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5 Best Summer Camps In Indiana 2024

Child paddling at a lake
Child paddling at a lake

Planning a fun summer vacation for your child shouldn’t stress you out. To make things easier, we created this list of summer camps in the state. At these overnight camps, young campers can grow as people through their experiences and also develop essential outdoor skills when it comes to camping and hiking. 

Finding a summer camp for your kids, that’s right for them isn’t the easiest thing to do. You have to ensure the camp provides value, matches your child’s needs, and more importantly, meets your budget.

These fantastic summer camps in Indiana down below are all accredited by the American Camp Association. 

Best Summer Camps In Indiana

1. Happy Hollow Children’s Camp

Founded more than 70 years ago, Happy Hollow Children’s Camp offers children the opportunity to experience life outdoors, practice healthy living, and interact with peers in a welcoming environment.

Happy Hollow Children’s Camp operates out of Nashville, Indiana, where it sits on a 900-acre ground. Nearby landmarks include the Happy Hollow lake, a popular location for canoeing, kayaking, and other watersports.

It primarily serves children from low-income families, and special education groups. If you want your kids to have a well-rounded summer, their traditional summer camps offers a varied list of activities for campers. 

There are classes on archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, and fishing. Sports aren’t left out, since campers can participate in soccer, high ropes courses, and basketball.

2. Camp Red Cedar

Camp Red Cedar is an ACA accredited summer camp that started as a Boy Scout camp in 1970 before becoming a full-fledged summer camp in 1997. The camp provides an inclusive environment where kids of different ages can experience fun summers.

It’s billed as an all-inclusive summer camp for children. Summer campers participate in recreational activities, outdoor education, and projects that inspire creativity.

The Camp Red Cedar campground is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has natural attractions everywhere you turn. There’s a 10-acre lake and a sandy beach, along with over 57 acres of trails, meadows, and woods surrounding the campsite.

At Camp Red Cedar, kids can play games, create exciting arts and crafts projects like painting, ride on horseback, and participate in bonfire nights. The camp also offers study trips that combine practical education with thrilling fun.

3. Camp Livingston

Camp Livingston is a faith-based summer camp located on a 680-acre site in Switzerland, Indiana. Built by H.S. Livingston in 1920, the camp is a memorial for Livingston’s son, Lieutenant Robert Krohn Livingston.

Camp Livingston is one of the few Jewish overnight camps that offers programs for students in grades 2nd through 12th. There are different camp dates for different age groups and some programs last one week while others last almost a month.

Some programs run for two weeks, and other programs last up to eight weeks. Participants at Camp Livingston can choose from a richly varied collection of activities. This includes visual arts, such as tie-dye, 3-D printing, and nature-inspired art. Campers may also participate in classes on music, drama, and Jewish dance.

Other activities available at Camp Livingston include talent shows, sports competitions, drama performances, and carnivals.

4. Camp Alexander Mack

Camp Alexander Mack is a sleepaway Christian camp in Milford that serves campers between grades 1st and 12th. The facility, situated in Northern Indiana, is bordered on the East by Lake Waubee and sits on more than 200 acres of land.

Campers can choose from school age-defined camps for first through twelfth grades, or adventure and specialty camps are available for middle and high school students. These residential camp programs range from three to six days in length.

Each summer camp program is designed to build a childs faith, develop skills, and provide extracurricular education. The Camp Mack summer program is an excellent option for families who want kids to have fun and enrich their lives spiritually at the same time.

With daily activities like Bible education, survival training, archery, and nature exploration, Camp Mack is a great educational opportunity. They also have events where you can go tent camping as a family.

5. Jameson Camp

Established in 1928, Jameson Camp has earned a reputation as an excellent place for children to have fun and discover themselves. It’s certainly one of the best Indianapolis summer camps. The summer day camps are tailored for kids from different walks of life.

The Jameson Camp site has a unique geography with plenty of meadows, forests, and other natural attractions. Your child can experience the wonders of nature and appreciate the beauty of their environment.

Outdoor activities for participants in the programs include archery, swimming, basketball, and soccer. The camp also organizes craft projects, team games, and other activities designed to develop teamwork and collaboration skills in individuals.