Athletics & Enrichment
HPNC welcomes families who receive a childcare subsidy through Illinois Action for Children. Additional financial assistance is available for qualifying families. Find out more and submit your eligibility information on our Sliding Scale Pricing page.
Please note that an annual or drop-in Access Pass is required for all Athletics & Enrichment program participants.
Athletics
Fall 2026
Sept 8 - Dec 18, 2026
Basketball Skills & Drills
Basketball has been a part of the HPNC story from our very beginning in 1909. Participants develop fundamental skills while broadening players’ knowledge of positions and responsibilities for an increased basketball IQ. At HPNC, players learn age-appropriate skills and sportsmanship through drills and scrimmages.
Ages 5-9:
Tuesdays 5-6 pm (Sept 8 - Dec 15)
Open Gym
Open court basketball connects youth throughout the city with the goal of enjoying the game in a fun and safe environment. The free-play atmosphere provides youth agency with their play under the supervision of HPNC staff.
Middle & High School Open Gym:
Fridays 4:30-6 pm (Sept 11 - Dec 18)
Pure Soccer
HPNC is hitting the field! In partnership with Mega City Soccer, youth will spend 9 weeks developing their soccer skills while becoming part of a HPNC Soccer Team competing in the OutSouth Rec League.
Ages 5-9
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Ages 10-14
Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 PM
Chess Enrichment
Fall 2026
Sept 14 - Dec 14, 2026
Participants will learn the purpose and object of the game of chess. They will learn the difference between check and checkmate, the board, the pieces and how they move, piece value, en passant, castling, pawn promotion, opening theory, checkmating patterns, and chess etiquette.
Kindergarten-8th Grade Chess Class
When: Mondays, 5-6 pm
Who: Open to all youth in kindergarten to 8th grade
Book Club
Thursdays, 5-6 PM
Do you love getting lost in a good book? Want to share your thoughts, explore exciting themes, and dive into hands-on activities that bring stories to life? Then Book Club is the place for you!
Each participant will receive a book to read, with time built in to read at their own pace. Then, once a week, we’ll meet as a group to chat about what we’ve read—what made us laugh, what made us think, and what made us go “whoa!” Some weeks will include fun, creative activities inspired by the book—think art, games, or even field trips!
This enrichment is perfect for curious readers who want to have fun, make new friends, and experience books in a whole new way. Let the reading adventures begin!
Book club members will receive a copy of the book to keep, and snacks will be provided each week.
Sept 10 start date:
Book: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
4th-8th grade
Nov 5 start date:
Book: Missing From Haymarket Square by Harriette Gillem Robinet
9-18 yrs old
Jan 7 start date:
Book: Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
9-18 yrs old
Explorers Club
Get outside, get curious, and discover what’s around you! Explorers Club takes youth into local parks for hands-on nature experiences, outdoor science, scavenger hunts, stewardship projects, games, and skill-building that turn the outdoors into a place to learn, play, and explore.
2nd-4th Grade: Wednesdays, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
5th-8th Grade: Tuesdays, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Sept. 22 - Nov. 18
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Adventurers Club
Ready to go a little farther? Adventurers Club takes outdoor exploration to the next level with trips to parks, forest preserves, and other natural spaces for experiences like hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, and more—helping youth build confidence, try new things, and discover their sense of adventure.
5th-8th Grade
Saturdays, 10 AM - 3 PM
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September 26
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October 24
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November 14
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December 12
CityStep UChicago
When: Mondays, October 5 - December 9
Price: Free with HPNC Access Pass
Who: Youth ages 5-14
CityStep invites students to move, create, and shine!
Led by passionate UChicago college mentors, youth build confidence and teamwork through dance and creative expression, all while working toward a powerful end-of-year Spring performance they help design themselves—made to be shared with family, friends, and the whole community.
Kitchen Possible
Winter 2026
Stay Tuned!
At Kitchen Possible, creativity meets confidence — and every activity is designed to help kids try new things, make something delicious, and walk away feeling proud.
In each 8-week session, kids experience powerful life lessons firsthand: patience while they wait for something to cook, courage to ask for help, and the ability to pivot when things don’t go as planned. Every class follows our signature “5 Steps to Cook Anything,” a simple model they can carry with them far beyond the kitchen and into their own goals and challenges.
When: Saturdays, 11:00-12:30 pm
Who: Open to all youth ages 8-12
Cost: FREE with HPNC Access Pass