Founded March 20 2012, at Zionsville, IN Vol. XIV, No. 49
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FEBRUARY & MARCH DINE IN DEALS!
West Clay at 131st & Towne Rd
ZCSPulteLandSwap
ZCS, Pulte to swap land
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville Community Schools is set to acquire a parcel on East 300 that could be the site of a new elementary school.
The ZCS Board of School Trustees gave the district approval to initiate a land swap with Pulte Homes of Indiana.
Pulte owns 21 acres near 8245 E. 300 S, Zionsville, that will go to the school district. In exchange, 33 acres of ZCSowned land at 5350 S 650 E., Whitestown, will go to Pulte.
Pulte also will pay ZCS about $620,000 because the company will acquire a larger parcel. Those funds will go toward the district’s operations fund, according to Matt Doublestein, assistant superintendent of operations.
ZCS does not have immediate plans for the property, although a new elementary school is a possibility based on its size and location.
“We were attracted to this conversation, because this parcel is likely much more advantageous for school use than our current holdings we have over at 650,” ZCS Superintendent Rebecca Coff-
Zionsville Town Council — The town council meets at 7 p.m. March. 2 at Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 W. Oak St.
ZCS hires new administrator — The School Board of Trustees for Zionsville Community Schools approved the hiring of Dara Chezem Feb. 9 as its next assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Chezem is the superintendent of Eastern Pulaski Community School Corp. She will start July 1 and oversee the district’s academic and curriculum. ZCS received nearly 60 applications for the position.
College fair — Local high school students have an opportunity to attend
S, Zionsville.
(Source: Boone County GIS)
man said.
The transaction is similar to one ZCS did in 2004 when it acquired land, which became Trailside Elementary. The school wasn’t built until 2022.
Doublestein said acquiring land ahead of a specific use allows the district to pay current prices, compared to an assumed higher price in the future.
The land in Whitestown is less valuable to ZCS given that Boone Meadow Elementary is across the street.
“Another elementary school, or what would fit on 33 acres or so, would not be necessarily as useful as something near toward the central of the district,
DISPATCHES
the Greater Indianapolis Northside College Fair from 6-8 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 they can bring with them to the college fair in order to share their information with admission reps electronically.
Witham Health scholarships — Witham Health Services Foundation and the Witham Health Services Volunteer Organization are offering scholarships to
something more centrally located,” Doublestein told the school board.
The board unanimously approved the land swap.
“We have a piece of land across the street from an elementary school that’s really sort of sized for another elementary school,” said board vice president Michael Berg. “In a spot we probably don’t need another elementary school.”
The acquisition will not cost ZCS any money.
Doublestein said the school district will rent the land out for farming for the foreseeable future.
graduating seniors at Lebanon and Western Boone high schools. The Judy Psikula Scholarship, $2,000, and Sally Lynn Coan Scholarship, $3,000, is available to a senior at each high school who intends to go into the medical field. Applications are available at www.witham.org/ scholarships and should be submitted by March 20.
Menards hosting food drive — Local Menards home improvement stores are hosting drop boxes for food pantries through March. Donations of nonperishable food items, from boxes of cereal to cans of soup, can be placed in large collection boxes near store exit doors, with donations going to nearby food pantries.
Zionsville Community Schools will acquire land near 8245 E 300
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TERRANCE DEVLIN, M.D.
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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.
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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
Ruckelshaus running for District 29 seat
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Former District 30 State Sen. John Ruckelshaus is getting back into politics. The Republican is running for the District 29 State Senate seat.
Ruckelshaus previously served in the State Senate from 2017-21. He said crime in Marion County is among his reasons for reentering politics.
“(People) just don’t feel safe going into Marion County at night,” Ruckelshaus said.
Ruckelshaus said there’s a void in the legislature in terms of advocates for people with disabilities. He has a son who is quadriplegic.
“I really want to … help that community as well,” Ruckelshaus said, adding rising utilities and health care costs also are issues he wants to address, preferably with bipartisan support.
Ruckelshaus said ensuring the safety of the state’s most populous county and surrounding communities is important, because Marion County generates a significant amount of state revenue.
“It’s a real motivator to make sure Marion County is successful,” he said.
District 29 includes parts of Boone, Hamilton and Marion counties. Municipalities include Zionsville and west Carmel.
“It’s something we should all work together on,” he said.
Ruckelshaus said he’d like the legislature to focus more on state issues instead of national politics. He joins a crowded Republican field for the seat that includes Mike Delph and V. Roni Ford.
