APACHI VILLAGE LAKE ZURICH

3 to 4 years

Pricing & Registration Meet the Director

Calendar

View our Calendar for Apachi-wide Events

Apachi Combos

Early Childhood

When you combine Apachi Day Camp with full-day, year-round Early Childhood for your child turning either 3 or 4 in the Fall following camp, you save 100% on the cost of camp! Half-day students turning 3 or 4 in the Fall following camp will receive a 20% discount of the camp fee on their final payment.
Learn More

Camp Activities

  • Arts & Creativity

    Dance • Drama & Improv • Music • Arts & Crafts • Science & Nature • Busy Builders & Construction

  • Swimming

    Swim Lessons • Free Swim

  • Special Activities

    Theme Days

  • Sports

    Sports Play & Games • Yoga

  • Jewish Culture

    Shabbat Celebrations • Israeli Village • Maccabi Games

  • Adventure

    Obstacle Course

Apachi Village in Action

Apachi Village Lake Zurich Details

Camp Groups

Groups are based on registration and friendship requests. Our three and four year old groups may be single gender or co-ed.

Friendship requests

Campers can submit friendship requests in the spring and we will do our best to accommodate mutual requests.

Our program is specially tailored for our youngest campers. Campers are placed in small groups with caring, nurturing counselors. Together they participate in sports, games, swimming, arts and crafts, and other special activities.

American Red Cross Swim Program

Campers are taught to swim at Apachi Village Lake Zurich using the American Red Cross’ Learn-to-Swim program, which focuses on building campers’ confidence and comfortability in the water. Safety is our priority and all members of our Aquatics staff are American Red Cross certified lifeguards with CPR training for the professional rescuer.

Campers swim at most twice per week.

Convenient carpool drop-off and pick-up

Campers carpool to and from camp using our convenient carpool lanes. To make camp pick-up as efficient as possible, we assign each car or carpool a number that we can use to quickly match campers with their rides. Sweet, simple and safe! All campers in carpools are escorted to and from their cars by our staff.

Food

Please send along a sack lunch that we’ll refrigerate. Don’t forget to write your camper’s name on the bag. Plus we have kid-friendly snacks every day!

Food allergies

Safety and inclusion are top priorities at Apachi Day Camps. Our camps are committed to being allergy-safe. While our camps are not allergen-free, we strive to make our camp environments as safe as possible for children with food allergies using a customized approach and working closely with each family to develop an action plan for the child. More information can be found here.

Immunizations & Health Forms

To participate in camp, campers must have a completed health form signed by a physician on file. We also require documentation of immunizations.

Camper Care

Our Community Care team, made up of mental health professionals and special education teachers, ensure the ever-evolving social emotional needs of our campers are met so they can be successful at camp.

For campers needing extra support, there are a couple support options available to ensure a successful summer. You can choose from support through JCC Chicago or Keshet, depending on which option works best for your camper and family. For more information, please connect with Laura Brown, Inclusion Manager.

Extra Support for Campers

For campers needing extra support, there are a couple support options available to ensure a successful summer. You can choose from support through JCC Chicago or Keshet, depending on which option works best for your camper and family.

Learn More

keshet and jcc chicago logos

Ways to Save!

Refer a Friend

As a thank you for spreading your Apachi love, for every new camper that registers and lists you as their referral source.

You’ll get:
Nov. 5 through the start of camp: $75 off your camp fee
Now through March 31: Raffle entry to win a FREE camp session. Winner announced on April 4.

Learn More

Sibling Discount

$250 Full Summer | $125 Partial Summer

jamee smith

Jamee Smith

Director, Apachi Village Lake Zurich

Jamee Smith has been with Apachi Day Camp for 27 years and every year she still counts down the days until camp begins. She began as a counselor and quickly realized she wanted to be a part of Apachi Day Camp year-round. Jamee feels lucky to be the Director of Apachi Village Lake Zurich because not only does she see all the big smiles on campers’ faces each day, she also gets to watch her campers and staff grow and change over the course of each summer. She is excited for Apachi Village Lake Zurich’s first summer and Jamee can’t wait to watch our youngest campers explore and experience camp, often for the first time.

