College for Kids
The College for Kids program is an educational enrichment program for children in our community. Courses are designed to provide students with unique and enjoyable educational, cultural and recreational activities, which are different in form and content from regular classroom activities.
Kids Summer Camp Program 2025
We are thrilled to introduce the College for Kids Summer Camp Program at Southwestern Illinois College, designed to offer young learners a unique and enriching summer experience. Our diverse range of camps is tailored to engage and inspire children with a variety of interests, from culinary arts and music to competitive gaming and creative construction.
Summer 2025 Line-up:
Beginner’s Hip- Hop Dance Workshop Ages 9-13
June 2 – June 30
Mondays 1 pm – 2 pm
Hip hop dance classes will teach rhythm, musicality, and focus on individual expression while using kid-friendly hip hop music.
Camp Connection: Soothing Souls
June 3 – July 19
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Get ready for a summer experience full of heart, healing, and fun! Led by licensed clinical social worker Stephanie Kippenberger of Soothing Souls Therapeutic Services , LLC, Camp Connection is a safe, inclusive, and uplifting space where kids ages 7–13 come together to explore their feelings, build friendships, and grow stronger—inside and out.
Yellow Belt Kids’ Karate Workshop Ages 7-12
June 5 – July 3
Thursdays 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Take the first step of the journey into Martial Arts while improving self-control, learning de-escalation strategies, and mind-body awareness.
American Classics With Chef Scooter Ages 6-13
June 11 – June 30
Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Join Chef Scooter for a fun-filled cooking adventure where you’ll learn to make all-time American favorites with a twist! From burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and golden fries to zesty apple pie and fresh salads, we’ll bring a little extra magic to every dish.
Beginner’s Piano with Dr. Phillip Graves
June 16, June 25, July 1, July 8, and July 15
12 pm – 1 pm
Join renowned instructor Dr. Phillip Graves for an engaging and supportive beginner’s piano class designed for students ages 5-12. With over 30 years of teaching experience, Dr. Graves brings a wealth of knowledge, a passion for music, and a uniquely global perspective, having traveled and performed all over. A classically trained pianist, experienced in all styles of music, Dr. Graves is known for his warm teaching style, clear instruction, and ability to inspire students from the very first lesson. In this class, you will learn the fundamentals of piano technique, music reading, rhythm, and expression, all in a relaxed and encouraging environment.
Mining and Crafting World with LEGO® Ages 6-13
June 23 – June 26
Monday – Friday 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Explore the challenging world of Minecraft by using LEGO® Bricks!
Exploring Galaxies Far Far Away Ages 6-13
July 7 – July 10
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Explore the galaxy as we build popular Star Wars figures out of LEGO® Bricks!
Master Challenge LEGO® Style Ages 7-13
July 7 – July 10
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Each day campers will face harder building challenges from a variety of motorized models. They will learn how LEGO® technic bricks, axles and gears work together. They will work in small teams using their imagination to create projects and put them to the test!
Beginner’s Keys (SWIC Red Bud Campus) Ages 5–10
June 3 – July 1
10 am – 11 am
his fun and engaging beginner’s piano class introduces children ages 5–10 to basic music concepts, keyboard geography, and simple songs.
The Following Camps Have Separate Registration Forms
StellarXplorers Summer Camp Grades 8-12
July 14 – July 18
9 am – 4 pm
STEM program by the Air & Space Forces Association, inspires middle and high school students to pursue careers in space and other critical STEM fields.
SWIC Aviation Summer Camp – Rising 11th & 12th Grade
July 17 – 19
SWIC Granite City Campus 9 am – 4 pm
Learn about the world of aviation while being led by current professionals in the aeronautics fields.
Each camp is designed to foster not only skills in their specific areas but also teamwork, creativity, and self-confidence. Each camp session is scheduled to run 4 days per week, morning and afternoon, beginning June 10. All camps are open to children ages 8-13. If you register your child for both the morning and afternoon camp during the same week, lunch and childcare will be provided at no cost.
College for Kids Partners
The following contracted companies offer classes through our SWIC College for Kids Classes:
Metro East Bricks

Metro East Bricks camps are a fresh and fun way for kids ages 5-13 to spend their school break! Guided by our experienced teachers and built around exciting themes like Amusement Parks, Space and Robotics, children will enjoy using LEGO® Bricks to build specially-designed Metro East Bricks models, play LEGO® games and explore the world of engineering, architecture and animated movie-making.