Camp Flight – LOTUS Chicago

Camp Flight is designed to feel steady, thoughtful, and human—especially for families joining us for the first time.

In this context, “flight” does not mean rushing or taking off. It means a carefully curated sampling of experiences. Children move through a range of activities so they can notice what lights them up, what holds their attention, and what they may want to explore more deeply in the future. Nothing is forced; curiosity leads. We value rhythm over rush.

Safety and care are foundational. Camp Flight is created and led by certified teachers who are trained in CPR, camper engagement, and belonging-centered practices. We are attentive to air quality alerts and heat advisories, and we adjust activities accordingly to keep children safe and comfortable. Our counselor-to-student ratio is intentionally strong, so every camper is seen, supported, and known.

We are proudly all-inclusive and proactive about creating a culture of respect and belonging. Phones are not used during the day; instead, we encourage busy hands, curious minds, and yes—getting a little dirty in the best way. Building, moving, cooking, creating, exploring. A strict allergy-free environment is enforced, and we take health and safety protocols seriously.

This is our fourth year of Camp Flight, and with care and confidence we are expanding. This summer we will be in Evanston (with registration through the Evanston Park District), Maywood, NEIU in North Park, and Movement on Montrose in Albany Park. Each site runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the camp closed on Juneteenth. Every week includes a thoughtfully planned field trip to extend learning beyond the room and into the world.

If your child is a little hesitant, that’s okay. Camp Flight is built for that child too. We move at a humane pace, we lead with relationship, and we take seriously the trust you place in us.

Check the registration tab for your site and the activities we plan per week. Week modules/activities are subject to change until schedules solidify in April.

Science: STEAM Lab

We kick off Camp Flight with our very own STEAM LAB, where science, technology, engineering, art, and math collide in the most hands-on, mind-expanding way possible. This is not about worksheets and formulas—this is about creating, building, experimenting, and making connections between what we learn and how we live. LOTUS has been crafting STEAM experiences that hit different, and this summer, we are going bigger than ever.

Financial Empowerment: So You Want To Be A Boss?

This is Shark Tank, but for real life! Financial coach and Camp Flight Pioneer Ms. Ylanda Wilhite and the NEIU College of Business and Tech are coming through to break down the numbers game—what is money, how does money moves, how to make it work for you, and how to pitch like a boss. This session is for future entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone who plans to control their own financial destiny. If you do not know your numbers, you are just guessing.

Culinary and Gardening

WWe are turning the lab into a kitchen, because knowing how to grow food is only half the journey—knowing how to prepare and transform it is the next level. 5918 Catering is showing us how to take the fresh ingredients and turn them into real, delicious meals. With food they grow from the garden, campers will get hands-on experience cutting, preparing, and cooking, learning that food is both science and culture on a plate.

Drone Lab

Drone Lab is a hands-on course where youth learn to build, and pilot drones while developing real engineering and flight skills. Students navigate obstacle courses, practice aerial surveying, and explore how drones are used in industries like filmmaking, construction, agriculture, environmental science, and public safety. Along the way, they gain an introduction to a fast-growing, well-paid field and the professional standards that come with it. The learning is rigorous, playful, and grounded in real-world application. The goal is simple: help students discover work so engaging they’ll one day say, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this.”

Sailing

Sailing with Jackson Park Yacht Club proves to be an exciting two weeks each year. Part of our “Something’s in the Water” program. There’s scholarships and great vibes in the water! Mind the boom and jib!

Science Fair Lab and Team Rowing

Collab with peers to create awesome science fair presentations. We supply the materials.

Team rowing is a yearly occurrence at Camp Flight with a partnership with Chicago Parks and Trish Brubaker’s team at Lincoln Park Boat Club.

eGaming and Robotics with I Play Games

Gaming is more than a hobby—it is a multibillion-dollar industry, and we are getting in on the action. Kevin Fair is breaking down how gaming turns into business, how strategy and problem-solving apply to real life, and, of course, we will be playing some of the best competitive games out.

Our robotics module invites campers to bring their ideas to life—building, coding, and testing real robots that move, sense, and solve problems. It’s where creativity meets engineering, and every experiment sparks the confidence to invent what comes next.

Aviation

AeroStar Avion Institute
Youth step into flight simulation and learn the science that keeps aircraft steady in the sky—lift, drag, pitch, navigation, and teamwork. Avion Institute’s curriculum for grades 2–8 makes aviation both accessible and inspiring. Students train their eyes, their discipline, and their imagination in equal measure.

Golf w/ First Tee - Greater Chicago

Golf is strategy, patience, and finesse—and First Tee (Coach is Shavers) – Greater Chicago is here to make sure our campers know how to swing with skill and confidence. This is more than a game; it is about access, networking, and playing (having fun) in spaces where big moves are made.

*Weekly lineup subject to change. Check the register button below for weekly selections!

"Camp Flight Is Better Than All Camps"

“My son said, ‘Camp Flight is better than all camps.’ And we send him to some serious camps, or so we thought. The structure is so accommodating and the content is beyond stellar. Academics and outdoor summer fun. There are absolutely no other camps like this in the city for sure. And in the heart of Bronzeville.”