Summer Camp for Creative Youth
At Camp Adler, creative young people (ages 5-11) explore and expand their skills in art and performance. During each three-week session, campers will enjoy conservatory-level art classes, movement/dance, improv, musical theater, songwriting, and choir classes. Beyond the creative class experience, campers also participate in a variety of group games and activities, and get to explore within our Forest/Nature programming. The final Thursday evening of each session is Camp Adler’s Celebration of the Arts! Students art work is displayed throughout the Adler Arts Center building and grounds and students perform on an outdoor stage for their friends and family! Campers must have completed at least one year of school (kindergarten and up) to attend Camp.
2026 Session Dates:
Session I:
June 8 – 26 (3 weeks)
Sold out
Session II:
July 6 – 24 (3 weeks)
Sold out
TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 9:00am | Camp Begins |
| 9:10-9:45am | Squad Time |
| 9:55-10:55am | First Period |
| 11:05am-12:05pm . | Second Period |
| 12:15-12:45pm | LUNCH |
| 12:45-1:30pm | Squad Time |
| 1:40-2:40pm | Third Period |
| 2:50-3:50pm | Fourth Period |
| 4:00pm | Camp Ends |
Camp Adler Curriculum Overview
At Camp Adler, our curriculum is intentionally designed to balance structure, creativity, and joyful exploration. While camp feels fun and spontaneous to campers, each day is grounded in a thoughtfully developed, professional arts education framework.
Daily Schedule at a Glance
Each camper participates in four classes per day.
Visual Art
Music
Theater
Dance
Nature & Environmental Arts
Because of scheduling, space, and instructional balance, campers receive four out of the five disciplines during a session. This structure allows for deeper engagement, smoother transitions, and a better overall experience for all campers.
During registration, parents are asked to rank the five subject areas in order of preference. These rankings help inform scheduling decisions, but placement in specific classes is not guaranteed.
Once schedules are set:
There is no guarantee that a camper will receive their top-ranked subjects
Schedules cannot be changed after placement
Course switching is not permitted during the session
This policy ensures fairness, consistency, and a stable learning environment for campers and teaching artists alike.
Campers still experience a rich, balanced arts curriculum every day without overload.
Professional Instruction
All classes are led by professional teaching artists with backgrounds in their respective fields. Our instructors are not only skilled practitioners, but experienced educators who know how to meet children where they are, whether that means structured skill-building, imaginative play, or collaborative creation.
Three-Week Curriculum Structure
Each discipline follows a three-week thematic arc, allowing campers to:
Build foundational skills
Experiment and explore creatively
Collaborate with peers
Work toward a culminating experience or informal sharing
Rather than isolated, one-off activities, campers engage in progressive lessons that grow in depth and complexity over the session.
Visual Art
Campers explore a range of materials and techniques – such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media- while learning how artists express ideas visually. Projects emphasize process, creativity, and confidence over finished perfection.
Music
Music classes introduce rhythm, melody, and sound through singing, percussion, movement, and listening. Campers may experiment with instruments, compose simple pieces, and learn how music tells stories and builds community.
Theater
Through improvisation, storytelling, character-building, and ensemble games, campers develop communication skills, empathy, and self-expression. Theater classes emphasize collaboration and imagination rather than memorization or performance pressure.
Dance
Dance classes focus on movement, rhythm, and creative expression. Campers explore different styles and learn how bodies move through space, building coordination, confidence, and physical awareness in a supportive environment.
Nature & Environmental Arts
Nature classes connect creativity with the outdoors. Campers observe, explore, and create using natural materials while learning about the environment, mindfulness, and the relationship between art and the natural world.
What This Means for Campers
Every child experiences multiple art forms every day
Lessons are age-appropriate, inclusive, and adaptable
Creativity is encouraged alongside structure
Social-emotional learning is embedded naturally through collaboration and play
What This Means for Parents
Camp Adler offers more than childcare or isolated art projects. Our curriculum is:
Intentional – designed by professionals
Balanced – structured yet playful
Progressive – skills and ideas build over time
Holistic – supporting creative, social, and emotional growth
Campers with Unique Learning Needs
Camp Adler is committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment for all campers. Our teaching artists and counselors work with a wide range of learning styles, abilities, and social-emotional needs.