David W. Greene Sr., Demetrice Hicks and Kristina Moorhead are the Democratic candidates. Democrat J.D. Ford is the incumbent but is now running for the 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The primary election is May 5, and the general election is Nov. 3.
ZARC formally established
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
The Zionsville Architectural Review Committee was codified into town code by the town council at its Feb. 2 meeting.
The move formalizes the long-running board that oversees the town’s Downtown Facade Rehabilitation program. The ZARC has existed for many years but was never legally established by the town.
“It was really just a matter of technicality,” ZARC President Todd Rottmann. Businesses in the Village can apply for grants for facade work, up to $25,000. Businesses do not have to use ZARC, but it’s a valuable option, not only in terms of financing, Rottmann said.
The five-member board is made up of
Village residents, architects and artists. Rottman said they’re happy to give free design advice.
“We all have really great insights on what makes the Village essential,” Rottmann said.
The goal is to keep buildings looking authentic with quality materials.
Funding for the ZARC comes from the food and beverage tax.
Rottmann said when business owners take advantage of the program, it improves their establishments, bringing more visitors to the Village who spend money which leads to more funding, making future projects possible.
“It’s really just a win-win-win situation,” he said.
Erica Carpenter, president of Main Street Zionsville, spoke in support of ZARC, prior to the council’s vote.
Psi Iota XI scholarship — Local philanthropic sorority Psi Iota Xi is offering a $1,500 nonrenewable scholarship to a Zionsville Community High School student who plans to attend a four-year college. Applications can be accessed via Naviance Student (see ZCHS Counseling Department’s website). Applications should be submitted to pixzville@gmail.com by March 15.
From left, Kira VonBlon, M.S. and Dr. Alison Wyss Au.D. of Meridian Audiology.
Ruckelshaus
Zionsville’s newest aesthetic destination is here.
Your beauty is uniquely yours. At Cosmetic and Surgical Arts by Witham, we create treatment plans designed to celebrate your features and honor your vision. Dr. Chris Lowery and Dr. Emily Lo bring expert cosmetic surgery and aesthetic care to Zionsville — offering surgical treatments like body contouring, liposuction, tummy tucks and breast augmentation as well as non-surgical treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, fillers, laser treatments and more. Every procedure is personalized to you and backed by the healthcare excellence of Witham Health Services. This is beauty. Personalized.
To schedule an appointment or a no-cost consultation, call (317) 873-1200 or visit Witham.org/CSA.
ZIONSVILLE YOUTH SOCCER
SIGN UP FOR SPRING REC SOCCER
Season begins April 6
For Players Born from 2021-2008
**Register before March 1 and get an early registration discount** unionfcindy.org/zysarecsoccer
For more details and registration info, scan the QR Code or go to:
COME TO OUR ZYSA OPEN HOUSE AND LEARN MORE SATURDAY, MARCH 14 at 1-3PM
ZYSA Indoor Building 5616 S. 700 E. Whitestown, 46075
Eagles make splash at state
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The Zionsville Community High School girls swimming team turned in one of its best performances in the state finals.
The Eagles finished fourth with 201 points in the IHSAA swimming and diving state finals Feb. 14 at Indiana University Natatorium at IU Indianapolis. Carmel won its 40th consecutive state title with 326.5 points, while Fort Wayne Carroll and Fishers finished in a second-place tie with 227.
a senior. I dusted off the freshman nerves early. I was blessed to make the podium in all three of my events my freshman year. Experience is a key to doing well in this championship meet.”
She received a boost from her teammates.
“It’s probably our highest point total or pretty close to it,” longtime ZHS coach Scott Kubly said. “This is probably where we thought we’d land. We thought we might get top three, but you can’t predict what everyone else is doing. We got fourth, and we’re happy with it.”
The Eagles finished second in 2012 with 168 points.
Senior Ava Metzger finished second in the 500-yard freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle.
“I’d say confidence was the difference this year,” said Metzger, who will swim for Indiana University next season. “I’m
“I couldn’t wish for a better team,” Metzger said.
Eagles freshman Haley Hunter placed third in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 100 butterfly
“Everyone had a great swim and everybody had a big contribution,” Kubly said.
Zionsville sophomore Ava Murray was fifth in the 500 freestyle, and senior teammate Kira Hunter was sixth in the 500 freestyle.
The Eagles were second in the 200 freestyle relay with Metzger, Haley Hunter, senior Allie Buroker and junior Katie Gordon.
