Founded Jan. 29, 2008, at Noblesville, IN Vol. XIX, No. 5
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FEBRUARY & MARCH DINE IN DEALS!
Meyer Najem approved for WHS renovation
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
During its Feb. 10 meeting, the Westfield Washington Board of School Trustees approved a construction manager for the Westfield High School renovation project, along with a request to find a third-party contractor for the Shamrock Station events center.
Fishers-based Meyer Najem was chosen for the renovation of WHS, which is expected to begin this summer. The construction firm was one of four that bid on the contract.
“Selecting a construction manager at this time is critical to maintaining the construction timeline established in the district’s 10-year facility plan, which addresses increased student enrollment at Westfield High School,” WWS Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Greg Hunt said.
WWS Superintendent John Atha said a selection committee was formed to
review the proposals and that the contract and final costs are still to be negotiated and finalized.
“(The firms) submitted strong proposals, and that made it difficult, but that was a good problem to have,” Atha said. “We thank them for the current partnership as well that they have with with us and the good work.”
The board also approved a measure to solicit proposals for third-party man-
Meyer
the
agement of Shamrock Station at 333 W. Hoover St. The building was completed in October 2025.
Hunt said the third-party contractor would be responsible for day-to-day management. Contractor services could include event booking, event coordination, staffing, marketing and promotion, facility operations, finance reporting and oversight of maintenance activities.
WWS receives updates on projects
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Contractors gave the Westfield Washington Schools Board of Trustees an update on the progress of construction and remodeling projects during its Feb. 10 meeting.
Mike Holtkamp, senior project manager for Hagerman Group, presented on Westfield Middle School West, which is under construction at the corner of Centennial Road and Ind. 32. He touched on geothermal wells, exterior metal siding and windows, roofing over the kitchen and theater, overhead Wi-Fi in the kitchen area, interior metal stud framing, drywall in the administration area, interior walls in the kitchen area and temporary heating in some of the building.
Holtkamp said that in the next 60 days, the goal is to work on athletic
fields, interior and exterior masonry work, interior wall framing and drywall work, interior paint and lighting, ceiling grid work and roof work. All exterior work is weather dependent. He said water and sewer main work continues, and Centennial Road improvements are scheduled to begin in April with completion anticipated by August. The design process continues for a roundabout at the intersection of Centennial Road and Ind. 32.
The original contract for the project was $138.1 million. Holtkamp said the current amount is $140.1 million. So far, 52.5 percent of the project has been billed to WWS.
Holtkamp said the project is on schedule for completion in time for Westfield Middle School West to open for the 2026-27 school year.
Jerry Rolfson, principal architect at Performance Services, presented on the renovation of Westfield Intermediate School, which will become Cool Creek Elementary School in the 2026-27 school year. He said the media center for the school is completed and that some interior work is expected to be completed by spring break. Exterior work, such as playground work, will start after spring break.
Rolfson said work is on schedule to be completed on time for the 2026-27 opening.
West Clay at 131st & Towne Rd
Najem was
company approved for the Westfield High School renovation. (File photo)
Westfield Intermediate School will become Cool Creek Elementary in the 2026-27 school year. (File photo)
Vision for Hortonville presented at APC meeting
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
A presentation was made to the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission that would significantly change the look and the makeup of Hortonville in Washington Township.
City of Westfield Long-Range Planner Caleb Ernest made a special informational presentation on the Hortonville Subarea Plan to the APC during its Feb. 17 meeting.
The “final vision” Ernest presented would set four goals for Hortonville.
• Open space would be used as a central community hub, featuring historic preservation opportunities and modern amenities.
• Hortonville would have a walkable, mixed-use village core with retail, offices and housing.
• The surrounding neighborhoods would preserve their character with adaptive use opportunities.
• Streets and the trail network would connect areas for accessibility and interaction.
Ernest’s presentation referenced Hortonville’s history and the 2007 Comprehensive Plan that set out the mission for Westfield’s “villages,” Hortonville being one of those villages.
“The general guidance for those village areas was that they would redevelop at some point in the future as small, walkable villages,” Ernest said.
Ernest presented a map that laid out a mixed-use corridor on the west side of Horton Road and on either side of 206th Street in Hortonville. Areas east of Horton Road and west of the Monon Trail would be set aside for green space. Areas east of Horton Road and north and south of 206th Street — an area that includes Hortonville’s current residential areas — would be set aside for adaptive use opportunities.
The comparable cities Ernest used to create a plan for Hortonville were tourist-oriented Indiana cities like Metamora, Shipshewana and Nashville.
Ernest’s presentation stated that Hortonville’s strengths were its proximity to the Monon Trail, its historic and cultural anchors and a strong sense of historic identity. Challenges in Hortonville are its loss of historic structures and low accessibility via vehicular access.
A ‘character exhibit’ from the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission agenda packet for the Feb. 17 meeting showing possible building designs for the Horton Square mixed-used district. According to the exhibit language, buildings shown are intended to “establish a benchmark for quality, vision, and appearance of architecture within the District.” (Screenshot from APC agenda packet)
While Ernest’s presentation focused only on the Hortonville Subarea Plan, the plan for Hortonville is directly related to the proposed Ironstone development — a 765-acre planned use housing development proposed by Platinum Properties that would be built on land near Hortonville. The Ironstone plan proposes 1,570 single-family homes and 230 townhomes. Ironstone is still being considered for recommendation by APC.
The mixed-use development proposed for the west side of Horton Road is written into the Ironstone PUD ordinance. Named Horton Square, the mixed-use proposal has yet to have a formal presentation before either the City Council or APC. It could be presented during the March 16 meeting.
However, the Horton Square proposal and artist renderings of possible architectural options are included in the Ironstone PUD ordinance included as part of the APC agenda packet.
The mixed-use buildings in Horton Square would feature commercial space at street level and residential space on the second story. All buildings are required to be two stories. Building materials should “include brick, stone, or other masonry material and shall comprise a minimum of 75 percent of the building.” Synthetic materials will not be allowed.
BUILDING BETTER HOMES AND COMMUNITIES
Restaurant development with outdoor seating areas are permitted and encouraged. Benches, bike racks and fountains are among the amenities that are encouraged for the design of the district.
Meridian Audiology LLC, a private Audiology practice, was founded by Dr. Alison Wyss, Au.D. and Kira VonBlon, M.S., after working together as Audiologists in an ENT setting for more than 12 years. The seasoned Audiologists strive to consistently provide premier care to patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing disorders as well as those who want to protect their hearing from damage.
In stark contrast to the medical/ ENT audiology world where patients are in and out in quick succession, private practice allows Ali and Kira to spend whatever time their patients need from them for their individual hearing healthcare situation.
Kira and Ali are available to evaluate your hearing and walk through your many options if you are a hearing aid candidate. Kira and Ali will spend the time to explain the differences in hearing aids, the best options for the hearing concerns you have, and will even have their benefit company call to verify if you have a benefit or discount plan for hearing aids through your insurance. We believe this makes the difference in you feeling comfortable with your individual hearing loss action plan.
S Sign up to come to our Auditory Rehabilitation class: Hearing Aids are Just One Piece of the Hearing Loss Puzzle
March 24, 2026 1:30-3pm at 911 E 86th Street, Ste 40
Bring your communication partner and together we will have
an interactive presentation to help you and your communication partners communicate more effectively in your everyday situations
Cost: $45 for you and a guest
Snacks provided Kira and Ali are also available to speak to your local community clubs about hearing, hearing loss and the link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. Dr Wyss states “We’ve done many presentations to community clubs in the area and the participants always appreciate our time in giving them information about hearing loss, cognitive decline and tinnitus as well as answering their questions ”
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, offers convenient scheduling via phone, email, or online and are independent of other medical practices or hospitals. Hours are 9am-4pm Monday-Friday by appointment only.
T They are located at 911 E 86th Street, Suite 035 Phone 317-731-5386 Email info@ meridianaudiology com Website: www meridianaudiology com
Runners prepare for 50th Mini-Marathon
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Eugene Lausch is set to compete in his 50th 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. His streak was in serious jeopardy, however, in 2019, when he was struck by a car in late January 2019 while walking downtown.
“The accident broke my femur,” he said. “That year the Mini organizers allowed me to be pushed in a cart for a portion of the race. I walked 7.1 miles and was pushed for six 1-mile segments by a granddaughter, my son and students who I had coached in track at St. Richard’s Episcopal School. The Mini was held on a cold, rainy day but I will always remember and be grateful for the wonderful support I received from, first, the 500 Festival staff, and, more importantly, many other runners. The feeling I had at the end of the Mini that year was not triumph, but gratitude. I think that year I figured out what the Mini is really all about. It is not about winning, although that is nice. It is about accepting your condition and, disregarding frailty or impediments, pushing through to do the best you can.”
memorable.
“A school friend who ran track talked me into entering, and my father encouraged it, though he thought we were a little crazy,” Such said. “I had never run more than a mile before that May, yet suddenly I was preparing for 13. My family served as our support crew, meeting us at key locations with water, snacks and cameras.”
Then in 2015, Such was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which has affected his mechanics and slowed his race time.
“Even so, my doctor credits my running as some of the best medicine for fighting the disease,” Such said. “And honestly, the race-day atmosphere makes it easy to keep going. The volunteers, the 13 miles of entertainment and the spectators lining the course create an energy that’s impossible to resist.”
