It’s already time to start planning for summer. Since busy parents don’t have hours to research which summer camp is perfect for their kids, Mirror Indy put together a guide to more than 30 camps in and around Indianapolis.
There are classic camps with hiking and campfires, but also many that are tailored to specific interests. Kids can start a band, learn a new language, get dirty in a garden or get their groove on at a dance camp.
These camps are at all price levels – from free to $55 a week, on up to more expensive camps that offer tuition assistance and payment plans. Click on the camp’s name to see more details, such as whether registration is open for summer yet.
If you want to explore more options, check out Indy’s Child Magazine’s 37th annual summer camp fair. More than 30 camps from Central Indiana will be at the fair, which is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Indy Art Center, 820 E 67th St.
Use these buttons to jump down the list to camps in a specific price range.
Price range: Free to $100 🔝
Learn about a free music camp, plus camps for kids who love riding bikes or dancing.
Mother Love’s Garden
For: Kids with green thumbs, ages 9-12.
🗓️ 7 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday. June 1-July 3 in Indianapolis, July 13-31 in Lebanon.
📍 1114 W 33rd St., Indianapolis; or 950 E. Washington, Lebanon.
🎟️ Your kids get paid to go to this camp! Each future farmer receives a $50 stipend. Applications open in April.
Kids can learn how to grow plants. The produce they grow will go to a farmstand and to people who buy shares of the harvest through a community agriculture program.
There are limited spots available – about 22 for the Indianapolis location. The camp provides breakfast and lunch.
Camp Mariposa – Aaron’s Place
For: Kids 9-12 years old who have family members with substance use disorder.
🗓️ June 26-28 and Aug. 21-23
📍Jameson Camp, 2001 Bridgeport Road
🎟️ Free for families
Camp Mariposa – Aaron’s Place is a year-round prevention and mentorship program for kids with family members who have substance use disorder. Overdose Lifeline is a provider of Aaron’s Place in Indiana. There are six weekend camps each year, with two in the summer. At Camp Mariposa, kids get a blend of fun camp activities and support from mental health professionals and trained mentors.
Global Explorers Program
For: Kids 7-12 who want to learn about different cultures.
🗓️ 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 8-July 24
📍 Indy’s Global Village, 4233 Lafayette Road
🎟️ $75 for one kid, $65 for a sibling
Kids spend a week learning about the food, music, art and languages of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Lunch is provided.
Indy Summer Learning Labs
For: Students who will be in first through ninth grade in the fall.
🗓️ Full-day programs for five weeks, June 15-July 17. Hours vary by site.
📍 About 50 locations across Marion County
🎟️ Most sites are free; some charge a minimal fee to cover extra activities
Kids get daily math and reading instruction from licensed teachers and do fun activities like field trips, sports and arts. Breakfast and lunch is served each day.
UIndy’s Medical Summer Youth Program
For: High school students who want a health-related career.
🗓️ 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1-5 or June 22-26, plus a third camp that hasn’t announced dates yet
📍University of Indianapolis, 1400 E. Hanna Ave.
🎟️ Free for the Young Achievers Academy; $75 for the two other camps
The University of Indianapolis offers three ways for high school students to explore careers in the medical field. A free, three-week Young Achievers Academy will introduce students to a range of health careers with activities, simulations and panel discussions with professionals.
There’s also a one-week camp about physical and occupational therapy and a one-week camp that gives an in-depth look into a variety of medical careers.
Freewheelin’ Community Bikes
For: Kids ages 8-18 who love bikes.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, June-July. Dates to be announced.
📍 Freewheelin’ Community Bikes, 3355 N. Central Ave.
🎟️ $55/week.
Freewheelin’ camps are great for kids who want to have fun outdoors, ride their bikes with friends and go on field trips. Campers should already know how to ride a bike. Lunch is provided.
Kids Dance Outreach
For: Kids ages 8-11 who like music and moving.
🗓️ 9-11:45 a.m. Monday-Friday, June 1-12.
📍 Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.
🎟️ $25 registration fee. Registration ends in May.
Kids Dance Outreach camps feature live music while instructors teach kids to dance. There’s also a camp for dancers with disabilities.
Indy Parks
For: Kids ages 4-17 who love exploring parks.
