Camps & Programs

Oncology Camp

Indian Summer Camp’s Oncology Camp is our longest running program, started in 1981. Our Oncology Camp is currently hosted at the beautiful Crossings Cedarmore camp site in Bagdad, KY (Shelby County).

Our weeklong, overnight oncology camp is open to children aged 6-18 who are either currently undergoing treatment for cancer or are survivors of a childhood cancer.

During this week, children with cancer are able to enjoy a wide range of activities including regular summer camp activites like arts & crafts, sports, and swimming. But we also offer many unique activities and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Each year, the camp’s activities are all planned around a unique, fun-filled theme.

We have pediatric oncology doctors and nurses at our camp for the whole week to care for the medical needs of our campers. The "Med Staff” play a vital role in recruiting campers and making their week enjoyable and memorable!

Many children with cancer who have attended Indian Summer Camp say it’s the only place where they feel "normal” again. They can take off their wig and not be stared at. They can prop their prosthetic leg up against the fence and jump in the pool, and no one minds. They can participate in every single activity no matter what their physical limitations are. At Indian Summer Camp, they aren’t cancer patients; they’re just kids being kids.

Day Camp

Because we realize that it’s hard for young children to leave their parents for an entire week, we offer a one-day, day camp program during our oncology camp. Children aged 4-6 are able to enjoy a day of fun-filled actvities. These children are able to make friends with other campers who know what they are going through & are introduced to the camp experience. Many children have said this helps them feel more comfortable when they are old enough to come to camp for the full week.

Teen Weekender

Each fall, teen campers aged 13-18 are eligible to attend a weekend camp to reunite with their camp friends & counselors. Adolescences is a time for young people to gain independence and develop a sense of self. Peer relationships are especially important during this time & can be highly affected by a cancer diagnosis. Teens often feel left out and self conscious about the side effects of cancer treatments, such as losing their hair.

For all of these reasons, we recognized that our teen campers needed more support & that’s why the Teen Weekender was created. At our teen weekender, campers spend time catching up with friends, doing craft projects, hiking in the woods, playing in the creek, and telling stories around the campfire.

The Teen Weekender has been held at Camp Horsin’ Around in Perryville, KY since 2009.

Quarterly Events

To mark our 30th anniversary in 2011, we started the "Quarterly Events” program for campers & their families. Many of our campers say they wish camp was all year long, so we decided to host various recreational events throughout the year. We also wanted to offer programs that the whole family could enjoy. Our quarterly events are a great way to accomplish this.

Sibling Camp

The Sibling Camp program is a weekend-long camp aimed to address the unique needs of children who have a brother or sister with cancer. Often times, when a child is diagnosed with cancer their siblings experience a wide range of emotions and may feel left out, scared, and alone. Our Sibling Camp offers these children a special place where they can bond with others with similar circumstances, gain recognition, and learn that they are special too…all while having the time of their lives!

The sibling camp is currently held at Cedarmore in Shelby County.