Wilmette is a compact North Shore village where most families are plugged into the same network of park district sports, New Trier feeder programs, and a handful of standout arts organizations. The Wilmette Park District runs an unusually strong set of youth programs — including one of the best gymnastics facilities in Illinois — and proximity to New Trier High School means the athletic pipeline starts early.
Real programs, real organizations. Organized by age group so you can find what fits your kid.
The Wilmette Park District is the hub for early childhood — swim lessons, gymnastics, and parent-tot classes are all within a few blocks of each other.
Parent-tot swim at Centennial Pool, toddler gymnastics, tiny tots sports sampler, and movement classes. The go-to starting point for Wilmette families with young kids.
Classes in a 10,000+ sq ft state-of-the-art gymnasium — one of the finest gymnastics facilities in Illinois. Parent-tot through preschool levels with enlarged pit area and in-ground trampolines.
Intro to soccer starting at age 4 — the developmental level before the competitive travel program kicks in. Fall and spring at Community Playfield.
Multi-sport classes for toddlers and preschoolers at the Community Recreation Center. Soccer, basketball, baseball, and general movement in a fun, structured setting.
Evening intro-to-sailing program for the youngest sailors at Wilmette Harbor. Builds comfort on the water and lays the groundwork for the full sailing camp later.
Intro lacrosse for K-2nd graders at Gillson Park — JTL's newest program for first-time players. Focus on having fun and learning the basics before joining the full travel program.
Year-round swim lessons for babies and toddlers. Survival-first approach — teaches water safety before stroke technique.
Early childhood music classes at the Wilmette campus (Nichols Center). Music Play classes for babies through preschoolers — singing, rhythm, and musical exploration.
Preschool art classes — clay, painting, and mixed media in a dedicated arts center on Wilmette Avenue.
Creative movement and pre-ballet classes for the youngest dancers. Gentle introduction to rhythm and basic dance fundamentals.
Babytime (0-24 months, Thursdays 9:15am — songs, cuddles, bounces, then open play at 10:10am). Family Storytime (Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9:30am — books, puppets, music, bubbles). Free tickets at 9am, first-come first-served.
Little Dabblers (ages 2+, Fridays 9:30-10:30am): messy drop-in art, science, and sensory exploration. Drop-In Free Play (Mondays 9:30am-noon): different toys and manipulatives each week. Imagination Playground with oversized blue building blocks. All free, no registration.
Licensed preschool at the Community Recreation Center for ages 2-4. Play-based learning with full-day option for working parents. Advanced-pace program for older 3s and 4s. Early Bird babysitting starting at 7:30am.
Elementary age is when Wilmette kids load up on activities — between the park district, travel sports, and the arts scene, most families are juggling 2-3 programs per kid.
Competitive travel soccer — the main club program in Wilmette. Tryouts in spring, games across the North Shore and suburbs. Strong player development pathway into New Trier soccer.
Rec and travel baseball for Wilmette kids. T-ball through competitive travel, spring and summer seasons at Centennial and Hibbard Park.
Winter rec basketball league — grade-based divisions, games at the Community Rec Center. The starting point before CYO or travel ball.
Parish-based sports through the North Shore Parochial League — basketball, volleyball, track, and cross country. A big part of the Wilmette youth sports scene for Catholic school and parish families.
Summer swim team at Centennial Pool. Low-pressure, fun-focused competitive swimming — the classic North Shore summer activity. Most Wilmette kids do at least a season.
Beginning through advanced gymnastics in a top-tier facility. Competitive team competes in USA Gymnastics events across Illinois. Recreational classes also available.
Group lessons and clinics at the Wilmette outdoor courts and indoor at Centennial. Spring through fall outdoors, year-round indoors. Intro through competitive levels.
The New Trier feeder lacrosse program. Boys and girls programs starting in 3rd grade. Spring season — one of the fastest-growing sports in Wilmette.
Youth hockey program feeding into New Trier. Mites through bantam levels, games at Centennial Ice Rink. Learn-to-skate program available for beginners.
Learn-to-sail programs for kids at Wilmette Harbor in Gillson Park — over 80 years of teaching sailing on Lake Michigan. AM and PM camps on prams, optis, and 420s. Sea Squirts evening program for the youngest sailors. US Sailing accredited community sailing center.
ISI-certified skating instruction — over 3,000 skaters taught per year. Learn-to-skate, figure skating, and hockey skating programs at the Centennial complex.
