FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the location of our Game On! Summer Sports Day Camps 4 Girls:
Our Chicago camp is located at Walt Disney Magnet School, 4140 N. Marine Drive in Chicago.
Our Lake Forest Camp is located on the athletic facilities, Lake Forest College, 250 Washington Road, Lake Forest, Illinois.
If I have something to mail at any time during the year, summer included, what address should I use?
Please mail everything to our corporate office:
Game On! LLC
3000 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062
How do I register for Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls?
All summer camp registration is conveniently on-line and accessible through our website at www.gameonsportscamp.com. Just click on the yellow “Register Now” button on top of the home page or through the “General Info Summer Camps” tab and you are on your way.
How do I make a change to my registration details or forms once I have registered?
Just log back into your Game On! account from the Register Now icon on our homepage (see answer to question above) and you can make all the changes you need. You can make changes to your forms (medical, profile, etc.) at any time. You are also able to add or subtract options such as our hot lunch program or optional field trips, though modifications to these will have specified deadlines. Finally, note that you can make changes to the particular summer camp weeks you will be attending as long as you maintain the 3-week minimum and make all your adjustments BY MAY 1. After May 1, you may absolutely add on weeks contingent on availability and with the knowledge that all weeks added are $550.00 regardless of the price per week when you initially registered.
Where do I find the prices and times for Game On!?
Under “Summer Camps” on our website, click on the camp location of choice and you will find prices, dates, and camp times. Our camp days run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Do I have flexibility in the number of weeks my campers can attend Game On!?
Yes. Campers have the option of attending 3,4,5,or 6 weeks in Chicago and 3,4,5,6,7 or 8 weeks in Lake Forest. Two of these weeks must be consecutive. Otherwise, you can carve up your weeks in as needed. Note: The more weeks your camper can attend, the more rewarding, productive, educational and fun the experience will for many reasons. The Game On! program is strategically designed so that with each additional week, your campers are enriched with new opportunities that foster growth as an athlete and a person. In addition, the cost per week decreases as the number of weeks you attend increases. (This sliding scale varies depending on your camp site.) So committing to more weeks in the beginning may be of significant benefit to your pocketbook.
We have already registered for Game On! and we Love it so much. Can we add on weeks during the summer and if so what is the cost?
Yes, you can most definitely add on weeks, contingent on availability. In fact we love when you do. The cost to add additional weeks is $550.
Is my camper at a disadvantage starting after week 1?
We have many campers who for one reason or another are not able to begin that first week. These later starters can rest assured that we are very sensitive to making sure they immediately feel a part of the Game On! family no matter their start date. With regard to week-to-week skill work, we do our best to review for our later starting campers.
If transportation is provided, is it included in camp tuition?
Cluster transportation is provided for our Lake Forest campers at an extra cost. The locations of our clusters will be determined in the spring. Transportation sign-up is executed through the Game On! on-line registration process.
Are all camp-day activities included in camp tuition?
All are included with the exception of certain specialty camps (ie. Red Stars Camp), horseback riding,
off-site golf and the optional lunch program if part of your campsite’s offerings.
Is Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls a competitive camp?
We are not a “competitive camp” though we offer ample opportunity for our athletes to play competitively should they so choose. The bottom line is that skill-building, sportsmanship, team spirit, and teamwork score just as many points in the tally as a win during morning team rotations. During afternoon optionals our campers often have a menu of choices that include competitive sports, advanced skill work, wacky fun such as backward softball, or the new and different such as yoga, karate, ultimate Frisbee, flag football, field hockey, etc. We work hard to strike a balance that accommodates all.
Will my travel athlete be challenged in her sport (s)?
Your travel athlete will be challenged and our coaches are trained to motivate your camper to advance her skills. Not only will she have the opportunity to participate in our advanced and competitive optionals, she will have the chance to challenge herself in her sport during Challenge Course Fridays. In essence, the Game On! program inspires growth and improvement for both the travel and recreational athletes in all sports.
Will my camper play a variety of sports at Game On!
Yes. The program is designed so that campers will have the opportunity to play more sports than you can imagine. Aside from the instruction your camper will receive, she will be exposed to the traditional and non-traditional. For specifics, check out the “Sports We Play” page on our website.
Can my camper come to camp and just work on one sport?
