General Information/Fees

Camp FAQs

Q: What is Summer in the Arts at Northern?
A: Our residential camps are arts experiences for those who have a special interest in theatre, visual arts, or jazz. You'll find the activities intensive and fun and you'll meet lots of people who enjoy the same things you do.

Q: What's the best thing about the camps?
A: Our camp staff, no question. The instructors and counselors are NIU faculty, students, guest artists, and alumni, as well as area teachers, and they are the best in their fields. They know a lot and they love to share their knowledge with others. Campers are supervised at all times; the ratio of adults to campers is about one to 12.

Q: How big are the camps?
A: This varies from year to year and from camp to camp, but our camps generally have between 80 - 90 campers. The campers get lots of individual attention from the staff and can get to know each other.

Q: Where do campers sleep and eat?
A: Our campers stay in newly renovated residence halls, with spacious, comfortable, and air-conditioned rooms.  The floors have large lounges and bathroom facilities.  Campers sleep two to a room. Campers eat breakfast and dinner in the residence hall cafeteria. Lunch is eaten in one of several restaurants in the Holmes Student Center.

Q: Where do the campers come from?
A: While the majority of our campers are from Illinois and the Midwest, every year we see more campers from other parts of the U.S.

Q: Where is Northern Illinois University?
A: NIU is in DeKalb, Illinois, 65 miles west of Chicago and 45 miles southeast of Rockford. Directions to the campus and maps are available on this website.

Q: Does NIU provide any financial aid for campers?
A: Yes, each camp offers NIU scholarships (worth $250) to campers who demonstrate financial need. The receipt deadline for NIU's scholarships is May 1. Application forms are available on-line or by calling the office at (815) 753-1450.  Many local organizations also offer financial support for campers. We recommend that you check with local service groups, booster clubs, and your school guidance counselor in early spring.

Q: Is there a policy on campers' use of cell phones at camp?
A: Yes, cell phones are allowed at camp, but we expect campers to be courteous and restrict cell phone use (talking or texting) to times when they are not in a planned camp activity.

Registration, Fees, and Payment Information

To register, print the registration form. Mail the form and $100 deposit to:

Summer in the Arts at Northern
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Northern Illinois University
1425 W. Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115-2828

If you pay by credit card, you may fax your form to (815) 753-8372. If you have problems printing the form, call (815) 753-1450 and we'll mail it to you.

All registration forms must be accompanied by a deposit of $100. This may be paid by credit card or by check, made payable to Northern Illinois University. A registration form without the deposit will not be processed. The only exception is if you are applying for an NIU need scholarship; you will be expected to pay the $20 application fee only.

The balance of payment and the health/permission form for all camps are due on June 17. If you paid the deposit by credit card, the balance will be charged by NIU on this date. Payment by check is due on this date.

Discounts

Returning Camper Discount

Returning campers from the 2012 Summer in the Arts at Northern camps and children and grandchildren of NIU staff, faculty, and students receive a $25 discount.

Early Bird Discount - Register by June 1 and save!

Save when you register and pay the deposit by June 1 for any NIU arts camp. To register, complete the registration form and send with a $100 deposit. Most camps fill before the early bird deadline, so it is important to get your registration form in as early as possible if you know you want to attend a camp.

Refund Information

When a camper withdraws at least two full weeks before the start of a camp, NIU retains $75 and refunds the balance. When a camper withdraws less than two full weeks before the start of a camp, the University retains $100 and refunds the balance.

There are no refunds for withdrawals made after 4:30 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the start of a camp. If a camper leaves camp during the week because of a documented illness or family emergency, the camper receives a prorated refund if documentation is provided within one week of the date the camper left. If the camper leaves camp during the week for other reasons, the camper does not receive a refund.

Scholarship Information

There is a limited amount of money available for need scholarships from NIU. Application forms are available on-line or by calling the office at (815) 753-1450. Forms and application fees must be received by May 1. There is a $20 non-refundable application fee for NIU need scholarships. The fee will be applied towards the balance owed. Forms that do not include the application fee will not be processed. Applicants do not need to pay the deposit at this time. Award letters will be sent in mid-May.

In previous years, many campers have received scholarship aid from their schools, local booster clubs, PTAs, community theatres, and local service organizations. We recommend that you contact such groups in your area in early spring.

Housing and Meals

Campers stay in a newly renovated residence hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The rooms are air-conditioned and spacious and the floors have large lounge areas and bathroom facilities. Each room  accommodates two campers. Campers are paired with someone about the same age, but are welcome to choose their own roommates. Roommate requests are honored only if both campers make reciprocal requests. Meals are served in the residence hall cafeteria or in one of several restaurants in the Holmes Student Center.  

Grade/Age Requirements

When we refer to a grade requirement, we expect that the student has completed that grade by the start of camp. No exceptions are made to the grade requirements.

The Staff

Northern Illinois University faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, alumni, guest artists and area teachers, serve as camp directors, instructors, and counselors. Look for more detailed information about the camp directors and staff in the bio section. Camp directors devise the camp curriculum and oversee the week's activities. All have had extensive teaching experience. Campers are supervised at all times; the ratio of adults to campers is about one to 12. Counselors are assigned to each residence hall floor and accompany the campers to all meals and activities.

Camper Packets

Campers will receive a packet of information about one month before the start of the camp. This will include a letter with information about what to bring to camp, a final bill, a parent health/permission form, rules, an information sheet about housing and meals, and a jazz theory test (Jazz Camp only) and workshop form (Theatre Camps only). We will post this packet (minus billing information) on this website after the packets are mailed.

NOTE: The balance due and parent/health permission form must be received in the office on or before June 17.

Check-In and Final Shows

On check-in day, all campers should arrive in the lobby of the residence hall with luggage during the times listed below. The name of the specific residence hall to which your camp is assigned will be sent with the camper packet about four weeks before the start of camp. There is space in front of the residence hall to pull in and drop off campers and luggage; parents are not allowed to leave the car in this drop-off space, but must park in a nearby lot. Click here for maps and directions.

• Theatre Arts Camp Junior
  Check-in is on July 7 between 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
  Final show is on July 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Sandburg Auditorium, Holmes Student Center
• NIU Jazz Camp
  Check-in is on July 14 between 12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
  Concerts begin at 3:00 p.m. on July 19 in the NIU Music Building.
• Visual Arts Camp
  Check-in is on July 14 between 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
  Closing ceremony and art show are on July 19 at 5:15 p.m. in the NIU Art Building (Jack Arends Hall).
• Theatre Arts Camp Senior
  Check-in is on July 14 between 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
  Final show is on July 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Sandburg Auditorium, Holmes Student Center

Note: All times are subject to change. Please check the camper letter that you will receive about one month before the start of camp to confirm the information.

For More Information
Call (815) 753-1450 or e-mail dbooth@niu.edu.

Other Camps at NIU

• Learn more about the many summer camps offered at NIU in a wide variety of subject areas, including science, health, writing, engineering, and athletics:  http://niu.edu/summercamps/