Summer@IMSA Program Information

We work within the State of Illinois, CDC, and American Camp Association recommendations to provide a COVID-careful camp experience. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our participants, guests, and staff.

For in-person programs, all materials and equipment are provided.

Lunch is not provided for our 1/2-day programs.

Our device policy is similar to many schools—they are not allowed during the program day unless a specific activity calls for their use. Program staff may confiscate phones if they are being used inappropriately.

State government policy prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, color, creed, religion, national origin, age and ancestry, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability. We will make reasonable accommodations for disabilities in accordance with the law.

Summer@IMSA programs are designed for independent learners who work well with others. Please call us if you have any concerns about your child’s appropriateness for our programs.

If you think an item of yours was left behind, ask your student's group leader or check the lost and found box. Please do not wait until the last day to start your search, as all unclaimed items will be donated or disposed of promptly after the final day of camp. We are not responsible for personal items left or lost at camp!

We understand that unforeseen challenges may cause you to be late for the designated pick-up. Please realize this causes complications in the smooth running of the camp. IMSA programs conclude daily with a parent pickup window of 15 minutes past the communicated program end time, after which our mandatory late pick-up fee process begins.  Any parent/guardian picking up a child late will be assessed a mandatory fee of $15 for any pickup 15 minutes late and $5 per 5-minute increment thereafter (i.e., 15-19 min. late = $15, 20-24 min. late = $20, etc.) Late fees are due on the child’s next day of camp and can be paid by check to IMSA or cash.

All of IMSA’s programs are directed and supervised by IMSA staff. IMSA teachers, program coordinators, and curriculum specialists have bachelor's, master's, and even doctorate degrees in education, biology, museum education, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering, to name a few— and these diverse backgrounds help us create outstanding experiences for our campers. Members of IMSA’s SITE program teach portions of our programs in Aurora. SITE (Summer Internships for Tomorrow’s Educators) staff are exemplary college or graduate students interested in pursuing a career in STEM education. IMSA STEMbassador students also may serve as group leaders in some of our programs.

For select programs, there may be more than one section (classroom) for each program. IMSA will do its best to honor one mutual friend's request to pair two students in the same program section. Please note only one mutual friend request to be placed in the same class - the first one we receive - will be honored. No exceptions. Due to the small class size, we will not honor requests to put groups of 3 or more students together. 

Participants must request each other for the request to be fulfilled. Requested parties must be registered for the same program (i.e., a participant in the 3-4 program cannot be grouped with a participant in the 5-6 program). The form must be completed again for multiple events/registrations. The form is due two weeks before the program starts. We cannot accommodate requests made after this date. Please note we reserve the right to separate friends if their pairing results in disruptive behavior. This form can be filled out online by logging in to your ACTIVE.com account after completing registration. This information will also be communicated in the confirmation email you will receive right after registering.

Please choose your programs carefully. 

Aurora Programs and MetroEast Grades 1-8 Programs during the weeks of June 9, 16, and 23:

• Full tuition refunds (less the non-refundable $50 registration fee for in-person programs) will be honored through May 15.
• Any cancellations after May 15 and through 2 weeks prior to camp start day will receive a refund of 50% of the tuition (less the $50 non-refundable registration fee).
• No refund requests whatsoever will be granted less than 2 weeks prior to camp start day.

SWIC Aviation Summer Sampler Camp:

• Full refunds are provided through June 15, 2025.
• Any cancellations after June 15 and through July 3 will receive a refund of 50% of the tuition.
• No refund requests will be granted after July 3, 2025.

Requests for tuition refunds must be written by email to studentenrichment@imsa.edu. Please include the program name and date, your child’s name, and your name. Phone call requests for refunds will not be accepted.

No refunds will be made to a camper/student who, for disciplinary reasons, is asked to leave Summer@IMSA. We do not issue credits for any days students may miss.

Cancellation/refund requests due to major illness, accident or death in the immediate family prior to the camp session start will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will need to be accompanied by written documentation. 

If an insufficient number of students register for a program, IMSA reserves the right to cancel that program. Participants will be notified, and a full refund will be given. If space allows, you may apply previously paid fees as credit toward another Summer@IMSA program.

A limited number of financial need-based scholarships are available for all of our programs.

For select Summer @ IMSA day programs for grades 1-8 in the Metro East region, dependents of all armed services members and DoD civilians are eligible for a Family Military Affiliation scholarship. Read more about applying and qualifying for this type of scholarship below.

