FAQs

Please mail everything (including camp payments, online checks, etc.) for ILLINOIS PROGRAMS ONLY to our corporate office:
Game On! LLC
1910 Duffy Lane
Bannockburn, IL 60015

Under “Locations” on our website, click on the camp location of choice, and “Summer Camp” and you will find prices, dates, and camp times. Our camp days typically run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Depending upon the campsite, we may also offer pre and post-camp care. (For those camps where the demand is too low for pre and post camp care, we have a very successful “coach connection program” that will satisfy your care needs.)

Game On! offers multi-sport programming that include:

• Summer day camps
• After school classes
• Pre-school classes
• Day off school events
• Reading empowerment programs
• Birthday parties
• Proud to Throw Clinics
• Girl Scout merit badge activities
• Sports Leadership Program

Don’t hesitate to ask about our community service programs!

Have any other suggestions? Let us know!

We also…

• Donate to community/school auctions
• Run activities at community/school events

Please note that options may vary depending on location.

CHICAGO & LAKE FOREST: You can log into your account through Nike Sports Camps here. If you have any questions or issues regarding registration please reach out to U.S. Sports Camps (they run the Nike camps) at 1-800-645-3226 or kids@ussportscamps.com

GLENCOE: Please reach out to the park district for information. For Glencoe please call 847-835-3030.

Flexibility varies per camp location.  Most of our camps do offer some flexibility as long as the short block weeks and minimums are satisfied. But we do encourage registering for consecutive weeks/blocks when possible.  

Note: The more weeks your camper can attend, the more rewarding, productive, educational and fun the experience will be for many reasons. The Game On! program is strategically designed so that with each additional week, your campers are enriched with new opportunities that foster growth as an athlete and a person.

While we do make exceptions (i.e. kids visiting from out of state who’d like to join while in town), we do try to adhere to the policies specified per camp site.  Because we assess on a case-by-case basis, please call our office at 847-229-9959 to discuss. (If one of our Park District partners handles registration, you will need to contact their administration.)

CHICAGO: Yes. Since we are now partnering with Nike Sports Camps, they are running registration and you will need to go through their process.

GLENCOE: Since the park district controls registration, you will need to fill out their required forms each year.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to be thorough in your registration answers. We really do pay attention and use the information you provide to create the best possible Game On! experience for your camper. We care!

CHICAGO & LAKE FOREST: Please reach out to Nike Sports Camps at 1-800-645-3226 or kids@ussportscamps.com.

GLENCOE: Please direct all registration questions to the Glencoe Park District at (847) 835-3030.

Have your schedules or circumstances changed allowing you to add weeks? We welcome campers to add weeks contingent upon availability and adherence to our camper/coach ratio. If registration is not open for the weeks you would like to add, please contact our office at 847-229-9959 or the appropriate park district.

CHICAGO & LAKE FOREST:

GLENCOE: Please email info@gameonsports4girls.com to make any changes to authorized pick up.

All locations: During camp season, please call our office at 847-229-9959 if you need to make any changes after 1 p.m.

If you can’t remember your login information, please try resetting your password. If you experience other issues, please call the Game On! office at 847-229-9959.

While we will sorely miss your camper, remember that your family is not entitled to a refund or make-up days for camp days missed due to sickness, injury, vacation, or other similar reasons.

CHICAGO: Payment in full, via cash, check, or Zelle (formerly QuickPay), MUST be received by the first Monday of your camper’s added weeks. Sorry, but your camper cannot participate until tuition is paid in full. NO EXCEPTIONS.

GLENCOE: Payment is due in accordance with Park District policies.

All are included with the exception of horseback riding, select on-site mini camps run by professional athletes or organizations, after camp care (if offered at your site), and the optional lunch program. There may be additional optional specialty camps or activities added at any time. Some may warrant added charges, and some may not. We will inform you via email of additional opportunities if they arise.

CHICAGO: Log into your camp account here (also located on your camp site’s homepage) and you will be able to view your balance on the top left. If you need more details, you can click ‘View My Finances’ on the lower left side of the page. 

GLENCOE: Please contact the park district.

We do not. Payment can be made via Zelle pay using email info@gameonsports4girls.com or Venmo @GameOnSports.

For more information on how to use Zelle, please click here.

Your camper’s backpack should contain:

• Sunscreen (administered for the first time prior to leaving home in the a.m.)
• Filled water bottle
• Lunch (unless ordering our catered lunch option where available)
• Nut-free snacks in a resealable container
• Towel 
• Masks
• Hand sanitizer
• Change of clothes (including underwear and socks)
• Hat (optional)
• Hair tie/headband for longer hair (optional)
• Personal sports equipment – tennis racquet, lacrosse stick, etc. (optional)

Please make sure all items are labeled with your camper’s first and last name. Although campers are welcome to bring their own equipment, it is not necessary as we will have enough for all campers. Also note that lunches and snacks are unable to be refrigerated.

