SPARC Summer Adventure
SPARC Summer Adventure, offered by the Springfield Park District, provides day camp experiences for children aged 5-12 with a focus on outdoor activities, ga...
▌ Editor's read The Springfield Park District's website (parkboard.org/CAMPS) loads successfully and provides information about their summer camp offerings, including SPARC Summer Adventure. This is a day camp for children aged 5-12, running from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The camp focuses on outdoor activities, games, and field trips, with a weekly fee of $150 for residents. The website states that all staff are CPR/First Aid certified and undergo background checks. The Springfield Park District has a Google review rating of 4.3 stars based on 179 reviews, with many positive comments about their programs and facilities. The camp is not listed in the ACA directory. Social media handles for the Springfield Park District are @springfieldparkdistrict on Instagram and 'springfieldparkdistrict' on Facebook.
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Parks-department programPublic, often subsidized
Who thrives here Ages 5–12
SPARC Summer Adventure fits middle-elementary campers — old enough for skill-building to land, young enough that friend-group dynamics and counselor warmth still matter more than program rigor. Parents at this age band tend to prioritize a balanced rhythm of structured activity and unstructured play, which is the actual differentiator inside any given adventure program.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- Municipal parks department
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Adventure
- Ages: 5–12
- Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Address: Springfield, IL 62701, USA
- Cost notes: USD. Financial assistance available.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about SPARC Summer Adventure
- What ages does SPARC Summer Adventure accept?
- SPARC Summer Adventure is open to children ages 5–12. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does SPARC Summer Adventure cost?
- SPARC Summer Adventure publishes $150/week for the standard session. That sits close to the $150 median for adventure camps in Springfield. USD. Financial assistance available. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are SPARC Summer Adventure's hours?
- SPARC Summer Adventure runs 7 a.m.-6 p.m.. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs SPARC Summer Adventure?
- SPARC Summer Adventure is operated by the local parks department. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does SPARC Summer Adventure provide lunch?
- SPARC Summer Adventure does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does SPARC Summer Adventure compare to other adventure camps in Springfield?
- SPARC Summer Adventure is one of 11 adventure camps in Springfield that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare SPARC Summer Adventure with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Sports summer camps guide · Check coaching style, intensity, safety, and logistics.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
Browse similar camps
Indexable directory cuts for families comparing SPARC Summer Adventure against nearby options.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside SPARC Summer Adventure.
- Adventure Days: Archery & Survival Skills · Dan Kinney Pavilion · Ages 9–15 · $40/week
- Adventure Days: Kayaking the James River · Dan Kinney Pavilion · Ages 9–15 · $40/week
- Adventure Days: Kayaking the Niangua River · Dan Kinney Pavilion · Ages 9–15 · $40/week
- Adventure Days: Springfield Parks Caving Day · Dan Kinney Pavilion · Ages 9–15 · $40/week
- Ag-Venture · RW Farm Park · Ages 8–10 · $140/week
- All About Horses · RW Farm Park · Ages 5–6 · $80/week
- Animal Science 101 · RW Farm Park · Ages 12–14 · $170/week
- Best in Show (session 1) · RW Farm Park · Ages 10–12 · $170/week