Elementary School Summer Programs
Explore Retreats
Kindergarten
Beauty in the Valley - Retreat Weeks A, B and C are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Khan Online Coaching
Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from a Rockford Public Schools certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 30
Transportation: Transportation is not provided.
Meals: Meals are not provided.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Water, Water, Water - Retreat Weeks A, B, C and D are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Where’s Rhythm? - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will study the ‘rhythms of nature’ through reading, drama, music, visual arts, mathematical movement and technology. The STREAM Enrichment Retreat will provide a hands-on integrated approach to learning while encouraging student participation and ownership.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 150
Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
1st Grade
Beauty in the Valley - Retreat Weeks A, B and C are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Khan Online Coaching
Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from a Rockford Public Schools certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 30
Transportation: Transportation is not provided.
Meals: Meals are not provided.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Water, Water, Water - Retreat Weeks A, B, C and D are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Where’s Rhythm? - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will study the ‘rhythms of nature’ through reading, drama, music, visual arts, mathematical movement and technology. The STREAM Enrichment Retreat will provide a hands-on integrated approach to learning while encouraging student participation and ownership.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 150
Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
2nd Grade
Beauty in the Valley - Retreat Weeks A, B and C are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Khan Online Coaching
Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from a Rockford Public Schools certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 30
Transportation: Transportation is not provided.
Meals: Meals are not provided.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Water, Water, Water - Retreat Weeks A, B, C and D are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Where’s Rhythm? - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will study the ‘rhythms of nature’ through reading, drama, music, visual arts, mathematical movement and technology. The STREAM Enrichment Retreat will provide a hands-on integrated approach to learning while encouraging student participation and ownership.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 150
Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
3rd Grade
Atwood Outdoor Education Center - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Situated along the beautiful Kishwaukee River, Atwood Park boasts 334 acres of diverse natural area, including forest, marsh, and prairieland. The Rockford Park District’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (ORE) program focuses on engaging participants in the outdoors with hands-on experiences. The ORE program coordinates high-quality outdoor experiences with Illinois State Board of Education Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 60
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For more information regarding the site and classes available, check out atwoodpark.org or call 815-489-7289.
Beauty in the Valley - Retreat Weeks A, B and C are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Elementary Coding and Robotics at the Discovery Center - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
This class is geared towards elementary students who are interested in robotics and coding. Students will learn about programming, coding and different topics as they relate to the field of robotics. Students will have hands-on experiences with a variety of topics and challenges that require creative thinking.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Khan Online Coaching
Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from a Rockford Public Schools certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 30
Transportation: Transportation is not provided.
Meals: Meals are not provided.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Outdoor Education at White Pines Ranch - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will enjoy learning through hiking in a naturally-formed sandstone canyon, searching for fossils from the Ordovician Period, studying aquatic life in a stream along erosion banks, grooming and riding horses, investigating local history in a cemetery, and other hands-on activities in the outdoors. Students will also develop lasting relationships as meals are eaten family style and the instructors build enjoyable groups. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
Hours: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Class limit: 100
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For more information, check out www.whitepinesranch.com or call 815-489-7289.
Severson Dells - Retreats A, B, C & E are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Severson Dells Nature Center will provide five days of nature education programs that combine hands-on explorations, guided activities and games to engage students in the natural learning laboratory that Severson Dells Forest Preserve provides. Students will get a field backpack with a field journal, hand lens, bug box and measuring tape to use for the week and be able to take home at the end of the week to continue their outdoor explorations and observations.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Water, Water, Water - Retreat Weeks A, B, C and D are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Where’s Rhythm? - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will study the ‘rhythms of nature’ through reading, drama, music, visual arts, mathematical movement and technology. The STREAM Enrichment Retreat will provide a hands-on integrated approach to learning while encouraging student participation and ownership.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 150
Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
4th Grade
Atwood Outdoor Education Center - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Situated along the beautiful Kishwaukee River, Atwood Park boasts 334 acres of diverse natural area, including forest, marsh, and prairieland. The Rockford Park District’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (ORE) program focuses on engaging participants in the outdoors with hands-on experiences. The ORE program coordinates high-quality outdoor experiences with Illinois State Board of Education Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 60
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For more information regarding the site and classes available, check out atwoodpark.org or call 815-489-7289.
Beauty in the Valley - Retreat Weeks A, B and C are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Elementary Coding and Robotics at the Discovery Center - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
This class is geared towards elementary students who are interested in robotics and coding. Students will learn about programming, coding and different topics as they relate to the field of robotics. Students will have hands-on experiences with a variety of topics and challenges that require creative thinking.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Khan Online Coaching
Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from a Rockford Public Schools certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 30
Transportation: Transportation is not provided.
Meals: Meals are not provided.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Outdoor Education at White Pines Ranch - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will enjoy learning through hiking in a naturally-formed sandstone canyon, searching for fossils from the Ordovician Period, studying aquatic life in a stream along erosion banks, grooming and riding horses, investigating local history in a cemetery, and other hands-on activities in the outdoors. Students will also develop lasting relationships as meals are eaten family style and the instructors build enjoyable groups. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
Hours: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Class limit: 100
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For more information, check out www.whitepinesranch.com or call 815-489-7289.