Bates, 73, played football, basketball and baseball at Thorntown High School but had never run long distances.
“When the Mini was first announced, I tried to get my younger brother to go with me and I couldn’t get any of my friends to participate in it,” he said. “So, I took this upon myself. I just thought this is something I ought to do.”
The 87-year-old Indianapolis resident is one of five participants who have been in all the Mini Marathons and plan to participate May 2 in the 50th running of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon The others are Jerry Bates, Clemmons, N.C.; Al Such, Indianapolis; Michael Vollmer, Indianapolis; and John Hostetter, Independence, Ky.
“The Mini is a way to promote athletic fitness and a way to celebrate civic life in Indianapolis,” Lausch said. “For the last 25 years or so, participation in the Mini has become for me an expression of discipline and tenacity, values I appreciate. Since 2019, I no longer run but walk virtually every day.
Such, a 71-year-old Indianapolis resident, said he had the desire to get healthier after graduating from IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis).
Such ran his first Mini on his 23rd birthday and it remains his most
Bates said he had never run more than a mile in his life, but he tried to run 5 miles in high-top basketball shoes two days before the race.
“I didn’t make a mile before I started getting cramps in my calves,” he said. “I bought my first running shoes and went out the night before the race. Then you could sign up the day of the race. I’ll always remember the first race that made it addictive to me right then and there. Back then, they had police escorts on motorcycles guiding the buses downtown, and it was just exhilarating.”
Bates, who lives near Winston-Salem, N.C., said he ran that first race without walking in just under 2 hours.
Bates and his wife, Brenda, two daughters and son have all run in the Mini. Bates’ brother and sister and their families also have participated.
For more, visit indymini.com/ mini-marathon/.
From left, Kira VonBlon, M.S. and Dr. Alison Wyss Au.D. of Meridian Audiology.
Lausch Such
Bates
Annexation continues for Preserve at Cool Creek
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
The five-stage annexation process required to build a 51-acre subdivision in Westfield continued for another parcel during the Feb. 9 Westfield City Council meeting.
Preserve at Cool Creek is planned by Davis Building Group in the vicinity of 191st Street and Grassy Branch Road.
The annexation process is required in this case because, by law, annexation can only take place with land adjacent to land already annexed by Westfield. Phase 2 was completed prior to the Feb. 9 council meeting.
“Even though (all five phases) are a voluntary annexation, it’s unable to come through at a single time. It seems silly, but that’s the way the law reads,” said Matt Skelton from the law firm Church Church Hittle and Antrim, who represented Davis Building Group during a December 2025 city council meeting, when the first annexation phase was approved.
Phase 2 of the annexation was approved Feb. 9 by the council. It is a 7-acre plot of land south of 191st Street, directly south of the Phase 1
annexation, which was approved in December.
When the projected 10-month process is completed, the annexed area will encompass land east and west of Grassy Branch Road and south of 191st Street.
Skelton said homes would not likely go on the market until early 2027.
The Preserve at Cool Creek has been in the works since March 2024 when it was first presented to the Westfield Plat Committee.
DISPATCHES
WWS Student of the Month Awards — Hana Pradeep (Virginia Wood Early Learning Center), Alexandria Schinderle (Carey Ridge), Maddie Stevens (Maple Glen), Makenna Kraus (Monon Trail), Brayden Lane (Oak Trace), Brooks Schriever (Shamrock Springs), Kai Brown (Washington Woods), Ella Newton (Westfield Intermediate), Mia Browne (Westfield Middle School) and Cristian Trevino (Westfield High School) were named Students of the Month during the Westfield Washington Schools Advisory School Board meeting Feb. 10.
WWS Rock Strong Awards — Westfield Washington Schools presented Rock Strong awards to teachers and staff members during the Feb. 10 WWS Advisory School Board meeting. Erica Banas (Carey Ridge), Jodi Brooks (Maple Glen), Stephen Hadley (Monon Trail), Jill Graff (Oak Trace), Catherine Gray (Shamrock
Springs), Jessica Hecksel (Washington Woods), Rodney Wilson (Westfield Intermediate), Abigail Johnson (Westfield Middle School), Ralph Robinson (Westfield High School), Alba Trujillo (Westfield Intermediate cafeteria), Harleigh Abbott (Virginia Wood Early Learning Center) and Ella Williams (Before After Care Program) were all given the quarterly award.
ILADD seminar — Independent Living for Adults With Disabilities (ILADD) will host an Information Seminar in the Ascension St. Vincent Community Room 207 at the Zionsville Town Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 5. The event is titled Technology as a Supplemental Support and will feature information from experts in the field. Those interested in attending can reach out to Program Director Erika Thomison at ethomison@iladdinc.org or visit iladdinc.org.
Map of land annexed by the City Of Westfield for the Preserve at Cool Creek development. (Screenshot of City Council agenda packet)
JEWELS OF JAPAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 5 AT 2PM
Space is limited, please RSVP at ambassadair.com or call our o ce at 317-581-1122
Dinneen & Dr. Shelley
Nest School opens
By Brittney Dial Testin news@youarecurrent.com
The Grassy Branch campus of the Nest School in Westfield celebrated its opening with a ribbon cutting Feb. 11.
The school, at 18110 Grassy Branch Rd., has educational programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and pre-K kids. It is one of two Nest School branches in Westfield. The other is on Spring Mill Road.
The Nest offers nurturing, play-based programs backed by the latest research in early childhood education, according to school officials. School hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We are just very excited to be a part of the Westfield community” said Charity DeHority, Nest School’s regional director. “We have been in the Westfield area since about June and have been growing. We have about 57 families in our community already, or 57 children, and nothing but positive things from all of our community. It’s just a very tightknit group. It’s a wonderful place for children to learn and grow.”
The Westfield branch is led by Direc-
tor Sarah Devine and Assistant Director Molli Runyon. Devine has worked in early childhood education for 15 years. Runyon has worked in early education since 2025 and has served as an assistant and lead teacher at Nest Schools.
“We are super excited to be here for this ribbon cutting” said Cheryl Partida, Midwest vice president of operations. “We are new here in Indiana and Indianapolis … just excited to be here. We have a beautiful place for children and families, and I am excited for Sarah as our school leader and our great staff.”
For more, visit thenestschool.com/.
Fox Hollow case help sought
news@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a victim connected to the Fox Hollow murders investigation in Westfield.
According to a press release from Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, a set of human remains recovered from the Fox Hollow site have yielded a DNA profile that does not match any entries in the Combined DNA Index System.
An extensive forensic genetic genealogy investigation, reaching as far back as the 1700’s, has successfully identified the victim’s deceased father. However, investigators have been unable to determine the identity of the victim’s mother, preventing positive identification of the victim.
The identified father is Jerome Clarence “Jerry” Harvey. Harvey was described as 6 foot-5. Harvey worked in construction and lived in India-
napolis for the majority of his life. He may have operated a furniture store in Fort Wayne in the early 1970’s. He was known to frequent New Albany and may have attended high school in Indianapolis during the early 1960’s. Based on the available evidence, investigators believe the victim was a male child fathered by Jerome Clarence “Jerry” Harvey.
Jellison is asking anyone who may have information about a male child connected to Jerry Harvey, particularly information regarding the child’s mother, to come forward. Jellison stated, “Even seemingly small details may be critical to identifying the victim and bringing resolution to this case.”
More than 10,000 remains were discovered at suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister’s Fox Hollow estate on 156th Street in 1996.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office at 317-770-4415.
Nest School officials cut the ribbon Feb. 11 for the new Grassy Branch campus in Westfield. (Photo by Brittney Dial Testin)
Jellison
Pre-teen author publishes book
By David Jacobs david@youarecurrent.com
Inspiration comes in myriad forms for those who creatively express themselves. For 11-year-old author Keaton Huntley, a school friend was telling him about a dream he had.
That dream conversation turned out to be a spark for the Westfield resident as Keaton published his first book, “The Advenutres of Tin.”
“I thought (the dream) would be a really good plot for a book,” said Keaton, who attends Classical Academy in Indianapolis. “It probably (took) over a year, but I thought if I just kept going, it would be a good book.”
The dream was a starting point. The plot of “The Adventures of Tin” eventually evolved beyond his friend’s dream, but Keaton kept at his goal.
The publishing company, DROPSToNE Press, is a boutique publisher that specializes in niche titles.
The story follows a boy who gets sucked into a map and another boy who must save him on an action-packed
journey. Keaton is working on a Part II of the book.
“I like how I can use my imagination and make any story possible,” Keaton said. “I love that people can read my book. I just thought that it would be fun
to share with my family, but then after it was published, it felt way more real. (My friends) liked it a lot, they thought it was really cool that I was a published author.”
Keaton’s father, Ross Huntley, appreciates that his son committed to and completed a project that took so long.
“I’m incredibly proud of him,” Ross said. “When I was around his age, I wanted to write a book. I wrote a chapter, and that was it. So, to see him follow through and spend the time and effort to do it, and it’s actually a good book. I’m really proud.”
Publishing the book was not Keaton’s original plan. He intended to print the approximate 100-page book out on printer paper. An encounter with a friend who knew someone who had contacts with a publishing company convinced Keaton and his parents that publishing the book was worth their while.
