Caring For Kids
What is Caring for Kids?
Caring for Kids is a dynamic program for any youth aged 7-17 who has a physical disability and is independent in his or her daily living skills. The Caring for Kids program offers year-round adaptive sports, recreation, special events and social activities. The programs are designed to foster a positive quality of life for participants through promoting physical fitness, independence, socialization, activity and adaptive programming resources.
About the activities
Caring for Kids offers programs throughout the year including the Caring for Kids Summer Camp, Caring for Kids School Year Programs, as well as activities held year-round.
The Caring for Kids Summer Camp is held during the months of July and August. For more about the Summer Camp, visit the Caring for Kids Summer Camp page, or School Year Programs, visit the Caring for Kids School Year Programs page.
All Caring for Kids activities meet in the main lobby of RIC's Galvin Health and Fitness Center. From there, activities are held all over Chicago and surrounding communities - including museums, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, sports centers, lakes, ice rinks and water parks.
Activities include:
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- Arts and Crafts
- Theater
- Ball games
- Kayaking
- Golf
- Horseback Riding
- Yoga
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- Swimming
- Baseball
- Bowling
- Tennis
- Sailing
- Karate
- Sled Hockey
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Transportation for Caring for Kids Programs
Caring for Kids is able to provide free door-to-door wheelchair accessible bus transportation service to/from most programs for participants living within Chicago city limits. Spots for transportation can be limited and is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Who can participate?
To participate in any Caring for Kids program, youth must:
- have a physical disability - such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, amputation/limb deficiency, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury.
- be between 7-17 years of age
- be independent in his or her skills of daily living such as toileting and feeding. If a child is not independent, the family is asked to provide an aide or caregiver of adult age to provide direct assistance to the child.
Enrolling in the Caring for Kids Program
In order to enroll your child in the Caring for Kids program, the following steps must be completed:
- Complete the Caring for Kids Registration Form.
- Complete the front side of the Medical Form.
- Have your child's physician complete the reverse side of the Medical Form.
- Read and have both parents sign the Insurance Waiver and Release of Liability Form.
- Send the ORIGINAL COPY of the completed Registration Form, Medical Form and Waiver Form to:
RIC Sports/Caring for Kids
Attention: Meghan Kapolnek
345 East Superior Street, Room 532
Chicago, IL 60611
Once you have sent in the registration materials to RIC Sports, your child will be entered into the Caring for Kids master mailing list. Activity flyers will be mailed to your address or emailed to you if you wish. If you would like your child to participate in an activity, you must call and register by the date posted on the activity flyer. If your child needs to use the Caring for Kids' transportation, you must specify so when registering for an activity.
PLEASE NOTE: Sending in the registration materials does not automatically enroll your child in every event. Parents still need to call and register for activities.
Caring for Kids Funding
Caring for Kids is generously funded through grants from the John Dolan Golf Challenge, the Blackhawk Charities, Polk Bros. Foundation, and Cubs Care. Caring for Kids' philanthropic support allows us to offer programming for very little cost to participants. Click on the logos to the left to learn more about each of these philanthropic organizations.