After you finalize the initial application form, you will receive an email instructing you to log into your Active.com account to submit the required supplemental form(s) listed below.

Scholarship applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis so it’s in your best interest to finalize your application by submitting the required supplemental form(s) as soon as possible, and no later than the communicated deadline. Waiting until the final day to submit your supplemental application materials may result in no scholarships being available. Incomplete scholarship applications WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.

Final day to submit your supplemental scholarship application materials: 

• Aurora Day Programs: May 16, 2025
• Metro East Day Programs: May 28, 2025

Student Essay

All scholarship applicants are required to submit a short essay. We recommend drafting and editing your essay in a separate document, then copying and pasting it into the form in your Active.com account. Parents/guardians may type the student's essay if needed. Please refer to page 19 of the IMSA Student Handbook for guidance on use of generative Artificial Intelligence programs (i.e. ChatGPT) in student work. 

Student Essay Question - Aurora Day Programs

• Why are you passionate about STEM? How can a Summer @ IMSA program help you to develop this passion further?

Student Essay Questions - MetroEast Day Programs

• Pattern Lab: Where Math and Science Meet! (Grades 1-2) - 100-150 characters: What is your favorite pattern you have seen in nature, at home, or in art? Why do you like it?
• Chemistry Quest: Science Detectives (Grades 3-4) - 150-200 characters: If you could be a scientist for a day, what kind of experiment would you conduct? What would you want to discover?
• Heat Seekers: Fire Science and STEM (Grades 5-6) - 200-400 characters: Firefighters use science and math to keep people safe. Imagine you are designing a new tool or technique to help fight fires or perform rescues. What would it be, how would it work, and why would it be helpful?
• Lab Rats: Experimenting with Biotechnology (Grades 7-8) - 300-500 characters: Biotechnology is changing the world in areas like medicine, food, and the environment. If you could use biotechnology to solve one real-world problem, what would it be and why? How do you think scientists might approach finding a solution?

Evidence of Eligibility based on Financial Need

We require that applicants submit evidence of eligibility based on financial need by submitting a JPEG or PDF of one of the following to accompany their application:

• Qualification for SNAP
• Qualification for Federal Free or Reduced Lunch Program (note: P-EBT card is not acceptable)
• Income eligibility as evidenced by the first page of your 2023 or 2024 tax return showing your annual adjusted gross income and the total number of dependents claimed, with social security numbers hidden

If you do not have one of these forms in your possession or have difficulty getting it from your school or IDHS, you may submit a screenshot showing eligibility. Please contact us at studentenrichment@imsa.edu if you have difficulty with this requirement.

Metro East Region - Family Military Affiliation Scholarships

For select Summer @ IMSA day programs for grades 1-8 in the Metro East region, dependents of all armed services members and DoD civilians are eligible for a Family Military Affiliation scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and a waitlist will be created after those spots are filled. Use the “Apply for a Scholarship” link for the program to which you would like to apply, then indicate how your student qualifies for the scholarship within the initial application form.

We require that all Family Military Affiliation Scholarship recipients must attend and fully participate for the entire length of each program day, as the program is funded through the Air Force K-12 STEM Program. Please do not register your child unless you can make this commitment. Because scholarship availability is limited, if you realize later that your student is not able to attend every day of the program, please email studentenrichment@imsa.edu as soon as possible so we can offer the scholarship opportunity to another qualifying student.

Please note: Applying and qualifying for a scholarship does not automatically guarantee an award, as funding is limited and typically given on a first-come, first-served basis. You may either pay for program registration OR apply for a scholarship and await award notification. Your scholarship application will not be considered if you also complete a paid registration.

Once the scholarship review process is complete, we’ll reach out via email to let you know the decision. If you receive a scholarship, you’ll need to confirm your acceptance by emailing us before the deadline stated in your offer email. Please be sure to check your spam or junk folder for emails from "@imsa.edu" so you don’t miss any important updates!

For those selected to receive a financial need-based scholarship, there will be a $30 attendance confirmation fee. (If you’re awarded a military-affiliated scholarship through Department of Defense funding, this fee does not apply.)

Approximately a week before the start of each program, you will receive an email from us through ACTIVE.com, our registration system, with detailed information specific to your program. Please read this email carefully, as it will contain information about your child’s pod/cohort, pick-up and drop-off procedures, and other important details that may change from week to week.