It is also crucial that your campers wear laced gym shoes to camp. Sandals, flip flops and slip-on shoes (such as crocs) are not permitted unless worn solely in a pool area, during scheduled water activities, or on water-related field trips.

Absolutely! In fact, it would warm our hearts to learn that the play date is with a new camp friend. But please remember to add the appropriate individuals to your Authorized Pick-Up List:

CHICAGO: Add in your account 

GLENCOE: Email info@gameonsports4girls.com to add

If after 1 p.m., add them AND call the camp office to let us know of the change. For security purposes, your camper will NOT be permitted to leave camp with anyone not listed, even if they provide I.D.

If you are having trouble adding someone to your list, or if you need to alter your list after 1 p.m. during camp season, please call our main office at 847-229-9959.  If you cannot remember your login information, please click here to retrieve.

 We group our campers by grade. If your camper requests to be with a friend that is not going into the same grade in school, there is a good chance they will not be grouped together. If you anticipate this situation might pose a challenge, please call our office at 847-229-9959 to discuss.

Please call the camp office or email Game On! as early as possible to let us know. And please convey the message back to your camper that we hope for a quick return. Remember that we do not offer refunds nor can we guarantee make-up days for missed days.

You bet! Save the date because our end-of-camp ceremonies incorporate the opportunity for you to catch a glimpse of your campers as they participate in activities typical of a Game On! day. 

Moreover, we most definitely welcome you to visit camp during the course of the summer. Our only request is that you call at least a day in advance of your anticipated visit for the purpose of assuring that our camp schedule for that particular day does not include special activities, field trips or events that might interfere with observing your camper in action.

NOTE: Visitation will be dependent on COVID policies and procedures in place at the time.

So sorry, but we can only guarantee one. Safety and first-class care are our main priorities and only maintained with strict attention to coach/camper ratios. But rest assured that if your campers are not with ALL requested  friends, they will be with at least one AND part of a team environment that will encourage making new, life-long friends.

All medications must be maintained and administered by our Game On! Trainer or qualified staff.

Exception: Your camper may be authorized to carry a second EpiPen and/or inhaler.

If you are bringing medication(s) to camp, please:

•     Place in a resealable storage bag with your camper’s name
•     Include a photo of your camper and instructions for administration in the bag
•     Make sure your camper gives it to a member of the Game On! staff

Our active fun and learning will simply move safely indoors to our gyms and other open areas. Rest assured, they are not sitting around waiting for the conditions to abate.

When your camper arrives home that day and raves about their typical sports-crazy day, you will undoubtedly wonder how it’s possible given the summer heat. At Game On! we have mastered the art of staying cool: Of course, we are very careful to make sure the campers stay well hydrated, encouraging them to drink regularly from their water bottles which are refillable from our accessible and abundant jugs around camp.

On top of that,we have perfected the incorporation of water fun into the day. Picture this: sprinklers on the field with campers running in and out in between innings or during time outs; sopping wet athletes learning, actively engaged, and having fun; campers galore playing sports impervious to the 100-degree reading on the thermometer. Slip & Slides on the softball fields – skill of the day is learning how to slide properly!!!!!! No wonder campers flock to the softball fields when given the choice that afternoon! 

AND, JUST AS IMPORTANT, our campsites offer cooler indoor space, so we can move our sports play inside if conditions warrant.

Note that staff will very carefully monitor campers during extreme heat days to assure their health and welfare.

Depending on the campsite, we may have a certified professional trainer on site at all times who will be there to administer first aid, call home when necessary, and/or determine if more complete medical attention is warranted. Otherwise all directors and most coaches are first aid and CPR certified.

Yes! Campers tend to work up an appetite during their sports-filled day. Please send 1-2 hearty snacks to camp. Snacks should be nut-free and carried in a resealable container or baggie.

Some of our camp locations do offer the option to purchase a balanced, healthy, kid-friendly lunch for your camper. If this option is available, you will be able to add it on for an additional fee during the camp registration process or even after should you change your mind.

Yes, it is important to offer healthy, kid-friendly food. We encourage our campers to eat a balanced meal. Our meals typically include an entrée, starch, fruit and veggie.

No matter which weeks your campers attend, she will play all of our core sports and then some. Specifically, most mornings, your camper may rotate through three or four of our eight core sports including soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, softball, field hockey, and fitness. By the end of each week, your campers should have rotated through most of these sports at least twice unless special events cause positive interruption.

During the afternoons, your campers will be able to choose from a menu of sports available to her age grouping (Division). Here the list grows to include sports such as yoga, karate, golf, flag football, ultimate frisbee, rugby, badminton, floor hockey, and dance/cheer in addition to our core sports. But don’t rule out an afternoon time devoted to all camp games such as Capture the Flag or Dodgeball.

