Things to Do with Teens (and Tweens) in Champaign-Urbana

Life gets more complicated the older our children get, so we offer some ideas to present to your tween or teen when they are looking for something to do in Champaign-Urbana

Anyone who has already parented a child about 12 or older will instantly know what we mean when we say that it just becomes more challenging to find teen-friendly outings the older a child gets. Library story times and gymnastics open gyms are a very distant memory at this point and there are some, er, strong opinions about how one wishes to spend their free time after a certain age.

Whether your mini-adult is needing some new ideas of things to do with their friends or you are looking for some tween/teen-friendly ideas for some family time, we have some ideas you might consider that will be a good fit for their personality.

Chambanamoms thanks Stephens Family YMCA for presenting this article.

The Stephens Family YMCA provides a range of activities for teens year-round. From sports leagues like basketball and flag football, to karate, climbing and group fitness, there’s something for all teens to explore. Additionally, starting at age 16, teens have the opportunity to join the Y team as lifeguards, swim instructors, child watch & after school staff, and camp counselors, gaining practical work experience and valuable skills while earning income. Whether participating in activities or taking on job roles, the Y is committed to providing a supportive environment where teens can thrive.

For more information: Website, Facebook or Instagram

For the purposes of this article, we’re specifically talking about kids roughly between the ages of 12-15 — too old for activities geared towards elementary-aged students and not yet driving or picking up traditional 16-and-older employment.

You’re going to have a hand in driving your child to said outing, parent, so consider what this outing may look like and if you and your teen are comfortable with the parameters of the activity. Again, things do tend to evolve as kids age, so don’t be offended if your child likes the new idea, but insists you drop them off and come back to get them an hour or two later, or something along similar lines.

We know everyone has a different budget in mind for family/kid fun and our teens tend to think we have endless resources. We aim to keep a variety of suggestions in this post for a variety of budgets.

Things to keep in mind as you plan

Include your children in the process. Tweens and teens want to be a part of the decision-making process when it comes to how to spend their time and what interests them. Signing them up for a babysitting class when they are really frustrated around young children may not be the best idea.
Less is more. What worked when your child was younger likely will not work now. Plus, school work tends to increase every year and extracurriculars through school can take up a large chunk of a teen’s time. Truly, they may not even want to do more than they are already doing, so talk to them before spending too much time drumming up ideas.
Tweens and teens can participate in family financial discussions. Fun outings and extracurricular activities cost money, and each family needs to define and discuss their expectations with their teens. Camps can cost even more, and then there’s spending money during vacations (not to mention the importance of saving for the future).
Keep the goal in mind. If your goal in pursuing “more” is to spend more one-on-one time with your child, then what you look for will be very different than if you’re looking for something to take your child and their friend to during a free weekend. Also, keep an open mind! You can start off by saying, “I’ve noticed you don’t like to do (such and such) activity much any more, so I was trying to think of something new we could try this weekend. What do you think?” Be ready for their response, and prepared that it might be something out of your comfort zone that they are asking you to tag along.
When it comes to summer in particular, set some healthy ground rules. If you think it is a possibility that your child would stay in her room all summer, emerging only for food and the occasional friend meet-up at the park, come up with some “when-then” ground rules. “When you’ve taken care of the weekly job of mowing the lawn, then you may have some freedom in deciding how to spend the rest of the day.” Or set up a system where phone privileges are left open-ended only when a couple of basic requirements are fulfilled on a regular basis.

Places to Go (indoor things to do)

Oh, the places you’ll go! That’s true when your teen hears of their peers going to do (insert random activity name here) last weekend. Some of the places you can go to do something (or drop them off to do something).

Bowling – Illini Union Rec Room is a favorite, with Old Orchard Lanes and Links being up there, too. Bonus that you can mini-golf at Old Orchard, too!
Jump, climb, skate, belay – Teens aren’t too old for places like Elevate, Iron Coyote, Skateland, Urbana Boulders, the Y (rock climbing!), and so forth. We hear Upper Limits in Bloomington is pretty cool, too.
The movie theatre! Go enjoy those PG-13 movies together now, if that is your family’s jam. You can also go to the Planetarium for some space-themed entertainment (and education).
Campus – Campus activities make great teen outings. Engineering Open House, Illini sporting events, campus dining and shopping, bowling at the Illini Union (mentioned above) and many other ideas. University of Illinois school breaks make a great time to head to campus and let them try something new. You may just find yourself trying a sushi burrito!
Dining out. Teens LOVE to have food from places other than your home. Good for quality time, not so good for your wallet. Try out coffee houses, go on a Boba tea tour over the course of a few weekends or let them invite a friend to join you for lunch one day. Maybe you let them sit on their own though?
Shopping. Another one of those activities many teens and tweens love to do. You can make it fun by heading out in search of a very specific item, or if they’re into thrifting (many are, these days), you can journey around to C-U’s best in search of some repurposed goods.

