Indian Summer Camp

INDIAN SUMMER CAMP

Childhood is supposed to be a time to grow, learn, play, have fun and be carefree. But when a child is diagnosed with cancer their world and their family’s world is turned upside down. They are taken out of school due to being immunosuppressed, are isolated from their friends, and have to endure countless hospital stays and painful treatments. But that’s where Indian Summer Camp for Kids with Cancer comes in. We strive to give kids with cancer the part of their childhood that cancer took away. Indian Summer Camp’s weeklong, overnight camp for children with cancer has been in existence for 31 years.

Indian Summer Camp serves children and families from across the state of Kentucky and surrounding areas such as Southern Indiana and Cincinnati. Their office is located here in Louisville, but they rent the facilities at Camp Cedarmore in Shelbyville for their oncology camp. In 2012, ISC was honored to serve a record number of 108 campers. Some of these kids were recently diagnosed and just beginning their battle, while others have been off treatment for years. Campers are between the ages of 6-18 and they offer a day camp option for children 4-6. What makes Indian Summer Camp different from many is that they provide all of their programs at no cost to campers and their families due to the financial strain cancer puts on these families. Indian Summer Camp fully relies on donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, and groups like HFMA to make their camps possible for these children.

At Indian Summer Camp, campers enjoy many normal camp activities. They go fishing, create Arts & Crafts, hike, and swim in the pool. But because these kids are special, we try to make their camp week extra special too. The Louisville Firefighters spend the week teaching the campers scuba diving in the pool, they have 30 volunteer boaters who take the kids tubing and fishing on Taylorsville lake, and the end of their week culminates in a huge dance where girls dress up in donated prom dresses, get their hair and make-up done, and the boys wear donated tuxes.

Indian Summer Camp provides children with cancer the opportunity to escape their illness for a week, form meaningful friendships with other children who understand what they are going through, and they build their self-confidence and self-reliance. But this all happens within a safe, caring environment. Indian Summer Camp is fully staffed with Pediatric Oncology doctors, pharmacists, and nurses to care for the medical needs of campers. Campers can receive their chemotherapy treatments and blood tests without even leaving camp. This puts parent’s minds at ease and campers feel safe.