“Going into the season, we really wanted to make a top five finish,” said Murray, who also was 10th in the 200 individual medley. “I’m so grateful for this team and what we did. I just give all glory to God for how we were able to compete and lift each other up and have a great season.”
DISPATCHES
Zionsville Board of Zoning Appeals — The board of zoning appeals meets at 6:30 p.m. March 4 at Zionsville Town Hall, 1100 W. Oak St. The board considers relief from the requirements of Zionsville’s zoning ordinance.
Airport surpasses record — The Indianapolis International Airport ended 2025 with another year of record-setting passenger traffic. Airport officials announced that the facility welcomed more than 10.6 million passengers during the year, about 100,000 more than in 2024.
Kindergarten registration open — Kindergarten round up at Zionsville Community Schools will take place March 24 at all elementary schools. Families can register their child zcs.k12.in.us/about-zcs/ new-students1/kindergarten.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5 AT 2PM
Metzger
ZCS plans $16M in projects
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Zionsville Community High School’s auditorium, built in 1977, will receive a considerable facelift, part of districtwide renovation projects planned for this summer.
Work includes stage and light repairs and a significant increase in seating inside the dressing room. There will be 140 makeup chairs compared to the current 22.
The auditorium is nearly 50 years old and mainly used as a rehearsal space. The high school’s show choir, comprised of 150 students, uses the auditorium.
Following improvements, the auditorium will host shows again, according to Matt Doublestein, assistant superintendent of operations at ZCS.
“What’s exciting about this project is the ability to return it to functional use for audiences of up to 400 people,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about this to be completely honest.”
The auditorium project is part of $16 million in renovations based on a 2024 facilities study that identified needed improvements across the district.
Other work includes resurfacing the track at Zionsville West Middle School along with sidewalk repair.
Boone Meadow, Stonegate and Union elementary schools will see new fire alarms. There also are various curb, sidewalk and asphalt projects.
The front exterior of Eagle Elementary also is slated for an upgrade.
Doublestein said the exterior is deteriorating, allowing birds and animals in, though not into the actual school.
“They’re degrading quicker than our ability to patch,” he said.
Most of the work will be done over the summer and be complete by the start of the 2026-27 school year. The auditorium should be finished by 2027.
Funding comes from a 2025 bond. The projects do not impact the tax rate as the bonds replaced old debt, which maintains a stable tax rate.
ZIONSVILLE MARCH EVENTS
TRIVIA NIGHT
Zionsville Parks and Recreation will host an Indiana-themed trivia night from 6-8 p.m. March 5 at COhatch. Cost is $35 for a resident team and $45 for a nonresident team. The event is open to anyone aged 14 and older. Register at tinyurl. com/5cctax3c.
ILADD SEMINAR
Independent Living for Adults With Disabilities (ILADD) will host an Information Seminar from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Ascension St. Vincent Community Room 207 at the Zionsville Town Hall 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.
TODDLER TREK
Zionsville Parks and Recreation will have its monthly Toddler Trek from 10-11 a.m. March 6 at Starkey Nature Park. Each month, toddlers and their caregivers will meet at a different park to explore a theme through play, hands-on activities. and outdoor experiences. March’s theme
is birds. Activities are geared towards kids 4 and under. Cost is $5 for residents, $7 for nonresidents. Register at tinyurl. com/346dj9ts.
FISH FRY FRIDAYS
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church will host its Lenten Fish Fry Fridays from 5-8 p.m. March 6, 13, 20 and 27. Meals feature Alaskan pollock and sides. Proceeds support charitable outreach. Full menu available at zionsvillecatholic.com/.
WINTER MARKET
Whitestown Parks and Recreation will host its final winter market from 9 a.m. to noon March 7 at the Whitestown Municipal Complex, 6210 Veterans Dr
MEET THE ANIMALS
Stop by the Zionsville Nature Center and meet and learn about the resident reptiles and amphibians from 3-3:30 p.m. March 12. No registration required. There will be another session from 10-10:30 a.m. March 24.
POKEMON CARD SHOW
JT Bros will host a Pokemon card show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 at the Zionsville American Legion.
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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/.
Lausch Such
Bates
COMMUNITY
PUPPY LOVE
By Spencer Durham spencer@youarecurrent.com
Angela Martinez told her husband to stop buying her flowers for Valentine’s Day. Sure, they’re pretty, but they die quickly, she said.
So, her husband went a different route this year, surprising Martinez with a gift box from the Indiana Canine Assistant Network’s Puppy Love fundraiser.
