P.L.E.X. Kids Summer Camp offers families a unique summer camp experience that combines a balance of activities, choices for projects based on campers’ interests, academic focused lessons and entertainment venues unique to the McKendree MetroRecPlex. Ice Skating, bounce houses and outdoor play time will be offered every week along with themed activity blocks. Swimming and water activities will be available when guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health is issued regarding indoor recreation pools and youth programming. Traditional style day camp with a PLEX twist!
All camp activities are subject to change at any time due to guideline changes put in place by the Restore Illinois Plan and guidelines put into place by the Illinois Department of Health.
Basic Program Changes for Restore Illinois Phase 4
COVID Care Fee
Due to the major shift in program operation, we will implement a COVID Care fee for each week of camp. This fee will help us offset the increased cost in running a safe program following the recommended guidelines put in place by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Commerce. This fee will allow your child an individual set of supplies for art, STEAM, or academic activities planned for the day. Each camper can take home their camp supply box at the end of the week.
Technology Fee
We use Brightwheel communication app for attendance tracking as well as direct communication with families through out the camp day.
-Payment plan options are available: $20 deposit plus $1 technology fee per week of camp due upon registration and remaining balance due the Monday before camp begins.
-Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– Special guests & optional field trips are in the works
For questions contact Erin, ephillips@metrorecplex.com
CAMP LEADERSHIP: Erin
Calling all creature lovers! Learn about animals & the types of jobs that go along with being an animal lover. We will learn about all sorts of animals, from birds to narwhales & see a live animal show from Tye Dyed Iguana!
Discover clay, collage, drawing, painting, and more! Campers complete real works of art and get creative in this “do-it-yourself” camp. Campers will bring an article of clothing to either tie dye or paint a one of a kind design! We’ll also explore performing art activities like improv.
Campers create, build and assemble a variety of projects while exploring how science affects the world around us. This S.T.E.A.M. camp will focus on building simple machines and learning about robotics.
Campers will use the scientific method as they explore classic experiments with a messy twist! campers will participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) activities that will challenge every age group.
We will learn about our neighborhood, fire safety from a fire fighter, play outdoor lawn games.
Somewhere deep inside the ice arena, an elite group of recruits preparing to take on top secret missions. Each day at Secret Spy Camp is filled with top secret briefings and activities that will put spy skills and street smarts to the test.
Develop a disguise for cover, make and break codes, discover escape and evasion techniques, create and use spy gadgets, uncover the science behind spying—all of this and more awaits!
S.T.E.A.M. Science Camp offer a daily combination of discovery and exploration, outdoor games and physical activities, and hands-on applications of the scientific principles presented. This S.T.E.A.M. Camp will focus on learning about outer space, rockets and air travel. We use simple, real world science techniques that allow all campers to enjoy our camp.
Come for a JAW-some time and go underwater with us as we explore shark facts, marine life and create fun!! Learn more about sharks, what they look like, how they swim, what they eat, and where they live. Special activities include hunting for shark teeth & ocean sensory bottles! Friday Fun will include making a special shark-y snack and of course Shark Week video clips!
Get ready to get messy, do obstacle courses, and be challenged! Inspired by the TV shows Double Dare, Survivor, Fear Factor and Legends of the Hidden Temple. Each day is packed with fast-paced fun and trivia, and includes wacky, wet, gooey and slimy challenges that keep campers active, competitive, laughing with friends, and getting soaked to the core!
Campers choose what weeks/activities & themes that were the best. Tons of team games & camp classics. We’ll spend the last week together creating memories!
Specially designed camps specific to our facility & staff’s expertise for a limited number of campers. Each week every day will be spent participating in the selected camp’s focus area for at least 3 hours of the camp day lead by highly skilled professionals in each area. Each year we bring in community Plex Partners to add new areas of exploration.
All camp activities are subject to change at any time due to guideline changes put in place by the Restore Illinois Plan and guidelines put into place by the Illinois Department of Health.
Basic Program Changes for Restore Illinois Phase 3
COVID Care Fee
Due to the major shift in program operation, we will implement a COVID Care fee for each week of camp. This fee will help us offset the increased cost in running a safe program following the recommended guidelines put in place by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Commerce. This fee will allow your child an individual set of supplies for art, STEAM, or academic activities planned for the day. Each camper can take home their camp supply box at the end of the week.
