U of I’s College of ACES invites kids to summer academy on campus this July

The U of I College of ACES is hosting a three-day summer academy for kids ages 8-13 on the Urbana-Champaign campus July 8-10, with registration open through June 7.

Group of children with a bearded man looking at plants outdoors as one child uses a magnifying glass to inspect leaves.

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URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) — The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences is inviting kids ages 8 to 13 to a three-day immersive summer academy on the Urbana-Champaign campus this July.

ACES Family Academies runs July 8 to 10, 2026, and offers participants more than 20 hands-on workshops covering topics from food and agriculture to human development, technology, economics, marketing communications, and the environment. Kids stay overnight in a campus residence hall and eat meals at the Ikenberry Dining Center.

One returning fan favorite is the “What’s Poppin'” session, which this year will highlight how ACES breeders developed the new popcorn hybrid Illini SuperPop and the science behind why it pops.

“We design workshops to reflect the richness of an ACES education while making it accessible and fun for younger learners,” said program organizer Meghan Brockamp.

The cost to attend is $200 per participant. Registration is open now and closes June 7. Space is limited. For questions, contact acesalumni@illinois.edu.