Express CAMP

Express CAMP runs from 8AM to 3PM, July 7–11, 2025, at the Prindle Institute for Ethics in Greencastle, Indiana. Campers are served breakfast, lunch, and a light snack each day. Spots fill fast, so we recommend registering well before the May 24 deadline. The registration fee is $275 if registered by May 25, and $325 thereafter. We offer a discounted rate of $175 for each additional child in the same family. If the camp is canceled for any reason, you’ll receive a full refund. We’re committed to making this experience accessible. Scholarships are available—please contact us to learn more.

A Typical Schedule

Each day at Express CAMP starts with breakfast and some free time to ease into the morning. After a snack, campers dive into philosophy and outdoor activities, using the Teaching Children Philosophy method to explore big ideas through stories and conversation. Midday brings lunch, followed by a mix of art, science, and more time outside. Another snack rounds out the afternoon before dismissal. On Thursday, we’ll take a trip to the Ullem Campus Farm, and on Friday, we’ll wrap up the week with some fun at the Lilly Center pool on the main campus.

Medical Information

If your camper needs prescription medication during the day—or carries an epi-pen or rescue inhaler—a parent or guardian must complete a Medication Administration Form for liability purposes. All medications should be hand-delivered to Director Haley Thompson during registration on the first day of camp. If your child is taking the bus to camp, please contact Haley to arrange a time to drop off the medication before camp begins. Please note that camp staff cannot administer over-the-counter medications. If your camper becomes ill during the day, we’ll contact you or your emergency contact right away. We ask that ill campers be picked up within one hour of notification.

Camp Transportation

Two weeks before camp begins, our staff will contact families who need transportation with estimated morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off times. DePauw staff members who have completed a driver safety course will drive the camp vehicles. On the first day of camp, please park in the lower lot and walk your camper inside for check-in. Accessible parking is available near the building at the top of the hill. For the rest of the week, you may drop off your camper between 7:50 and 8:00 a.m. at the circle drive—just be sure a staff member is present before letting your child out of the car. Please do not arrive at the gate before 7:50 a.m., as we need to keep that area open for staff arrival. Afternoon dismissal is at 3:00 p.m.; families should line up in the circle drive between 2:50 and 3:00 p.m., with the first car pulling up to the walkway bridge near the Bartlett Reflection Center. Campers will only be released to adults listed on the registration form, and all adults must show a government-issued ID at pick-up, including for early or illness-related dismissals. At check-in, you’ll receive a name card—please place it in your car’s front window during pick-up to help us keep the process moving smoothly.

Security and Supplies

For security, the doors to the Prindle Institute remain locked during camp. If you need to pick up your child early, please contact our team before arriving so we can meet you at the door. Campers should wear comfortable clothes, closed-toed shoes, and a hat if they’d like—since we’ll be spending plenty of time outside. We’ll provide sunscreen and insect repellent. If your child is allergic to either or you prefer to send your own, please drop it off at check-in on the first day. Also, send a labeled water bottle on Monday—we’ll keep it at the Prindle Institute all week. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Camp Director Haley Thompson.

At Express CAMP, our counselors and staff are committed to creating a fun, safe, and meaningful experience for every child. To help us do that, we ask all campers to follow a set of simple guidelines. These rules are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone—campers, staff, and visitors alike.

Campers are expected to:

• Listen to counselors and staff, and follow directions.

• Treat others with kindness and respect.

• Take care of camp spaces, materials, and field trip locations.

• Keep hands, feet, and personal items to themselves.

• Turn in cell phones each morning for safekeeping. Phones will be securely stored and returned at dismissal. (If you need to check in during the day, our staff is always reachable.)

• Use indoor voices when inside.

• Stay seated and respectful when riding in camp transportation.

• Follow instructions during field trips, including visits to the Nature Park, Lilly Center pool, and the campus farm.

• Clean up after themselves.

• Stay positive, be kind, and have fun.

If a camper has difficulty following these expectations, we’ll work with them through the following steps:

• A gentle redirection.

• One verbal warning.

• A short break from group activities with a counselor or staff member.

• A conversation with parents or guardians, followed by a written note sent home.

• If necessary, removal from camp.

If a camper’s behavior poses a threat to themselves, others, or property, we’ll contact a parent or guardian right away. In some cases, this may lead to a meeting, suspension, or removal from camp. Some actions—like stealing, using profanity, property damage, or physical aggression (hitting, kicking, biting)—will result in an automatic behavior warning. We’ll go over these expectations with campers on the first day, but we encourage you to review them together at home, too. These guidelines help create the kind of environment where curiosity, creativity, and connection can thrive. Please note: if a camper is removed from Express CAMP due to behavioral concerns, tuition is non-refundable.