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:

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 RoadFun & Fit rotation, and swimming. Most field trips at Camp Navigate have become traditions and are made possible with community collaboration. Grown-ups appreciate our Skills and Educational Enrichment side of camp to prevent the “summer slide.” Encouraging our campers to read is so easily done with our Power Up with Reading Program. If you have a child in middle school, we are the summer camp for you! Our Choose to Lead & Serve Program offers a wide range of work-force development skills for your middle school student entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, including running the Warm Hearts Cafe. 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!

Camp Navigate brings a new, and engaging theme each summer where we spend weeks developing the campers through our four focus areas. Check out our current summer’s theme and each week’s fun-filled, educationally-based focus below!

Enroll in Summer Camp 2025 with Camp Navigate! 

Indiana Youth Programs on Campus

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.

Here are some bullet point answers to some questions you may have:

  • 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 2025 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!

June Camps: 

July Camps: 

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 a for space, engineering, cooking, animals, oceans or more, we have the session for you!  And, they will all be MESSY!

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 Course Challenge 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.

Camp Hours:

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Extended Camp hours:

6:30 am – 9:00 am/4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Dates: Camp will begin June 2-August 8, 2025.

Breakfast, lunch, and field trips are included in this price!

Additional Full-Time Summer Camps

  • 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
  • Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club.  Summer is the time to explore, learn, and grow! Our enjoyable summer program offers kids an opportunity to combine adventures, games, arts & crafts, swimming, bowling, and recreation. FREE breakfast & lunch included! Through our well-rounded program and fun filled days, campers build friendships, develop self-confidence and independence. Weekly field trips are part of the fun. Hours are 7:30am-5:30pm. Weekly or daily (2-day minimum) participation is available
  • 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. $100 per registrant per week. Graduated kindergarteners-5th grade.
  • 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!
  • Deming Park Day Camp. $1000 for full summer “grand slam,” $130 per week, or $35 per day. June 2-August 8. Swimming, special guests, weekly themes, and more!
  • During select weeks in June, students in grades 2-5 can attend University Connections from 8:00-4:00pm. Free of charge! STEM, ELA, Creative Arts, Fit + Fun, Campus + Community Connections, Lunch + Snacks. Registration will take place starting April 7!

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.