Arts & Entertainment
Chicago Park District Aims To Make Summer Camp Registration Less Like the ‘Hunger Games,’ Announces Improvements
(Courtesy of the Chicago Park District)
The registration process for the Chicago Park District’s popular children’s summer day camps has long been compared to “The Hunger Games.”
To address “long-standing registration frustrations,” the district announced the first wave of improvements, set to take effect this year. Parents and caretakers can learn more about the changes during a pair of webinars scheduled for April 14, a week before registration opens.
According to the Park District, nearly 20,000 children ages 6 to 12 attended a summer camp in 2025 at one of nearly 200 park locations, but demand for the wallet-friendly programs continues to increase.
"We are committed to ensuring our highly sought-after summer programs are both exceptional and equitably accessible to every family we serve,” Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Chicago Park District general superintendent and CEO, said in a statement.
Improvements to the registration system will "make the process easier, user-friendly and more intuitive for families that rely on these programs,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
The updated registration site includes:
— Step-by-step instructions on how to set up a Park District user account.
— A searchable map that will allow parents and caretakers to find nearby alternatives if their first site choice is at capacity.
— A new “high demand” icon will alert registrants to popular programs likely to sell out, giving parents and caretakers time to identify other options before registration opens.
The informational webinar will walk people through these features and more, including how to add programs to a wish list, which speeds up registration. Two sessions will be held — one at noon and one at 6 p.m. — and registration is encouraged. Participants will be able to ask questions and provide feedback.
Registration for summer day camps opens online April 20 for parks west of California Avenue and April 21 for parks east of California Avenue. In-person registration will open April 25 or April 27, varying by location.
Summer day camps will run June 22 through July 31.
In addition to the registration updates, the Park District said it is continuing to assess summer camp program capacity at parks and is determining the feasibility of expanding availability.
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