“The Adventures of Tin” is available at Amazon.com and has been listed on Amazon since Jan. 12. Keaton is already working on the second part of the story.
Keaton Huntley with his first book, “The Adventures of Tin”. (Photo courtesy of Ross Huntley)
DISPATCHES
College fair — Local high school students have an opportunity to attend the Greater Indianapolis Northside College Fair from 6 to 8 p.m. March 11 at the Carmel High School Greyhound Activity Center, 2400 E. Smoky Row. The free event will provide access to college information and feature more than 100 colleges/universities. Students are encouraged to register for the fair in advance at StriveFair.com. Registered students will receive a barcode to share information with admission reps electronically.
Hassle-free Home Ownership for Active Adults (62+)
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•Reserve now and choose your home and interior finishes
•Homes are selling quickly Don’t wait!
•Home ownership with no maintenance
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•Get your best price now before construction starts!
Nature Walks Set to Return in March — The Westfield Parks and Recreation Department’s popular Nature Walk series returns in March. Nature Walks are an easy to moderate 2-mile guided walk across the Central Midland Trace Trail. Walkers will learn about Westfield’s past, its future, and more about the plans for Simon Moon Park. This event is free and open to participants of all ages. Friendly dogs on a leash are permitted. To register, visit https://shorturl.at/m7d7D
AARP grants application open — AARP Indiana is accepting applications through March 6 from local nonprofits and governments for its 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program. Grant amounts range from $2,500 to $25,000 and fund projects that make communities more livable. Projects will be considered if they serve the needs of people 50 and older, improve public places, transportation, walkability and pedestrian safety, among other criteria. For more, visit aarp.org/livable-communities/ community-challenge/.
Shamrock Drop — The Westfield Shamrock Drop will take place noon to 3 p.m. March 14 at Grand Junction Plaza. Shamrock Drop is a free, family-friendly event featuring live Irish music, paid carnival games, a scavenger hunt, festive crafts, airbrush tattoos and food and beer vendors. Attendees are invited to stop by the Westfield Welcome tent during the event to pick up their shamrocks. Be sure to drop your shamrocks into the big cauldron for a chance to win one of five “pots o’ golds,” each filled with prizes from local businesses.
Greyhounds senior regains love for swimming
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Carmel High School senior swimmer Molly Sweeney was beyond frustrated her junior year.
After winning the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke in the IHSAA state finals her first two seasons, she finished second in both events.
“I was going through some over-training syndrome,” she said. “I’m not going to lie, I was about to quit. I really hated the sport.”
She had already committed to swim for the University of Tennessee.
“I thought I’ll just decommit and go to IU or something (and be a student),” she said. “It was months and months of hard work and just kind of taking a step back and realizing what’s important to me outside of swimming. Coming back this year, it was just amazing. I wasn’t worried about winning or times. I was (feeling) I have this gift as an athlete that God’s given me and I’m just trying to use it to the fullest and bring people with me.”
Sweeney rebounded to win the 100
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
MEET MOLLY SWEENEY
Favorite athlete: Katie Ledecky
Favorite TV show: “Gilmore Girls”
Favorite subject: Anatomy
Favorite musican: Luke Combs
butterfly in 52.78 seconds and the 100 breaststroke in 59.24 Feb. 14 at the state finals at the Indiana University Natatorium at IU Indianapolis.
“I’ve been thoroughly impressed with her as an athlete, as a person for the challenges she had,” Greyhounds swimming coach Chris Plumb said. “I told her after the 100 breaststroke that I was consoling her last year, and now I’m congratulating her.”
Sweeney said she embraced being a
Carmel High School senior swimmer
Molly Sweeney won two events at the state finals.
(Photo courtesy of CHS athletics)
leader for the Greyhounds, who won their 40th consecutive state girls swimming title.
“I love this team,” she said. “We all try to be humble. We all try to be selfless and kind. (country singer) Tim McGraw says it best – always be humble and kind.”
Sweeney continued to have bad meets
EXPERT SPINE CARE NOW IN WESTFIELD
after last year’s state high school meet. She finally decided to change her training routine by cutting back her time.
“I started trusting the process and enjoying the sport,” she said. “There’s way more to life than just swimming, and it’s just a part of me. It’s not who I am. I started embracing that and trying to have fun. I do my best when I’m having fun. I qualified for the World Juniors (in August 2025) and got to go to Romania, and that was the breakthrough for me.”
Sweeney said she carried that momentum into her senior season.
Now, she is ready to swim for Tennessee.
“The campus is beautiful,” she said. “I’ve always been a country girl at heart. The team is amazing. When I go to a team and it feels like family, I know that’s the one for me. The head coach, Matt Kredich, has a girl dad-type vibe to him and he really cares about you as a person, not just as a swimmer.”
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.
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Restaurant ‘passport’ announced for 2026
news@youarecurrent.com
Hamilton County Tourism has launched its 2026 digital passport that encourages participants to visit local restaurants.
The Around the Table Digital Passport is valid from Feb. 16 to March 13, connecting diners with locally owned establishments across Hamilton County.
Participants check in at participating restaurants by entering a unique code provided by staff. Those who visit four different establishments earn a limited-edition “Around the Table – Hamilton County, Indiana Cookbook,” featuring more than 25 recipes from local chefs and restaurateurs. Cookbooks are limited to the first 100 guests who complete four check-ins.
Participating restaurants are:
• Carmel: Bru Burger Bar, Charles-
ton’s, Convivo Italian Artisan, Crafters Pizza And Drafthouse, divvy, Eggshell Bistro, Epic Coffee, Fork + Ale House, Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard, Just Love Coffee Cafe, RIZE, Rosie’s Place, Salt, The Cake Bake Shop, Woodys Library Restaurant.
• Fishers: Parlor Doughnuts, Peterson’s, RIZE, Twenty Two Juice Bar.
• Noblesville: bar ellis, Bru Burger Bar, Livery, Rosie’s Place, Stone Creek Dining Company, Twisters Soda Bar, Yafa Golden Coffee.
• North Indy: Salt.
• Westfield: Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse BBQ, Crafters Pizza And Drafthouse, Urban Apples Cidey, Urban Vines WInery & Brewery, West Fork Whiskey Co.
The Around the Table Passport is free. To sign up, visit VisitHamiltonCounty. com/Table.
Riverview Health announces new CEO
news@currentnoblesville.com
Julie Nix is the new CEO of Riverview Health, effective April 1.
John Bowen is serving as interim CEO.
Nix joins Riverview Health from Little Rock, Ark., bringing more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in health care operations, strategic growth and patient-centered innovation, according to an announcement from Riverview Health.
Nix was most recently a senior health care executive in the Little Rock region. Her leadership has been recognized for aligning organizational culture with community needs and positioning health systems for long-term success, according to Riverview Health.
“We are thrilled to welcome Julie Nix to Riverview Health,” stated Dr. William Kirsch, vice chair of the Riverview Health Board of Trustees. “Julie is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader with a strong record of improving patient experience, cultivating physician rela-
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Managing Editor Todd Golden is eager to connect with the Westfield community to hear your story ideas, news tips, and feedback.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 25 Time: 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Where: Barnes & Noble
Address: 14790 Greyhound Plaza, Westfield
Stop by to suggest story ideas, ask questions, or just say hello.
CAN’T MAKE IT? You can still reach out to Todd directly via email for any news tips or community feedback. Contact: todd@youarecurrent.com
tionships and guiding health organizations through periods of growth. Her vision and expertise will be invaluable as Riverview Health continues to expand services.”
Nix will oversee all system operations, strategic planning, clinical and organizational performance, and community engagement efforts across Riverview Health’s hospitals, physician network and outpatient facilities.
“I am honored to join Riverview Health and excited to work alongside its exceptional physicians, nurses and team members,” Nix stated. “Riverview Health has a long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care. I look forward to building on that foundation and partnering with the community to ensure we continue meeting the evolving health care needs of Hamilton County and beyond.”
Nix has a Master of Health Administration and a bachelor’s degree in business management.
For more, visit riverview.org.
2026Primary Election
May 5 May 5
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Health dept. acquires training mannequin
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
The Hamilton County Health Department has acquired a TOMManikin-GSW mannequin, also known as “Tommy,” to help public safety agencies prepare for critical emergencies.
wounds and other injuries which call for wound packing, tourniquet application and other treatments while allowing a proctor to monitor the training and provide a dynamic scenario or record teachable moments for later use.”
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Tommy has a steel frame and interchangeable body parts that replicate catastrophic wounds, such as amputations and burns, allowing instructors to stage authentic trauma situations in diverse settings.
“Real-world incidents have shown a trained and prepared public can provide rapid interventions to save the injured prior to first responder arrival,” said Christian Walker, public health preparedness coordinator. “Tommy will enhance these trainings to assist in overall community preparedness.”
By mimicking a reactive patient, Tommy enables law enforcement and fire departments to practice Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, or TECC, under realistic conditions. Walker said TECC is designed to minimize preventable deaths during tactical situations, such as situations where the responder may be providing care while the threat is still ongoing.
“Tommy provides a realistic ‘patient’ for responders to work on without the potential for injuring a living patient,” Walker said. “He has multiple gunshot
Purchased with grant funding at the request of local fire departments, Tommy will be accessible to all Hamilton County public safety agencies for high-severity injury training. Additionally, the unit will assist health department staff in teaching the “Stop the Bleed” curriculum, improving residents’ abilities to provide immediate care during catastrophic events.