While Game On! does offer specialty camps and lessons in certain sports at some of our camp sites for our older campers (subject to expansion based on demand), a summer at Game On! is all about exposure and growth in multiple sports. For our younger campers, our program offers the chance to experience variety and develop the confidence they need to determine where their more serious interests may lie. For our older campers, we subscribe to the theory that after an intense and competitive school year, they may need to lay back and have some fun enjoying other sports. In addition, analogous to the benefits said to accrue from cross training, participation in other sports may very well lead to improvement in the core areas of their specialties. (i.e. the footwork and reflex work demanded in tennis will most definitely lead to increased quickness in other sports.)
What if my camper is not a great athlete and has never played various sports?
Game On! will provide the perfect environment for her to explore while having a blast. Whether her experience ultimately heightens her confidence and interest in a certain sport or she is in it for the pure joy, she will thrive.
How is the camp day structured?
Mornings are all about skill building and learning to work on a team. As the campers rotate through our core sports, they will engage in fun contests and games designed to teach and reinforce the fundamentals.
At the same time, the program will encourage and reward teamwork. Throughout life, whether within the world of sports or the framework of the working world, social networks, and family structure, we are all better off knowing how to strategize by capitalizing on individual strengths rather than complaining about weaknesses. At Game On! we provide the atmosphere and incentives that teach the true team experience.
Which sports will my camper play each week?
No matter which weeks your camper attends, she will play all of our core sports and then some. Specifically, most mornings, your camper will rotate through three of our seven core sports including soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, softball and fitness. By the end of each week, your camper should have rotated through each one at least twice. During the afternoons, your camper will be able to pick and choose from a menu of sports available to her age grouping (Division). Here the list grows to include sports such as yoga, karate, flag football, ultimate frisbee, rugby, badminton, field hockey, floor hockey, in addition to our core sports.
At Game On! will my camper do anything besides play sports?
How does Game On! Idol sound? Our talent show is most definitely one of the most cherished days of the summer.
The creative list goes on: Team banner painting; tie-dye days; team skit, cheer, and handshake contests; lanyard; watermelon eating competition…..
Campers may enjoy Carnival Day, boating, water park days, the beach, Halloween in July, and so much more that comes with the Game On! camp atmosphere.
We are a sports camp with a memorable and spirited camp culture.
Is there an instructional swim program at Game On!?
No. We used to have a program and frankly the numbers dwindled to the point where it was no longer in demand. The problem was that instructional swim necessarily took the place of a core sport in the mornings. Our campers were extremely disappointed to be missing volleyball, basketball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse or softball. Slowly but surely, they dropped the swimming option.
What will my Game On! camper do when the severe weather hits?
We continue the sports action on-site utilizing our indoor facilities or treat the campers to off-site activity such as bowling. Rest assured, they are not sitting around waiting for the weather to lift.
How will extreme heat affect my camper’s day?
When your camper arrives home that day and talks about her typical sports crazy day, you will undoubtedlywonder how. At Game On! we have mastered the art of staying cool: Of course we are very careful to make sure the campers stay well hydrated, encouraging them to drink up from their water bottles, refillable from our accessible and abundant jugs around camp. On top of that, however, we have perfected the incorporation of water fun into the day. Picture this: Sprinklers all around the fields; Campers running in and out in between innings or during time outs; Sopping wet athletes learning, actively engaged, and having fun; campers galore playing sports impervious to the 100 degree reading on the thermometer. And picture this: Slip & Slides on the softball fields – skill of the day is learning how to slide properly!!!!!! No wonder everyone wishes to sign up for softball during optionals that afternoon.
As an alternative, most of our campsites offer indoor space, so we can move our sports play into the gym.
All of our Game On! facilities to date also provide us with an air conditioned room or two. Our campers will therefore feel the cool air against their sweat-coated, precious faces at one time or another when necessary during the course of these sweltering days.
Will Game On! honor all of our friendship requests?
More than likely yes. We commit to doing our best unless the number of requested teammates jeopardizes our camper to coach ratio. In that case, while we may break up the group, your camper will not go it alone. All that said, it is our hope and our goal to foster an environment where your camper will make those precious new friendships that become as valuable as the old.
*Please note that we group our campers by grade. If your camper requests to be with a friend that is not going into the same grade in school, then they will most likely not be grouped together.
What if my camper does not feel good or suffers an injury during camp?