Jamee holds a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Teaching from National Louis University. When she is not at work, she loves spending time with her family, walking her dog, Jack, listening to music, knitting, reading, and exercising.

 

laura brownLaura Brown

Inclusion Manager, Apachi Day Camp

Laura leads disability inclusion across all Apachi sites. With over 20 years of experience in special education, she collaborates with families, schools, and therapists to ensure campers of all abilities have incredible summer experiences.

Laura holds a Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education, an LBS1 certification, and an Assistive Technology Certificate. With more than 15 years supporting neurodiverse and students with other disabilities, she is dedicated to using each camper’s strengths and interests to create an empowering, meaningful and inclusive Apachi experience.

Having grown up learning to swim at Mayer Kaplan JCC and attending Camp Chi, Laura has a deep connection to JCC Chicao and is passionate about ensuring that all kids can experience the joys of summer and feel included with their peers.

 

beth millerBeth Miller

Senior Director, Apachi Day Camp

Beth Miller has always lived and breathed camp, never missing a summer since she began attending camp at the age of 3. From being a camper at various camps, including Camp Chi where she was a SIT, her Apachi Day Camp journey started as a unit head at ‘Z’ Frank Apachi. She later helped launch and grow Apachi Northside, serving as its director for 11 years. Beth also played a key role in opening Apachi Old Town, Hyde Park, and Irving Park, driven by her passion for building strong camp communities. With over three decades at JCC, Beth’s dedication to camp is unwavering.

Now the Senior Director of Apachi Day Camp, Beth takes great pride in bringing ruach (spirit) to all Apachi locations and watching campers grow into staff who pass on cherished traditions. Beth holds an Undergraduate degree in Communications and History from the University of Kansas, a Master’s degree in Education from National Louis University, and was a former teacher. Beth is a mother of three boys, all who spent many summers at Apachi Day Camp, and she loves playing board games…mahjongg, rummikub, you name it!

Please Note: Ages and grades listed below are as of the 2025-26 school year.

3-4 Year-Olds

Our 3-4 year-old program introduces campers to the fun of camp plus twice a week swim instruction. Within small groups, guided by experienced Early Childhood teachers who are assisted by Camp Counselors, our littlest campers build confidence, make friends and have fun. You and your child will feel the reassurance you need for a comfortable and successful first camp experience.

SessionDatesReturning Camper
Priority Ends 9/10/24		Early Bird
Ends 11/4/24		Winter
Ends 2/28/25		Spring
Through Camp
Session 1 | 5 Days | 4 Wks6/16-7/11$970 $1,060$1,060$1,310
Session 2 | 5 Days | 4 Wks7/14-8/8$970$1,060$1,060$1,310
Session 1+ | 5 Days | 6 Wks6/16-7/25$1,390 $1,570$1,570$1,820
Session 2+ | 5 Days | 6 Wks6/30-8/8$1,390$1,570$1,570$1,820
Full Summer | 5 Days | 8 Wks6/16-8/8$1,900$2,080$2,080$2,330
Registration Savings

Sibling Discount: $250 Full Summer | $125 Partial Summer
Refer a Friend: Now through Nov. 4 – $100 off camp fee | Nov. 5 through start of camp – $75 off camp fee | Now through April 13 – Raffle entry to win FREE camp

Register

When you combine Apachi Day Camp with full-day, year-round Early Childhood for your child turning either 3 or 4 in the Fall following camp, you save 100% on the cost of camp! Half-day students turning 3 or 4 in the Fall following camp will receive a 20% discount of the camp fee on their final payment. Learn more.

2025 Dates & Pricing Coming Soon!

Financial Solutions for Families in Need

Illinois Action for Children

A state-based program providing funding to help families in need of childcare, can also be used for select Day Camp sites!

Fee Assistance

This financial aid helps offset a portion of JCC program fees and is made possible through JCC Chicago and Women’s Auxiliary funding in addition to the generosity of donors.

Learn More

Contact Us

For families new to Apachi Day Camp, please complete this brief form at the link below to share more information about your child, and a member of our team will be in touch with you soon.

For current families, please reach out to our camp director directly for personalized assistance.

New Families: Fill out this Form Current Families: Contact the Director