At Game On!, we pride ourselves on being a sports camp that incorporates and cherishes a traditional camp culture. And wow, do we get creative!!!!!

How does Game On!’s Got Talent sound? Our talent show is most definitely one of the most treasured days of the summer.

The fun, creative list goes on: Team banner painting; tie-dye days; team skit, cheer, dress-up days and handshake contests; lanyard-making; watermelon eating competition: girlstrong chalk talk…

Campers may also enjoy Carnival Day, field trips to women’s sporting events, STEM, boating, water park days and ice skating – SUMMER FUN LIKE YOU’VE NEVER IMAGINED.

We are not a “competitive camp,” though we offer ample opportunity for our athletes to play competitively should they so choose. The bottom line is that skill-building, sportsmanship, team spirit, and teamwork score just as many points in the tally as a win during morning team rotations. During afternoon optionals, our campers often have a menu of choices that include competitive sports, advanced skill work, wacky fun such as backward softball, or the new and different such as yoga, karate, ultimate Frisbee, flag football, team handball, spikeball, etc. We work hard to strike a balance that accommodates all.

Game On! is NOT about the pressure to win. Rather healthy competition and challenge are balanced by the chance to frolic and play just for the fun of it. We all understand that competition is a part of life – girls need to be prepared to face life’s challenges. So, we have mastered the programming that fosters such growth without the intensity and “win at all costs” environment. 

We have many campers who for one reason or another are not able to begin that first week. Rest assured, though, that we are very sensitive to making sure that all campers immediately feel a part of the Game On! family no matter their start date. With regard to week-to-week skill work, we promise a quick review for our later starting campers to the extent that they can jump right in.

Throughout the summer, depending upon your camp location, we may offer your camper (ages 6 and up) the chance to visit a respected stable for a basic/beginner riding experience. For an extra fee, our riding partners provide your camper a one-time per camp season opportunity for instruction during a group ride combined with a lesson in horsemanship. The instruction typically involves hunter seat riding.

Further description of field trip: Knowing how to safely care for horses is just as important as knowing how to ride. On this field trip, campers will have a fun, safe, hands-on opportunity to learn and engage in all facets of horsemanship.  Participants will receive top-notch hunter seat riding instruction from staff.  They will also experience horse health care, grooming, tacking, nutrition, and learn about safety and horse behavior. Note that this field trip is not designed for riders with experience. 

For campsites where horseback riding is offered, once registered, campers will need to bring us a completed waiver and pay in full in order to participate. NOTE THAT REGISTRATION IS ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS AND FILLS UP VERY QUICKLY. EACH CAMPER CAN SIGN UP FOR ONE RIDING FIELD TRIP PER CAMP SEASON.

The Game On! Coach- in- Training (CIT) Program welcomes girls and boys entering their freshman and sophomore years in high school who are looking for special training that involves working with young kids through sports.

CIT PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Train with experienced role models whose share our passion for passing on the gift of sports and fitness
• Learn by doing – you will have significant (supervised) responsibilities that can potentially involve administrative tasks, program administration, creative projects and coaching/instructing campers
• Play and teach sports day in and day out
• Experience your own growth as an athlete and a person
• Flexible multi-week options

To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit our Join Our Team Page.

While our classic, active program has always integrated  a traditional camp culture, complete with a camp song, spirit contests, water wars, talent shows, and creative arts, our Lil Champs program incorporates the creative and imaginative play on a more regular basis throughout the day. We understand that our precious youngest Game On! campers need a bit more nurturing and structured balance between active and more restful activities. Like all our campers, our Lil Champs will be learning, engaged and having a blast.

Designed for campers in 5th-8th grades, the Game On! Middle School program offers a sports  leadership curriculum that is designed to promote growth as a leader on the sports fields and off. Specifically, participants will learn what it takes to effectively motivate and organize others to collaborate toward the achievement of a common goal.

This Sports Leadership Program will focus on:

• Finding strength in your voice
• Becoming a successful team builder
• Decision making
• Creating and executing a strategy
• Learning from high-achieving role models

Your travel athlete WILL be challenged, and our coaches are trained to motivate your campers to advance their skills. Not only will they have the opportunity to participate in our advanced and competitive optionals (and depending on the camp site private or small group lessons), but they will have the chance to challenge themselves in their sport during Challenge Course Fridays as well. In essence, the Game On! program inspires growth and improvement for every level athlete in all the sports we offer.

Game On! will provide the perfect environment for your campers to explore while having a blast. Whether their experience ultimately heightens  confidence and interest in a certain sport, or they stay active for the pure joy, your campers  will thrive.

While Game On! does offer specialty camps and lessons in certain sports at some of our campsites for our older campers (subject to expansion and based on demand), a summer at Game On! is all about exposure and growth in multiple sports. 