Walker said Tommy weighs approximately 190 pounds and is a highly durable patient simulator with a steel frame and robust interior technology.
“He is durable enough for our public safety agencies to utilize him to practice treatment of a patient while extricating them from a crushed vehicle,” Walker said. “Additionally, he provides real-time feedback to the instructor as well as the ability for the instructor to change Tommy’s condition on the fly.”
Public safety officials can regulate Tommy’s pulses, respirations and the amount of blood flowing from multiple injuries. Additionally, they can swap out appendages and other pieces to simulate burns, blast injuries or other traumatic injuries.
The TOMManikin-GSW has interchangeable body parts that replicate catastrophic wounds. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Sander)
MANNING SPEAKS
Football family patriarch shares healthy aging advice at Ascension St. Vincent event
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
When a member of the Manning football family talks in Indiana, Hoosiers listen.
Although Archie Manning, father of former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, never played a game in Indianapolis, respect for the entire Manning family runs deep in central Indiana.
That’s why there was barely a seat to be had at the Ascension St. Vincent Westfield YMCA Feb. 12 when the patriarch of the Manning football family was the keynote speaker for the Ascension St. Vincent “Healthy Aging With Archie Manning” event.
“I really enjoy helping people. I really enjoy it if I can do something for people,” Manning said. “Some people don’t want to talk about (healthy aging), but I think it’s good to get it out and talk about it a little bit, and we need it.
Dr. Daniel Bustamante, Ascension St. Vincent North Region’s chief medical officer, co-hosted the event with Manning.
“The common theme we’re talking about are the four ‘Ms’ for healthy aging: mobility, mentation, medications and what matters,” Bustamante said. “There’s a great parallel to Archie’s history as a football player. He’s talked quite a lot about the importance of maintaining physical, emotional, mental health throughout that athletic career and then how that extends into healthy aging.”
Manning, the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Mississippi, played in the NFL from 1971-84, mostly with the long-struggling New Orleans Saints. He was sacked 396 times in his career and joked about the toll on his health when participated in the Saints’ 50th Anniversary celebration.
“They asked me to come up and say a few words,” Manning said. “I just had a knee replacement, and I was getting ready to have another one and I wasn’t moving very good at all. I was kind of hobbling and one of my old offensive linemen asked if I wanted him to carry
me up there. I said, ‘No, I don’t want to be carried,’ but if you and your buddies had blocked anybody, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Manning cited that story to illustrate his own journey with healthy aging.
“We can all do the same things to maintain our health,” he said. “Whether it be stretching, whether it be walking, we talk about diet, we talk about weight, so many things go into it, but it’s a challenge for everyone, whether you’re an ex-athlete or whether you’re just a citizen wanting to try to continue
to live a good life.”
Manning said healthy aging is much like quarterbacking in that much of what creates success happens “between the ears.” He cited his struggles with hearing loss as an example of how he managed to improve his mental health.
“I just was falling out of conversation. I was faking it. I was just faking, nodding, grinning,” said Manning, noting that hearing in his left ear was down to 22 percent, even with a hearing aid.
“I was a prime candidate for a co-
THE PROUDEST MOMENT FOR ARCHIE AND PEYTON
When Archie Manning was in Westfield to co-host the Ascension St. Vincent “Healthy Aging With Archie Manning” event at the Ascension St. Vincent Westfield YMCA, he was also in town for his son Peyton Manning’s final Celebration Of Caring gala Feb. 12 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent was named after the Colts’ quarterback in 2007.
Archie Manning recalled the day he was most proud of Peyton. The hospital
was dedicated in his son’s name the same year that Peyton won Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts.
“When you win the Super Bowl, the next year you raise your (championship) banner on Thursday night in the first game (of the NFL season),” Manning said. “On that Thursday, we dedicated Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. And I told him, ‘This is your finest hour.’ And I still maintain that … (sons Peyton and Eli) won Super Bowls, yes, but it wouldn’t mean anything if they didn’t give back.”
chlear implant. So, I did it. My hearing is up to 75 percent. It’s unbelievable,” said Manning, who noted that his improved hearing helps him maintain communication with his family which, in turn, improved his own mental health.”
Manning enjoys spreading the word about healthy aging and through the Manning family philanthropic association with hospitals. His son Eli, who won two Super Bowls as quarterback of the New York Giants, is associated with the University of Mississippi Children’s Clinics, while Peyton Manning Children’s hospital in Fishers is named after Peyton. Archie Manning was honored when the New Orleans Children’s Hospital was renamed the Manning Family Children’s Hospital.
“As a father, that’s what you’re proudest of,” he said. “We’ve been blessed. It makes you proud.”
ON THE COVER: Ascension St. Vincent
North Region Chief Medical Officer Dr. Daniel Bustamante and Archie Manning speak during the “Healthy Aging With Archie Manning” event at the Ascension St. Vincent Westfield YMCA Feb. 12. (Photo by Todd Golden)
Archie Manning signs autographs for attendees at the “Healthy Aging With Archie Manning” event at the Ascension St. Vincent Westfield YMCA Feb. 12. (Photo courtesy of Ascension St. Vincent)
Archie Manning, right, chats with Ascension St. Vincent North Region Chief Medical Officer Dr. Daniel Bustamante during the “Healthy Aging With Archie Manning” event at the Ascension St. Vincent Westfield YMCA Feb. 12. (Photo by Todd Golden)
Straight No Chaser’s Collins set for ‘Motown and Beyond’ solo concert
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Jerome Collins, his upcoming concert is a return to his childhood.
“This is basically you coming into my living room,” Collins said. “This is basically a story of how I grew up. My parents raised me on such great music, like Motown. These songs bring back memories of me growing up, like watching ‘Soul Train’ on Saturday. My parents would do their dancing and would be singing these songs. It’s so nostalgic.”
Collins will perform his “Rewind A Journey to Motown and Beyond” concert at 8 p.m. March 7 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Collins is a founding member of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser, which started at Indiana University. The opening act is Small Town City, which features Straight No Chaser’s Mike Luginbill and Ryan Ahlwardt, a former Straight No Chaser member who lives in Fishers.
“Straight No Chaser is my main thing, but I’m spreading my little wings, and doing something different is good for the soul,” Collins said.
The music spans from the 1960s to 1990s, including Motown and songs by performers such as Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan and Tina Turner.
“I’m going to be 50 in April, and this music is something that stuck to my soul,” he said. “The story needs to be how this music not only inspired myself but a generation.”
Collins said he likes to share stories with the audience.
“I let you in,” he said. “I’m not singing at you. I’m singing with you. It’s just an inviting, heartfelt story, and you are going to want to dance. I very doubt your feet and hands won’t clap or stomp at some point.”
Collins said the setlist will be different from last year’s performance in
‘PRETTY WOMAN’
“Pretty Woman” runs through April 4 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards. com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Feinstein’s cabaret presents “Now That’s Funny, Andy Beningo” Feb. 26, followed by “Indy Nights Ryan Ahlwardt & Friends” Feb. 27, and “Nathan Chester & the Old Souls Motown” Feb. 28 at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘PETE
THE CAT’
Civic Theatre presents “Pete the Cat” at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
THE PEKING ACROBATS
The Peking Acrobats are set to perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
“I’ve added a Prince medley I didn’t have last year,” he said.
Small Town City opened for Collins at The Tarkington in 2024.
“It was a blast,” Ahlwardt said. “Jerome is a world-class showman and longtime friend of ours from our time together in Straight No Chaser. Opening for him felt less like a gig and more like a family reunion.”
Small Town City recently finished a new single, “Snowy Daze,” which Ahlwardt said leans into nostalgia and has a more cinematic sound.
“We’re excited to release it digitally and bring it to the stage this year,” he said.
Ahlwardt said he doesn’t get to perform with Luginbill, a fellow 1999
Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate, as often as they would like since they live in different cities, along with juggling family life and other projects. Luginbill lives in Nashville, Tenn.
“When we do share a stage, it’s intentional and energized,” Ahlwardt said. “That built-in distance keeps it fresh for us and makes each show feel like an event. We’re excited to share a blend of fan favorites, new material and the stories behind the songs. We want the audience to feel like they’ve been invited into something personal, joyful and distinctly Hoosier when they hear our music.”
For more, visit thecenterpresents. org.
Best of Fest set for March 6-7 –“The Best of Fest: Heartland Film Festival Edition,” presented by Heartland Film and The Historic Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, returns March 6 and 7. The mini movie series re-showcases four fan-favorite films from the 2025 Heartland Film Festival. The schedule includes the festival’s Overall Narrative Audience Choice Award winner, “Nuremberg,” and the Indiana Spotlight Audience Choice Award winner, “The Tenderness Tour.” Filmmakers from “25 Cats of Qatar” and “The Tenderness Tour” will be available after their respective screenings for audience questions.
Carmel.
Jerome Collins will perform March 7 at The Tarkington in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Allied Solutions Center)
Ryan Ahlwardt, left, and Mike Luginbill will open for Jerome Collins. (Photo courtesy of Megan Mellinger)
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Pete the Cat’ set for Civic
New production replaces
‘The Cat in the Hat’ following decade-long run
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Amanda recently returned to acting and performing. She graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater in 2017 and worked professionally in theater for several years.