We have a certified and professional trainer on site at all times who will there to administer first aid, call home when necessary, and/or determine if more complete medical attention is warranted.
What do I do if my camper cannot make it to camp on any given day?
Please call the camp office or email Game On! as early as possible to let us know. And please convey the message that we will miss her dearly. Note that we will not refund money for missed days.
Can my camper go home with another camper after camp?
Absolutely and it would warm our hearts to learn that the play date is with a new friend. But please just send us a written note or email at your very earliest granting the permission and relaying the details. For security purposes, your camper will not be permitted to leave camp with a different carpool or van without specific written permission.
What should my camper bring with her to camp?
Her backpack should contain sunscreen (administered for the first time prior to leaving home in the a.m.), a water bottle filled with cold water (we have cold water jugs throughout camp she can use for refills), a towel and swimsuit. Optional are a favorite tennis racquet and/or a softball glove, though we have plenty of racquets and gloves available.
Please be sure to clearly label everything your daughter brings with her to camp.
It is also crucial that your camper wears laced gym shoes to camp. Flip flops and crocs are not permitted unless worn solely in the pool area or on water-related field trips.
Should my camper bring snacks to camp?
*****GAME ON! IS PEANUT FREE & NUT FREE – NO EXCEPTIONS ****GAME ON! DOES NOT PERMIT FOOD SHARING
Campers tend to work up a appetite during their sports-filled day. You have the option of sending snacks with her to camp. However, please note that any food she brings must be peanut free and nut free. Please remind your camper that she should not share her food with anyone.
Am I able to visit/see camp before the summer begins?
Unfortunately, we cannot give you a full tour as our sites are in use by our host college or university. However, we are more than happy to come to your home or host you at our corporate office where we can show you the camp video and walk you through a summer Game On! Style. If interested please call our office at 847-229-9959 to schedule a date.
Can I visit camp during the summer to see my camper in action?
Our end-of- camp- ceremonies incorporate the opportunity for you to catch a glimpse of your camper as she participates in activities typical of a Game On! morning. That said, we most definitely welcome you to visit camp during the course of the summer. Our only request is that you call at least a day in advance of your anticipated visit for the purpose of assuring that our camp schedule for that particular day does not include special activities, field trips or events that might interfere with observing your camper in action.
I noticed that you have a foundation, what is the mission behind the foundation? How can I donate?
Game On! Sports Foundation, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, was founded in response to the overwhelming demand and need for assistance to underprivileged young girls both interested in and deserving of participation in quality sports programs & camps. The foundation funds scholarships that allow motivated girls to attend quality sports camps who otherwise would not have the financial means and funds and supports organizations and projects which provide quality sports opportunities for girls.
There are many ways one can contribute to help deserving young kids afford opportunities. Feel free to visit our foundation page and our facebook page for more information. Alternatively, we welcome a phone call at 847-229-9959 to discuss a cause that is so near and dear.
Is the food you serve for the lunch program “healthy”?
Yes, it is important to offer healthy kid friendly food. We encourage our campers to eat a balanced meal. Meals typically include an entrée, starch, fruit and veggie.
Take a look at the sample menu for each location.
Chicago Lunch Program Lake Forest Lunch Program
Can you describe the optional Horseback Riding Field Trip?
Throughout the summer we will take a few trips for those interested to the horse stable (we can take a maximum of 15 per fieldtrip and registration is on a first come first serve basis). The program provides girls the opportunity for a 45-minute group ride and 45 minutes of horsemanship. The instruction includes hunter seat riding in their state of the art stable. The host stable will either be Freedom Woods in Morton Grove or Field and Fences in Gurnee.
What does our Game On! CIT (Coach-in-Training) Program Involve for your current 8th & 9th grader?
The Game On! Coach in Training Program welcomes girls and guys entering their freshman and sophomore years in high school who are looking for special training that involves working with and impacting young girls through sports.
CIT PROGRAM BENEFITS:
- Train with experienced role models whose passion for passing on a love for sports and fitness is contagious;
- Learn by doing – you will have significant (supervised) responsibilities that can potentially involve administrative tasks, program administration, creative projects and coaching/instructing campers;
- Play and teach sports day in and day out;
- Experience your own growth as an athlete and a person;
- Flexible multi-week options;
***CITs pay ½ camper tuition
To learn more about the program and download the application please visit our website -Join Our Staff Page or click here.