Winter Break Survival Guide: How CAMP Chicago Turns Cabin Fever Into Creative Play

Winter break can feel like a marathon for parents. School doors close, temperatures drop, and suddenly your living room becomes equal parts playroom, snack bar, and negotiation table. Screens beckon. Energy spikes. Parents search for activities that actually work.

Enter CAMP Chicago, the beloved “store with the Magic Door,” now open at 647 W. North Avenue, offering families a joyful, screen-free solution when kids are home and restless.

CAMP’s newest attraction, PAW Patrol x CAMP, is a fully immersive, one-hour adventure designed for kids ages two and up. Children step directly into Adventure Bay, where movement, imagination, and hands-on play take center stage. Instead of tapping screens, kids are running obstacle courses, sorting and matching at Rocky’s Recycling Station, digging and building in Rubble’s Construction Zone, racing through Ryder’s Raceway, and even zipping through Skye’s World on a mini zip line.

For parents, it’s more than entertainment. It’s purposeful play.

Early childhood experts consistently emphasize the importance of non-electronic, physical, and imaginative activities for cognitive development, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills. CAMP delivers all three in a safe, thoughtfully designed environment where kids learn through play without realizing they’re doing it.

Beyond PAW Patrol, CAMP Chicago offers a rotating lineup of experiences that keep families coming back. The Splatter Room lets kids fling paint and create messes parents don’t have to clean up. The wildly popular Slime Bar gives slime lovers three ways to dive in: Slime of the Month creations, guided Slime Masterclasses, or slime-to-go for continued fun at home. Crafting stations and curated toys extend the magic long after families leave.

CAMP also shines when it comes to birthday parties and private events. Parents rave about the customizable celebrations, from behind-the-Magic-Door adventures to hands-on craft parties led by dedicated CAMP Party Counselors. Sensory accommodations, flexible pacing, and attention to detail make every child feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

Accessibility is built into the experience. The space is wheelchair accessible, offers optional headphones and sunglasses for sound and light sensitivities, and encourages baby carriers with limited stroller parking. Families with sensory needs can reach out to CAMP’s team in advance for support, reinforcing what parents value most: inclusion without compromise.

Open seven days a week, CAMP Chicago has quickly become a go-to destination for parents looking to survive winter break without defaulting to screens. It’s playful, educational, and refreshingly joyful, the kind of place where kids leave tired, happy, and already asking when they can come back.

For families navigating long winter days, CAMP isn’t just an outing. It’s a lifeline.

For more Stories From The 78, follow @tombarnas78 on Instagram and @storiesfromthe78 on TikTok.