

Registration Now Open!
The Independence School offers a wide variety of summer camp options for students age 3 through grade 8, beginning June 15 through August 14, 2026. Dive into hands-on activities, spark your creativity, and make memories that last a lifetime — there’s something for every camper to enjoy!
All programs take advantage of our safe, expansive 90-acre campus and air-conditioned facility. Other features include numerous athletic fields and a 57,000 sq. ft. outdoor classroom, morning (7:00 - 9:00 a.m.) and afternoon (4:00 - 5:30 p.m.) extended care, and an on-site nurse. Now accepting credit cards!
Camper's Checklist
Each day campers should bring the following items labeled with the child's last name.
- Refillable water bottle
- Snacks and lunch (full-day campers)
- Creek shoes
- Change of clothes
- Bathing suit and towel
- Plastic bag for wet clothes
- Sunscreen (must be approved in over-the-counter form)
- Rest mat (3 & 4 year olds)
Please do not bring cell phones or electronic devices to camp.
Arrival / Dismissal
Safety and Security: Please note that our building is locked at all times. We are limiting the number of people entering the building again this summer. Parents/Guardians are asked to remain outside during the arrival/dismissal time. Please email Jen Hayes at jhayes@indyde.org if you have a need to enter the building. You may also call the summer camp desk at 302-239-0330 (ext 4) if you need assistance.
Summer Camp Entrance
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Enter the campus off of Paper Mill Road
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Pass the Courtyard Loop and continue around the playground
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Turn LEFT into the Summer Camp Loop
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Parking is available in the upper parking lot
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To exit, proceed to the stop sign and turn right
Arrival
Extended Care: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
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Campers attending extended care will enter at the summer camp entrance.
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The door is always locked but a staff member will sit at the desk and monitor the door to allow campers to enter.
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Please pull along the curb in the summer camp loop and walk to the door.
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There is a buzzer to ring and an intercom system to communicate with staff.
Start of Camp: 9:00 a.m.
There is a 9:00 a.m. arrival procedure to expedite dropping off campers. You may still choose to park and walk your camper to the entrance. Please note that we limit the number of visitors entering the building during the summer. We ask that you allow our staff to safely escort your camper to their camp classroom.
Staff will be outside to assist with drop-off. Please have your campers ready to exit the car to keep the car line moving. If you choose to use our car line drop-off procedures please:
- Enter the Summer Camp Loop
- Pull along to the curb to the left and have campers exit from the left
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Staff will assist younger campers out of the car
- As the line begins to form on the road outside the loop, please use the center lane
- Pull forward in line, but please be cautious of campers outside other vehicles
- To exit, proceed to the stop sign and turn right
Dismissal
End of Camp: 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
For dismissal, please create a sign to place on your dashboard or placed at the driver's side window with the name(s) of camper(s). A simple piece of paper with larger letters that are easy to read is helpful to keep the car line moving.
Please note that staff will assist campers to their cars in the car line. We are not legally allowed to buckle your child with a seatbelt or in their car seat at dismissal. If your child needs assistance, kindly pull forward past the sidewalk or into a parking spot to buckle in your child. This helps keep the car line moving.
- Enter the Summer Camp Loop
- Pull along the curb to the left. Campers will be called to your car
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Staff will assist younger campers
- As the line begins to form on the road outside the loop, please use the center lane
- Pull forward in line, but please be cautious of campers outside other vehicles
- To exit, proceed to the stop sign and turn right
Extended Care: 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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Campers leaving extended care will exit at the summer camp entrance.
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The door is always locked but a staff member will sit at the desk and monitor the door to allow campers to leave when parents/guardians arrive.
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Please pull along the curb in the summer camp loop and walk to the door.
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There is a buzzer to ring and an intercom system to communicate with staff.
Policies and Procedures
Summer at Independence is committed to the health and safety of all campers throughout the summer. Please see below for some general information as well as medical related policies. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
General
Behavior Policy
Payment and Cancellation Policy
Payment Information
Independence accepts credit cards, checks (made out to The Independence School), or cash.
- Day Camp: A 50% deposit is required at registration. Final payment is due by May 1. A 1.5% per month (18% annual rate) service charge is payable on all past due balances. Registration will not be completed and slots guaranteed until paid in full.
- Specialty Camps: Full payment is required at the time of registration.
Please note: Children may not attend camp if any balance remains unpaid.
Cancellation & Refund Policies
All cancellations made before May 1 will incur a $75 processing fee.
- Day Camp: After May 1, families may receive a 50% refund if cancellation is made at least two weeks before the registered week begins.
- Specialty Camps: No refunds will be issued after May 1.
- Absences: Refunds are not provided for missed camp days.
Behavior Policy: Campers who engage in serious or unsafe behavior may be dismissed from camp. Payment will not be refunded in these cases.
Bathroom Independence Policy
To ensure a safe, positive, and successful camp experience for all children, campers must be fully potty independent, without the use of pull-ups, to attend our program.