Places to Go (outdoor things to do)

If you have a young person in the house that likes to explore new places or try new things outdoors, you’re in luck. These make great spontaneous, inexpensive outings, no matter what you’re comfortable with or interested in. Just want to take a walk somewhere Instagram-worthy? No problem. Want to hop in a kayak and paddle around for an hour or two? Depending on the season, we have places to do that, too.

Take a walk or a hike. Allerton Park, Lake of the Woods, Forest Glen in Vermilion County, Turkey Run, Homer Lake and Weldon Springs are some of the favorite destinations for C-U teens.
Paddle around. Seasonally, you can rent kayaks, SUP boards, canoes or paddleboats at places like Lake of the Woods, Crystal Lake Park, Moraine View and Kickapoo State Park.
Fishing. Teens love to do things independently, and if they learn how to fish, they can spend countless hours hanging out somewhere scenic to see if that bobber will move. Bonus that this makes a great activity that provides a good chance for conversations they may have been trying to approach you about.

Babysitting, First Aid/CPR Courses

Heartsaver First Aid, CPR/AED Class, through Champaign Park District. Kids ages 9 and up can usually go through this training.

We hear that Safe Sitter courses are offered at Carle and Gibson Area Hospital. Safe Sitter courses are for kids age 11 and up. American Red Cross Babysitting, First Aid/CPR/AED courses may have additional options.

Perform in a Production

Audition for a production!

Champaign Park District Youth Theatre, Urbana Park District Youth Summer Theatre, and Class Act have opportunities for teens to be a part of a production outside of the school setting.

Learn a New Language

Spanish, French, Italian lessons and more through Champaign Park District. Urbana Park District and Parkland often have options too.

Try a New Sport or Activity

This is just a short sampling of ideas. Champaign Park District, Stephens Family YMCA, Urbana Park District, Parkland College and many other locations in town offer teens a chance to try a new sport or activity. This is NOT a comprehensive list — there are just too many to list!

Join a swim team
Tennis lessons through Champaign Park District
Learn about cars and car maintenance at Parkland College
Fencing or lacrosse, through Champaign Park District
Dance lessons, like Musical Theater Dance, at Springer Cultural Center (register through Champaign Park District)
Cooking classes, at the new Martens Center

Volunteer

Some community organizations welcome kids of the tween and teen age to volunteer. Here are just a few ideas.

Champaign County Forest Preserve District has youth volunteer opportunities. Planting and clean-up events happen pretty regularly; volunteers under 14 must be with an adult at all times, while ages 14-15 can volunteer on their own (but adult permission is needed). Older teens (14+) may have more opportunities to volunteer, like in the garden and the paddleboat areas. Anyone interested in volunteering needs to fill out this application and can find out about available options from there. Check available opportunities on its event calendar.
Salt and Light (Urbana location only) welcomes volunteers as young as 6 years old; children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers help sort donations of clothing and food, tidy up the pantry, and help keep the thrift shop running smoothly. You can learn more here.
Champaign County Humane Society has a Pet Pals Club for ages 10-15. Kids in grade 5 and up can be dropped off for the once-a-month meetings. Get all the details on its Facebook post.
Eastern Illinois Foodbank has repack opportunities that families can participate in together.

Junior Counselor (summer)

Some local camps welcome junior counselors to help out as an extra set of hands with their summer programming. Junior counselors should enjoy spending time around younger kids and be prepared to help campers and counselors.

Champaign County Forest Preserve District Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
A counselor-in-training (CIT) is a mature individual between the ages of 11-17 who helps to supervise campers and assists with camp activities each week. CITs should have a passion for nature or cultural history and a desire to share this with others. Most CIT opportunities are weekly, but this year they will offer a limited number of one-day options.
Urbana Park District Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
Teens ages 13-15 (completed seventh grade) can sign up to be future camp counselors this summer. The park district is putting on its annual Counselor-in-Training program. Teens will be able to build leadership skills and bring their unique set of talents to the park district over the summer. The counselors-in-training will volunteer with the Nature Day Camp from June-August and put in 15-20 hours of work a week. It costs $360 to be a counselor-in-training. Financial assistance is available.

Junior Lifeguard

Junior lifeguard academies increase confidence and water skills to prepare participants for needed skills to become a lifeguard.

Champaign Park District – for ages 13-14, July 29-Aug. 9. They will learn in the water rescue techniques and CPR.
(Successful completion will qualify participant for an expedited hiring process after turning 15.)

The following junior lifeguard program has been offered in years past, but has not yet announced info for 2024.

Urbana Park District – for ages 12+, dates and registration info to be announced soon

Summer work opportunities

We do hear that many area establishments are hiring 15-year-olds for retail, food service, and other summer jobs traditionally filled by older teens. (We looked into whether your teen will need a work permit for employment.) It’s a good time to be a teen who wants to earn real money!