🗓️ Weeklong day camps from the end of May through July.
📍 Parks across the city
🎟️ $80-255
Find a camp near you or explore different neighborhoods. Kids can try out a hip-hop camp at Garfield Park, go bird-watching at Eagle Creek Park or enjoy a different theme every week at Brookside Park.
Happy Hollow Children’s Camp
For: Kids ages 7-14 who are up for an overnight adventure.
🗓️ Weeklong sessions from June 7-July 17.
📍 Happy Hollow, 3049 Happy Hollow Road, Nashville, Ind.
🎟️ Fees depend on household income and can range from $80/week to $750/week
Happy Hollow Children’s Camp has been around since 1951, and it sticks to classic activities: hiking, campfires, archery, zip-lining, kayaking and horseback riding. There’s also a counselor-in-training program for 15- to 17-year-olds.
Camp Cathedral
For: Kids who love to get active.
🗓️ Morning camps 8:30-11:30 a.m. and afternoon camps 12:30-3:30 p.m. June 1-July 24. Sports camps are Monday-Thursday and enrichment camps are Monday-Friday.
📍Cathedral High School, 5225 E. 56th St.
🎟️ $85-210/week
Choose from a wide variety of camps, including a Minecraft camp, a Disney Dreams camp and a filmmaking camp. Kids can also participate in the usual types: volleyball, football, theater or show choir.
Girls Inc. Camp
For: Girls and young women ages 5-18.
🗓️ Drop off by 9 a.m. and pick up by 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 1-July 10, June 8-July 2 and July 13-24.
📍Three locations in Indy
🎟️ $75-300, with scholarship assistance available
Girls Inc.’s mission is to inspire girls and young women to be leaders. The organization offers three camps: an arts camp where younger girls can get creative; a STEM camp for middle- and high-schoolers; and a leadership camp for teenagers.
Price range: $150-$250 🔝
Want to learn Arabic? There’s a free camp for that. Plus: An improv comedy camp, a West African dance camp and an art and nature camp for children with disabilities.
React Classes Theater Camps
For: K-12 aspiring playwrights and actors.
🗓️ Various weeks in June and July
📍The Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. and Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.
🎟️ $100-215/week, with payment plans available
Kids can put their big imaginations to use at these theater camps, where they’ll learn how to create a character, write a play and perform a scene. At the end of the week, you can watch your kid demonstrate onstage what they learned. When you register, look for the camps with the green label, which means it’s a summer session.
Earth Charter Indiana’s Climate Camps
For: Ages 6-10, 7-13, 10-14 and 14-18.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for week-long sessions, June 1 to July 24
📍 The Peace Learning Center, 6040 Delong Road, and a bus camp that starts at the Julia M. Carson Transit Center, 201 E. Washington St.
🎟️ $175/week, with scholarships available that could reduce the cost to as low as $5/week
Earth Charter Indiana’s camps teach kids about climate change, but they make it fun. Kids get to go on adventures like rafting on the White River. They pick up litter, visit farms and learn to identify plants. There’s a bilingual camp for Spanish-speakers, a bus camp, an art camp and more.
ComedySportz Improv Camps
For: Fourth graders through high school students who like to make people laugh.
🗓️ 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 13-July 10
📍 The Wit Theater, 3808 Shelby St.
🎟️ $279/week
Kids can learn confidence, teamwork and listening skills through improv games. Campers will wrap up the week with a performance for friends and family.
iibada Dance Company Camp
For: Kids ages 5-12 interested in dancing and making crafts.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8-12 and July 6-17, with after-care available
📍 iibada Dance Company, 609 E. 29th St.
🎟️ $250/week
Instructors at this Black-owned and -operated dance company teach students about West African culture through crafts and dance. Campers will play games, perform and learn about ballet and modern dance.
Indianapolis Children’s Choir Camp
For: Children entering grades 1-8 in the fall.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8-11 or July 20-23
📍 ICC Performing Arts Center, 9111 Allisonville Road
🎟️ $190 early bird pricing before April 15, $200 after that. Tuition includes a $25 non-refundable registration fee. Financial assistance available.
