Winter Break Camps and Activities for Fun While School’s Out

By:
Updated:
WinterIndoor Places to GoOutdoor Places to Go

I don’t know about you, but my kids are already asking if it’s winter break yet. These can be great days for staying in pajamas, testing out new toys, and recharging your batteries, but they also tend to be days that blend together. In our winter break guide, you’ll find great ways to build some structure into your days with winter break camps, family outings, or activities at home. No need to spend hours searching for “winter break camps near me”. We have you covered.

2024–25 Winter Break Camps

Whether you’re looking to meet your childcare needs, or simply want a chance for your child to socialize, there are quite a few organizations offering winter break camps this year. Kids can get out of the house, engage in countless fun activities with friends, and enjoy their time off of school. Stretch their legs, learn a new game, and make new friends. Read on to find your little camper’s calling for winter break fun!

More winter break camps to consider:


Top Things to Do for Winter Break 2024-25

We’re so excited to be able to get out more this winter break, so we’ve added a few more than we usually do. Indoors or outdoors, quiet or active, there’s something that every family can enjoy.

Check out our Events Calendar.

Not sure where to start? Look in our calendar. Special storytimes, pop-up events, movie showings, and museum free days are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the family fun you’ll find in our events calendar.

Enjoy a holiday light show.

Many light displays continue through the new year. Nicole’s guide has details about walking, drive-through and household displays. Navy Pier is hosting its winter event, Light up the Lake. Lincoln Park Zoo offers free admission to their ZooLights on Mondays, and Morton Arboretum’s Illumination is always a popular spot.

Ring in the new year

Usher in the new year with these events and at-home activities that will take the stress out of planning your New Years Eve festivities.

Explore a new exhibit or immersive experience.

Love slime? Head to Sloomoo Institute. Color Factory is another favorite, or check out to new exhibits at MSI, Field Museum, and more. We have tons of options in our guide to immersive experiences.

Go skating at indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks.

Grab your skates (and cocoa for afterwards) and head out for a family skate indoors or outdoors, like at the The Chicago Wolves Ice Rink in Rosemont.

Have fun in the snow.

We have lists for the best sledding hills, places for skiing/snowboarding, or snowshoe rentals, and cross-country skiing. If there’s snow on the ground, getting outside is always the perfect activity to burn off some energy and make memories!

Go to the zoo.

While the zoos are great places to go for holiday lights, don’t forget to see the animals too. Avoid the crowds of the holiday shows and enjoy an afternoon with your favorite animals. Lincoln Park Zoo is always free, and Brookfield Zoo is hosting quite a few free days at the beginning of January. Don’t forget some of the smaller zoos in our area, too!

Explore free nature centers.

Kids can explore and learn about animals, plants, geography and more at an awesome indoor nature center. Call ahead to confirm any special holiday hours.

Go for a hike.

If the temperature gets above freezing, we are outside! Get some fresh air and enjoy the sights at a new (to you) forest preserve.

Volunteer together.

Keep the spirit of the holidays alive and do good with your family by volunteering together. Many organizations appreciate the help after the holiday rush!

Visit new indoor play spaces.

Indoor play spaces are a great place to explore new toys and burn off extra energy.

Head to your local library.

Grab some new titles and enjoy a quiet afternoon at home. Many libraries are offering winter reading programs to incentivize reading fun.

Visit a local children’s museum.

Some of our favorite days are spent tinkering at these incredible spaces to play and learn.

Go swimming at an indoor water park.

Forget about the temperatures outside, it’s warm at these indoor water parks. Pelican Harbor in Bolingbrook, for instance, has an indoor pool with two water slides, tumble buckets, a lap pool, and a zero-depth entry pool.

Take in a live theater performance.

What a special treat to see a live show! Check out our full list of shows going on this winter.

Enjoy a real-life Throwback Thursday.

Spend a day having old-school fun at arcades and game rooms, roller skating rinks, or kid-friendly bowling alleys. The sights and sounds will certainly leave you feeling nostalgic.

Puzzle things out together.

Family-friendly escape rooms are a fun way to bond as you problem-solve together and try to make your way out in time! Check out our list for recommendations with kid-friendly features.

Get physical.

Break a sweat as you jump, bounce, and climb at one of the many indoor rock climbing walls or trampoline parks in our area.

Grab a meal together.

Enjoy a delicious meal out at extra-fun restaurants for kids, or find a great deal at a restaurant offering opportunities where kids eat free.

Enjoy a mini vacation.

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy a vacation. We’ve compiled a list of hotels with indoor pools for a change of scenery, some extra time in the pool, and maybe even a free breakfast.

Don’t forget to tag us on social media with your winter break fun using the hashtag #sharekidlist!

Join the List

Let us help you plan fun days!
Get kid-friendly updates straight to your inbox

"*" indicates required fields

When would you like to receive Kidlist emails?*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Articles

About the Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.

Our Amazing Sponsors
Popular Guides