Chicago Suburb Fishing Camp is ON for 2024. We had a blast last year and most camps filled up. IF you have any trouble getting registered for the camps, please call the offices to gain access. I will wait-list campers and try to expand camps to meet all needs including FULL DAY camps this year! If you see a date below on a half day – note that we will expand to afternoons on some of these camps when we overfill. Just because you couldn’t register at a PD, doesn’t mean we can’t make it happen.
Most registrations have NOT opened as of yet – but no worries, we will get your fishers in.
Get on our fishing camp mail notification list. You will receive emails about upcoming camps and registration opening up so you can grab one of these spaces for your fishing camper. this season, we will have wait list, standby and expand afternoon sessions with demand. Look for information on a camp registration page soon.
Camp Staff Needed
Looking for High School Fishers to help with fishing camps for some side hustle income and some of the best fishing swag in the land. . No experience necessary, must like fish, kids and be dependable to show up and get covered in fish! Will hang out and have some fishing sessions with Johnny following camp days once or twice as a bonus. Will train. Text 630.235.2162 with your availability Summer mornings and early afternoon matching the weeks below.
2024 Registration Coming Soon
Chicago Area Fishing Camp Locations
We currently will have camps in the following locations:
Arlington Heights
June 3rd – 1st Session Half Day
June 24th – 2nd Session Half Day
July 29th – 3rd Session Half Day
August 4th – final Session FULL DAY FISHING CAMP NEW
Registration is coming soon.. July
Non-residents may need to call if you can’t pick your dates and sign up via AHPD site.
Lisle (Lisle PD) Registration Coming Soon:
June 10th details One of these is FULL DAY FISHING CAMP NEW
July 15th details coming soon.
Pleasant Dale (Pleasant Dale PD)
June 17th details coming soon.
August 12th details coming soon.
SOUTH CAMP DATES
Location TBD around Orland to get on
– July 8th
– August 19th
Chicago Area Fishing Camp PAST DATES 2023
Arlington Heights Park District Fishing Camp
Week 4 June 5-June 9, 2023 FILLED
Week 7 June 26 – June 30, 2023
Week 8 July 3 – July 7, 2023
Week 9 July 13, 14 Adventure Camp (TBD)
Week 11 July 31 – August 4th, 2023
Week 12 August 7 – August 11th, 2023
Registration IS OPEN. CAMPS ARE FILLING FAST.
Registration Arlington Heights Fishing Camps Here
Lisle Park District Fishing Camp
Week 5 June 12 – June 16, 2023
Week 10 July 17 – July 21, 2023
Registration CLOSES SOON.
Northbrook YMCA Fishing Camp < Registration OPEN
Week 9 July 11th, 2023 (note- fishing is just one day – on July 11th. Campers will do other activities and it is a week-long camp) Good camp if they like fishing, but don’t want to fish all week.
Northbrook YMCA Fishing Camp Registration Here
Pleasantdale
May Dates & June 19th week are TBD – Coming Soon!
Registration Pleasantdale Fishing Camp Here
Oakbrook Terrace
Details coming soon – August Camp Dates to follow
May Dates & One or two more locations coming soon.
Updates on Summer Camps 3.13.23
The fishing camps are ON for 2023.
For email updates on camp and early sign-up – enter an email below and tell us how many campers you may have (include friends, neighbors, classmates):
We will send out registration emails for you coming up on their registration.
Our next email will be in a week with announcements on all the available dates. **Note we value your inbox and do NOT send out many emails. Don’t worry if you haven’t received one – we probably send 3 a season! MAX There will be 14 weeks of fishing camps! So excited.
New this year – we will have Camp T-Shirts for all our fishing adventurers as souvenirs.
Info coming to this space soon. All campers will be getting camp stickers, a coupon for fishing tackle as well as some fun give-aways.
If you signed up for an email, you will receive a link to the camps when they are confirmed with park districts. It is ok if you have not received an email! We don’t like filling up in boxes.
Email to come out next month with tentative locations, dates and sign-up links.
REGISTRATION LIMITED SIZE to 24 fishing kids per session.
I will work to provide this camp in the future or can do private sessions on the weekends – or the week of July 4th. Great staycation activity- book a family fishing outing and better learn catching fish locally. Book holidays and weekends early. You can book a group with your family, neighbors, friends or classmates to catch a ton of fish.
Jump on it when dates goes live. Our Chicago Suburbs Fishing Camp goes fast. If you miss out, will have some fall weekend fishing camps. Shirts available to order here following camps and can ship them out. Poles and other fishing gear sold through www.livebaitfishingtackle.com – campers will only need a snack, towel (baseball cap or hat highly recommended) and water. All the “odor” will be supplied by the fish. So excited.
July 4th week (private lessons available or single family book-a-camps)
Survey results from those interested in camps show us you are ready to fish! We will feature both morning and afternoon sessions in June, July & August to provide campers with chances to plan around sports and vacations.
Fishing Camps – North, West & South Locations
Structured half-day sessions designed to launch local adventure on ponds near you. We will put our fishing up against any video game. Action, suspense, excitement and intrigue. How many species will we catch? What will they learn today. We sneak a little bit of fishing history, rig-making, fish fighting and tackle instruction into some games, lessons and team competitions that come together in the week-ending Fishing Match Championships. Our Chicago Suburb Fishing Camp will be located on three locations to serve much of the Chicago area! We are happy to announce camps in:
Arlington Heights, IL – Lake Arlington
Arlington Heights information
Lake Arlington Information
Northbrook – TBD Date to be Confirmed & Sign-up soon.