For our younger campers, our program offers the chance to experience variety and develop the confidence they need to determine where their more specific interests may lie.

For our older campers, we subscribe to the theory that after an intense and competitive school year, they may need to lay back and have some fun enjoying other sports. In addition, analogous to the benefits said to accrue from cross training, research shows that participation in other sports may very well lead to improvement in the core areas of their specialties. (i.e. the footwork and reflex work demanded in tennis will most definitely lead to increased quickness in other sports.)

Teaching life skills and enforcing sound values along with learning to make smart choices pervade every aspect of camp. Not a minute goes by without attention to building solid character as we incorporate values such as good sportsmanship, teamwork, spirit, effort, leadership, perseverance, courage, etc. into each and every day. Even our team incentive program awards significant points for these values.

Given that teams are working toward awards, our campers come to understand our emphasis on character very quickly. Moreover, we encourage daily shout outs that recognize model behavior and may go to the extent of awarding individual ribbons for effort, courage, team contribution, leadership, and sportsmanship if a camper is exhibiting behavior that goes above and beyond. Even better, we create an environment where campers learn to feel GOOD INSIDE about demonstrating these positive values and making progress – it’s not all about the points or awards!

TEAM INCENTIVE PROGRAM :

Campers will all be placed on age-appropriate teams from day #1 of their camp experience. In order to have our teams bonding and working together from the get-go, they will be EARNING points daily in the following categories, all of which are treated equally:

1. Teamwork
2. Team Spirit
3. Team Sportsmanship
4. A win for the team
5. Efforts by the entire team to go above and beyond both on the court and off (i.e. proactively taking responsibility together)

Each Friday, team points are updated on our scoreboard, informing all where they rank in the standings. Coaches also schedule team pow-wows to strategize on how their teams can do better in the weeks to come. This program is fun, educational and so effective in encouraging teamwork.

At the end of each week of camp, one team will emerge victorious having scored the most points and earn the top Game On! team award.

Individual awards:

Ribbons for sound character

Each day, our Game On! campers will be taught and encouraged to demonstrate strong and positive character. Throughout each week,  character will be observed, particularly for exemplary traits that go above and beyond. On Fridays each week, some campers may be recognized in front of their entire team for attitude and behavior that merits an award in the following categories:

Effort

Sportsmanship

Leadership

Courage

Special Achievement

GirlStrong (Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls)

When these ribbons are presented by coaches, the entire team will be told WHY so that all can model by example.

Ribbons for challenge course Friday (newly revised summer 2021):

Lil Champs (K) Division Program: Campers who complete each of our fun sports skill challenges and display their best efforts will earn an award. (There are no levels involved here.)

Leaders (1st – 4th grades) and Masters/Middle School Divisions (5th – 8th grades) Program: Campers who complete each of our fun sports skill challenges and display their best efforts will earn an award. (There are no levels involved here.)

OPT-IN for Leaders and Masters: Game On! Campers who desire to go the step further and measure both their progress and level have this option. Prior to executing the challenge, campers who exercise this option, will let our sports directors know and be judged for both best effort and skill level/advancement. A “best effort” will earn one form of recognition, while skill/progress level will earn another which will represent one of three levels (i.e. beginner, intermediate and advanced). Immediately upon completing the challenge, campers who opt in will receive feedback focusing on the reasoning for the level awarded and what it will take to reach the next.

Again, this skill/progress recognition will not be a substitute for the effort recognition. Rather it will be in addition.

Great question. EVERY CAMPER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN AWARDS AT GAME ON! And we make sure all our Game On! campers know just what it takes. The fact that some earn more or different awards than others is true to life. Most important is that all are well informed and have equal opportunity, not to mention the fact that integrated into this system is teaching campers to set and work toward goals while practicing good sportsmanship like respecting and congratulating their teammates.

Because our facilities are typically schools without pools, we are constantly in search of nearby swimming pools which at a minimum can offer times for free swim and at best might also include the opportunity for instructional classes. Please see your camp location page for details.

Our Game On! Scholarship Fund was created in response to the overwhelming demand and need for assistance to underprivileged kids both interested in and deserving of participation in Game On! camps and programming. While it is not a 501(c)(3), rest assured that 100% of your donation will go toward scholarships or our funding of Game On! programming for select underserved organizations. 

Please complete the scholarship application here.

We strive to impact girls all year round and are proud to offer the following:

•     After school classes – multi-sport, sport specific
•     Day off school programs (Our Power4Girls event series)
•     Proud to Play/Proud to Throw clinics
•     Parent/Daughter events
•     Sports Leadership program based on private group request

If you have a group of girls looking for a multi-sports or sports-specific session of regular classes, give us a call. We will do our best to accommodate.

Options vary depending on location. Please check your closest location page for what’s happening near you!

Don’t hesitate to ask about our community service programs!