Upon registration, families are asked to share as much information as possible about their child, including (but not limited to):
learning differences or accommodations
sensory sensitivities
behavioral or emotional support needs
social considerations
medical or developmental information relevant to the camp day
The more we know in advance, the better we can:
support your child’s success
prepare teaching artists appropriately
create a positive experience for the entire group
While we make every reasonable effort to support individual needs, Camp Adler is a group-based, arts-focused program and may not be able to provide one-to-one support or specialized services.
Families are encouraged to reach out to Sarah Cohen, Camp Director (sarah@adlercenter.org) before registering with questions or concerns so we can plan together as proactively as possible.
Sarah Cohen, Camp Director
Becca Katz, Assistant Camp Director
Adele Wilberding, Head Counselor
This is Adele’s 15th year at Camp Adler. Crazy! She is going into her senior year at St. Norbert College, where she is studying to be an elementary school teacher. She is incredibly excited for the new memories that are going to be made this summer. Adele has loved being Head Counselor for the last three years, and can’t wait for another year of excitement and activities. In her spare time (which she doesn’t have much of at school), she enjoys hammocking in the sun, listening to music, crafting, and spending quality time with her friends. She can’t wait to see you all this summer!!!
Laura Castaños, Art Faculty
Laura Castaños is a multidisciplinary traditional media artist and instructor working primarily in oil paint, soft pastels, charcoal, and ink. She also has a deep appreciation for traditional crafts, including fiber arts, weaving, and bookbinding. Her creative practice is driven by energy, curiosity, and an enthusiasm for welcoming more people to participate in the arts.
She holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, with a focus on landscape painting and 20th-century Western art history. Laura lives and paints from her studio in her beloved hometown of Mundelein, Illinois, where she shares life with two of the cleverest cats in Lake County and her math- and physics – savvy partner.
Hope Wagner, Drama Faculty
Hope is so excited to be returning to Adler this summer, and especially excited to serve as Drama Faculty! She will be a third year at DePaul University this fall where she is studying Comedy Arts. Hope is incredibly passionate about the performing arts and improv comedy, and has taught improv techniques for more than three years in the Libertyville community. Outside of theater, Hope loves playing the guitar and drums, and eating sushi. She can’t wait to see what we create this summer!
Isabelle Esquivel, Music Faculty
Ms. Isabelle is thrilled to be back for another fun-filled summer at Adler! She loves making music, laughing, and creating unforgettable memories with campers . She teaches K–5 elementary music and directs with the Red Rose Children’s Choir of Lake County. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys traveling and hanging out with her pup, Stella 🐾 This summer is especially exciting because Ms. Isabelle is getting married, and she can’t wait to share the joy with her campers!
Amanda Losness-Ross, Nature Faculty
Amanda Losness-Ross is excited to be back this summer at Camp Adler as Woods Faculty. She has a degree in Fine Art and English from Montana State University Billings. She has a strong background in running children’s summer camps, where she developed a passion for combining creative expression with outdoor experiences. Her art is deeply inspired by nature, she enjoys backpacking, camping, and exploring the wilderness. She brings that same spirit of adventure into her teaching. She loves helping kids connect with the natural world through hands-on art projects that spark curiosity and imagination.
Andy Thomas, Art Faculty
Andy Thomas is so excited to be teaching art again at Adler Art Center this summer. This year will be his 12th year teaching art to students in Kindergarten-8th grade in Grayslake. Teaching and making art are two of his favorite things to do. Andy especially loves sculpting, photography and drawing. When not busy teaching he loves reading, gardening and relaxing at home. He can’t wait for another wonderful experience at Camp Adler!
Jocelyn Bettarelli, Dance Faculty
Jocelyn Bettarelli is from Vernon Hills, IL and is beyond excited to be a part of the Adler community! She is an incoming senior at Millikin University pursuing a Music Business degree with a dance minor. In school, Jocelyn is involved in choir, vocal jazz, and dance ensemble. She’s been dancing and singing since she was 4 years old and loves performing. Jocelyn loves hanging out with friends, getting coffee, reading and watching movies. She’s so happy to get to spend her summer with you all!
