Brain Builders Academy in Chicago's West Loop runs a Summer Trimester for children from PreK3-4 through 3rd grade, continuing its school-year programme in a more exploratory form over the summer. Academics are folded into hands-on projects, games and thematic learning, with a stated 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio, extended outdoor time at nearby Mary Bartelme Park, neighbourhood picnics, water-table exploration and structured gross-motor play. This is a term of a year-round academy rather than a drop-in weekly camp; daily hours are not stated.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Brain Builders Academy directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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★★★★★Chanda KeroBrain Builders Academy is an exceptional school. Both my kids ages 3 and 6 are thriving here and we are so happy we transferred to BBA. We liked Montessori through age 2, but by age 3, we really felt our kids needed more engagement, play, and learning. BBA's curriculum is like none other I've seen or experienced. The kids are learning so much, often times 1 to 2 grade levels ahead, but in such a fun and thoughtful way. They learn through play, games, experiments, a lot of hands on projects, and even music, as private piano lessons are part of the curriculum too. I love that the teacher/student ratio is 1 to 5, so each child gets a lot of attention and care. And finally the space: it's beautiful and set up like a childrens museum, so my kids are really inspired to explore and learn and often times don't want to leave school. If you are on the fence about where to enroll, this is the place. Our family really loves it here!
★★★★★Sarah MarshA wonderful place for the West Loop community! I am so happy that this place is here and offering a unique integrated approach to learning for young children. My 5.5 year old son has been attending the summer camp and having such a great time...he is excited to get there every morning and sad to leave at the end of the day. I'll be sending my daughter once she is old enough. There's an emphasis on one-on-one attention here and a focus on helping children to learn at their own pace, which is not something I've found in the larger daycares/schools in the neighborhood. Highly, highly recommend!
★★★★★Pam WangWe have really enjoyed BBA for our 4.5 year old daughter! The teachers are attentive, the curriculum is designed with education and learning first and foremost, and my daughter loves all of the activities, which vary day to day (much more than when we had her in daycare). We can tell how much she has advanced and love how she is encouraged to engage with complex concepts and imaginative learning. The facilities are also state of the art and really nice. BBA is night and day compared to the daycare my daughter previously attended. We are so happy that she finally is excited to go to school every morning and love getting the updates throughout the day!
★★★★★Joy Valdez-PappasMy son attended summer camp and thoroughly enjoyed it! He would come home and share what he explored, plus I received photos of the STEAM activities they did during th week. I also took a tour of the Academy and each room is just full of color and lined with STEAM activities, books, education resources...it's no wonder my little one always wanted to stay longer. The staff engages with each child and the academy has a very personal and educatated approach to each child's learning respective to thier level. Brain Builders Academy is a wonderful asset in the West Loop and their approach is thoughtful and research-supported as they provide each child with a well-rounded STEAM education
★★★★★Ai Van LeWhen I was searching summer camp for my daughter, and there are so many limited options due to her age. We found Brain builders academy close to my work place and they accepted my daughter for one week summer camp. My daughter was so happy everyday when I dropped her off and picked her up. She felt sad that one week passed by so fast Definitely, it is a great place for kids and great environment to learn. Highly recommended!