 3, 4, or 5 days per week between 7:30 am – 5:30 pm or 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Price: Infant, toddler, twos, threes, and fours options range from $778 to $2,638 for the June 15, 2026 – August 7, 2026 session, plus a $100 camp registration fee per child and a $200 registration fee per child for infant care, toddler care, and preschool programming, billed in two installments (April 15 and May 15, 2026)

Rooms at Sunflower Camp are led by qualified and dedicated school-year staff, including caring early childhood staff and experienced teachers who encourage active play. All campers participate in theme weeks that incorporate in-house field trips introducing community helpers, and children run, jump, bounce, climb, dance, and crawl through indoor and outdoor play spaces. A play-based curriculum delivers age-appropriate lessons in math, science, and literacy while encouraging creativity and individual expression, and children learn to share with peers, manage conflict, solve problems independently, and take on age-appropriate challenges.

Catered meals and snacks feature fresh, colorful food made from scratch with local ingredients, and organic milk is served to all campers. Families receive daily newsletters from each group of campers, a weekly all-camp newsletter, and camp photos posted through Kaymbu, an electronic communication site. Sunflower Camp is part of JCYS, which offers year-round early childhood education, summer camps, and specialty programs for children ages 6 weeks through 13 years, and JCYS Family Centers are located in Chicago (Lincoln Square Ravenswood and Wicker Park), Buffalo Grove, and Highland Park.

For over a century, JCYS has responded to the changing needs and demographics of the Chicagoland community. Guided by Jewish values and culture, Jewish Council for Youth Services provides educational and recreational programs for Chicagoland’s children and, through board service, develops the next generation of Jewish civic leaders. JCYS engages young professionals through board service and leadership opportunities, and families of every background are welcomed into a warm, caring community.

Last updated April 18, 2026.