Severson Dells - Retreats A, B, C & E are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Severson Dells Nature Center will provide five days of nature education programs that combine hands-on explorations, guided activities and games to engage students in the natural learning laboratory that Severson Dells Forest Preserve provides. Students will get a field backpack with a field journal, hand lens, bug box and measuring tape to use for the week and be able to take home at the end of the week to continue their outdoor explorations and observations.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Water, Water, Water - Retreat Weeks A, B, C and D are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Where’s Rhythm? - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will study the ‘rhythms of nature’ through reading, drama, music, visual arts, mathematical movement and technology. The STREAM Enrichment Retreat will provide a hands-on integrated approach to learning while encouraging student participation and ownership.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 150
Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
5th Grade
Atwood Outdoor Education Center - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Situated along the beautiful Kishwaukee River, Atwood Park boasts 334 acres of diverse natural area, including forest, marsh, and prairieland. The Rockford Park District’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (ORE) program focuses on engaging participants in the outdoors with hands-on experiences. The ORE program coordinates high-quality outdoor experiences with Illinois State Board of Education Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 60
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For more information regarding the site and classes available, check out atwoodpark.org or call 815-489-7289.
Beauty in the Valley - Retreat Weeks A, B and C are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will experience a variety of natural settings that have been used by artists for over a century while learning the basics of field study and historical fiction. Students will experience several locations and works of art that demonstrate the concepts of beautifying our area and make connections to broader movements in the United States. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Elementary Coding and Robotics at the Discovery Center - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
This class is geared towards elementary students who are interested in robotics and coding. Students will learn about programming, coding and different topics as they relate to the field of robotics. Students will have hands-on experiences with a variety of topics and challenges that require creative thinking.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Khan Online Coaching
Enroll your child in Khan Academy and get personalized goal-setting, guidance and feedback from a Rockford Public Schools certified teacher. This retreat is self-paced and the instructor uses an office-hours approach to virtually meet with students over the course of the week to monitor progress and assist students. Teachers will reach out with online platform information one week prior to retreat start via email provided during registration.
Eligible Grades: K-12
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 30
Transportation: Transportation is not provided.
Meals: Meals are not provided.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Outdoor Education at White Pines Ranch - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Participants will enjoy learning through hiking in a naturally-formed sandstone canyon, searching for fossils from the Ordovician Period, studying aquatic life in a stream along erosion banks, grooming and riding horses, investigating local history in a cemetery, and other hands-on activities in the outdoors. Students will also develop lasting relationships as meals are eaten family style and the instructors build enjoyable groups. Students will be walking daily.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
Hours: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Class limit: 100
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For more information, check out www.whitepinesranch.com or call 815-489-7289.
Severson Dells - Retreats A, B, C & E are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Severson Dells Nature Center will provide five days of nature education programs that combine hands-on explorations, guided activities and games to engage students in the natural learning laboratory that Severson Dells Forest Preserve provides. Students will get a field backpack with a field journal, hand lens, bug box and measuring tape to use for the week and be able to take home at the end of the week to continue their outdoor explorations and observations.
Eligible Grades: 3-5
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Water, Water, Water - Retreat Weeks A, B, C and D are full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will learn about the beauty and uses of different water facilities in our area while improving their environmental awareness. Students will visit a variety of locations to better understand the important role that water plays in our everyday lives and how it creates beauty within the world around us. Students will be walking daily.
June 27-July 1 (Retreat Week B)
Class limit: 21
Location: RESA Middle School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Where’s Rhythm? - This retreat is full. Waitlisted families will be contacted to discuss alternative retreats.
Students will study the ‘rhythms of nature’ through reading, drama, music, visual arts, mathematical movement and technology. The STREAM Enrichment Retreat will provide a hands-on integrated approach to learning while encouraging student participation and ownership.
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Class limit: 150
Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Register for Retreats
CAMP 2022: Promises of America
Eligible Grades: K-5
Dates: July 5-29
Transportation: Available for those students who live farther than 0.5 miles from program site.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-489-7289.
Registration: Invitations to select students who currently attend a Title I school will arrive via U.S. mail.
If you feel that your student fulfills the grant requirements for math and reading scores below grade level and currently attends an RPS 205 Title I school, please reach out to your student's home school to discuss eligibility and next steps.
Questions? If you have general questions outside of the registration process, please call Karen Frayne at 815-489-7289.
English Learners Reading Summer Program
The program is designed to improve each student's language and reading skills. K-2 students will experience engaging and interactive reading, building on their heritage language skills (Spanish or Arabic). Students in grades 3-5 will focus on the extension of reading skills in English.
Eligible Grades: K-5 Spanish and Arabic Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) students
Dates: July 5-29
Transportation: Transportation will be provided.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
For additional information, please call 815-966-3195 or 815-489-7283.
Registration: Invitations are mailed directly to eligible students. Register by May 2.