APACHI STEM

4th – 7th grade

jamee smithJamee Smith

Director, Elaine Frank Apachi

Jamee Smith has been with Apachi Day Camp for 30 summers 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 Elaine Frank Apachi 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. Her favorite thing about Elaine Frank Apachi is watching the relationships form between campers and staff because Jamee knows those bonds are magical.

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.

 

Leslee Cohen-LavinLeslee Cohen-Lavin

Manager of Operations, Elaine Frank Apachi

Camp has always held a special place in Leslee’s heart. She grew up going to camp at the J and later became staff, working as a counselor and then Assistant Unit Head in the late 90’s.

Before joining Elaine Frank Apachi, Leslee served as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for 6 years. She holds a B.S. in Human Development & Family Science, specializing in Child and Family Studies from Ohio State University and a Master’s degree in Family & Consumer Sciences, specializing in Child Life Studies from Illinois State University. Leslee is beyond thrilled to continue pursuing her passion for camp and can’t wait to get to know all the Elaine Frank Apachi families and campers.

Sample 50/50 block

Overnight Camp

Try Chi

Try Chi is our 4-day, 3-night overnight camp experience for 2nd-6th graders at Camp Chi in Lake Delton, WI. Campers meet new friends and live in cabins with experienced, caring counselors who help them feel comfortable right away. They’ll feel the spirit of camp with cookouts, campfires, sing-alongs and great evening programs.

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Apachi Combos

Apachi + Camp Chi

Twice the fun! Combine Apachi Day Camp with Camp Chi Overnight Camp for one incredible summer experience and save 20% on the cost of Camp Chi.
Pricing & Registration

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.
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Apachi STEM Details

Optional bus transportation for campers living within our designated boundaries is available for a fee. Bus pick-up and drop-off locations are a combination of door-to-door and cluster stops. Locations are determined based on registration and routes are designed to be as efficient as possible. Routes may change from summer to summer depending on enrollment. Buses are driven by licensed, professional drivers, and staffed by Apachi bus counselors who make sure campers stay buckled in their seats at all times.

Campers can also be driven to and from camp. All campers that are driven to camp, are escorted to and from their cars by our staff.

Food

A pizza lunch is provided on Wednesday and there is a hotdog cookout every Friday. The remainder of the week, please send along a sack lunch that we’ll refrigerate.

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.

The nurse, is in

Our full-time registered nurse is on-site all summer to treat minor injuries and prescribe campers a little “tlc” when needed. If your child visits the nurse, you will be notified about the treatment. In the rare event of a serious injury, you will be notified immediately and, if you are unavailable, we will contact those on your emergency calling list.

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.

Priority Registration for Returning Summer 2023 Campers & Their Siblings
October 10-24, 2023

Early Bird Registration
October 25-November 30, 2023

Please Note: Ages and grades listed below are as of the 2024-25 school year.

Apachi STEM  |  Grades 4-7

We partner with Noggin Builders to create exciting activities that unleash campers’ creativity and problem-solving abilities. Curriculum may include designing working circuits to make your own doorbell or alarm box, creating a boat for our cardboard regatta, engineering your own working spring car, designing & building robots, exploring forensic science and so much more! STEM campers truly get the best of both worlds – half the day is centered around STEM while the other half is filled with traditional camp activities to create a well-rounded summer.

This program is no longer being offered for Summer 2024.

Additional Options

This program is no longer being offered for Summer 2024.

Extra Support for Campers

There are several support options available to ensure a successful summer for your camper. You can choose from support through JCC Chicago, Keshet, or your child’s paraprofessional depending on which option works best for your camper and family. For more information, please connect with your Apachi Day Camp Director.

keshet and jcc chicago logos

Contact Us

For more information or to request a tour, contact us at 847.726.0800 or email jsmith@jccchicago.org.