Summer Camps (ages 11-18)

Ages 11-18

Spend part of your summer at The Second City where you can exercise your creative energies in our improvisation and comedy writing camps. Our summer programs attract students from all over the country and abroad. Learn new skills, meet new friends and enjoy Chicago in the summer.

Summer camps are two weeks long with classes on Monday through Friday each week. At the end of the camp, students present a show for their family and friends on one of the Second City stages. Students are also treated to a special performance by The Second City National Touring Company and an end-of-camp pizza party.

Click above to see scenes from previous camps!

Summer 2012 Schedule:
Camp 1 – June 11-22 CHECK AVAILABILITY
Camp 2 – June 25-July 6 CHECK AVAILABILITY
Camp 3 – July 9-20 CHECK AVAILABILITY
Camp 4 – July 23-August 3 CHECK AVAILABILITY
Camp 5 – August 6-17 CHECK AVAILABILITY
Camp 6 – August 20-31 CHECK AVAILABILITY
Registration closes by 5pm on the Friday before a camp starts. After-camp workshops can still be booked until the first day of camp if space is available, but online registration may be closed.

Registration begins January 23, 2012.  Tuition for the 2012 camps is $750, which includes a recording of the final camp show performances. Please note all tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable. Students are grouped by age, and there are generally multiple sections of each age group. Student pairing requests cannot be taken. When registering a student, the parent/guardian must create a profile for themselves first and then add the student as a family member before completing the registration.

The Second City Training Center has a limited number of full and partial scholarships available. To apply, please fill out this application.  Scholarships applications are due on April 2.  All applicants will be notified of a decision by May 11.

Have questions? Please check out our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).  The answers to most questions can be found on the FAQ, but if you need more information contact Youth Program Manager Jeff Gandy at jgandy@secondcity.com.

Coming from out of town? The Second City Training Center does not provide housing for camp students. See our "Where to Stay" list for recommended hotels, hostels, and dormitories in the Chicago area.

Improv & Sketch Comedy

Mornings (10am-12:30pm): Explore the fundamentals of improvisation as taught and performed at The Second City. Develop skills like creative thinking, self-confidence, listening, brainstorming, team building, empathy and communication, while having loads of fun and laughs.

Afternoons (1-3:30pm): Learn the basics of sketch comedy scenes - the building block of any Second City show. Study classic Second City scenes, use improvisation to develop scenes and create original sketches.

Extended days available with post-camp workshops! Students registering for the extended day must be participating in Improv & Sketch.

Camp students must attend both full weeks in order to participate.

Post-camp workshops

Want to stay after camp and learn some new skills? Post-Camp workshops meet 9 times during each camp session: Monday through the second Thursday of the two-week camp period, 3:45pm-4:45pm. Post-camp workshops are $150.

Clowning Around (ages 11-12): Have some fun and earn your red nose! Students will learn the basics of clowning including physical comedy, solo improvisation, and mime. A three-ring great time for all!

Digital Shorts (ages 13-14): Enjoy watching videos on FunnyorDie and YouTube? Then join us in this workshop that will teach creative process used to create your own video shorts.

Stand-up (ages 15-18): Come develop your personal style as a stand-up comedian as we focus on developing material, stage presence and delivery.

Post-camp workshops are only open to students enrolled in the Summer Camps.