Summer Camps

Summer Camps offers activities such as biking, camping, disc golf, dog walking, fishing, geocaching and letterboxing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, night sky viewing and stargazing, paddling, picnicking, and winter activities. Children must be within three months of turning the appropriate age in order to enroll, and age exceptions greater than three months are not considered until May 1, 2025, with final decisions at the discretion of the camp directors.

• Schedule: Registration opens February 10 for McHenry County residents and February 20 for non-residents.

McHenry County Conservation District states that it exists to preserve, restore and manage natural areas and open spaces for their intrinsic value and for the benefits to present and future generations. The District owns or manages 25,800 acres of open space, and 35 sites are open to the public featuring 106 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of biking trails, 25 fishing areas, 6 campgrounds, 6 canoe launches, 40 miles of horse trails, and 18 sites with picnic areas and shelters. The District’s boundaries are co-terminus with those of McHenry County and it has 17 dedicated State Nature Preserves within its sites.

Scholarships for McHenry County families are made available through the contribution of the McHenry County Conservation Foundation. Applications for 2025 summer camp season financial assistance are available online and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and applicants are notified of eligibility within 5 business days. Financial assistance is not guaranteed and funds are limited. A cancellation notice of at least 10 business days is required in order to receive a refund, and no refunds are issued after the 10 business days notification deadline has passed or if a camper is withdrawn during a camp session.

Last updated January 9, 2026.