The gift boxes are one of the service dog organization’s largest annual fundraisers. The boxes are filled with items from Indiana businesses like Albanese Candy, DeBrand Fine Chocolates and Taylor’s Bakery in Indianapolis.
And for the lucky recipients, the goodies inside are just part of the experience.
Gift boxes are delivered by ICAN volunteers and service dogs in training who are happy to greet whomever they encounter.
“It was a fun surprise,” Martinez said. “I love that it is a super awesome cause.”
Martinez, who is the executive director of Rose Senior Living in Carmel, was surprised at work Feb. 12.
Juli McGarrah and service-dog-in training Wick, a black Lab, delivered the gift box.
Service dogs spend two years in training, splitting time with incarcerated individuals in Indiana prisons, and volunteers in the community, called “fur-loughers” like McGarrah who take them to various places, acclimating them to society.
“The incarcerated individual really leads the bulk of the training,” said Samanatha Thompson, communications manager for ICAN.
McGarrah has volunteered with ICAN for years and got involved after her dog died.
“It was a perfect blend of I get a lot of dog time but not 24/7,” she said.
ICAN volunteers deliver up to 200 gift boxes each Valentine’s season along with service dogs in training. About 400 gift boxes were sold, with the rest
Valentine’s gift boxes support service dogs
being mailed to recipients.
“Not only is it a great way to spread our mission … it’s a great training opportunity for our dogs,” Thompson said.
Exposure and experience are key for a service dog, McGarrah said. The goal is to eliminate surprise or fear.
McGarrah said she’ll approach construction workers or motorcycle riders so the dogs she works with can experi-
ence loud noises with the goal of them remaining calm. It also means the dogs get their handlers out and about, too.
“I talk to people I wouldn’t have normally,” McGarrah.
ICAN is funded via grants, donations and fundraises. Puppy Love is one of the longest-running and most successful fundraisers, according to Thompson.
ICAN added a new feature this year,
MORE ON ICAN DOGS
It takes service dogs about two years to complete their training. About 50 percent of Indiana Canine Assistant Network dogs become service dogs, which is above average, according to Thompson.
Service dogs are placed all across Indiana, and there is about a 55-person waitlist.
ICAN trains dogs for three services: mobility, facility and psychiatric.
A mobility service dog is a traditional service dog that assists their owner.
“It really helps them live an independent life,” Thompson said.
Facility service dogs work at places like schools and courthouses. For example, one might sit next to a child while they testify in court.
Psychiatric service dogs work with veterans who suffer from PTSD or other traumas. ICAN waives fees for veterans who need a service dog.
ICAN is the only accredited service dog organization — through Assistance Dogs International — in the state.
The nonprofit was founded in 2001 by Dr. Sally Irvine.
doggie gift bags, for one’s four-legged Valentine. Items, such as chew toys, also came from Indiana businesses. Karin Inkoff-Holman thought she might miss her delivery while she waited for an appointment at Wellbrooke of Carmel.
McGarrah and Wick, wearing a pink and red bandana with hearts on it, arrived just in time, though.
Her gift box was sent by her husband.
“I love it,” Inkoff-Holman said. “They have wonderful things inside, and it’s a great fundraiser for ICAN.”
Inkoff-Holman has a service dog from ICAN.
She and her husband sent a gift box to her sister, addressed from their dog. Inkoff-Holman enjoyed some pets with Wick, who left some slobber on her pants. She didn’t seem to mind.
ON THE COVER: Juli McGarrah, left, a volunteer with Indiana Canine Assistant Network, and servic dog in training Wick, deliver a Valentine’s Day gift box to Karin Inkoff-Holman, part of the organization’s Puppy Love fundraiser. (Photo by Spencer Durham)
Karin Inkoff-Holman, left, was the recipient of a Valentine’s Day gift box, sent by her husband, through the Indiana Canine Assistant Network’s Puppy Love fundraiser. She is pictured with ICAN volunteer Tammy Sweezy and Wick, a service dog in training. (Photos by Spencer Durham)
Angela Martinez, executive director of Rose Senior Living in Carmel, was surprised with a Valentine’s Day gift box from Indiana Canine Assistant Network.
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
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
There’s a different Cat in town. Civic Theatre presented “The Cat in Hat” for 10 years with a two-year break for 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.
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.”
“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
Boldt, who graduated from Carmel High School in 2013, lives in Fishers. Her sister, Alyssa, is a 2020 CHS graduate.
Boldt 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.
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. For more, visit civictheatre.org.
CCP set for ‘Spitfire Grill’
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Kathleen Clarke Horrigan embraces the message of redemption that “The Spitfire Grill” shares with audiences.