Youth volleyball leagues and skills clinics through Hot Shots Sports at the Community Rec Center. Skill development, teamwork, and game play.
50-meter pool, leisure pool with 2 water slides, diving pool with boards, kiddie wading pool, and zero-depth entry area. Swim lessons available. Season passes and daily admission. The go-to summer hangout for Wilmette families.
Park district-operated golf course with a strong junior pipeline. Experimental program for beginners, Foundational program for developing players, and Players Academy (grades 6-9) with junior membership for unlimited weekday rounds. Summer camps and private instruction.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai at 123 Green Bay Road. Kids BJJ classes teach self-defense through grappling — discipline, confidence, and focus in a fun atmosphere. Carlson Gracie Team lineage. Baby-Jitsu for toddlers 18 months+.
Karate school with a Wilmette dojo. Karate Tots (age 3), Little Dragons (ages 4-6), and Youth Karate (ages 7-12). Competition team and summer day camps available.
Shotokan karate for youth and adults. Traditional Japanese karate instruction with an emphasis on form, discipline, and kata. Serves the North Shore including Wilmette and Evanston.
Taekwondo instruction in a 3,500 sq ft training studio on Lake Avenue near Green Bay Road. Each student gets a manual to guide belt progression. Classes for children starting at age 3-4 through teens.
Taekwondo and Hapkido starting at age 4. Partners with local schools for after-school enrichment. Also offers programs for students with special needs.
Co-ed karate classes as part of the park district's multi-sport enrichment program. Learn fundamentals, discipline, and fitness.
Musical theater training — kids learn singing, acting, and dancing, then perform in a full production at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. The premier youth theater program in Wilmette.
Community theater productions cast with local kids. Over 40 years of building confidence and creativity. Year-long program that includes improv training and full shows. First through eighth grade.
Youth theater productions in Wilmette — Broadway-style shows cast with local kids. Recent productions include Willy Wonka Jr. Summer camp and year-round programming.
Acting classes for kids and teens in Wilmette — musical theater, on-camera, improv, and classical theater. Fall and summer sessions with small class sizes.
Musical theater performance classes and summer camps serving Wilmette, Northbrook, Highland Park, and the greater North Shore. Specializes in building confidence through performance.
Drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media classes for grade-school kids. Afterschool and weekend sessions in a dedicated arts center.
Private lessons and group classes in piano, violin, voice, guitar, and more. Wilmette campus at the Nichols Center. Suzuki and traditional methods.
Ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and creative movement classes at the Community Rec Center and Center for the Arts.
STEM workshops, cooking classes, chess club, coding, and nature programs. Seasonal offerings that rotate — check each session for what's new.
Multiple troops based in Wilmette. Camping, badge work, community service, and leadership — a mainstay of North Shore family life.
Free coding classes for grades 3-5 at The Studio — Code a Snake Game, Program a Flappy Bird Game, and Program a Galaga Clone, all in Scratch. Kids build real playable games in 1-hour sessions. Registration required.
Art for Big Feelings (grades K-2): a story about a social-emotional concept, then music and process-based art with various materials. Low-light room with sensory tools and noise-cancelling headphones. Artful Minds (grades 3-5): the older-kid companion. Free, registration required.
Drop-in makerspace (no appointment) with Silhouette Cameo vinyl cutter, sewing machines, embroidery machine, heat press, button makers, and 3D printing. Make stickers, keychains, pet tags, or custom designs. Design for 3D Printing workshops (grades 5-8) teach Tinkercad — library prints your creation for free.
Lego Club (grades K-3, Fridays 4pm) with visual schedules and sensory accommodations. STEAM Lab workshops: Bridge-ineering (design a bridge), Light-Up Critters (create a glowing creature). Free, registration required.
Kids read to trained therapy dogs in 15-minute individual sessions. Grades 1-5. Great for reluctant readers — low-pressure, supportive, and the kids love it. Wilmette and Kenilworth residents. Sign up at Youth Desk.
Programs held at Wilmette school sites (Harper, McKenzie, etc.) — Sticky Fingers cooking classes (STEAM through food, culture, geography), private music lessons (piano, drums, guitar, voice), sports, and science programs. Convenient pickup at school.
Middle school in Wilmette is when the New Trier pipeline gets real — travel sports intensify, kids audition for competitive arts programs, and the social scene starts to extend across the North Shore.
