10 Special Needs Summer Camps Near Indianapolis

Each summer, hundreds of children and teens with diabetes from all over Indiana gather for camp fun. Campers will swim, hike, do arts & crafts, take creek walks, play paintball, climb the ropes course, have campfires with songs and skits, do activities centered around diabetes management and skills, and much more!

If your child has Dyslexia, Camp Delafield is a great camp for them in the summer. This camp spends time with your child working on their academic needs including one-on-one attention to reading, math and STEM. In addition to academia, the camp works on building self esteem, work ethic and friendships through summer fun!

Camp Little Red Door at Bradford Woods and also in the city has week-long camp opportunities for Indiana children who are in active cancer treatment or remission. It is a chance for children (and siblings) to have the same camp experience as any other child and to interact with other children facing similar experiences. Camp activities include swimming, canoeing, archery, horseback riding, zip lining, nature education, rock climbing, arts and crafts, campfires and more! They host day camp, overnight camp, and family camps.

The Indiana Repertory Theatre's Summer Camps are designed to bring theatre to life for children! They offer various different camps based on the age, abilities and interests of your camper, including musical theatre camp, improv, stage combat class and neurodivergent option to Intro to Acting.

Held at IU, Camp Yes And hosts camp for youth with autism to learn improv as a way to develop social communication skills and transform teaching and learning. Camp Yes And is designed to support verbal teens on the autism spectrum, or those with a similar diagnosis, who would benefit from support around building social communication skills.

t/fom:  Camp Gather/GOM is a day camp that services youth ages 6-18 with physical and (or) intellectual disabilities. Campers will participate in activities such as life skills, motor skills, community programs, communication skills and traditional day camp activities.

nhorton:  Hear Indiana's Listening and Spoken Language Camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children is for youth ages 8-18, who use spoken language to communicate. Children with hearing loss will have the opportunity to make new friends with a shared life experience. Campers will participate in dialogue and outdoor activities specifically designed to provide them with opportunities to develop leadership skills and build self-confidence. The use of positive coping skills is stressed in discussions as well as activities.

Camp staff are equipped to serve youth with social and emotional challenges (including ADHD, Autism, ODD and more) including a special camp session for children impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Camp Riley's annual summer camp program allows children with physical and cognitive diagnoses to experience life without limits, and adventures that help them build confidence and friendships. Camp sessions are tailored to camper's individual needs. Activities include swimming, hiking, horseback riding, vertical climbing, canoeing, art projects and many more! All camps take place at Bradford Woods.

CCK helps kids have the awesome summer camp experience (fishing, swimming, etc) with the added attention necessary for the health concerns they face. Parents can safely send their children to an overnight camp knowing that there are medical personnel with a helipad onsite to address concerns that may arise during the 4-day stay. Each camp has a different week for each unique need including diabetes, asthma and blood disorders. There are even family camps available!