WHY OASIS?
An exceptional summer camp experience
Oasis isn’t your average day camp -- it’s an exceptional summer camp experience. Founded in 2008, by educators and parents Brooke and James Schamber, Oasis Summer Day Camp offers children the opportunity to widen horizons, form new friendships, take risks, and discover new strengths all under the guidance of fantastic staff.
The Oasis philosophy is to ensure an adventure-filled, educational camp experience that engages your child and encourages campers to build upon their emotional, social, creative and athletic abilities.
We currently offer children ages 5 through 12 an award-winning summer camp experience and are conveniently located in Highland Park and Winnetka.
There are junior counselor opportunities for teens beginning at age 13 and up.
WHAT MAKES OASIS EXCEPTIONAL?
Adventure Awaits
In addition to traditional day camp activities, Oasis offers weekly adventure experiences. Our campers have ziplined, touched stingrays, kayaked, ice skated, and more. We also pick the best water parks and beaches to ensure swimming days are always exciting. When campers aren’t on an off-site adventure, Oasis regularly hosts special guests and activities - everything from a petting zoo to a seventy foot inflatable water slide! If you are truly looking for something for your children to do this summer, Oasis is the camp for you.
Learning and Discovery
School's out for the summer, but at Oasis we believe some of the best learning happens when children are at play. As educators we know the value of continuing engagement through enriching lessons and experiences. Each week, special guests visit our camp to encourage exploration, curiosity, and creativity in all our campers. From dance to reading to STEAM project building - Oasis campers are always learning.
Something for Everyone
At Oasis, we feel it is important for children to feel empowered by choice, and we encourage exploration. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oasis hosts a variety of enrichment classes including art or improv, science, technology, coding and more. Oasis campers have the freedom to choose the activities most interesting to them. Whether your camper is artistic, sporty, imaginative, silly, or something else - there is certain to be something to engage your child.
We Believe in Giving Back
We believe there’s great joy in learning the importance of community involvement and giving back. Oasis partners with a variety of philanthropic agencies to teach about and provide service learning opportunities.
Each Summer, Oasis also hosts campers, who would otherwise be unable to attend, on scholarships through the Ted Fund Organization. We are happy to have welcomed hundreds of wonderful, deserving children this way.
Oasis Originators
The founders, owners, and operators of Oasis Summer Day Camp are husband and wife James and Brooke Schamber. Before beginning Oasis in 2008 both directed summer camps along the North Shore. With their vision, talent, and the help of a highly skilled staff, they have created a fun-filled, family-like atmosphere that promotes curiosity, creativity, and sportsmanship.
Brooke and James have an extensive background in child and family services in addition to being parents to two young children themselves. Through her training and work as a school psychologist, Brooke is skilled in child and adolescent development, education, and family models. James is a beloved teacher and a Golden Apple Award For Excellence In Teaching recipient who has a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction, and has enjoyed instructing classes for students with exceptional talents at Northwestern University.
Both have had great success dedicating their time to enriching children’s lives and are committed to exceeding your highest expectations. They are thrilled to invite you and your child to become a member of the Oasis family. They are confident that Oasis will provide your child a fantastic experience where friendships are cultivated that provide memories to last a lifetime!
Camp Leaders
Oasis employs energetic, caring and encouraging staff members who work closely with Brooke and James to be supported and provide that same care and support to their group members. We often have reviews with our staff and consider them to be the most important part of making summers special. We recognize that programming is part of what makes an organization good but it is the people that make it great. Qualities we look for include a wide variety of interests, skills and talents from crafty to collegiate athletes with the interest in bringing those loves to the camp experience. We love hearing rave reviews from parents and watching the counselor and campers relationships grow and flourish each summer.