Travel soccer at the U12-U14 level. The competitive program ramps up — more practices, regional tournaments, and showcase events.
Travel baseball that bridges the gap between Wilmette Baseball Association and New Trier varsity. Tryouts in fall. Competitive games across the North Shore.
Middle school travel lacrosse — the direct feeder to New Trier's lacrosse program. Spring season with weekend tournaments across the North Shore.
Bantam-level hockey for middle schoolers preparing for New Trier's hockey program. Competitive schedule at Centennial Ice Rink.
Club volleyball for girls — brand new USA Volleyball-registered club created by North Shore families. Coordinates with middle school season and CYO schedules. Tournaments closer to home.
Year-round swim program for middle schoolers training beyond the summer team. Practices at Centennial Pool.
Competitive gymnastics team competing in USA Gymnastics events. One of the stronger gymnastics programs in the north suburbs.
Middle school CYO basketball, volleyball, track, and cross country. Games against other North Shore parishes — a social hub as much as an athletic one.
Teens perform in semi-professional musical theater productions at the North Shore Center. Audition-based casting — this is the real deal, not a rec program.
Teen acting classes in Wilmette — on-camera, musical theater, improv, and scene study. Small classes with professional instruction. Good prep for high school theater auditions.
Chamber music ensembles, recital preparation, and music theory for serious young musicians. Wilmette campus at the Nichols Center.
Dance and theater programs serving the North Shore — ballet, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater performance.
School-based clubs — math team, Science Olympiad, student council, school plays, coding club, interscholastic sports. The foundation for high school extracurriculars.
Chess instruction serving Wilmette and nearby North Shore schools. All playing levels from beginner to tournament competitor.
Monthly D&D sessions (Saturdays 1-4pm) using 5th Edition rules and D&D Beyond digital character sheets. Create a Level 3 character or use a pre-made one. Online option via Discord and Roll20. Experienced players can apply to DM. Registration required — opens 3 weeks before each session.
Try Meta Quest 2 VR headsets — visit the International Space Station, play multiplayer games (SpaceTeam, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes). Can participate wearing the headset or assisting from outside. Free.
Story Explorers (ages 4-7, Tuesdays 4pm): dramatic stories, rhymes, puppets — kids attend independently. Saturday Family Programs (10am, rotating): interactive storytimes and hands-on STEAM experiences. No registration for Saturday programs.
New Trier High School has one of the broadest extracurricular programs in the country — 100+ clubs, 30+ sports, and a performing arts program that rivals college-level productions. Loyola Academy offers a strong alternative.
30+ varsity sports — consistently one of the top athletic programs in Illinois. Football, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, basketball, hockey, water polo, track, gymnastics, volleyball, and more. Three levels (frosh, sophomore, varsity) mean most kids who want to play, can play.
Jesuit school in Wilmette with powerhouse lacrosse, hockey, football, basketball, and soccer programs. IHSA and GCAC competition. A highly competitive alternative to New Trier.
All-girls Catholic high school in Wilmette. Competitive volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, cross country, and track. Smaller school with high participation rates.
Many Wilmette athletes play club sports alongside high school — club soccer, club volleyball (MOD VBC, Sports Performance), travel baseball, and AAU basketball extend the season and boost college recruiting exposure.
One of the best high school theater programs in the country. Multiple full-scale productions per year — fall play, winter musical, spring shows, plus improv troupe, dance shows, and a capella groups. The music department fields orchestras, jazz bands, concert bands, and choirs that compete at state level.
Theater productions, choral groups, and instrumental ensembles. The Rambler Players produce several shows per year. Strong speech and debate program.
Advanced teen performers in full professional-quality musical theater productions at the North Shore Center. Many New Trier and Loyola students participate alongside school shows.
Advanced private instruction, chamber music, and performance opportunities for high schoolers considering music in college. Faculty includes active Chicago-area performers.
100+ clubs — Model UN, debate, robotics, student government, newspaper, literary magazine, community service groups, cultural organizations, academic teams, and more. If it exists, New Trier probably has a club for it.
Strong service-learning program (Jesuit mission), speech and debate, robotics, and dozens of student organizations. Emphasis on community service hours.
Youth and government, leaders club, volunteer opportunities, and teen fitness programs serving the Wilmette and North Shore area.
Wilmette District 39 & New Trier District 203 — 5,200 students across 10 schools
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