There’s a different Cat in town. Civic Theatre presented “The Cat in Hat” for 10 years with a two-year break for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021-22. Civic couldn’t obtain production the rights this year because of a national tour, so, it is presenting “Pete the Cat” for its student matinees starting Feb. 25, and its two public shows are at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Tarkington at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“What makes a show like ‘Pete the Cat’ fun is that we have a small cast, so we all get to do a variety of things,” Amanda Boldt said. “I play the Mom, but I also get to be a strict teacher and a groovy member of Pete’s band. It’s fast paced, and I get to create these different personas in each new scene. It’s also been a joy to work with all the cast members and directors to create something that feels silly, fun, genuine and completely unique to this group of five people on stage. Plus, I get to act alongside my sister, who plays Olive in the show, which is actually the first time in both of our acting careers when we have been in a show together.”
Amanda, who graduated from Carmel High School in 2013, lives in Fishers. Her sister, Alyssa, is a 2020 CHS graduate.
“Then when COVID hit, I, like I suspect many others, was forced to reevaluate the longevity and stability of a career as an actor,” Amanda said. “After realizing my biggest passion was teaching theater, I decided to go back to school to get my master’s in theater education. So, now I spend more of my time in the theater world as a teacher and director, which has been a joy. But, of course, the itch to perform again was still there. Most recently, I returned to the stage in ‘Something Rotten’ at Civic in the fall, which was my first show on stage in six years.”
Jacob Butler, a Lawrence resident, plays Pete the Cat.
“Playing Pete the Cat has been a pretty groovy experience,” Butler said. “It’s been so fun to play in the rehearsal room with this cast of people and put myself into the mindset of, ‘What would a rock ‘n’ roll cat do?’ Anne (Beck) is a great director and so collaborative so I can make silly choices as Pete the Cat. Anne will say yes, and (offer) another funny choice, and we just get to have fun bringing this cool cat to the stage. I think people of all ages are going to have fun watching this one.”
Butler finished his leading role Feb. 15 in Actors Theatre of Indiana’s presentation of “Lucky Stiff.”
For more, visit civictheatre.org.
Boldt Butler
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COMMUNITY VOICES
Mayor’s comments deserve reflection
Editor,
Westfield Mayor Scott Willis’s recent remarks about House Bill 1001 — particularly the suggestion that residents whose homes fall below a certain assessed value may represent “a drain on the system” — deserve serious reflection. Framing neighbors primarily by property tax yield raises real concerns about whose presence is truly valued. I moved to Westfield in 2018, drawn by the promise of a growing community that could balance development with character, accessibility, and belonging. Increasingly, however, rapid expansion, rising housing costs, and policy decisions that favor exclusivity over balance suggest that vision has already begun shifting in ways many residents find concerning.
Thriving communities depend on economic diversity. Teachers, health care workers, service professionals, young families, and retirees are not “drains”; they are essential to a healthy local economy and civic life. Affordable housing is not charity — it supports workforce stability and long-term vitality.
Fiscal responsibility matters. So does leadership language. Words that imply some residents are liabilities risk fostering division rather than community pride.
Westfield’s future will be strongest if prosperity and accessibility grow together — not in opposition.
Angela Holton, Westfield
COLUMNISTS ON THE WEB
This week’s commentaries by Current Publishing essayist Terry Anker and humorist Dick Wolfsie may be read at youarecurrent.com.
An honest dishonest mistake
Commentary by Dick Wolfsie
All my columns are based on real events. But here’s a good example of how I once stretched things a bit too far and still feel ashamed after all this time.
Years ago, my wife Mary Ellen and I visited the Grand Canyon (that part was true). Then I explained how, before our return flight, I sent my digital camera through the security scanner (totally factual). And how it was stolen when I left it behind in my seat at the airport (correct again).
I wanted to write about how careless I am with my belongings. But when I returned from the trip, I ran into my friend George, who lives down the street.
“How was your vacation, Dick?” he asked.
“Oh, it was fantastic! Except my camera was stolen.”
“What a shame. And with all your photos, huh?”
“It’s OK. I had my email address on the camera, so the thief sent the pictures back to me.”
I don’t know where that crazy idea came from. It just slipped out of my mouth. It wasn’t just an exaggeration; it was a boldfaced fabrication. George got hysterical. He couldn’t stop laughing. And I’m so addicted to the sound of people laughing that I left it at that.
George then sent out an email to friends and posted it on Facebook. People started messaging me, saying what a bizarre story that was. Others on the block approached me and said they thought it would be a perfect idea for a newspaper column. As I retold the incident, I embellished it. Then I shared it at church.
When I sat down that night to write my weekly column, I started to believe the whole thing myself. If you repeat something enough times, you start thinking it’s the truth. Ask any politician.
In my column, I even included the fake email from the thief who supposedly stole my camera. I had already crossed over to the dark side — why not get a few extra laughs along the way?
Dear Mr. Wolfsie:
Thanks for leaving your camera unattended at the Denver airport. I’ve always wanted one like that. You have such a sweet-looking family, so I am emailing you all your photos. Your wife is lovely, but she’d look much better with shorter hair. At least in the photos where you don’t cut off her head.
After the column was published, I got emails just like this:
Dear Dick,
Your story was hysterical. You took a real-life negative experience and let us laugh at your expense.
Dear Dick,
Witty as always. We love the honesty in your writing.
The guilt was tearing me apart. I hoped the person who stole my camera would read the column and have the decency to email me my photos. I don’t care about the stupid pictures. I just wanted to be an honest man again.
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Current Publishing will consider verifiable letters of up to 300 words sent in a Microsoft Word document or in the body of an email. Letters may not be of a campaigning or advertising nature. Letters should be exclusive to Current Publishing. Unsigned letters and letters deemed to be of a libelous nature will not be published. Letter writers will be given once-monthly consideration for publication of submissions. Current Publishing reserves the right to end published audience debate on any topic. Current Publishing reserves the right to edit and shorten for space, grammar, style and spelling, and Current may refuse letters. Send submissions to letters@youarecurrent.com; letters sent to any other email address will not be reviewed. Letters must include the writer’s full name, hometown and daytime telephone number for verification purposes only.
Dick Wolfsie is an author, columnist and speaker. Contact him at wolfsie@aol.com.
16. Former Colts kicker Vinatieri
17. Westfield academy
19. Skirt length
20. Number with 100 zeros
21. Venue for exercise swimming
23. Big name in tractors
26. ___ Lauder
27. High points
31. Make the grade
33. Attention getter
34. Tuna type
35. Harsh
40. Arcadia high school
43. Hi-fi
44. Victory Field ump’s call
45. Dalai ___
46. Provide
48. Leading the Hoosier
Crossroads Conference
49. Miller or McGinnis, e.g.
53. Current edition
55. Things grown during in vitro fertilization
57. Exhausted
62. Spanish house
63. Carmel high school
66. Picnic pests
67. Passover feast
68. Baseball Hall of Famer Musial
69. Church area
70. Youngsters
71. “Tall” story DOWN
1. Really punch
2. Taboo
3. Fishers N/S road
4. Online journal
5. Luxurious fur
6. Singer DiFranco
7. Classic British sports car
8. Superman: “Faster than a speeding ___!”
9. On the briny
10. Packs down
11. Dolt
12. White River transport
13. “Say cheese!”
18. Silent agreements
22. Lab dish
24. Cry...cry again?
25. Catastrophic
27. Oohs and ___
28. Casual talk
29. Bit of viral online humor
30. Mideast bigwig
32. Skeptic’s scoff
34. “This weighs ___!”
36. Wrinkled fruit
37. “___ she blows!
38. Night owls’ cash sources
39. Future attorney’s exam, briefly
41. Apprehensive
42. Colorations
47. Mickey Mouse’s creator
48. Part of FOMO
49. MCL pie choice
50. Appliance brand
51. WTTV affiliation
52. Backspace, on a PC
54. Tech-support callers
56. Evict
58. Attention getter
59. Peto’s Greek bread
60. Footnote abbr.
61. Unit of force, in physics
64. Texter’s “Beats me”
65. Geese formation ANSWERS ON PAGE 19
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Summer training for Indy’s aspiring musicians and actors / P4
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Indianapolis music camps build choral, rock skills
By Megan Dial news@youarecurrent.com
Music summer camps offered throughout Indianapolis are allowing children to gain musical skills, confidence and teamwork through intensive performance-based training.
The Indianapolis Children’s Choir offers an intensive summer camp where students learn and memorize six to eight pieces of music in one week, after which they perform a concert for the community.
“The summer camp is a wonderful time for singers in our community to get to see a taste of what the Indianapolis Children’s Choir is about. It’s a great way to come and experience the teachers and the teaching and a great week of music making,” ICC Executive Director Joshua Pedde said.
(Above) Members of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir perform during a previous summer intensive program. (Left) Children rehearse a song during a summer camp session at the School of Rock.
Summer starts NOW
For many participants, the camp marks their first time performing with a children’s choir. Pedde noted that each session includes a premiere of a new piece written specifically for the camp.
“They get to premiere something brand new that no one else has ever heard before,” Pedde said.
