Camp Red Cedar features everything traditional camps have to offer – games, horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, nature hikes, and singing around the campfire – in an inclusive environment for people of all abilities. In addition to summer camps, enjoy year-around therapeutic and conventional horseback riding or schedule a one-time trail ride. Of course, the entire camp is completely wheelchair accessible. Discover a whole new world of possibilities within Camp Red Cedar’s 57 acres of meadows, woods, trails, and lakefront.
ABOUT US
Our Mission
Camp Red Cedar’s mission is to encourage children and adults of all abilities to move beyond their boundaries through recreational activities, outdoor education, creative arts and interaction with horses, in an integrated environment.
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!
2024
Camp Red Cedar is expanding and diversifying its year-round programming to serve more individuals in the community. In addition to summer camps, recreational therapy, and horseback riding programs, CRC now offers respite care and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)!