Bulldog XC Camp--Summer 2026
Wheaton Park District’s Bulldog Cross Country Camp is for runners going into grades 6-8, from any school! While the camp is intended to prepare runners for their schools’ XC seasons starting in late August, some participate for conditioning, or to see if XC will be a good fit for them. Details:
August 3-7; 10-11; and August 13 for our final race!
Time: 7:45-9:00 AM
Can complement the WN or WWS summer camps, which are earlier in the summer
We’ll announce all the meeting points once the camp gets nearer, but our first and last meeting points will be NORTHSIDE PARK, on the FMS home course. Other meeting points will include Seven Gables, and Graff Park, all of Wheaton.
Questions may be directed to coaches Daniel.Nielsen@cusd200.org and Michael.Harland@cusd200.org.
To register, go to the WPD website (activity # 316341)
FAQs:
Does my runner need to be a Franklin student to sign up?
Nope! ANYONE may sign up, even outside of the park district.
Do many runners other than FMS kids sign up?
Yes! We frequently get runners from all four CUSD200 schools, and some from other neighboring districts. Home schooled kids also run with us. But--our camp each year has FMS students in the great majority.
Is it OK to come only for some days of the camp?
YES! Come when you can; we’ll be glad to see you when you can make it.
Is a cool, stylish, Bulldog XC Camp t-shirt included?
Yes it is! Every year in a different color!
What should kids do to prepare each day?
Eat something healthy when they get up; wear running clothes appropriate for the weather; grab a reusable bottle of water; and use the bathroom before coming.
Does the runner have to join XC to be part of this camp?
Nope--but it’s a good way to see if XC may be a good fit for an athlete, and it’s definitely a good way to prepare for the season if they do join a team. Some athletes join our camp just to stay in shape for other sports, which is also fine!
Camp Description from the WPD brochure:
Join Franklin Cross Country coaches Dan Nielsen and Mike Harland to improve fitness and learn about the sport of cross country running! The Bulldog XC camp for students going into grades 6-8 is open to new and experienced runners from any school. Workouts will include proper stretching and warm-ups; distance runs; interval training; chats on sleep & diet for runners; and a culminating race on the Franklin cross country course at Northside Park!
Note: while Coaches Harland and Nielsen once had 144 runners on their team one year, the WPD often caps the size of this camp to about half that, so please sign up soon if you’d like to join us.