Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wildcat Cross Country and Track & Field?
We are a group of teachers and coaches who primarily work in Indian Prairie School District 204. Our combined experience in coaching both Cross Country and Track & Field totals well over 100 years! In our own formative years, we were all personally impacted for the better by these amazing sports, as well as those we ran with and against, and, of course, our coaches. Simply, we wish to educate the youth of our surrounding communities on these sports and provide the same, if not better, experiences we cherished when we were kids.
Which communities do you serve?
We primarily work with student-athletes from Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, and Plainfield. However, we have had campers join us from even farther away because of our outstanding reputation. We are excited to work with you!
Does my child have to attend Neuqua Valley High School or its elementary or middle feeder schools to attend your camps?
If you wish to join our camps, we would love to have you! However, our organization (which has a strong affiliation with Neuqua Valley High School) has to respect the requirements of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The IHSA strongly encourages high school athletes specifically to train with their home schools. If your home high school does not offer a program like ours, again, we would love work with you to achieve your athletic goals!
What is the difference between Cross Country and Track & Field?
Cross Country is pure distance running, ranging in distances for middle and high school runners from 1 to 3 miles. Training and competition often occur on grass fields and trails. Participants in our Cross Country camps will experience workouts such as over-distance runs, tempo runs, and interval training, all geared to improve their overall conditioning, speed, and endurance. Track and Field, however, encompasses events from sprinting to distance running, as well as the jumps and throws. Participants in our Track and Field camps will be exposed to each of these events, including long jump, high jump, hurdles, sprints, discus, and shot put.
What camps do you offer throughout the year?
We offer the following camps each year:
- Spring Speed / Endurance Camp (Grades 3 - 8)
- Boys' Cross Country Summer Camp (Grades 7 - 12)
- Girls' Cross Country Summer Camp (Grades 7 - 12)
- Co-Ed Youth Cross Country Summer Camp (Grades 3 - 6)
- Track and Field Summer Camp (Grades 7 - 12)
- Youth Track and Field Summer Camp (Grades 3 - 6)
- Track and Field Throws Summer Camp (Grades 6 - 12)
- Monday Night Summer Speed Camp (Grades 6 - 12)
- Weightlifting Summer Camp for Cross Country and Track and Field (Grades 7 - 12)
- Fall Cross Country Camp, Session #1 (Grades 3 - 8)
- Fall Cross Country Camp, Session #2 (Grades 3 - 8)
Our spring camp runs from mid-April until late May. Summer camps run from early June until mid-July. Fall camps (sessions #1 and #2) run from early September until late November. Most camps last six (6) weeks.
Where do each of the camps meet?
The spring and fall camps meet at Cantore Park (near Welch Elementary) at 2507 Warm Springs Lane in Naperville. The summer Cross Country camps meet at DuPage River Sports Complex at 2807 S. Washington Street in Naperville. The summer Track & Field and Throws camps meet at Barb Barrows Stadium on the campus of Neuqua Valley High School at 2360 95th Street in Naperville.
Why don't you offer any camps in the winter?
Unfortunately, we do not have access to any indoor training facilities. When we find one, we'll definitely offer a camp!
Do you offer any adult training programs?
The core focus for Wildcat Cross Country and Track & Field is developing youth athletes from grades 3 to 12. There are many adult running groups throughout the Naperville area. Naperville Running Company specializes in adult runners, and they would be happy to find a training group for you!
When will my child receive the t-shirt for participating in the camp?
We do not keep a stock of t-shirts on-hand from camp to camp. Instead, we purchase new shirts, usually with different designs or colors, for each of our separate camps. We do not place the order for new shirts until the first week of camp has begun to allow for late registrants. Shipping the product from our supplier and screen-printing the shirts adds another 1 to 2 weeks before distribution. Thus, your child will likely not receive his or her shirt until the latter half of the 6-week camp.
My child can only attend for a portion of the 6-week camp. Can you offer me a pro-rated registration fee?
The simple answer is no, we cannot offer pro-rated registration fees. We have many fixed costs, such as insurance and t-shirts, that do not change based on a participant's attendance. The registration fee for our 6-week camp is very reasonable, especially considering that the $175 fee for 18 sessions amounts to less than $10 per session.
If my child can only attend for 1 or 2 sessions per week, can he or she still participate in the camp?
Absolutely! We would love the opportunity to work with your son or daughter for whatever time he or she can commit. We understand that your lives are busy and your child might be participating in another activity. Please join us when you can!
Are the camps geared toward training only, or are there opportunities for competition as well?
Yes, each participant gets a chance to compete either in the camp itself, or through races we host or through organizations with whom we have partnered (for an additional cost). All camps will offer several time trials. The fall and spring camps offer additional outside opportunities as well.
