About Camp Red Cedar

Camp Red Cedar boasts 57 acres of woods, meadows, trails, a 10-acre lake and sandy beach.  Each year the camp serves hundreds of kids through our summer camps, riding programs, horse shows and rentals.

Camp Red Cedar’s mission is to encourage children and adults with disabilities to move beyond their boundaries through recreational activities, outdoor education, creative arts and interaction with horses, in an integrated environment, serving people of all abilities.

We offer the following:

  • Specialty camps: Each summer’s schedule includes customized camps for children with Down syndrome, autism and diabetes.
  • Horseback riding and Therapeutic riding lessons:  These year-round riding classes range from assisted to independent riding.  Special events for program participants include spring and fall horse shows.
  • RETH (Recreational Therapy): Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being.

     Therapeutic Recreation is provided by professionals who are trained and certified, registered and/or licensed to provide Therapeutic Recreation. (© ATRA, 1986) Camp Red Cedar currently employs two Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist (CTRS).

     Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life. (NTRS, 2000)

    *Recreational Therapy (RETH) is available on a first come, first served availability.  RETH sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis and carry on through out the year or until services are discontinued.  Camp Red Cedar accepts the Indiana Family Support Services Medicaid Waiver, the Community Integration and Habilitation Medicaid Waiver & Private Pay for individuals seeking Recreational Therapy services*

    Please register online or call for availability 260-637-3608

To support Camp Red Cedar

We welcome your support through camperships, riderships, donations of needed items and simply spreading the word about this idyllic haven located just north of Fort Wayne.

Our History

1970

Camp Red Cedar is first established as a Boy Scout Camp named Red Cedar Environmental Center at the time.

1972

Camp Red Cedar, known then as “Red Cedar,” began as a privately owned not-for-profit equestrian facility offering therapeutic riding program.

1979

Evolved into “Red Cedar for Special Services” and became a United Way agency.

1982

Relocates from Griffin Rd. to current location, 3900 Hursh Road, Fort Wayne, IN, 46845.

1989

Red Cedar merges with AWS, now Benchmark Human Services, eventually changing the name to “Camp Red Cedar.”

1997

Mad Anthony’s Charity Classic for Children helps transform Red Cedar into a fully functioning summer camp program and provides funds to construct a lake on property for aquatic therapy and beach activities.

2006

Integrated summer camps for children without disabilities are included to the program as interest grows.

2018

Camp Red Cedar offers a full complement of summer day camps for individuals with and without disabilities, year-around riding lessons and customized rental options for special events.

In 2018 we added a new 12,000 sq. ft. building that offers a large activity area, administrative offices, accessible restrooms, and a large service kitchen. In addition, we added (4) newly built cabins with six beds on each side and a fully accessible restroom in each area.

This much needed addition of space allowed us to demolish the old offices, cafeteria, and small cabins.  This provides a much more accessible camp experience.

2021

In 2021, Camp Red Cedar began renting out The Lodge as an event venue. The Lodge already helped enhance the experience of our campers and clients, but now we’re able to share the beautiful space with more people in the community through weddings, receptions, parties, corporate events, fundraisers, and MORE! The best part is, all proceeds from rentals go back to supporting our life-changing programs and services at Camp Red Cedar!