Downers Grove, IL – (site TBD)
Downers Grove Information
Barth Pond Information
Orland Hills, IL – Ashbourne Lake
Orland Hills Information
Lake Ashbourne Information
Get on our Kid’s Camp Email List for Registration Notifications
(Small Camps Will Fill Fast) Indicate how many campers you might want to reserve
New Anglers Girls & Boys
Every kid is ready to fish. There are no levels of experience – everyone will learn the same whether they have fished or have never touched a fish! Kids will learn world-class fishing style and how to speed fish, fish for giant fish as well as learn the baits, equipment and handling of fish. Girls are welcome, in fact – they often out-fish the rest of the kids. We shouldn’t even have to say it, all are welcome.
Special-needs kids welcome, use your judgement as to sending them with a parent or guardian so that they can feel comfortable at the camp.
SAFETY FIRST
All of our camp locations are located with as-safe fishing shore. Depth of water is maximum 1 foot at all 3 of our locations at the shoreline. Kids would have to physically walk out to deeper water – many cases deep water is far away – 10′ off shore to get in water that (might) be over their head. These venues are chosen on purpose. We monitor kids and pair kids up for safety. Many times were are in team activities. Line of sight is never broken at the water. Classes are kept small so that we keep them safe. Safety hooks are employed and these hooks do little to no damage to skin as they are like needles without the hazardous barb. Hand sanitizer and natural distancing is incorporated. All children will sign a waiver and parents will fill out the health screener day of the camp to ensure the health of the group. We are an outdoors camp, parents assume the general risks of fishing, rocks and sidewalk hazards.
Please inform us at registration if children have special needs. While we accommodate most campers, we do want to make sure everyone has a great camp experience and that all campers have the ability to stay through a 1/2 day or full day camp. Ask if you have questions – please.
AGES
We will feature fishing camps for kids ages 7-14 years old – other ages with approval. If you have special needs or a small group, I can arrange short camps near you privately.
CAMP DATES
We will run Fishing Camps in June, July & Early August as June and July were the most favored months. Camp registration has NOT begun as of 3/10/2022.
CAMP LENGTH
Three camp lengths will be available to campers and families which will include the 2-Hour Action Camp, Our 4-Hour Half Day Camp as well as the Full Adventure Extreme Full-Day camps for older fishers. Costs will be between $185 and $265 and are subject to final insurance and safety costs.
Fishing Camp GEAR
All camps will feature our exclusive kid-rigged safety gear with hooks that are skin-safe and fish safe. I will have a brand new design for my exclusive kid’s fishing pole rigs. These are sold on my fishing tackles store and in stock. I designed them for kids and parents to easily rig up a pole in under a minute! Timesaver, fish catcher and the best way to get tons of fishing action from shore, dock & boat. New this year I am adding a totally kid’s fishing kit with everything they need to become the ultimate fish-catcher in the family.
Handling of fish will be taught to campers and incorporated by our camp staff & volunteers. Our gear is constructed and designed for fish (and human safety) and is the safest gear available anywhere! All equipment is furnished including World Record speed-fishing gear that is built to catch the most fish. Rigs are competition-grade and will be furnished by LiveBaitFishingTackle.com and the Chicago Fishing School. Campers are expected to set their own records for fish caught! (No outside gear allowed for camper safety).
BAIT
Premium live baits that fish love will be shipped in and used during the camp! Best available on our continent for maximum fishing success. Why bother fishing with something that fish don’t crave? Seriously!
Fishing Camp RECORDS
Ready for action? Can your child reach the 50-fish patch? How about 100? No joke. In Johnny’s camp he will teach the art of speed-fishing, catching upwards of 87 fish per hour. Your child will achieve great catch numbers that you thought were not possible. Using old world methods combined with modern gear, your child will see how exciting local ponds can be. They will also be able to replicate catching on their own after the camp. (Inexpensive Catching Kits available for purchase and take-home).
Beast Fish – Chicago Suburb Fishing Camp Monsters
How about the 5 lb. Beast-Fish? Pictured is a 14.5 lb. beast from our Palos Hills locations. Can you land it? Our fishing will be loaded with action, learning, adventure and what would our fishing camp be without fish. We guarantee to send your kids home smelling like fish! Well, to be honest, we hope they use our sanitizing wipes – but with fish flying through the air they may just get a little on them. Everyone will learn the tactics and tips to lock into big fish in the ponds near their house.
Park Districts in the area – you are welcome to inquire about fishing camp for your programs. We can integrate your staff and accommodate your campers.
A big part of the goal of our Chicago Suburb Fishing Camp is to get kids to care about the local environment, waters and fish species. Focus on keeping it cleaner than when we arrived, fish care, water pollution and ecosystems explained. We’ll even talk a little about back yard environment fixes.
Camps planned include 2-hour, 4 hour (1/2 day) and 6-hour camps. We will include one teen camp in the mix. Our fishing camps are for mixed ages for kids from 6 – 16. Because the content is exciting we find that all levels have success and work together. Together we will break each kid’s record for most fish caught in a day and try to catch some beat fish – break their record for biggest fish they have ever caught.
