Ivy League Kids Summer Camp
Ivy League Rec Center, 8500 W. 191st St., Mokena, IL 60448
About
Ivy League Kids Summer Camp includes field trips, hands-on learning experiences, team challenges, creative arts, sports games, team-building activities, arts and crafts, art, STEM, story-time, cooking, music, swimming, water play, chalk, fitness, and recreation. Campers can join clubs such as Art Club, STEM Club, Cooking Club, Horse Club, Minecraft Club, Pokémon Club, InspireHER Club, Media Club, and the Little Dribblers Basketball League. Fun Fridays feature a day at the park with sports, water play, chalk, and lunch options such as pizza, hot dogs, or hamburgers, and swimming pool days are optional with hourly sunscreen application when campers are outdoors.
• Ages: 3–13 years old
• Schedule: Full-day options with sites offering hours between 6:00am and 6:30pm on weekdays
The program groups campers by grade, with a Pioneer Summer Program for ages 3–6 that includes modified clubs for this age group, an Adventurers program for 1st–5th graders with weekly field trips, swimming, team-building activities, and enrichment clubs, and an X-TEAM for 6th–8th graders where participants help younger campers and gain volunteer and community service experience. X-TEAM members are hand picked by their counselor based on responsibility, teamwork, and cooperation, and each applicant must get one letter of recommendation and complete an interview. Clubs vary by summer camp location, and Mokena Pioneer campers go to the Splash Pad, with swim lessons not offered this summer and all campers required to be fully potty trained.
The program states that it is “NOT babysitting” and describes itself as “programming with purpose, play & passion,” with core values of Safety, Caring, Passion, Integrity, and Fun. Health and safety practices include strict hand washing and sanitary policies, secure areas that keep children within sight indoors and outdoors, careful transition attendance procedures when moving children from place to place, and maintaining an adequate ratio of staff to children. All camp counselors, site directors, and site aides are CPR/First Aid certified and background checked, and the program notes that swimming days require a swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen, with the option for campers to stay back if they do not want to swim.
Ivy League Kids also runs a Before and After School Program that focuses on fitness, recreation, and academic enrichment, and offers all-day programming for school-aged children with e-learning support, recreation, arts and crafts, and STEM activities. The organization references a Montessori School based on the philosophy, teachings, and materials developed by Dr. Maria Montessori and offers parties and rentals at the Mokena Rec Center. The mission statement emphasizes enriching children’s lives during out-of-school hours, focusing on fitness, recreation, academic enrichment, and core character values such as respect, integrity, and accountability, with attention to teamwork, leadership, and self-worth, and respect for diverse family cultures.
The leadership team includes Lisa Breitenberg (HR), Veronica Balderman (Programming), Cindy Scroggin (Billing Department), Christina Knabjian (Managing Director), Amy, Irene, and Emily (Front Desk), and Kristen Kerbs (Billing/State Aid). The X-Team is noted as focusing on giving back to the community. The program history references copyright years 2008–2019 for Ivy League Before and After School Program, Kids Fit Foundation, and Montessori Schools.
Parent feedback includes comments such as “Great time, well spent, super staff!” and notes that children “had a blast this summer going to the field trips and the Minecraft club.” Other parents report that their kids “come home happy every day,” that “the field trips/activities/clubs, etc. are great – something for everyone,” and that the program allows them to work while feeling their child is “in good hands.” Several parents mention recommending Ivy League Kids, praising the variety of summer programs, field trips, and classes, and describing staff as patient and involved in helping children adjust and feel safe.
Last updated May 24, 2026.
• Ages: 3–13 years old
• Schedule: Full-day options with sites offering hours between 6:00am and 6:30pm on weekdays
The program groups campers by grade, with a Pioneer Summer Program for ages 3–6 that includes modified clubs for this age group, an Adventurers program for 1st–5th graders with weekly field trips, swimming, team-building activities, and enrichment clubs, and an X-TEAM for 6th–8th graders where participants help younger campers and gain volunteer and community service experience. X-TEAM members are hand picked by their counselor based on responsibility, teamwork, and cooperation, and each applicant must get one letter of recommendation and complete an interview. Clubs vary by summer camp location, and Mokena Pioneer campers go to the Splash Pad, with swim lessons not offered this summer and all campers required to be fully potty trained.
The program states that it is “NOT babysitting” and describes itself as “programming with purpose, play & passion,” with core values of Safety, Caring, Passion, Integrity, and Fun. Health and safety practices include strict hand washing and sanitary policies, secure areas that keep children within sight indoors and outdoors, careful transition attendance procedures when moving children from place to place, and maintaining an adequate ratio of staff to children. All camp counselors, site directors, and site aides are CPR/First Aid certified and background checked, and the program notes that swimming days require a swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen, with the option for campers to stay back if they do not want to swim.
Ivy League Kids also runs a Before and After School Program that focuses on fitness, recreation, and academic enrichment, and offers all-day programming for school-aged children with e-learning support, recreation, arts and crafts, and STEM activities. The organization references a Montessori School based on the philosophy, teachings, and materials developed by Dr. Maria Montessori and offers parties and rentals at the Mokena Rec Center. The mission statement emphasizes enriching children’s lives during out-of-school hours, focusing on fitness, recreation, academic enrichment, and core character values such as respect, integrity, and accountability, with attention to teamwork, leadership, and self-worth, and respect for diverse family cultures.
The leadership team includes Lisa Breitenberg (HR), Veronica Balderman (Programming), Cindy Scroggin (Billing Department), Christina Knabjian (Managing Director), Amy, Irene, and Emily (Front Desk), and Kristen Kerbs (Billing/State Aid). The X-Team is noted as focusing on giving back to the community. The program history references copyright years 2008–2019 for Ivy League Before and After School Program, Kids Fit Foundation, and Montessori Schools.
Parent feedback includes comments such as “Great time, well spent, super staff!” and notes that children “had a blast this summer going to the field trips and the Minecraft club.” Other parents report that their kids “come home happy every day,” that “the field trips/activities/clubs, etc. are great – something for everyone,” and that the program allows them to work while feeling their child is “in good hands.” Several parents mention recommending Ivy League Kids, praising the variety of summer programs, field trips, and classes, and describing staff as patient and involved in helping children adjust and feel safe.
Last updated May 24, 2026.
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