Find a program / Camps / Illinois
Illinois camps
Summer camps in Illinois: state rules
Illinois doesn't publish a statewide camp list, so we have no camp listings here yet. This page explains the state's camp rule and links to the official sources.
Illinois camp rules
Day and overnight camps need a camp license or permit. IDPH licenses youth camps under the Youth Camp Act (210 ILCS 100): any day or resident camp serving 5 or more children under 18 away from their parents for 3 or more consecutive days, or 5 or more days a year. Apply at least 45 days before opening; licenses expire December 31 and are renewed yearly after inspection of water, sewage, sanitation, food service, and swimming facilities.
Agency: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Official sources: IDPH: Youth camps and campgrounds · 210 ILCS 100/3.01 (youth camp definition) · 210 ILCS 100/5 (license required)
All Illinois rules for child care and camps · Camp license rules in every state · Checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
More for Illinois families
- Child care and after-school programs in Illinois
- Free summer meals for kids in Illinois: USDA meal sites. These are not camps.
- Youth, sports and camp nonprofits in Illinois, from IRS data. Being listed there doesn't mean a camp is licensed.
Camp not listed?
If you run a camp in Illinois that isn't here, send us its details. It's free. A person at BackPR reviews every submission before anything is published, and not every camp gets listed.