Because some of the music is memorized in other languages, the curriculum also provides cultural exposure.
“English might be their primary language, so this exposes them to different cultures and different ideas,” Pedde said.
This year, the ICC is celebrating 40 years of operation. The organization actually began as a summer camp, which is how it first involved young singers. One of the featured songs for the upcoming season is “Magical Kingdom.”
The ICC is hosting its “Magical Moments” camps June 8-11 and July 20-
23. For more information, visit icchoir. org/camp/.
Elsewhere in the city, the School of Rock utilizes summer camps as a platform for its belief that the stage is the ultimate teacher. Its weeklong sessions culminate in a performance of five to 10 rock songs featuring guitar, bass, drums, keys or vocals.
“Sometimes, kids are very scared until they get through their first song, at least,” School of Rock Music Director David Lawson said. “Then, they start to believe in themselves more and it gets easier to keep going.”
Students participate in group instruction and private lessons daily. They are encouraged to try different instruments and roles to spread the difficulty across the various positions in the band.
School of Rock hosts camps throughout June and July in Fishers, Carmel and Zionsville. For more, visit schoolofrock.com/music-camps.
Soccer Summer
Soccer Summer
Local camps offer training for aspiring young actors
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
For children and teens, the stage provides a space to inhabit new characters and overcome performance anxiety. This summer, Hamilton County theater academies will offer chances for students of all ages to learn to perform.
The Point Theater, a children’s theater at 1950 E. Greyhound Pass in Carmel, offers four summer camp options for children ages 4-18.
Theater’s founder and artistic director. “It is focused on giving children an introduction to theater.”
Musical in a Week, for ages 11-18, is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8-12 and June 22-26. This year, the musical is “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
“Children send in a video audition — they just have to sing a little song — and we cast the show before they show up,” Baltz said. “The hope is that they’ll show up knowing their role and lines, and by Friday they do a full show. This camp is much more intensive, and they learn a lot of skills like how to memorize lines and choreography.”
CAMPS
CAMPS OFFERED
STRIKER / FINISHING GOALKEEPER
STRIKER / FINISHING GOALKEEPER
This year’s Musical Theater Camp, which is “Wicked” themed, will be held June 8-12, June 15-19 and June 22-26. There are morning and afternoon options for ages 4-6 from either 9 a.m. to noon or noon to 3 p.m., and ages 7-10 attend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
BEGINNER SKILLS
BEGINNER SKILLS
RAY GADDIS SKILLS
RAY GADDIS SKILLS
BALLMASTERY / 1 V 1
BALLMASTERY / 1 V 1
“They run through different stations each day — dance, acting, vocal and the backstage component of theater — and there’s games throughout the day,” said Laura Baltz, The Point
The Point Theater also offers Improv Camp July 6-10. Children aged 11-13 attend from 9 a.m. to noon and children aged 14-18 attend from 1 to 4 p.m. The camp focuses on improvisational theater to help children learn to think on their feet, develop
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The Point Theater offers four camps for all ages throughout the summer. (Photo courtesy of The Point Theater)
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comedic timing and build confidence through improv games.
There also is a Play in a Day camp beginning at 9:30 a.m. June 17 for ages 11-18. This year’s play is “The Audition.”
“They send in an audition, and we cast it ahead of time,” Baltz said. “We rehearse all day, and then parents come in at 4 p.m. and watch the performance. So again, it’s a really intensive day, participants learn a lot about characterization and blocking, how to build a role quickly and working with other people on stage.”
For more, visit thepointtheater.org/ camps.
Civic Theatre at 3 Carter Green also offers a variety of summer camps for all ages.
Little Stages Camp, for ages 4-5, engages students in creative activities based around the 2026 Jr. Civic presentation of “SHREK The Musical.” The camp is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. June 1518 and is $225. A final presentation will be held at 11 a.m. June 18.
Musical Theatre Mini-Camp, for ages 6-7, is from 12:30 to 3 p.m. June
15-18, with a final presentation at 2:30 p.m. June 18. The camp, which is $275, delivers the same elements as the Musical Theatre Camp for older students in a compact package for aspiring actors, singers and dancers.
Jr. Civic Musical Theatre Camp, a $500 camp for ages 8-14, is held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 6-10 or July 13-17. The camp will immerse students in a high energy learning experience consisting of instruction in acting, singing and dancing, culminating in a performance at the end of each week.
Jr. Civic Musical Theatre Intensive Camp is for experienced students ages 10-14. It is $450 and will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 9-12.
Using a curriculum designed to enhance existing skills and accelerate technique, campers will be challenged in the three core disciplines of musical theatre — acting, singing and dancing.
Students must submit an application to enroll in this camp. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 28, and applicants will be notified by March 13.
For more, visit civictheatre.org.
Kick out of soccer camps
By Alicia Kelly alicia@youarecurrent.com
Young athletes across central Indiana will have several opportunities to sharpen their soccer skills this summer through camps offered by USA of Indiana.
The organization’s summer programming will focus on skill development rather than competition, with specialized camps for strikers, goalkeepers, ball mastery and 1-on-1 play, as well as a beginner skills camp for newcomers to the sport.
Mariana Mesa, club administrator for USA of Indiana, said the camps are open to players ages 7 to 18 and will run in three- to four-week sessions, meeting for about an hour per session. While the organization also serves younger “tots” in other programming, the summer camps will focus on older youth.
Mesa said the goal is to help players grow, whether they are just starting out or have years of experience.
“These camps are designed to allow
kids to hone their skills and learn a little bit more,” she said. “Even if they’re on the recreational side, just starting out, never played, or even if they have been playing for a while, they can still get all the skills built up.”
Sessions will be held primarily at the Mary & John Geisse Soccer Complex on East 56th Street, near the Indianapolis Colts’ practice facility, and will serve families in both Pike Township and Hendricks County areas.
Unlike the organization’s seasonal leagues, the camps will not include games. Instead, coaches will lead structured drills and skill-building exercises in a supervised environment.
“For our camps, we provide a safe environment, a fun environment for them to learn soccer as well as have qualified soccer coaches to teach the kids the fundamentals,” Mesa said. “Our aim is to help them get better, not just in soccer, but in life as well, because our motto is, ‘we teach more than just a game’.”
For more, visit usaofindiana.org.
More than just summer fun, camp is where kids celebrate achievements and discover a place they can truly belong.
Swimming, sports, and outdoor play
Creative art and STEM projects
Field trips
And so much more!
YMCA gives summer camp a model venue
By Todd Golden todd@youarecurrent.com
Ascension St. Vincent Westfield YMCA is the newest in the Indianapolis area, having opened in January 2025, and offers a wide variety of summer camps.
YMCA facilities offer traditional and discovery camps. The Westfield YMCA hosts traditional camps.
“What I do love the most when we open a new facility like this is the feeling of ownership, that feeling of kids getting a chance to come there every day,” said Desiree Brandon Gouveia, the YMCA’s director of Camps & Family Programs. “You can see when they feel at home
Locally, discovery camps are offered at the Fishers YMCA. Traditional and discovery camps usually incorporate aspects of STEAM learning.
The Westfield YMCA has facilities
that enhance traditional camp experiences, such as fenced-in outdoor space and large studios for indoor activities. Its Olympic-size Westfield Washington Aquatic Center also is one of the best facilities of hits kind in the Greater Indianapolis area.
“One of the big assets is that (campers) get to swim, and they also have enrichment clinics that are available,” Brandon-Gouveia said. “We also have swim lessons that families can tap into and be able to have their kid learn how to swim and become a better swimmer while they’re at our camp.”
Brandon-Gouveia said enrichment clinics are offered on- and off-site.
“That is really awesome about our camps at Westfield,” Brandon-Gouveia said. “We have the ability for families to add on a piece to their
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Campers play a game in the outdoor area of the Ascension St. Vincent YMCA during the 2025 camp. (Photo courtesy of YMCA)
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child’s day. And so, enrichments are generally three to four hours in a day, and we have varying different enrichments that are available out in all of our camps.”
Brandon-Gouveia said enrichments include visiting park area parks and playing miniature golf, laser tag and organized water games in the YMCA pool. She said some STEAM activities are offered at the traditional camp.
“If (parents) are looking for fun STEAM but also have a chance for their kids to experience other things, Westfield traditional camp really would be a great spot for them to be in,” Brandon-Gouveia said. “They’re still going to get some STEAM activities. It’s just not the complete focus of the camp.”
Brandon-Gouveia said the YMCA is proud to give children a place where they can expand their horizons.
“It is the chance for kids to learn more about themselves,” Brandon-Gouveia said. “We have kids who come in and have great days and kids who are dealing with the world on their shoulders. I think that’s one of the reasons why this fits into what the YMCA is trying to do. We try to give a place where people belong, where we love and serve and care for our com -
munity, and kids are a part of that as well.”
Cost for traditional camp is $198 for members and $257 for nonmembers per week. Discover camps are for ages 5-12 and take place June 1-July 24. Cost is $176 per week for members and $234 per week for nonmembers.
For more, visit indymca.org/ landing_pages/summer-camp/.
