Overview
Every boy craves adventure. To explore uncharted territory, to test our limits–it’s what we’re made for. A companion to the Dangerous Camp for Boys (for grades 4-6), the Jr. Dangerous Camp for Boys provides Elementary-schoolers (entering 1 to 3 grade) the opportunity to learn new age-appropriate skills and develop their potential to shape the world around them through daily adventures.
Why “Dangerous”?
The Dangerous Camp for Boys was developed from “The Dangerous Book for Boys”, an international best-selling primer on the skills that every boy should know. After your son experiences The Jr. Dangerous Camp, he will have learned a battery of skills that he will use into adulthood. Skills include:
- Knot-Tying
- Crest Building
- Primitive Fishing
- Leaf Identification
- Tent Building
- Finding Water in the Wild
- Egg Drop Design
- Secret Inks
Field Exercises
To facilitate the building of friendships and the development of leadership abilities, campers are divided into four “Companies”, each of which competes in different sports, teamwork challenges, and field exercises throughout the course of the camp. Field exercises include:
- Obstacle courses
- Capture the flag
- Nerf Gun Battles
- Strategic water balloon battles
Stories of Great Adventure
To inspire campers to pursue their own adventures in life, each Company will hear stories of the “Dangerous Men of History”, or heroes who have dared to strive for greatness. Dangerous Men of History include Ernest Shackleton, Neil Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, and many others.
Camp Counselors
The team consists of Northridge High School and Alumni college students. Counselors serve as leaders within each of the camp’s “Squads,” and are engaged in each activity of the camp. They are handpicked for their strong characters, fun & cheerful demeanor, and ability to be role models for campers. Northridge Summer camp counselors frequently develop friendships with campers that last from year to year.
Jr. Dangerous Camp FAQs
Are all sessions of Jr. Dangerous Camp the same?
The activities for each session will mostly be the same, but feel free to sign up for multiple weeks! There is tremendous variety in the day-to-day activities, so we have had boys in the past come for multiple weeks and love every minute of it!
If my son is a smaller 4th grader can he still sign up for Jr. Dangerous Camp?
Jr. Dangerous Camp is for boys entering 1st-3rd grade. However, if you feel the Jr camp is a better fit for your son, please reach out to the Jr Dangerous Camp Directors. Exceptions can be made!
What’s the schedule of an average day of Jr. Dangerous Camp? Where does the camp take place?
Camp drop-off begins at 8:30 AM at Northridge and extends to 9:00 AM. Shortly thereafter, buses will take campers to Big Bend Lake Park in Des Plaines, where they will engage in sports, field exercises, and teamwork challenges. The buses will return to school around 2:45 PM, and parents may pick their campers up from 3:00 to 3:30 PM.
What should my son wear to camp?
Campers should dress in comfortable, warm-weather athletic attire and bring a bag lunch and drink from home.
What does my son need to bring with him to camp?
As we will be outdoors for much of the camp, campers should bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug spray!
Do Jr. Dangerous Camp t-shirts cost extra?
The price is included in the camp fee. Each camper will receive a Jr. Dangerous Camp t-shirt upon the camp’s conclusion.
Camp Leadership

- About:
Kieran is the Head of High School at Northridge. Kieran brings experience working in education for over 7 years, and a passion for working with youth to develop their skills and character. He has worked with middle school and elementary age boys through various leadership and mentorship programs. You can contact Kieran Driver at kdriver@northridgeprep.org.
Camp is now sold out. Click "Register Now" below to reserve your son's spot on the camp's waitlist. Questions? See the FAQ page here.
Camp fee: $385
Session 1: July 10 - July 14
Session 2: July 17 - July 21
Session 3: July 24 - July 28
Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Entering Grades: 1, 2, 3
Enrollment cap: 64 Per Session
Camp location: Northridge and Big Bend Lake