Celia Cathlina, Counselor
Cece is looking forward to returning to Camp Adler this summer! This is her second year as a counselor, and she is excited to continue with the fun and learning that Adler has to offer! Cece attends Clemson University for Finance and Pre-Law, but she loves her quality time with the campers here and expressing her creativity with the arts! She can’t wait to make new friends, learn more about the arts and spend quality time with the campers!
Isabelle Cheung, Counselor
Isabelle is so excited to be back at Camp Adler this summer! This is her third year as a camp counselor, and she is looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones this year! Isabelle will be a sophomore at UW-Madison in the fall, and is studying Biochemistry on a Pre-Med track. She is thrilled to see what new adventures this summer will hold!
Sydney Krukonis, Counselor
Sydney is very excited to be a counselor at Camp Adler this summer! This is her first year working here, and she can’t wait to be creative and bond with the kids! Sydney will be a freshman at Indiana University in the fall, and is studying Elementary Education. She is looking forward to summer camp!
Ambika Trivedi, Counselor
Ambika is super excited to be coming back to Camp Adler for a third year! Currently, Ambika is pursuing a degree in Stage Management in Chicago but when she is not being studious she loves to sing, paint, take photos, draw, and play the piano. Ambika cannot wait to create so much art this summer!
Bella Wittwer, Counselor
Hi, my name is Bella, and I’m so excited to be back for my second summer at Adler! I’m a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Nursing. I was born in California, but I’ve lived in 4 different states and gone to 7 different schools before high school (my dad was in the army for 30 years). I’ve always loved art and dance, particularly ceramics and hip-hop. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite food is anything with cheese! I can’t wait to get to know everyone and have fun this summer!
Grace Ryan, Faculty Assistant
My name is Grace, I’m a junior at Libertyville High School. I have been both a camper and junior counselor at Camp Adler. When I’m not at camp you can fine me hanging out with my friends, reading, listening to music, and playing with my dog. Fun fact, I love ice cream and Shawn Mendes!
Campers
Camp Tuition – $1100 per 3-week session ($366/week)
Campers MUST enroll in all 3 weeks. We do not prorate.
You may pay in two installments. Balance due May 17. There is a $25 fee. Tuition and extended care fees are non-refundable. We recommend purchasing camp insurance.
After Care – $150 per session, per camper
Enroll in After Care when you register for camp. After Care begins at 4:15pm and ends at 6pm. After two late pick-ups, children will be automatically enrolled in After Care for the entire three-week session. We do not offer Before Care.
Camp Insurance – $150
To give families additional flexibility and peace of mind, Camp Adler will continue offer camp insurance this year. Camp insurance is $150 per child and covers both sessions of camp. Purchase insurance for each camper when you enroll. If your plans change before June 1 and you need to withdraw from camp, your tuition will be refunded no questions asked. Conversely, if the Adler Arts Center experiences a coronavirus closure, you will receive a prorated refund.
MEDICAL FORM
Does your camper have allergies or medication that they need to take while at camp? Fill out the form below and email to sarah@adlercenter.org.
Junior Counselors
The Junior Counselor Program offers young teens (entering 7th – 10th grade) an opportunity to learn the basics of camp counseling, while participating in all the fun of Camp Adler. Junior Counselors participate in community art projects, lead their own activities for campers, and assist in fine arts classes.
Junior Counselor Tuition – $825 per 3 week session ($275 per week)
Junior Counselors MUST enroll in all 3 weeks. We do not prorate.
Details
TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 9:00am | Camp Begins |
| 9:10-9:45am | Squad Time |
| 9:55-10:55am | First Period |
| 11:05am-12:05pm . | Second Period |
| 12:15-12:45pm | LUNCH |
| 12:45-1:30pm | Squad Time |
| 1:40-2:40pm | Third Period |
| 2:50-3:50pm | Fourth Period |
| 4:00pm | Camp Ends |
Who can attend Camp Adler?
Camp Adler is open to children ages 5–11. Campers must be of the appropriate age on the start date of the session they are registering for, and must have completed a year of kindergarten. Youth entering grades 7–10 may apply for our Junior Counselor Program.
Where does the camp take place?
Camp Adler takes place at the Adler Arts Center. Camp classes take place in outdoor classrooms whenever possible. In the event of extreme heat or heavy rain, all camp activities will be conducted indoors.
How does camp insurance work?