A YMCA instructor speaks with campers during the 2025 summer camp at the Westfield Washington Aquatic Center. (Photo courtesy of YMCA)
Campers take part in water activities in the outdoor area of the Ascension St. Vincent YMCA during the 2025 camp. (Photo courtesy of YMCA)
14950 Greyhound, Suite 4 Carmel, IN 2026 Summer Dance Camps & Classes
FOR AGES 3-6
June 1 - 5
June 22 - 26
July 6 - 10
July 13 - 17
July 20 - 24
July 27 - 31
FOR AGES 6-9 FOR ALL AGES
July 6 - 10
Under the Sea Party
Moana and Maui’s Island Luau
Bluey and Bingo‘s Summer Adventures
Royal Princess and Prince Ball
Frozen Prince & Princess Party
Fairytale Princesses and Princes
Youth Summer Ballet Intensive
Open Classes - Two 3 Week Sessions (June 8 - 26 & July 13 - 30)
For the most up to date information and scheduling visit CIAODANCE.COM or call 317-581-2423
Camp locations throughout Fishers, including the new Fishers Community Center, Strengthened by IU Health
DISCIPLINE AND DREAMS
Dance academies offer summer camp experiences
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
Several Hamilton County dance academies will host summer camps this year. Whether a child is taking introductory classes or training at high, intensive levels, summer camps can offer a rigorous yet rewarding experience.
CENTRAL INDIANA ACADEMY OF DANCE
Central Indiana Academy of Dance at 14950 Greyhound Ct. in Carmel offers themed camps in addition to summer intensives.
For children ages 2 1/2 through 6, each week of camp features a theme like “Frozen” from 9 a.m. to noon. The camp, held on several days through -
out June and July, is $155 per week. Ashley Jacobs, co-owner and director of Central Indiana Academy of Dance, said it is a good introduction to dance.
“The campers get to do a little mini performance at the end of the week with themed songs,” Jacobs said. “They get to do crafts and have snacks every day, and it’s a good introduction to movement and rhythm in general.”
The academy’s Youth Ballet Summer Intensive is from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 6-10. Dancers will participate in ballet, jazz, contemporary and modern classes, among other styles. A showcase will commence at the end of camp.
The intensive is for any dancer with one or more years of ballet training or any current academy student in levels 1 through 3A. Jacobs said it helps students immerse themselves
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Central Indiana Academy of Dance offers themed camps for young children through the summer. (Photo courtesy of Central Indiana Academy of Dance)
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in ballet technique while branching out to other styles. Cost is $340, and registration closes June 5.
Registration also is open for Central Indiana Dance Ensemble’s Summer Intensive June 8-18. Central Indiana Dance Ensemble is the academy’s preprofessional ballet company.
The two-week intensive, which features guest teachers, is for children 10 and older or Central Indiana Academy of Dance students in levels 3B-9.
“A lot of our dancers take it to improve their technique and learn from new instructors, and there’s a performance with that as well,” Jacobs said. “We also will have seminars discussing nutrition and injury prevention to help them learn about taking care of their bodies in the dance world.”
Registration for the Central Indiana Dance Ensemble’s Summer Intensive closes May 8.
For more, visit ciaodance.com.
INDIANA BALLET CONSERVATORY
Indiana Ballet Conservatory at 849 W. Carmel Dr. offers three camp options — a Summer Intensive for ages 9 and older, a Young Dancers Intensive for ages 6-9 and Fairytale Camp for ages 3-5.
Fairytale Camp, a $125 camp held from 9 a.m. to noon June 1-5, June 8-12 and June 15-19, gives students the same ballet education offered in the summer intensive, with consideration for age-appropriate time and class content.
Business Operations Manager Chris Lingner said it is an introduction to ballet and creativity.
“They will use movement and fairytale storytelling to learn how movement tells a story,” Lingner said. “They also will do arts and crafts, and at the end of each week, they will do a showcase of everything they’ve learned.”
The Young Dancers Intensive, held from 9 a.m. to noon June 1-5, June 8-12 and June 15-19 gives students
Indiana Ballet Conservatory’s Young Dancers Intensive gives students indepth training in ballet technique. (Photo courtesy of Indiana Ballet Conservatory)
in-depth training in ballet technique, pre-pointe and conditioning. Students learn and familiarize themselves with various styles of dance and participate in seminars about nutrition, costume history, injury prevention and stage makeup.
Linger said the camp, which is $200 a week, is designed with more discipline than the Fairytale Camp.
“It’s designed to give the more serious student preparations for our pre-professional division,” Lingner said. “They’ll do some jazz and contemporary in addition to ballet, and they start conditioning, which is a big part of what we do. We start teaching that early to protect them from injury.”
The Summer Intensive has various date options available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in June and July, with the opportunity to participate for two or three weeks for $500 or five weeks for $2,000. Students must audition to participate.
“We bring in world class guest faculty to supplement our own faculty,” Lingner said. “The camp is for a serious dancer that really wants to take their skills to the next level. They get the conditioning. They get proper ballet class, point work and contemporary. At the end, there is a showcase that we do at Carmel Middle School that’s absolutely free and open to the public. It tends to be a favorite amongst the community.”
For more, visit indianaballetconservatory.org.
Local schools become multifunctional hubs
By David Jacobs david@youarecurrent.com
From Minecraft and LEGO to cross country and pickleball, local summer camps cater to a variety of interests for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade.
With spring break approaching and the academic year ending in a few months, private schools across the area are preparing for summer camps hosted on their campuses.
Camp Cathedral at Cathedral High School, Summer U at University High School and The Summer Experience at Park Tudor will host camps with prices ranging from $20 to nearly $400.
Half-day and full-day options are available at each camp. Summer U also has a few full-day options.
“A lot of people like to do the halfday sessions, so they’ll be over in the sports camp, have lunch and then
Students test their robots on a challenge course during a STEM session at Camp Cathedral. (Photo courtesy of Cathedral High School)
they’ll come over and might do a STEM camp,” said Meredith Van Rooy, University High School’s summer program coordinator. “They’re weeklong,
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so in one week, every morning would be sports and then every afternoon would be Minecraft.”
Camp Cathedral follows a weeklong schedule for its nearly 80 offerings.
“We try to keep our enrichment small and have limits on the number of kids that can sign up for each camp,” camp director Anthony Ernst said. “The hands-on opportunity they get to interact with a teacher and Cathedral students is much more beneficial when there are only 10 to 15 kids in that camp versus 45.”
Van Rooy is entering her third year at Summer U, where her focus on learning is the priority when curating curricula.
“We’ve tried to grow our variety over the past few years,” she said. “I’m aware we’re still used as a day care, but I think it’s important that enrichment is happening within these camps. That’s one of the goals we have. We want them to have fun, and we want this to be a good experience for them.”
Camps are open to anyone within the age range, regardless of the
school they attend during the year.
Spots are filling up fast for both Summer U and Camp Cathedral, but Park Tudor does not begin registration until March.
“Traditionally, families seek out when our registration is going to open, and it fills very quickly,” Ernst said. “This year’s camps are looking very good. We’ve had several camps sell out already, but waitlists do exist. If the camps are going to sell out, they’re going to sell out in February
SUMMER CAMP
Campers play outdoor sports activity during Summer U at University High School. The program offers half-day and full-day sessions, allowing students to pair a morning sports camp with an afternoon enrichment session like STEM or Minecraft. (Photo courtesy of University High School)
and March. We still have room in several of our camps, and our sports camps are wide open.”
Summer U does not expect to sell out until the end of March or April.
• The Summer Experience at Park Tudor: parktudor.org/summer
SUMMER AT ISI
Summer camps offer STEAM innovation
Redstone circuits to light up lamps and trigger mechanisms like traps, automatic doors and repeaters.”
Summer at ISI offers students engaging, hands-on camps that foster learning, confidence, and friendships. Programs include Lower School language camps (French, Mandarin, Spanish, and Arabic), Amazing Athletes, and enrichment camps, as well as Upper School athletic programs and the Inspirit AI Program in partnership with Stanford and MIT gradu
Local programs use Minecraft, video games and forensic science to teach engineering
By Megan Dial news@youarecurrent.com
Numerous science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — or STEAM — summer camps throughout Indianapolis are preparing children for their future through engaging, educational projects.
Indy STEM Camps utilize Minecraft to teach children engineering concepts.
“There are numerous features within Minecraft that model engineering concepts,” said Matt Mulholland, Indy STEM Camps director and founder. “One example is a material called Redstone that operates like electricity. Campers can build functioning
Children also learn soft skills such as teamwork and creativity.
“Minecraft is the ultimate sandbox game. This means that the activities, adventures and in-game lessons presented to campers are far more open-ended than the standards-based and structured curriculum that students experience during the school year,” Mulholland said.
“Because our camps emphasize social interactions, it is absolutely necessary for campers to learn to work together to solve problems. This introduces conflict resolution and team building in a way that directly mirrors the real world. As we like to say at Indy STEM Camps, the best kind of learning occurs when you don’t even realize you are learning something.
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Playing Minecraft creates just this type of experience for children.”
Indy STEM Camps are offered in Zionsville, Westfield, Indianapolis and Fishers between June 1 and July 24. For more, visit indystemcamps.com.
At iCode Fishers, children learn about coding through gaming experiences.
“Students aren’t just writing code— they’re creating games, animations and programs they care about,” said Lauren Gehle, iCode Fishers’ marketing manager. “Our instructors break concepts into manageable steps and celebrate progress along the way, so campers feel capable and motivated from Day 1. We have a variety of levels of coding, customizable for a wide range of students’ comfortability and compatibility.”
