Summer Childcare and Full Day Camp Options for Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley
We know that parents and guardians can stress over summer childcare and full day camp options; our hope is that this portion of the Haute Happenings summer camp guide makes the decision a bit easier. These summer-long camps carry families through most of summer and give children plenty of opportunities for fun, structure, free play, adventures with friends, crafts, education, and exercise!
All-Day Summer Camps and Programs
Featured Camp from our Partners at Camp Navigate
Camp Navigate says this:
Everyone at Camp Navigate is jumping for joy to announce that 2026 Summer Camp enrollment is NOW OPEN!
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
At Camp Navigate, we believe the same is true—you must be successful on the inside to be successful on the outside. This summer, campers will grow strong hearts and big ideas! Campers won’t just learn about business; they’ll discover their strengths, practice leadership, and learn how to make a positive difference in their community—all while developing real-world employability skills.
Come join us and watch your child’s entrepreneurial spirit grow from the inside out!
Another jam-packed summer is on the way. Will you be there?!
Follow this link: https://campnavigate.org/SummerCamp
Camp Navigate is well-known in the Wabash Valley for our all-day youth Summer Camp. Campers return year after year to grow with us and further enhance their skills!
They look forward to our unique extras like Fork in the Road, Fun & Fit rotation, and swimming. Most field at Camp Navigate have become traditions and are made possible with community collaboration!
Our camp counselors are known at Camp Navigate as mentors. Mentors train as a team alongside their Coach (Coach-A-Mentor Program) to provide quality care with a purpose. We take pride in each mentor, Teen Navigators, coach, and volunteer that chooses to give their time to help develop our future workforce. Click on the text above to explore our site and learn more!
Enroll in Summer Camp 2026 with Camp Navigate!
Indiana Youth Programs on Campus
Camp Navigate is excited to continue their partnership with Indiana State University for Middle School Students Summer 2026!
Another great program has been planned for our middle school Camp Navigate summer campers! Indiana State University has received a grant to help young people further explore their interests, learn new skills and envision a future for themselves in college and has invited Camp Navigate to partner with them! What does that mean for your child?
This summer, your child will be able to spend one week at ISU. Each middle school grade level will be able to experience many fun activities designed by ISU staff and swim in the ISU pool.
- It is not an overnight camp.
- Buses will transport your child every morning and afternoon from Camp Navigate to ISU.
- There will be no extra costs for this amazing program!
- Camp Navigate will pack a sack lunch for each child.
- Your child will not miss a Camp Navigate field trip. We have planned the ISU weeks around our field trips.
- Sixth through eighth grade will be assigned one week (this designated week is on the Camp Navigate 2026 camp flyer and registration form). This week at ISU will also be filled with fun and exciting themes which include, art, music, theatre and STEAM activities. They will be attending ISU’s Rock week.
- If you prefer your child not attend, please indicate that on the registration form.
- If they do not attend they will spend the week with the age group directly below them.
- Your child’s mentor/s will be joining them at ISU.
Featured Camps from our Partners at ISU Community School of the Arts
Registration is now open for our partners at Community School of the Arts at Indiana State University!
Not only do our partners at ISU CSA have appealing themes, but their hours likely work for families who are looking for daytime programming that coordinates with work hours!
Kids love that most of these camps include swimming, and parents love the variety of themes!
These camps are fun, week-long immersions into a various theme, which will include art, music, theater, games and more. Camps are a full-day so that students can enjoy different activities throughout the day and from week to week. All materials are provided unless otherwise specified.
Choose as many sessions as your family wants or needs!
What will my child do at camp?
The following is the schedule for ages 6-8. The 8-10 year old group and 10-13 year old group will do the same activities, just in a different order!
7:45-8AM Drop Off
8-8:30AM Morning Circle
8:40-9:20AM Specials (Rotates between Library, Lego, Science, Technology, Yoga)
9:45-10:45AM Swim at the Rec
11:30-12PM Lunch and a G/PG Movie
12:20-1PM Art
1:10-1:50PM PE at the Quad
2-2:35PM Afternoon Circle and Snack
2:45-3:25 Improv
3:35-4:15PM Music
4:30-5PM Outside for parent pick up
Regarding safety, CSA has this to say, “As parents ourselves, we do understand the hesitancy leaving your child in a place you aren’t familiar with, so here are just SOME of the safety protocols we have in place at camp!”