To give families additional flexibility and peace of mind, Camp Adler will offer camp insurance this year. Camp insurance is $150 per child and covers both sessions of camp. Purchase insurance for each camper when you enroll. If your plans change before June 1 and you need to withdraw from camp, your tuition will be refunded no questions asked. Conversely, if the Adler Arts Center experiences a coronavirus closure, you will receive a prorated refund.
What is your 2026 refund policy?
Tuition and extended care fees are non-refundable. We recommend purchasing camp insurance.
Can my child enroll in half-day camp?
No. Camp Adler no longer offers a half-day option.
Can my camper build their own schedule?
No. All campers will experience ALL the fun that Camp Adler has to offer.
What is the Junior Counselor Program?
The Junior Counselor Program is designed to offer young teens entering 7th–10th grade an opportunity to learn the basics of being a camp counselor. For more information, please visit our Junior Counselor FAQ.
How are campers divided into Squads?
Campers are divided into coed squads based on age. Each Squad is capped at 15 campers. We are unable to guarantee that friends or siblings will be in the same squad.
Who staffs the camp?
6 camp counselors, 6 faculty, the Head Counselor, Assistant Camp Director, and Camp Director.
Will there be a performance at the end of each session?
Yes! There will be a Celebration of the Arts on the final Thursday of each session from 6–7:30pm.
What should my child bring to camp?
Water bottle, packed lunch labeled with camper’s name, backpack or small bag, insect repellent, sunscreen.
What should my child NOT bring to camp?
Personal electronics, toys, cellular phones.
Do you allow nut items at camp?
Due to allergies and dietary restrictions, please do not bring nuts, nut products, chocolate, legumes or any type of fish to camp.
May I send treats with my camper to share with the other children?
As many of our campers have allergies, please do not send any food for your camper to share.
What kind of medical and emergency information do you need for my child?
If your child is currently taking any over-the-counter or prescription medication, a Medication Information Form must be filled out. The Adler Center may only administer medications if we have this form on file. Please list any allergies on your registration form in the medical section. If your child has an IEP or 504 Plan, please provide a copy so we can better facilitate the instruction of your child.
Do you administer first aid? How do you handle emergency situations?
Minor bruises, bumps, bug bites, and wounds will be taken care of at camp. If anything more serious arises, we will contact you immediately. If emergency care is required, we will call an ambulance, which will go to the closest medical facility.
What should my child wear to camp?
All campers should bring an art smock or an old t-shirt to protect their clothes. Water games are often played during squad time, so we recommend sending an extra change of clothes in case they get wet.
Can I visit during camp hours?
Daytime visits are welcome but limited to early pick-ups, camper office check-ins, and item drop-offs. For the safety of all campers, we kindly ask that families do not visit classrooms or join campers for lunch. Please remember to sign in and out at the administrative offices.
What are your drop-off and pick-up procedures and attendance policies?
Drop off begins at 8:45am. Pick up begins at 3:50pm. If your camper will be absent or late, please contact the Adler Center office at (847) 367-0707 or sarah@adlercenter.org. If your camper will arrive late, or leave early for any reason, please come to the reception desk to sign-in/out. We do not accept early pick-ups after 3pm. If you need to pick up your camper early, please do so before 3pm.
For your convenience, the Adler Arts Center offers child care after summer camp.
After Care is a time of unstructured play, supervised by Camp Counselors. Pre-registration is required.
After Care is offered from 4:15 – 6:00pm ONLY and costs $150 per session.
There are no refunds on After Care payments and no discounts for early pick-up.
After two late pick-ups, your child will automatically be enrolled and you will be billed $150.
We will not offer morning before care.
The Adler Center will open at 8:45am.
The Adler Arts Center gives financial aid to both children and adults for private lessons, camps, and classes based on financial need. You must show valid proof of family income, which must include income of both parents, guardians, or any other adults in the applicant’s address.
Total (Gross) Income / Number of Family Members
| Subsidy | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 75% | $14,580 | $19,720 | $24,860 | $30,000 | $35,140 | $40,280 |
| 50% | $18,080 | $24,720 | $30,860 | $37,000 | $43,140 | $49,280 |
| 25% | $21,580 | $29,720 | $36,860 | $44,000 | $51,140 | $58,280 |
Questions? Email ellen@adlercenter.org
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