Campers combine coding skills with creativity.
“They learn by doing and being, which makes concepts stick and builds genuine excitement around STEM,” Gehle said. “One of the most exciting moments is when campers design and build their own video
game from scratch. They create characters, design levels and program how everything works. By the end of camp, they have a finished game they can share with friends and family, which is incredibly rewarding.”
iCode summer camps are offered weekly between May 25 and Aug. 8. For more, visit icodeschool.com/ fishers.
The National Inventors Hall of Fame hosts Camp Invention, where children can practice becoming creators, innovators and entrepreneurs.
“Camp Invention has just the right
Camp Invention encourages creativity and teamwork.
(Photo courtesy of Camp Inventiont)
balance of structure and freedom,” said Corey Nielsen, Camp Invention’s marketing coordinator. “There’s a clear framework, but within that, kids are encouraged to be creative and explore their own ideas.”
“This summer’s program is called Spark, and it’s packed with four experiences that campers work on throughout the week,” Nielsen said. Modules include:
• Fur-ensics: Campers team up with a robotic capybara to investigate mischievous animal pranks, exploring fingerprints,
DNA and forensic science.
• Make Waves: Campers explore entrepreneurship through physics experiments, prototype pitching and creative marketing as they turn ideas into market-ready inventions.
• The Infringers: Campers learn how to protect their ideas by exploring cryptography, security technology and intellectual property.
• Space Morphers: Campers design and transform a new planet by building rockets, racing rovers and creating inventions to survive extreme environments.
“Each module is tailored to the various age groups. Campers work on each of the four modules each day and build gradually. We’ve found that approach helps them retain what they’re learning. It also ensures that if a camper misses a day, they don’t miss an entire experience,” Nielsen said.
Camp Invention is offered in Zionsville, Indianapolis and Fishers at various points in June and July. For more, visit invent.org/programs/ camp-invention.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Westfield, Zionsville offers diverse summer programming lineup course, music.
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Westfield’s Grand Junction Plaza was the place to be in the evenings and on weekends when it first opened. But there wasn’t much happening during the day, especially in the summer for families with children.
Enter the Kids Summer Series. The first iterations featured interactive concerts and musicians for children.
“That was really born out of feedback from the community,” said Kayla Arnold, communications director for the City of Westfield.
Today, the free summer programming features a wide variety, including magicians, exotic animals, and of
SUMMER CAMPS
June 8 - 12 | College Park Ministry Center, Carmel
June 15 - 19 | Carmel United Methodist Church
June 22 - 26 | St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Zionsville
New afternoon option for Half-Day Campers
Half Day | Ages 4-6 | 9 a.m.-noon OR noon-3p.m. Full Day | Ages 7-10 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 8 - 12 and June 22 - 26 Ages 11-18 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. University High School Theater, Carmel
Kids Summer Series is 9:30-11 a.m. on Tuesdays starting June 2.
Creek Stomps also return this summer as kids explore the Grassy Branch Creek.
Armed with a net and bucket, children can learn what lives in the creek.
The Thursday morning sessions begin May 28 and run through July 30. Each one is from 10 to 11 a.m. Cost is $5 per week.
The program is also accessible to those who cannot walk down to the creek.
To register, visit https:// in-westfield.civicplus.com/231/ Programming.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
The Boys & Girls Club of Boone County will again offer its summer day camps at all locations and specialty camps.
For regular summer campers, they’ll have access to all spaces at the Boys & Girls Club units. There are also weekly field trips like the movies, splash pads and parks.
These camps are open to all children ages 5-18, regardless of residence. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Specialty camps offer the opportunity for children to travel outside the area.
by Don Zolidis
July 6 -10 Ages 11-13 | 9 a.m.-noon Ages 14-18 | 1-4 p.m. CrossRoads Church. Westfield Ages 11-18 | 9:30 a.m. | 4 p.m. Show Marian University Theater
For example, a two-week travel camp features trips to Columbian Park Zoo and Malibu Jacks in Lafayette, Urban Air trampoline park and the Indianapolis Zoo.
Eric Richards, the club’s CEO, said the specialty camps are popular.
“My litmus test is my kids (who are in the club),” he said. “They love them.”
A two-week water park camp features trips to five different water parks including ones in West Lafayette, Plainfield, Marion and Kokomo.
“That’s the whole goal; they travel out of Central Indiana,” Richards said.
Camps range between $200 and $400 depending on membership. Scholarships are available to those who qualify.
For more, visit bgcboone.org/ programs/camps/.
SULLIVANMUNCE
SullivanMunce Cultural Center will offer a variety of youth and teen art camps throughout June and July.
There are three different youth drama/art camps, themes include fairy tales, create- your-own monsters and mythical quests. Camps are June 8-12, June 15-19 and July 13-17. There are full- and half-day options for each.
Drama camps give kids the opportunity to create their own props and perform for their parents at the end of the week.
“They have more leeway in their creative expression,” said Cynthia
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Boys & Girls Club of Boone County will offer its summer day camps at all locations and specialty camps. (Photos courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of Boone County)
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Young, executive director of SullivanMunce.
There’s also an all-day youth art camp, June 22-26, where artists use different mediums.
The Teeny Tiny Art camp, set for July 27-31, brings the opportunity of making small art to kids. The camp is inspired by last year’s popular Teeny Tiny Art Market.
The all-day camp will have kids work with multiple mediums to create pieces no larger than 6 x 6 inches.
All youth camps are for kids ages 7-11.
SullivanMunce will offer a variety of art camps for both youth and teens throughout June and July. (Photos courtesy of SullivanMunce)
Our summer programs are open to all Central Indiana students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12, and offer a great introduction to the extraordinary opportunities available at Park Tudor.
From Cub Camp for 3 & 4 year-olds to options for high school students, Park Tudor summer programs offer something for everyone – arts & crafts, sports, performing arts, science, literature, chess & gaming, and more!
For teens, there is a ceramics camp — July 6-10 or 20-24 — a mixed media camp — July 6-10 — and a fiber arts camp from July 20-24. Camps are half days.
Teen camps are open to kids ages 12-17.
To register, visit sullivanmunce.org, call 317-873-4900 or email info@sullivanmunce.org.
ZIONSVILLE EAGLE RECREATION & ENRICHMENT
Zionsville Eagle Recreation & Enrichment will offer more than 100 different camps for kids of all ages.
Camps include art, nature, sports, engineering, Minecraft, robotics and
Registration starts March 2 for summer camps through Zionsville Eagle Recreation & Enrichment, which will offer more than 100 camps. (Photo courtesy of Zionsville Eagle Recreation & Enrichment)
foreign language.
Ann Hall, manager for Eagle Recreation, said 5,000 attended camps last year.
“Because Zionsville doesn’t have a community center, we’re known as the community resource for summer camps … and enrichment classes,” she said.
Registration opens March 2 for all Eagle Enrichment camps. Visit zionsvilleeaglerec.com/.
Camps run June 8 through July 24 during the day.
Camps pair resources with outdoor fun
By Alicia Kelly alicia@youarecurrent.com
On any given summer day, campers in Indianapolis can be found scaling a rock wall, paddling across a lake or sounding out syllables with a tutor — all in the name of confidence.
Two local programs, Jameson Camp and Camp Delafield, operated by the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana, are blending traditional camp experiences with special ized support designed to help children thrive academically and socially.
For nearly 100 years, Jameson Camp has offered overnight sessions on its wooded cam pus at 2001 Bridge port Road. The camp serves youth ages 7 to 17 in six-day, five-night sessions running Sunday through Friday. About 525 campers attended last year, with roughly 90 children participating each week.
The nonprofit operates with a 1-to5 counselor-to-camper ratio and includes behavioral specialists on staff to assist children with ADHD, anxiety, depression and other diagnoses.
“About half of our kids that come to camp have a diagnosis like that, half of our kids that come to camp don’t,” said Zach White, the camp’s development director. “We operate camp with all of those kids having a shared experience, but with some additional support in place.”
Campers stay in air-conditioned cabins with attached bathrooms and spend their days choosing activities such as archery, fishing and rock climbing. The camp is technology-free, a feature White said builds independence.
Across town, Camp Delafield takes a different — but complementary — approach to summer growth.
The monthlong day camp is for children 7 to 12 at Colonial Hills
School in Indianapolis. The program runs June 1 through July 2, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays until noon.
Mornings are devoted to academics, including daily one-on-one Orton-Gillingham tutoring and small group instruction in reading comprehension, written expression and math. Afternoons feature swimming, outdoor play, art and STEM activities.
Katie Eynon, a tutor with the institute, said the balance is intentional.
“We have the academic mornings, and then the fun, play-filled afternoons,” Eynon said. “So, the kids get a reward for all their efforts.”
Camp Delafield maintains roughly a 5-to-1 camper-to-teacher ratio in small groups, with each child receiving an hour of individualized tutoring daily. Enrollment typically ranges from 60 to 65 campers.
(Above) Campers climb the rock wall during a past summer session at Jameson Camp in Indianapolis. (Photo provided by Jameson Camp) (Left) Campers create arts and crafts projects during a past session of Camp Delafield at Colonial Hills School in Indianapolis. (Photo provided by the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana)
