Chicago Suburb Fishing Camp is ON for 2026.
Our biggest fishing camp year yet last year. Thank you campers and families. We had a blast last year at our kid’s fishing camps. Look for Monster Fish Day, FishLimpics, the USA Team Fish-Off and Zombie Survival games this Summer at the Park District Lake Near you. We had great kid campers last summer and looking forward to fishing fun and warmer weather! All new Camp Gear this Year. Your campers can also book private lessons and guided fishing with the family. These make great rewards, birthday gifts and summer “stay-cations” for kids between 7 – 16 years old. (Guiding and lessons for kids of all ages). I also offer Fishing Birthday Parties if your fishers can’t make it to the camps.
Spring up until May – (schedule private lesson, kid’s fishing birthday party and group private fishing lessons!). 2 hour, 4 hour and full day sessions available. (Also kid’s party is an hour and a half of fishing fun).
Share, Like And WIN. Help promote Johnny’s Camp on Facebook and X – Win a rod & reel combo, one of 3 Gapen Book Sets or an Autographed Fishing World Championships Hat Spread the Word & Win. Get entries for Subscribing to YouTube – Sharing Links to Facebook. Subscribe to YouTube for parents video camp tutorial (get notified when that is ready). I will be doing a video guide to fishing camps on my YouTube channel (please subscribe) : – but definitely use the Raffle Press to get 5 entries into the fishing promotion.
Kid’s Summer Fishing Camps
Current Chicago Suburb Fishing Camp include kid’s fishing camp dates for Arlington Heights Park District, Lisle Park District and Palos Hills Park District. Register through these sites. (For the Orland Hills Camp – registration will use the link below.)
Registration will begin this Friday.
Jump on our Kid’s Fishing Camp Email Update here to receive breaking news on camps, registration reminders and to help get your kids in a fishing camp this summer.
Arlington Heights Park District Kid’s Fishing Camp
Registration will be opening very soon. We will be in the catalog of the Park District.
NOTE-NON-RESIDENTS need to walk into their office to set up registration.
Administration Center 410 N Arlington Heights Rd (847) 577-3000 Mon-Fri: 9AM-2PM
Register through the Arlington Heights Park District – Lake Arlington
Week 1 June 1st – June 5th 9 am – 12 noon half day camp
Week 2 June 22nd – June 26th 9 am – 3 pm full day camp
Week 3 June 29th – July 2nd 9 am – 12 noon half day camp
Week 4 July 27th – July 31 9 am – 12 noon half day camp
Week 5 August 3rd – August 7th 9 1m – 12 noon half day camp
Lisle Park District Kid’s Fishing Camp
Registration will be opening very soon. We will be in the catalog of the Park District. Register through the Lisle Park District
Week 1 July 13th – May be FULL DAY FISHING CAMP TBD date will remain
Week 2 August 3rd – Half Day PM Kids Fishing Camp
Week 3 August 10th – Full Day Fishing Camp
Oak Brook Park District Kid’s Fishing Camp
Dates TBD
Orland Hills Kid’s Fishing CAMP
ORLAND HILLS Park District Fishing CAMP
(Fishing Camp Registration is OPEN – Use links below)
Two fishing camps will run to the South in Orlando Hills. Full Day fishing Camp June 15th – June 19th as well as a kid’s fishing half day camp July 6th – July 10th. these camps will feature instruction, tips, all fishing tackle provided for day 1 of the camp and campers need absolutely no fishing gear to participate. No Experience necessary to avid fishers – all will enjoy learning SpeedFishing™, Pole fishing, Spin casting and how to catch fish from shore. Units will include catching lots of fish, bass fishing and also monster fish (going after the big cats and carps) and fishing games such as zombie survival and team championships. Fishing campers will meet new fisher friends from the area and their schools. The goal being to get fishing down the street at the local pond and to catch more on vacation at your summer spots. Species of fish we will focus on: Blue Gill, Crappie, Bass, Carp and Channel Catfish with a few other species thrown in.
Week 1 June 15th – June 19th 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Registration Limit 36 Ages 9 – Age 16 Register with this Link
All Day Camp $385 per camper.
Week 2 July 6th – July 10th 8:30 am – 12:00 noon
Registration Limit 36 Ages 9 – Age 16 Register with this Link
Half Day Camp $245 per camper.
2026 Fishing Camp Registration Is COMING UP for At ALL CAMPS fill out form below for notifications, updates and information great camp swag, ultimate kid’s fishing kits and great gear for kids to catch fish locally and on vacation.
Chicago Area Kids Fishing Camp Locations
We currently will have camps in the following locations: Arlington Heights, Lisle, Pleasantdale (Burr Ridge) & Orland Hills. Campers do not need fishing experience to have fun and enjoy our sessions. All abilities and experiences benefit from our fishing camp fun, education and outdoors sessions.
Camps in progress right now.
Arlington Heights
Lisle
Oakbrook PD
SOUTH KIDS FISHING CAMP DATES – Orland Hills or Tinley Park… TBD Contact your local park disctrict and ask them to reach out to us!
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 Staffers? Fishing as a Summer Job
Looking for High School & College 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.
Fill out this form and send to Johnny – to become a camp staffer.
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
Oak Brook – TBD Date to be Confirmed & Sign-up soon.
Lisle PD – Information Coming Soon
Downers Grove, IL – (need someone from the Park District to work with us on growing a kid’s fishing program – their lake and facility is Excellent for a kid’s fishing camp). Please help us get a contact who would want a fishing camp there this summer.
Orland Hills, IL – Ashbourne Lake -(need someone from the Park District to work with us on growing a kid’s fishing program – their lake and facility is Excellent for a kid’s fishing camp). Please help us get a contact who would want a fishing camp there this summer.
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.
