🧒 City & Township Programs

📍 Youth Commission – Hickory Hills, IL
A local volunteer group made up of high school students that plans community events and offers opportunities for leadership and service hours. 

📍 Thornton Township Youth & Family Services
Offers individual and family counseling, after-school activities, summer enrichment, and mentoring programs tailored for youth and families. 

📍 Hickory Hills Park District – Youth Activities
Provides before & after school programs, summer fun and youth/teen activities, recreation, and structured social programs for kids and teens. 

🎒 After-School & Enrichment Programs

📍 Chicago Youth Centers (CYC)
Offers early learning classrooms, after-school programs, and summer day camps for ages ~15 months to 18 years — covering academic growth, social skills, and emotional well-being. 

📍 Ivy League Kids – After School Care (Suburbs)
Before and after school enrichment programs focusing on academic support, recreation, social interaction, and skill building for school-aged children. 

📍 After School Matters (Chicago Teen Programs)
A large nonprofit that gives teens paid learning opportunities in arts, tech, leadership, sports, communication, and career skills. Applications typically open seasonally (e.g., spring, summer). 

🏕️ Summer Camps & Recreation

📍 Local Summer Camps Near Hickory Hills
There are summer camp options ranging from kids’ farm experiences to riding clubs and nature-based programs (see aggregated listings near Hickory Hills). 

📍 Chicago Park District Day Camps
Multi-week day camp programs for kids ages roughly 6–12 with activities, play, and social development (June–July schedule varies). 

📍 Palos Heights Recreation Center Camps
Local camps with options like kiddie camps, teen camps, and counselor-in-training opportunities (details vary year to year). 

🤝 Support & Mentoring Organizations

📍 SGA Youth and Family Services
Provides crisis intervention, counseling, mentoring, and educational support — helping youth in high-risk areas stay on track academically and socially. 

📍 Youth Guidance (Chicago)
School-based programs serving thousands of students with academic support, enrichment activities, life skills, and positive mentorship in partnership with local schools. 

📍 Redeploy Illinois
Offers support services to youth (ages ~13–18) at risk of deeper involvement with the juvenile justice system, linking them to community supports and individualized care plans. 

🧠 Education & Personal Development

📍 Eisenhower Public Library District
Free events and programs for kids and teens, including storytimes, book clubs, literacy activities, and spaces for homework and study. 

📍 Illinois Community Youth Services (Youth Action Committee)
Youth-led groups focused on identifying and addressing gaps in local services, buildi