INDIANAPOLIS – Camp Riley empowers children with physical disabilities by providing enriching, life-changing experiences in a traditional camping environment tailored to their individual needs. For 56 years, campers have shattered perceived limitations, met new friends and reached higher achievements, allowing them to return home with a new sense of independence and confidence. Physical disabilities won’t keep these youth from scaling a 40-foot wall, swimming, horseback riding, climbing the steep “Cardiac Hill” or taking on other summer camp challenges this year: They are headed to Camp Riley where camaraderie, thrills and a new perspective awaits them. Camp Riley takes place at Bradford Woods, Indiana University’s outdoor recreation center located 20 miles southwest of Indianapolis, near Martinsville. Eligible children ages 8 to 18 can attend one of five Camp Riley sessions offered during a six-week span. The facility is universally accessible, the staff-to-camper ratio never exceeds 1-to-3 and Riley Hospital for Children staff ensures medical needs are met. Since 1955, Camp Riley has been a “home away from home” to more than 12,000 children. In 2011, 223 campers, including 50 new campers, will attend Camp Riley. Campers represent 65 Indiana counties and five states: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Riley Children’s Foundation depends on contributions from individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Indiana, in addition to fees paid by campers’ families, to make this experience possible. The fee families are asked to pay is determined on a sliding scale related to household income. In 2011, 37 percent of Camp Riley families qualified for a reduced camper fee. In Kosciusko County, Dr. Dane & Mary Louise Miller Foundation Inc. has provided camperships for children. To find out how you can send a child to next summer’s camp, visit RileyKids.org/camp or call 317-634-4474 or toll-free 877-867-4539. The 2011 Camp Theme is “Wonders of the World”. From the Great Pyramid to the Northern Lights and back to Bradford Woods, get ready to experience the wonders of the world. Explore the hidden treasures of the outdoors, venture into a world where anything can happen, and discover the magic of the woods. The 2011 camp sessions are: Riley 1: June 12-17. This one-week session is for campers who benefit from a 1-to-1 staff-to-camper ratio. Riley 3: June 26-July 8. This two-week session is specifically designed for campers who are ready for a longer camp experience and thrive in a 1-to-3 staff-to-camper ratio. Venture: June 26-July 8. This two-week session is for older campers who are ready for a longer camp experience and thrive in a 1-to-3 staff-to-camper ratio. Riley 2: July 10-15. This one-week session is for campers who benefit from a 1-to-2 staff-to-camper ratio. Kan-Du: July 17-22. This session is specifically designed for youth with cognitive and physical functioning levels assessed between 0 and 48 months and who thrive in a 1-to-1 staff-to-camper ratio.