Horrigan is directing Carmel Community Players’ production of the musical, which runs Feb. 27 to March 8 at the Switch Theatre at Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers.
The plot centers on Percy, an ex-felon who is new to the small fictional town of Gilead, Wis.
“Everyone in town was skeptical of this young lady coming to visit,” Horrigan said. “She doesn’t know how to cook or wait tables, and the town doesn’t make it easier on her. The feeling of being able to renew and (have) second chances is very important.”
The production is a musical version based on the 1996 movie. Noblesville resident Breanna Helms plays Percy.
“I like the difference of character compared to other ones I’ve played,” Helms said. “She is traumatized and more than just a surface-level type of person. She has a lot of deep flaws, and
to convey that to the audience has been a challenge.”
Carmel resident Susan Smith plays Hannah Ferguson, who owns the grill. She is running an essay contest to sell the grill because she wants to retire. The entry fee is $100 per essay, and she will give the grill away to the essay she likes the best. Smith said she usually plays more comedic characters.
“You have to find a lot of depth in the character and find the layers,” Smith said.
For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
Boldt
Butler
From left, Sarah Marone-Sowers, Susan Smith and Breanna Helms perform in “The Spitfire Grill.” (Photo courtesy of Indy Ghost Light)
COMMUNITY VOICES
Fear is the product of Flock
Editor,
Franklin D. Roosevelt warned “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” not because danger is imaginary, but because fear distorts judgment. That warning applies cleanly to Flock license-plate reader cameras. These systems expand not because they strengthen liberty, but because fear makes people willing to trade freedom for the promise of safety.
The case for Flock cameras always starts with extreme scenarios: An abducted child, a fleeing criminal, a tragedy that demands speed. These appeals are emotionally powerful — and strategically useful. But a free society cannot be governed by worst-case hypotheticals. When rare emergencies are used to justify permanent surveillance, fear becomes policy.
Flock cameras reverse a core principle of liberty: The presumption of innocence. Instead of investigating specific suspects, they collect and store everyone’s movements “just in case.” This is not targeted policing; it is ambient monitoring. When surveillance becomes routine, freedom becomes conditional.
Supporters often fall back on the
claim, “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” This is wrong. Privacy is not about hiding crimes; it is about maintaining autonomy and dignity. People close their doors not because they are guilty, but because constant exposure is incompatible with freedom. A society that demands continuous visibility is not building trust — it is enforcing compliance.
There is also a dangerous illusion at work: the belief we are the ones watching. In reality, the power belongs to those who control the data — its storage, sharing and interpretation. Surveillance systems do not empower communities; they empower institutions. And institutions remember, correlate and escalate in ways individuals cannot control.
Fear accelerates this imbalance. It teaches people to accept permanent surveillance for temporary reassurance. Roosevelt’s warning remains relevant: fear itself becomes the threat when it convinces a free people to surrender liberty voluntarily.
A society that normalizes being watched is not safer — it is simply less free.
Kevin Goetz, Zionsville
Kudos to protesting students
Editor,
I wanted to express my admiration and thanks to the Zionsville Community High School students who walked out of class Feb. 2 to express their opposition to the horrific things ICE is doing/has done to the people of Minneapolis, and to others around the country.
I love their courage, their sense of right and wrong and their understanding that no one, no one — least of all Federal law enforcement — has the right to assault people, break car windows and batter down front doors to grab them, handcuff them and send them God-knows-where with no due process, no ability to call a family member or an attorney.
What is even more disgusting is that a very small percentage of the people taken have any criminal records at
all, plus, as we know, American citizens have been taken (and at least two killed), those here legally have been taken, and those with cases pending before court have been taken.
The whole operation is vile and unconstitutional. One hopes a day comes in the not-too-distant future when those who perpetrated these crimes will no longer be able to do so with impunity and will be brought to justice.
Cynthia J. Starks, Zionsville
This week’s commentaries by Current Publishing essayist Terry Anker and humorist Dick Wolfsie may be read at youarecurrent.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 15
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CENTER STAGE
Summer training for Indy’s aspiring musicians and actors / P4
Specialized support meets classic summer fun for local youth / P16
M OVI E S IN T HE P L A Z A
May 27, June 10, June 24, July 22, August 15
Movies begin at 7:30 p.m.
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225 S. Union Street
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)
Continued from Page 4
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)
Continued from Page 6
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)
Continued from Page 8
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,
Continued on Page 11
Continued from Page 10
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)
