AYS Summer Days
Make this summer unforgettable with AYS Summer Days! 🌞 Our full-day camps offer a fun, enriching experience with engaging activities, arts, exciting field trips, and specialty mini-camps. Open to all families, regardless of the school or district they attend. Secure your child’s spot today!
Camp details
- 2026 dates
- June 1 – July 17
- Hours
- 7:00am – 6:00pm
- Ages
- Rising Kindergarten through Rising 8th Graders
- Who can attend
- All
- Activities
- Field trips, art projects, active games, STEM activities, literacy/reading time, free play with friends
Q&A with AYS Summer Days
What makes AYS Summer Days unique?
AYS Summer Days offers an enriching summer experience with diverse activities, immersive weekly themes, and engaging field trips. Each week features a unique theme, including:
🌎 Week 1 (June 1 – 5, 2026) – Passport Around the World
🦎 Week 2 (June 8 – 12, 2026) – Reptiles & Animals
🦸 Week 3 (June 15 – 19, 2026) – Superhero / Comic / Anime (No AYS Friday, June 19, 2026)
🧛 Week 4 (June 22 – 26, 2026) – Favorite Characters Week
🧙♂️ Week 5 (June 29 – July 2, 2026) – Wizards (No AYS Friday, July 3, 2026)
🔬 Week 6 (July 6 – 10, 2026) – Super Science Week (all things science including space)
🥇 Week 7 (July 13 – 17, 2026) – Amazing Race “Challenge Week” (AYS Carnival Wednesday, July 15, 2026)
Each week, campers at Central Elementary School, Blue & Gold Academy, and Willow Lake Elementary will get to try their hand at different activities centered around the week’s theme. This will include making DIY comic books, a glowing volcano experiment, creating a Disney-themed bubble art project, and more. Campers can also look forward to a new field trip every week, and the opportunity to swim (weather permitting).
In addition to our core program, Summer Days offers a specialty arts camp for budding artists. Art with a Heart Camp (AWAH) allows campers to dive into photography, under the expert guidance of local photographer Azia Ellis-Singleton. AWAH will split its time between the Indiana State Fairgrounds (Weeks 1-4) and CFI 70 (Weeks 5-7).
What activities are offered at AYS Summer Days?
- Field Trips & Outdoor Exploration – Visits to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis Firefighters Museum, Hummel Park, and Indiana State Museum, among other field trips.
- STEM & Hands-On Enrichment – Science experiments like balloon experiments, solar oven s’mores, straw rockets, and more.
- Arts & Creativity – Art-based activities and themed crafts such as spray bottle art, shaving cream art, superhero bracelets, and more.
- Sports & Physical Fitness – Organized games, team sports, and movement-based challenges, including an AYS End of Summer Carnival on July 15, 2026 (relays, water games, and other field day events).
- Social Development & Independent Learning – Activities that promote personal growth, teamwork, and leadership skills.
- Daily Nourishment & Breaks – Healthy snacks provided, along with structured time for rest and recharging.
What is the typical daily schedule at AYS Summer Days?
✔ Independent Time
✔ Field Trip or Swimming
✔ Small Group Time/Social Development
✔ Morning Snack
✔ Group Activities
✔ Lunch Break
✔ Physical and/or Outdoor Activities
✔ Enrichment Programming – Writing, Art, Phonics, Science, Social Studies, Music
✔ Afternoon Snack
✔ Enrichment Activities – Outdoor Time, Physical Fitness, and Games
How much time do campers spend outside?
Pending weather, campers will have a nice mix of outside and inside time. This includes a mix of indoor and outdoor field trips, as well as a weekly trip to a local swimming pool (weather permitting).
What is the camper-to-counselor ratio?
1:15 to 1:20
How old are the counselors, and how are they trained?
Counselors are aged 16+. AYS hires staff who have experience and a passion for kids and complete a drug test and several criminal background checks. Staff also receive training in First Aid, CPR, child development, conflict resolution, team building, and safety to ensure children have a great experience.
What accommodations are made for campers with special needs?
If a child has a special need or requires additional assistance or accommodation, parents/guardians must communicate this information to their Youth Development Leader and include it in their registration. AYS may require a parent meeting prior to the child attending the camp to review the information and develop the best plan for the child. AYS may consult with its special needs consultant for assistance in developing this plan. If anyone has questions, they may call our new parent hotline at +1 (844) 865-3278.
Does AYS Summer Days provide lunch and snacks, or do families need to provide them?
All Summer Days camps provide morning and afternoon snacks. Parents must provide a sack lunch each day.
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