Therapeutic Recreation

The therapeutic recreation area at Bradford Woods directs summer camping programs for children and adults with disability or chronic illness as well as conducting  therapeutic programming for at-risk youth, families, and adults with disabling conditions. This department is also responsible for collaborating on clinical research projects related to the social sciences and disability, instructing university classes in recreational therapy, and hosting practicum / internship students in the fields of therapeutic outdoor programming and recreational therapy.

Bradford Woods is a national and international leader in the application of universal design principles on our property. Our facilities are designed for all participants despite their ability level. “Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without adaptation or specialized design (NCA). Many examples of Universal Design can be found on the grounds of Bradford Woods. These include but are not limited to our nationally know amphitheatre, switchback trail, universal high ropes course, climbing tower, and Olympic sized pool.

Our program directors are trained in recreational therapy practices with advanced degrees and are certified therapeutic recreation specialist through NCTRC. Support staff are typically students in a medical field such as 1st year med students, therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, child life, art therapy, social work, pre-med, music therapy, and nursing.


Contact Info:

Director, Therapeutic Recreation


Shay Dawson M.A., CTRS

Phone: (765) 342-2915 ext 5212
Shay's Bio will open new tab or browser.

Bradford Woods
Indiana University's Outdoor Center
5040 State Road 67 North
Martinsville, Indiana 46151
TTY:      (765) 349-5117
Fax:      (765) 349-1086
E-Mail:sldawson@indiana.edu



Bradford Woods hosts a variety of camps during the summer and is regarded as the best residential camping facility in the Midwest for youth and adults with disabilities and special medical needs. Camps such as Camp About Face, Camp Kan-Du, and Camp Riley are examples of the unique programming that is rarely found anywhere else in the country.

 We offer both single-day and overnight programs and events for children with special health care needs and their families. Our overnight programs have been fulfilling the recreational and therapeutic requirements of both children and adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses for over forty years.

All of our programs and services focus on meeting the individual needs of participants. Our low staff-to-participant ratios promote engagement, empowerment and, of course, FUN! Staff are well trained in person-first language, disability awareness, and medical / personal care while being supported by various medical professionals such as nurses, doctors, and recreational therapists.   
We partner with state organizations such as Riley Hospital for Children, United Cerebral Palsy Association, Little Red Door Cancer Agency, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association

Camp Riley Sessions
(Riley Camps are sponsored by the Riley Children’s Foundation)
Newcomer’s Day

Newcomer’s Day lets new Riley campers and families do a “trial run” with a visit at Bradford Woods (home to Camp Riley). It’s extremely important that families and campers see the staff and facilities prior to attending camp, and we also understand a family’s need for firsthand information and reassurance about their child’s experience.

New Camp Riley families will:

• See the Bradford Woods facilities and property
• Experience typical camp activities
• Attend parent informational sessions, discussions
and activities                   
• Join a question-and-answer session with camp staff

Riley 1
Ages 8-18(children with physical disabilities)
Description: Discover new activities and master familiar ones like swimming, art, sports, music, games, campouts and horseback riding (special release form required) in this one-week traditional camp experience. Every day is packed with a broad range of interests, cultures and environments. This session is geared towards campers who benefit from a 1-to-1 or 1-to-2 staff-to-camper ratio. Come and explore all that camp has to offer!

Riley 2
Ages 8-18 with physical disabilities
Description: A one week camp offering traditional camp activities such as horseback riding, creative arts, nature activities, challenge day, fun at the pool, archery, overnight campout, and much more. This session is designed for campers who thrive in a 1-to-2 or 1-to-3 staff-to-camper ratio.

Riley 3
Ages 8-18 with physical disabilities
Description: This two-week session is ideal for campers who want to challenge themselves in sports and outdoor adventures and who have attended a one week Riley camp in the past. Campers will participate in traditional camp activities such as swimming, archery, horseback riding (special release form required), arts and waterfront fun, focusing on cooperating with others, working together and making friends.  Visits from the Indiana Four Wheel Drive Association and Indiana High School Football All-Stars will fill the days with excitement. This session is specifically designed for campers who are ready for a longer camper experience and thrive in a 1-to-3 camper ratio.

Venture
Ages 15-18  with physical disabilities
Description: This two-week session is designed for older campers who want to focus on developing leadership, social and independent life skills through elements of challenge, leadership and service in addition to experiencing traditional camp activities. Campers will participate in a 24-hour “immersion experience,” a campout to develop and implement individual and group goals. Campers will plan and implement activities for younger campers and participate in a service project. Venture campers also participate in “Pursuits of Excellence,” an intensive 36-hour experience devoted to personal challenge, goals and service to others. These experiences may be on- or off-site, such as caving, camping and raft-building. Campers also dance the night away at the Venture Prom. This session is designed for campers who are ready for a longer camp experience and thrive in a 1-to-3 staff-to-camper ratio.

