Spring Break Day Camps at Culture of Safety
In addition to ongoing karate classes for kids and adults and No-School Day camps for public holidays and other days when Chicago Public Schools is closed, Culture of Safety offers both Spring Break Day Camps & Summer Camps!
Your child will grow more confident and learn discipline, focus, agility, balance, and more in our special Self-Defense and Karate camps! We specialize in supporting LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent youth. No experience is required for any of our camps. Students with prior experience will be supported in exploring more advanced material in sessions. Register Today!
When we teach karate and self-defense, we teach important social skills, such as standing up for yourself and asking for what you need. We teach these skills because we know they are essential for for every child’s social and emotional growth and development. As the parents of our karate students will attest, Culture of Safety is “more than just a karate school.” Additionally, every afternoon, we will introduce movement mindfulness practices designed to help each child practice and improve their focus, self-control, and emotional regulation.
All of our classes and camps are trans-affirming, trauma-informed, neurodivergent-friendly, and empowerment-focused. We offer tiered pricing to maximize accessibility. We teach from a strengths-based perspective. Camps are lead by Led by 4th degree black belt and social worker Amy LE Jones, LSW and 3d degree black belt and mindfulness/meditation expert Kyren Epperson. Learn more about Kyren & Amy.
Spring Break Day Camp Schedule & Rates for 2025
Mon, March 24- Fri March 28 (open to public ages 6+)
Our Spring Break Day Camps offer a taste of our kids karate program and also a taste of our longer Summer Camps offerings. Each Spring Break Day Camp focuses on a different theme. You can register separately for each day, or save $10 each day by registering for all 5 together! If you like what you see and want your kid to learn more, you can check out our kids karate program, or our Summer Camp options, which are timed to fill the gaps between Chicago Public Schools summer break and Chicago Park District Camps. Our camps are offered on a Sliding scale or Tiered pricing system. We have three tiers: Standard, Supporter, and Reduced. We ask that you choose the highest tier that works for your household. Register Today!
Monday March 24th – Karate Basics: Punching and Kicking Extravaganza!
In this session, we will teach the basic striking and kicking techniques of karate (or refine techniques for kids with prior experience). All physical activity will focus on either learning new techniques (for beginners), or exploring new combinations of technique and other new challenges using those techniques. Older kids (age 8+) will be supported in learning how to partner safely by holding pads for each other and will practice saying what they need from their partner. In the afternoon, we will introduce movement mindfulness practices designed to help each child practice and improve their focus, self-control, and emotional regulation. Register now!
Tuesday March 25th – Empowerment Camp
This session is an introduction to kids’ empowerment. Always active and fun, our empowerment-based classes help young people respond
to bullying behavior, teach them how to get help from safe adults, and give them skills to protect themselves and get to safety in an emergency situation. Our classes are highly interactive. To practice verbal skills, kids will practice role plays, comes up with skits, and more We teach kids how to stand up for themselves and others and how to get help from trusted adults. We help each kid find ways to feel more strong and confident. We work to support kids who struggle with emotional regulation learn to keep themselves safe and respect the boundaries of others. In the afternoon, we will introduce movement mindfulness practices designed to help each child practice and improve their focus, self-control, and emotional regulation. Register now
Wednesday, March 26th : Kata (Karate choreography)
In this session, kids will learn to apply the techniques they’ve learned Monday or Tuesday (or from previous training) into a flow of choreographed movements, called kata in Japanese martial arts. Kids will get to learn kata that we practice in Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do, but will also be encouraged and supported in creating their own original kata, both solo and in small groups. There will be an opportunity for kids who wish to perform their kata to do so. Will parental permission, we will record their creations to share privately with the families of kids who registered. In the afternoon, we will introduce movement mindfulness practices designed to help each child practice and improve their focus, self-control, and emotional regulation. Register now
Thursday, March 27th : Karate Agility Games : Falling and Rolling
In this special camp, your child will explore ninja-themed karate movement basics, such as jumping, ducking, falling and rolling, and more. All physical activities will include agility challenges. Kids with prior karate or martial arts experienced will be coached in how to incorporate punches and kicks into their jumps, rolls, and more. In the afternoon, we will introduce movement mindfulness practices designed to help each child practice and improve their focus, self-control, and emotional regulation.
Register now
Friday, March 28th: Nunchaku Basics for kids
In this special camp, your child will learn how to safely use rubberized foam versions of the traditional Okinawan weapons nunchaku (popularized by Ninja Turtle Michelangelo) . We will teach basic karate footwork as well as basic techniques with nunchucks (nunchaku). For an additional $10, your child can take home a pair of foam nunchaku as a camp souvenir. Register now