-3 adult mentors for every 20-25 children, plus one adult instructor during classes
-Staff is made up mainly of VCSC teachers, and Education majors attending ISU
-All mentors are background checked
-All mentors undergo child safety training both online (1hr) and in person (14hrs) and continuously throughout the summer through a coaching system.
-All mentors are CPR certified through the Red Cross
-Fire drills are practiced each Monday of camp
-All mentor groups have emergency training, walkie talkies, and access to ISU police
-Swimming time is monitored by certified professional lifeguards, all children must wear a provided life jacket unless they pass the swim test
-We observe the rule of 3, no child is ever alone with an adult or another child, three people or more are present at all times
Featured Camps from Vigo County School Corporation
During select weeks in June, students in grades 2-5 can attend University Connections. Free of charge! Registration closes on May 1. University Connections is an in-person summer adventure, offered to students currently in grades 2-5, free of charge. The nine-day program at Indiana State University (ISU) is from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. University Connections programming will also include IREAD remediation for grades 2 and 3.Transportation will be provided to and from each student’s home school. (*Please note if your place of employment or home is closer to a different elementary school, rather than the one your student attends, our team will accommodate this request. This can be indicated in the transportation drop down selections below, and we understand the morning and afternoon bus transportation locations could be different).
Featured Camps from our Partners at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum:
Summer is supposed to be fun… and at the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, campers will have the messiest summer… EVER!
Whether you’re looking for space, engineering, cooking, animals or more, we have the session for you! And, they will all be MESSY!
We have camps designed for ages 4 – 6, 7 – 9, & 10 – 13!
Campers will gain confidence and feel as if they rule the Museum after spending time with our highly-trained staff. Each day is scheduled to maximize learning time, while also giving campers that chance for independent play, time on the Ropes Challenge Course and more!
Scholarships to Summer Camp are available here. Contact the THCM for details and qualifications.
Vigo County YMCA
During Summer Day Camp, the YMCA offers youth, ages 4-14, fun and unique experiences with an opportunity to explore the outdoors, meet new friends, discover new interests, and create memories that last a lifetime. Registration is according to the grade the child will be going into in the fall.
Additional Full-Time Summer Camps
- Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club. June 1-August 7. Open to kindergarten through 8th grade! Drop off 7:30 – 8:30 AM. Weekly fees must be paid by Sunday at 11:59 PM before the week the child or children are attending. No toys, books, phones, or electronics allowed. Breakfast and lunch are provided. Pre-registration required (No refunds available). Children will be in groups based on grade going into in the fall. Keep children home when sick. Closed June 19th & July 4th
- Camp Rave .Camp RAVE, CASY’s school-age summer camp is designed to give kids a fun-filled summer of educational and recreational activities including environmental discovery, arts, literacy, STEM, health & wellness, and field trips(TBD).
- Summer Childcare at 14th and Chestnut. Operates during the summer months for school-aged children who are entering Kindergarten through 12th grade from 9-1:30 each weekday. Children are fed breakfast upon arrival, followed by chapel. They then do a variety of activities including sports, arts and crafts, music, reading, playing outside, etc. Lunch is then served at 1pm. Every Friday during the summer we take the kids on field trips bowling, hiking, skating, swimming, and other activities around the area. For the last trip, we travel out of town for a special field trip on Turner buses! Summer is a wonderful time at the Center, providing many opportunities for the children to grow and learn.
- Day Camp at the Clay County YMCA: The camp cost includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, swimming, field trips, educational enrichment opportunities and many more summer activities. Once you complete the registration form and submit it along with the non-refundable registration fee, we will be able to reserve a space for your child!
- Collett Park Day Camp (new!).Campers will enjoy exciting games, creative crafts, outdoor exploration, themed activities, and unforgettable memories all summer long. It’s the perfect way to stay active, make new friends, and experience everything summer has to offer in a safe and positive environment!
- KE Camps at the Country Club of Terre Haute. Open to guests and non-members! Ages 5-12. Activities include golf, tennis, swimming, arts & crafts, group games, pickleball, and more!
- Highland Academy. Looking for an engaging, safe, and faith-filled environment for your child this summer? Join Highland-Academy’s Summer Program! At Highland Academy, we provide a fun and enriching summer experience for children ages 5-11, with activities designed to inspire learning, creativity, and friendships in a Christ-centered atmosphere. For more information or to enroll, contact at (317) 420-9366. Located at 2400 Silvan Road, West Terre Haute, IN
As always, typos happen and details change. Please confirm information with camp coordinators before making your plans. This list is intended as a research resource not a recommendation for which activities your family should or should not participate in this summer.