Kids will learn to sing parts, plus a bit of music theory. No previous experience is needed. The camps include daily snacks. On the last day of each session, the campers will perform a concert at Cornerstone Lutheran Church Carmel, 4850 E. Main St.
To ask about financial assistance, email Paul Schafer at pschafer@icchoir.org and include your kids’ names and ages, along with a brief description of your request.
Kamp Kaleidoscope
For: First through fourth graders who like variety.
🗓️ 7 a.m. to 6 p.m Monday-Friday, June 2-July 31
📍 Trinity Church, 9709 Allisonville Road
🎟️ $260/week, financial aid available
Kids can have a different experience each week at Kamp Kaleidoscope, which is run by Trinity Church. Themes include superheroes, the Olympics and the great outdoors.
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
For: Kids ages 5-15.
🗓️ 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, early June to Aug. 1. Check locations for dates.
📍 14 YMCA and school locations in and around Indy
🎟️ $200-250, or less for YMCA members. Financial assistance available.
There are a lot of options for the YMCA’s summer day camps. Kids can swim, go on outdoor adventures and do arts and crafts. Trained staff focus on teaching teamwork, confidence and leadership skills.
Junior Achievement BizTown
For: Kids ages 9-12 with great ideas.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, June 8-18
📍JA BizTown, 7435 N. Keystone Ave.
🎟️ $250, or $275 if you want care from 8-9 a.m.
Do you have a mini-inventor on your hands? Encourage them to put those great ideas to use at a JA BizTown camp. Each student will create a plan for a product or business. They’ll hear from business leaders about confidence, ethics and making connections with others.
Indianapolis Zoo Camps
For: Animal lovers ages 6-13.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, with before- and after-care available, June 1-July 31
📍 Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington St.
🎟️ Starting around $200 for a three-day camp or $300 for a five-day camp. Registration now open.
Kids can work on STEM skills while they learn about their favorite animals, see what zookeepers do and get behind-the-scenes tours.
Camp Belzer
For: Cub Scouts, or there’s a camp open to all kids ages 5-10.
🗓️ 8:30 to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday for general camp, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Cub Scout camp. June 8-July 3.
📍Camp Belzer, 6102 Boy Scout Road
🎟️ Day camp is $320 before March 31, $345 after. Cub Scout camp ranges from $135-290, depending on age and when you register. If you register for multiple weeks, you get a 10% discount.
Discovery Day Camp is a classic summer camp with obstacle courses, swimming and archery. This year, it has a dinosaur theme. The Cub Scout Camp is open to any level of scout, and has the same dino theme and camp activities.
On Fridays, families can join to bring a picnic dinner and end the night with a bonfire.
Indianapolis Healthplex Summer of Fun Camp
For: Kids ages 7-12.
🗓️ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 1-July 31. No camp the week of July 4.
📍Indianapolis Healthplex, 3660 Guion Road
🎟️ $175 for members, $225 for the general public. Scholarships available.
Every week, kids get to experience a different theme such as animals, sports or nature. They’ll take field trips to the Indianapolis Zoo and an Indiana Fever game, and try boxing, yoga and swimming. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
Noble Summer Camp
For: Kids ages 8-12 or 13-18. Includes kids with and without disabilities.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., June 1-July 10
📍 Noble North, 216 Lakeview Drive, Noblesville, or Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 1605 E. 106th St., Carmel
🎟️ $200-250, with scholarships available
Noble has a range of camps: an art camp where students can create mini galleries of work; a discovery camp to ask science questions; and a music and dance camp. Snacks are provided, but you have to pack lunch.
UIndy Music Camps
For: Students K-12 with a love of music.
🗓️ Camps from June 1-20
📍 Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, 1230 Greyhound Lane
🎟️ $20 for Music for All Abilities, $160 for piano camp. For all other camps, $400 for commuter students and $650 to stay on-campus.
Your future musician can try their hand at jazz, piano or strings with daily lessons and coaching. Check the description of each camp to see how much experience students need with an instrument before they can start. But if your camper is totally new, there are two sessions of a one-day Music for All Abilities camp.
Price range: Over $250 🔝
Many of the more expensive camps offer tuition assistance or payment plans.
IU Indianapolis Camps
For: Kids ages 5-12.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 1-July 24.
