Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See
Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See is a 110-acre wooded overnight camp at 6641 N 6000W Rd in Manteno, Illinois, about an hour south of Chicago, with open fields, cabins, pavilions, a dining hall and Rock Creek running through it. For Shoe Fest you park in a designated lot and carry your camping gear into the grounds, so this is not a camp-with-your-car festival, and advance parking passes and carpooling are encouraged. Beer and wine can come in with you; hard liquor and glass cannot.
Before you go
- Capacity
- 240 bunk spaces; dining hall seats up to 200
- Indoor or outdoor
- Mostly outdoor: wooded grounds and open fields, with cabins, pavilions and a dining hall
- Official site
- campshaw.org
- Next festival here
- Shoe Fest, Expected September 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- You park in a designated lot and carry everything in; Shoe Fest is not a camp-beside-your-car festival.
- Beer and wine can come in with you, but hard liquor and glass are banned.
- Music runs late on three outdoor stages; the Family Camping quiet zone is the refuge from the all-nighters.
- Advance parking passes and carpooling are encouraged.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Park in a lot and carry gear in; no car camping · About an hour south of Chicago by car · Camping on 110 wooded acres.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want a wooded camping festival an hour from Chicago.
- You are happy carrying your gear in from a parking lot.
Think twice if
- You want to park beside your tent: that is not how Shoe Fest works.
- You need a large crowd: the camp's rental figures are 240 bunks and a 200-seat dining hall.
- You want spirits: hard liquor is banned.
Getting there and parking
The camp is at 6641 N 6000W Rd, Manteno, IL 60950, about an hour south of Chicago. Drivers leave I-57 at the Manteno exit 322, follow Highway 102 and then 6000W Road, and the first camp entrance is on the right.
Festival-specific · Shoe FestFor Shoe Fest, everyone parks in a designated lot and carries their camping gear into the grounds. Advance parking passes and carpooling are encouraged, and it is not a festival where you camp beside your car.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at Camp Shaw. The venue's own pages are the place to check: campshaw.org.
Camping
The camp is built for staying over: 110 acres of woods and fields, cabins, pavilions, a dining hall, a pool and creek-side areas along Rock Creek.
Festival-specific · Shoe FestShoe Fest is a three-day music and camping festival, and it has family camping with its own quiet zone.
Food, water and what you can bring
Outside the festival, the camp's youth programs are alcohol-free, and wedding rentals may have alcohol served by a licensed bartender but not sold.
Festival-specific · Shoe FestAt Shoe Fest there are two beer bars, and you may bring your own beer and wine, but hard liquor and glass are banned and underage drinking is prohibited.
Sound and sensory
The terrain is natural woodland and field, and the stages are outdoors.
Festival-specific · Shoe FestShoe Fest runs three music stages of roots, folk, bluegrass, folk-rock and jamband music, outdoors and into the night. The Family Camping quiet zone is the place to sleep if you want relief from the all-nighters.
Recently at Camp Shaw
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Quick answers
How do I get to Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See?
Take I-57 to the Manteno exit 322, then Highway 102 and 6000W Road; the first camp entrance is on the right. The camp is about an hour south of Chicago.
Can I camp next to my car at Shoe Fest?
No. You park in a designated lot and carry your gear into the grounds. Buy a parking pass in advance and carpool if you can.
Is there camping at Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See?
Yes. Shoe Fest is a three-day music and camping festival with family camping, and the camp itself has 110 acres of woods and fields, cabins and pavilions.
Can I bring alcohol to Shoe Fest?
Yes, beer and wine. Hard liquor and glass are banned, underage drinking is prohibited, and there are two beer bars on site.
Is there a quiet area at Shoe Fest?
Yes. The Family Camping quiet zone is set aside for guests who want relief from the all-nighters.
How old is Camp Shaw?
Its first summer was 1946, as the second 4-H camp developed in Illinois. The dining hall followed in 1950 and cabins replaced tents in 1951.
A little history
Camp Shaw was the second 4-H camp developed in Illinois. Its first summer was 1946, the dining hall was completed in 1950, and cabins replaced tents in 1951. Today it serves 4-H and non-4-H campers as well as rental groups.
Shoe Fest began in 2011 and is held at Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See. The camp keeps adding and renewing, including a Plains Pavilion and plans to restore, rebuild or winterize its older buildings.