We are a group of teachers and coaches who primarily work in Indian Prairie School District 204. Our combined experience in coaching both Cross Country and Track & Field totals well over 100 years! In our own formative years, we were all personally impacted for the better by these amazing sports, as well as those we ran with and against, and, of course, our coaches. Simply, we wish to educate the youth of our surrounding communities on these sports and provide the same, if not better, experiences we cherished when we were kids.
Which communities do you serve?
We primarily work with student-athletes from Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook, and Plainfield. However, we have had campers join us from even farther away because of our outstanding reputation. We are excited to work with you!
Does my child have to attend Neuqua Valley High School or its elementary or middle feeder schools to attend your camps?
If you wish to join our camps, we would love to have you! However, our organization (which has a strong affiliation with Neuqua Valley High School) has to respect the requirements of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The IHSA strongly encourages high school athletes specifically to train with their home schools. If your home high school does not offer a program like ours, again, we would love work with you to achieve your athletic goals!
What is the difference between Cross Country and Track & Field?
Cross Country is pure distance running, ranging in distances for middle and high school runners from 1 to 3 miles. Training and competition often occur on grass fields and trails. Participants in our Cross Country camps will experience workouts such as over-distance runs, tempo runs, and interval training, all geared to improve their overall conditioning, speed, and endurance. Track and Field, however, encompasses events from sprinting to distance running, as well as the jumps and throws. Participants in our Track and Field camps will be exposed to each of these events, including long jump, high jump, hurdles, sprints, discus, and shot put.
What camps do you offer throughout the year?
We offer the following camps each year:
- Spring Speed / Endurance Camp (Grades 3 - 8)
- Boys' Cross Country Summer Camp (Grades 7 - 12)
- Girls' Cross Country Summer Camp (Grades 7 - 12)
- Co-Ed Youth Cross Country Summer Camp (Grades 3 - 6)
- Track and Field Summer Camp (Grades 7 - 12)
- Youth Track and Field Summer Camp (Grades 3 - 6)
- Track and Field Throws Summer Camp (Grades 6 - 12)
- Monday Night Summer Speed Camp (Grades 6 - 12)
- Weightlifting Summer Camp for Cross Country and Track and Field (Grades 7 - 12)
- Fall Cross Country Camp, Session #1 (Grades 3 - 8)
- Fall Cross Country Camp, Session #2 (Grades 3 - 8)
Our spring camp runs from mid-April until late May. Summer camps run from early June until mid-July. Fall camps (sessions #1 and #2) run from early September until late November. Most camps last six (6) weeks.
Where do each of the camps meet?
The spring and fall camps meet at Cantore Park (near Welch Elementary) at 2507 Warm Springs Lane in Naperville. The summer Cross Country camps meet at DuPage River Sports Complex at 2807 S. Washington Street in Naperville. The summer Track & Field and Throws camps meet at Barb Barrows Stadium on the campus of Neuqua Valley High School at 2360 95th Street in Naperville.
Why don't you offer any camps in the winter?
Unfortunately, we do not have access to any indoor training facilities. When we find one, we'll definitely offer a camp!
Do you offer any adult training programs?
The core focus for Wildcat Cross Country and Track & Field is developing youth athletes from grades 3 to 12. There are many adult running groups throughout the Naperville area. Naperville Running Company specializes in adult runners, and they would be happy to find a training group for you!
When will my child receive the t-shirt for participating in the camp?
We do not keep a stock of t-shirts on-hand from camp to camp. Instead, we purchase new shirts, usually with different designs or colors, for each of our separate camps. We do not place the order for new shirts until the first week of camp has begun to allow for late registrants. Shipping the product from our supplier and screen-printing the shirts adds another 1 to 2 weeks before distribution. Thus, your child will likely not receive his or her shirt until the latter half of the 6-week camp.
My child can only attend for a portion of the 6-week camp. Can you offer me a pro-rated registration fee?
The simple answer is no, we cannot offer pro-rated registration fees. We have many fixed costs, such as insurance and t-shirts, that do not change based on a participant's attendance. The registration fee for our 6-week camp is very reasonable, especially considering that the $175 fee for 18 sessions amounts to less than $10 per session.
If my child can only attend for 1 or 2 sessions per week, can he or she still participate in the camp?
Absolutely! We would love the opportunity to work with your son or daughter for whatever time he or she can commit. We understand that your lives are busy and your child might be participating in another activity. Please join us when you can!
Are the camps geared toward training only, or are there opportunities for competition as well?
Yes, each participant gets a chance to compete either in the camp itself, or through races we host or through organizations with whom we have partnered (for an additional cost). All camps will offer several time trials. The fall and spring camps offer additional outside opportunities as well.