What “Potty Independent” Means
Campers must be able to:
- Use the restroom independently
- Communicate their need to use the bathroom in a timely manner
- Manage clothing, wiping, flushing, and handwashing on their own
- Handle minor bathroom needs without adult assistance
Important Safety Guidelines
For the safety and protection of both campers and staff:
- Camp counselors are not permitted to have physical contact with campers in the restroom
- Staff may provide verbal guidance and reminders only, as needed
Accidents & Clothing
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Campers should arrive each day prepared to manage their own needs
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Families must send a labeled change of clothes in a backpack
- If a camper is unable to manage after an accident, a parent/guardian may be contacted for support
Our Commitment
We strive to create an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment for all campers. Ensuring that children are developmentally ready for the camp setting helps them feel confident, successful, and comfortable throughout the day.
Field Trips
On-site visitors, an electric train, inflatable water slides, obstacle courses, and bouncy houses, and just some of the things that will be planned throughout the summer. Campers will not be transported off campus to participate in any of these activities. Please note these activities are for Day Campers ONLY as the specialty camp teachers have set schedules planned for the week.
Health & Wellness
Staff/Camper Illness
Food Policy
- Parents and/or guardians will be responsible for providing healthy snacks and lunches for the camper.
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All campers should bring their own reusable water bottle to camp. There are water filling stations for campers to use.
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Campers are not allowed to share meals or snacks with other campers.
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The nurse will contact a parent or designated guardian as soon as it is determined that snack/lunch has not been brought to camp for the day.
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Indy does not offer refrigeration or microwaves. We suggest ice packs and thermoses for cold or hot items.
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No peanuts or peanut products will be used at camp for eating, touching, smelling or cooking. Parents are allowed to pack peanut products for their own children. Peanut/nut free tables will be available at snack and lunch to accommodate any children with peanut or nut allergies.
Medication
All medication including prescription and over-the-counter medications (not checked off on the Magnus Over-the-Counter Medications form) require a Medication Form to be completed. This form is below and requires a physician’s signature. Over-the-counter medication must be in the original container. Prescription medication must come in the original box or container along with the pharmacy label and be delivered directly to the nurse.
Procedure for Dispensing Medications During School
- ALL MEDICATIONS, including over-the-counter products, require the “Parental Request for Dispensing Medications” form to be completed and sent in with the medication. Medication should also be labeled with child’s name, name of medication, dose and time. Medication must be sent in its own purchased box or pharmacy bottle. Please do not send in medications in baggies!
- HERBAL MEDICATIONS must be sent in original bottle, and the “Parental Request for Dispensing Medications” form must be completed. In addition, literature explaining the purpose, dosage and side effects and a physician’s note are required.
Procedure for Dispensing Controlled Substances (Ritalin, Methylphenidate, etc.)
- All medication must be in original container labeled with name, time, dose, date and number of tablets sent. An adult must bring this medication to school.
- A completed “Parental Request for Dispensing Controlled Substances” form must be sent with medication. Please note the physician’s signature is required.
- The nurse will count the tablets upon arrival.
- Any changes in dosage must be accompanied by a written note
- from the physician specifying the change.
- At the end of each school year, any remaining tablets will be counted and the number indicated on the bottle. It is required that an adult pick up this medicine. Medication not picked up will be discarded.
Peanut Policy
The Independence School has a Peanut Policy stated below. Please note this only pertains to peanuts and no other food allergens.
- Parents should not send in food that contains any form of peanut product to share with the class. Please read all labels to ensure that cross contamination with peanuts has not occurred during production.
- Home baked goods or store bought food may be shared with the class, only if the ingredient labels and/or recipe is provided to check for cross contamination with peanuts during production.
- No peanuts or peanut products are to be used in the classroom. This includes the use of peanuts for eating, cooking, growing or smelling. This does NOT mean parents can no longer pack peanut products in their child’s lunch.
This policy is to be followed school wide but does not prohibit parents sending in peanut products for their own children.
Signs and symptoms of possible allergic reaction:
- Flushed face and/or skin
- Rash/Hives
- Itching or swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth
- Dizziness/Fainting
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
- Itchy ear/eyes or watery eyes
- Coughing or sneezing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
Please keep us informed of any student whose allergic status changes. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please call us.
Sun Safety
Asthma and Allergies
Pizza for Lunch Days
On Tuesdays and Fridays, pizza will be available for $3.00 per slice from Seasons Pizza. For pizza orders, please send cash in an envelope with your child’s name to give to their camp counselor. Payment for the whole week is appreciated. If paying for the whole week, please indicate how many slices per day.
For those campers choosing to pack a lunch from home, please be aware that we do not offer refrigeration or microwaves. We suggest ice packs and thermoses for cold or hot items.
Contact Us
Director of Auxiliary Programs: Jen Hayes at jhayes@indyde.org
Auxiliary Program Specialist: Stacy Walsh at swalsh@indyde.org
Nurse: Catherine Mitchell at cmitchell@indyde.org
Camp Phone: The Summer at Independence phone is monitored during the school year from 7:00 - 11:00 a.m. If you have a question during those hours, please call (302) 239-0330 (option 4). If outside of those hours, please reach out using the emails above.
If you are interested in learning more about The Independence School, please call the Admission Office at 302-239-0332 or email Ashley Palandrani, Admission Manager. Personal tours are offered throughout the year and during the summer, as well as information sessions and special events.

Browse All Camp Offerings!
Plan your child's Summer at Independence by exploring our 2026 offerings. From Day Camp with grade-level peers to more than 15 Specialty Camps, our programs offer engaging experiences and flexible options to fit every family’s schedule. Be sure to save the date for Monday, January 12, at 8 a.m. when registration opens!