📍IU Natatorium, 901 W. New York St.
🎟️ $265-415, with free after-care. Registration opens Feb. 2.
Kids can get a classic summer camp experience or find themes that fit their interests: Video games, cooking, art and American Sign Language. Every camper gets swim lessons Monday-Thursday at the IU Natatorium, as well. Pack lunch for your child.
Newfields Summer Camp
For: Kids ages 6-14 years old with a creative side.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Nature camp is June 22-26. Art camp is July 20-24.
📍Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road
🎟️ $350 for members, $380 for public
Newfields offers two kinds of camps: nature and art. Kids who love being outside will learn about pollinators, plants and natural resources. Students in art camp get behind-the-scenes tours of exhibits and do art projects based on what they see.
Indy Art Center
For: Kid creators ages 4-18.
🗓️ Morning, afternoon, day and weeklong camps June-July.
📍 Indy Art Center, 820 E 67th St.
🎟️ Ranges from a $40 morning session to $384 for some weeklong camps. Indy Art Center offers tuition assistance and payment plans.
Make art in every medium: ceramics, painting, glass, drawing and more. The website’s search tool lets you filter by age, teacher, length of the camp, availability and other options.
CampJCC Indy
For: Kindergartners through ninth graders. (Non-JCC members welcome.)
🗓️ 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 1-July 24. Extended care available.
📍 JCC, 6701 Hoover Road
🎟️ Day camp: $360/week or $275 for JCC members. Specialty camps cost more. Need-based scholarships available by request.
Camps at the Jewish Community Center include swimming, sports, art and play. Day campers from kindergarten through third grade get swimming lessons twice a week. Kids in fourth grade and up also go on field trips.
Camp Invention
For: Kindergartners through sixth graders interested in STEM.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, June and early July.
📍 St. Roch Catholic School, 3603 S. Meridian St.; St. Thomas Aquinas School, 4600 N. Illinois St.; Abraham Lincoln Elementary, 5241 Brehob Road
🎟️ $285/week, with payment plan options
Kids get to learn about science, technology, engineering and math. Campers will experience a prototyping studio, work with water challenges and play lots of games.
Girls Rock! Indianapolis
For: Girls, transgender or nonbinary kids ages 6 to 16 who want to be rockstars.
🗓️ Drop-off 7:30-8 a.m., pick-up 4:30-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, July 13-18 and July 20-25
📍 Herron School of Art at IU Indianapolis, 735 W. New York St.
🎟️ $450, with tuition assistance and payment plans available
Give your kid a taste of the rockstar life for a week at band camp or DJ camp. Kids in band camp pick an instrument they want to play, form a five-piece band, write songs and then rock out at a Saturday showcase. Girls ages 9-16 can mix it up with DJ camp, too. Kids don’t need any music experience before camp.
Indy Chess Summer Camp
For: Kids entering first through eighth grade with some chess experience.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, June-August, with options for care starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m.
📍 St. Thomas Aquinas School 4600 N. Illinois St., St. Monica School 6131 N. Michigan Road, and St. Barnabas School, 8300 Rahke Road
🎟️ $255 before Feb. 15. Regular price is $275, but they offer sibling discounts and free tuition for students who qualify for public assistance, like SNAP.
Chess camp isn’t all about chess, but that’s most of it. Each day, campers get three lessons. They learn how to play with chess clocks, hear from instructors who are some of the state’s best chess players and practice getting to checkmate. There’s outdoor recess, and kids should bring lunch. Snacks are provided. The last day of camp is an optional tournament.
Club SciKidz
For: Children ages 4 to 15 who want to know how the world works.
🗓️ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, June and July
📍 Locations in Greenwood and Carmel
🎟️ $400-425/week, and some have a $10 lab fee. Scholarships for free tuition are available.
Kids with lots of curiosity will learn how things work, what things are made of and how science is applied in the world around them. Kids will do experiments and create projects to take home.
IU Indianapolis Stem Camp
For: High school gamers and future tech pros.
🗓️ 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 6-10 and July 13-17
📍Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, 535 W. Michigan St.
🎟️ $399 a week, with discounts for IU employees
Learn coding, character creating, digital drawing and more technology skills from faculty. Students can also get some insight into future career options.
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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