Technology Fee
We use Brightwheel communication app for attendance tracking as well as direct communication with families through out the camp day.
-Payment plan options are available: $20 deposit plus $1 technology fee per week of camp due upon registration and remaining balance due the Monday before camp begins.
-Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– Special guests & optional field trips are in the works
For questions contact Erin, ephillips@metrorecplex.com
CAMP LEADERSHIP: Erin
-Payment plan options are available: $20 deposit plus $1 technology fee per week of camp due upon registration and remaining balance due the Monday before camp begins.
Price Includes Tynker Coding app access
The kids will explore the basics of animation, drawing their own characters and bringing them to life with code. They’ll create a portfolio of animated games, cartoon strips, music videos and interactive worlds.
At this camp, children will learn the basic skills of swimming & pool safety. Step-by-step instruction in pleasant, supervised surroundings make learning safe and easy. Swimmers will swim everyday & play games involving water as well! Campers will experience an abbreviated version of PLEX Swim and end the camp as a more confident swimmer!
At this camp, children will learn the basic skills of Ice Skating and practice and enhance their balance, speed and control on the ice. Step-by-step instruction in pleasant, supervised surroundings make learning safe and easy. Skaters will skate everyday & play games involving ice skating as well! Campers will experience an abbreviated version of PLEX Skate and end the camp as a more confident skater!
Each day campers will experience a different form of fitness classes and exercises. We will also incorporate healthy eating habits & kids cooking classes!
Focus on reading & math instruction for 10 hours during the week with Sylvan Learning Center Instructors with individualized focused grade instruction. Campers will spend the remaining camp day enjoying swimming, ice skating, and additional camp & recreation activities.
The LEGO® Company has made its name on working with some of the most popular movies and shows your kid’s love to watch! And their magic keeps on coming, so Metro East Bricks will be creating a little magic of our own with our LEGO® Bricks and Tricks Magic Camp!
This week of camp using LEGO® bricks will have our campers building magical worlds and characters from some of the most popular movies, tv shows, and toys such as Harry Potter, Trolls, Frozen, How To Train Your Dragon, Jumanji, The Hobbit, and much more! Campers will create LEGO® robotic Harry Potters that fly on their broomsticks and Elsa’s ice castle, all out of LEGO® bricks! They will make their own magic with Poppy, Branch, and the rest of the Trolls one day, and defend their castles from fire-breathing dragons with magical spells and wizards the next. AND they will learn a few magic tricks of their own they can perform for their family and friends at home! All campers will take home fun crafts, magic trick supplies, and have photos taken of all the fun LEGO® models they made throughout the week! And of course, each camper will take home a custom-made LEGO® mini figure! Don’t miss the magic! Sign up for our Bricks and Tricks Magic Camp!
1. Decide what weeks to register for. You can choose between the traditional summer camp or the premium camps for most weeks this summer. Daily camp rates are available the weeks of May 25th and August 10th.
Register online by logging into your MetroRecPlex account and following the registration links. Members can call the front desk to get online access or update a password.
OR
Fill out and return the registration packet
2. Pay in full or set up a payment plan for camp. A $20 deposit plus a $1 tech fee is required per camper per week for families choosing the payment schedule option. You can do this by:
Completing the online registration process- the deposits will be withdrawn that day and the remaining balances are set up to automatically withdraw the Monday before the week of camp begins.
OR
Fill out and return the registration packet
3. Inform the camp directors about any medical needs, allergies, authorized pick up list & emergency contact information. You can do this by:
Completing the online camper profile survey linked above
OR
Filling out and return the registration packet
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Plex Plus AM
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Camp Hours
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Plex Plus PM
P.L.E.X. Kids offers a Counselor in Training (CIT) program available for both traditional and premium summer camp options for kids entering 9-10th grade. The program emphasizes leadership skills, creativity, team building and most importantly fun! By acting as role models for younger campers and assisting in leading aspects of the camp program, it is our goal that our CIT’s walk away having learned new leadership skills, having formed lasting memories with our youngest campers. Priority for placement is given to members, camp graduates, and team members of the SeaHawks & IceHawks youth association.
Please contact Erin Phillips at ephillips@metrorecplex.com for more information.