Make a Difference in a Child’s Life

Many hands make light work! NBBC has many opportunities for you to help keep our mission alive. Volunteering with us is a great way for individuals, students, organizations, and groups to accrue community volunteer hours which look great on applications, resumes, and organization bios!

Here are just some of the ways you can help Norman Barr Camp fulfill its mission to under-resourced children:

• building maintenance (carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, roofing, construction, etc.)

• grounds maintenance (gardening, landscaping, forest management, invasive plant mitigation, etc.)

• fundraising

• assist our staff in their daily activities with our campers (Please note: all volunteers working with our campers must complete & clear a background check)

  • aquatic observer on our pier

  • swimming lessons

  • fishing

  • kayaking

  • boat rides

  • arts & crafts

  • talent show

  • Can you offer a fun activity for our campers? Click here to let us know about it!

VOLUNTEERING AT NBBC - 2024

Norman B. Barr Camp (NBBC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, charitable organization supported mainly by volunteers. Since 1909, the NBBC Children’s Camper Program has hosted children aged 8-13 through organizations located in some of Chicago’s most divested and under-resourced neighborhoods. In addition to our mission, our goal is to provide children with a cost-free, safe, natural, and carefree space to just be kids. NBBC also takes time each summer to host people from area NFP adult disability programs at no cost.  

Every year our operating costs to provide a free camp experience increases. This year, the cost for a camper who attends Norman B. Barr Camp is approximately $500 per 5-day week. NBBC relies heavily on volunteer in-kind donations of their time in order to offset our operating overhead which includes ongoing historic building maintenance and repairs, mechanical maintenance and repairs, grounds and infrastructure maintenance, equipment, seasonal staff, vendor services, utilities, programming, supplies, just to name a few.

Norman B. Barr Camp's volunteers devote hundreds of hours their time and effort annually to operating and supporting our organization and its charitable children’s camp program. Our volunteers make sure that every dollar that is donated to NBBC is entirely directed to funding and supporting the overall operation of the Children's Camp Program.

Please consider contributing through a financial or in-kind donation of your time to the mission of Norman B Barr Camp. As a registered 501(c)(3), all financial donations made to Norman B. Barr Camp are fully tax deductible.