Top It Off
Ages 17-18 with physical disabilities
Description: This two-week session is for older, veteran campers seeking new challenges.  Working as a team, campers spend their first few days planning and preparing for a trip across Indiana. Using fully accessible transportation, campers will hit the road to explore central, northern or southern parts of the state. The trip may include activities such as rafting, tubing, visiting amusement parks,  meeting the disability service representative at a local college( such as Notre Dame / Indiana University) for a tour, and camping at state and public campgrounds. This trip will broaden each camper’s view of independence, self-advocacy and public accessibility. This session is designed for campers who are ready for a longer camp experience and thrive in a 1-to-2 or 1-to-3 staff-to-camper ratio.

Kan-Du
Ages 8-18 with both a physical and cognitive disability.
Description: See, smell and touch all that the woods have to offer in this award-winning camp session that gives campers who need one-on-one attention and medical care a chance to experience the great adventures of camp. Campers will explore the environment using their five senses with stimulating activities involving the outdoors, pool, barn, art and the unique “sensory cave.” 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.

Riley Specialty Camps
These camps are sponsored through the Riley Hospital for Children’s Clinics with support from the Riley Children’s Foundation.

Camp About Face
Ages 8-18 with a Cranial Facial Anomalies
One of the only camps in the country designed for children that have been born with a cleft palate or lip as well as other more rare anomalies of the face and skull. This camp is sponsored by the Cranial Facial Clinic at Riley Hospital for Children and  is designed to serve children by promoting development of new skills while increasing self confidence. Interaction with others with similar social and medical experiences in a traditional summer camp setting helps campers to grow socially.
This camp also hosts a leadership academy the weekend prior to the start of camp for older adolescents and young adults to develop self-awareness, interpersonal, and leadership skills by leading selected activities for younger campers, keeping a journal, and continuing relationships with adult mentors after camp.    

Camp Independence
Ages 8-18 with sickle cell anemia and other blood disorders
Camp Independence is sponsored by the Hemotology / Oncology Clinic at the Riley Hospital for Children. This camp is designed to give children an opportunity for a traditional camp experience under the watchful eye of various clinic doctors, nurses, and social workers. Activities include horseback riding, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and campouts.

Camp Hi-Lite
Ages 8-22 years of age with Down Syndrome
Camp Hi-Lite was named as you see it today as a result of many campers saying, “that was the hi-lite of my year!” This camps serves 70 children and young adults that have Down Syndrome and is sponsored by the Developmental Pediatric Clinic / Ann Whitehall Down Syndrome Program at the Riley Hospital for Children.

Indianapolis Agency Supported Camps
(These camps are supported by well respected agencies in the Greater Indianapolis Area)

Camp Little Red Door
Ages 8-18 that are impacted by cancer
Camp LRD is sponsored by the Little Red Door Cancer Agency. This camp provides a traditional camp experience for children with cancer in an atmosphere that has been described as “high energy”. These campers are able to bring along a friend or sibling to experience all that camp has to offer.
Camp LRD also has a leadership academy the weekend prior to the start of camp for older more experienced campers. This 3-day training allows selected campers to learn leadership, communication, and social skills. They are then given the opportunity to put these skills into practice by mentoring younger campers during the traditional week of camp.

UCP Camp
Adult campers with varying degrees of Cerebral Palsy
Campers enjoy a week of relaxation and socialization with newly acquired and long standing friends. This week of camp is much like a relaxing vacation for 60 campers filled with live music events, casino night, pontoon rides on our 110 acre lake, cooking classes, and lounging by the pool. Many of these campers have been coming to camp at Bradford Woods for the past 20-40 years.

MDA Camp
Ages 6-17 with Muscular Dystrophy
This camp is sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Ninety campers attend this fun filled camp. During this 7 day experience, campers will participate in traditional camp activities such as horseback riding, creative arts, adventure activities, and special events. Each camper is paired with a counselor for the entire week.  

Agape Therapeutic Riding Center

Agape Therapeutic Riding Center has been providing a summer therapeutic horseback riding program at Bradford Woods since the 1980’s. Bradford Woods is where Agape got it’s start and has now become one of the oldest and most well respected therapeutic riding programs in the state of Indiana. 

Agape is a unique therapeutic resource for individuals, families, schools, medical and mental health professionals. Through its wealth of horse-assisted programs, Agape positively impacts the physical, mental, behavioral and social challenges of people with special needs.

Agape Facts: