2025 Summer Programs
Summer Time Fun
Something for Everyone
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2025
Collaborating Partners
- Iowa School for the Deaf
- University of Northern Iowa
- Grand View University
- Easterseals Camp Sunnyside
- Camp Courageous
- Camp High Hopes
- Capri College
- County Conservation Centers
- Area Education Agencies
- Local School Districts
Why Choose Our Camps?
- Fully accessible and fun
- Campers build skills in all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum
- Staffed by teachers of the visually impaired and orientation & mobility specialists
- Open to students with visual impairments who:
- receive TVI/OMS services from IESBVI
- are on a 504 Plan or general education
- are enrolled in a 4PLUS program for Fall 2025
- Licensed nurses/certified medication managers at each camp
- Transportation available for regional day camps
- Google Classrooms share daily camp highlights
- Additional camperships are now available for IESBVI students to attend Camp High Hopes in Sioux City, Camp Courageous in Monticello, and Easterseals Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines
IESBVI Residential Camps
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Sat
7
2025
June 7 – June 8 2025
Girls’ Night Out – grades 4-7 and grades 8-12
Cedar Falls
This camp is a skill building slumber party! Girls will develop independent living skills by using public transportation, handling money, primping themselves and each other in a safe and accessible environment. This is an opportunity for girls with visual impairments to spend time with each other, have fun and make new friends. Girls will be grouped by age for some activities.
- Girls should possess basic self-care skills such as toileting and showering.
Contact Ashley Dougherty
Sun
8
2025
June 8 – June 12 2025
Camp Abilities – ages 7-21
Cedar Falls
Camp Abilities at the University of Northern Iowa. This camp focuses on physical activity with exposure and exploration of leisure and recreational hobbies/pursuits. The activities will be adapted and modified so that all can participate regardless of vision level.
- Students should be predominantly independent with self-care and have few behavioral concerns.
- Students should be prepared to be active throughout the week and willing to try new activities.
Contact Brandon Schellhorn
Sun
6
2025
July 6 – July 11 2025
Transition Life Skills – grades 8-12
Des Moines
Create your own adventure in a place where everything around you is always changing. A place where HUGE skyscrapers loom overhead and sounds from the hustle and bustle of traffic never seem to end. Campers will be engaging in one adventure after another designed to develop their independent living skills.
- Must be able to independently wake up, maintain personal hygiene, regulate behaviors, and self-administer medications with supervision.
- Must be able to comfortably work in a kitchen.
This camp will be held at Grand View University and is limited to 12 participants.
Contact Kim Stocks
IESBVI Regional Day Camps
(Must live within 45 minutes of camp location)
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Mon
16
2025
June 16 – June 20 2025
Great Prairie Summer Quest for the Multiply Impaired (TVI referral)
Mount Pleasant
Contact Jill Mehaffy-Nalley
Mon
16
2025
June 16 – June 20 2025
Wilderness Week at Central Park **NEW**
Jones County (Eastern Iowa)
Contact Chelsea Engelbart
Mon
16
2025
Mon
16
2025
June 16 – June 20 2025
Expanding Our World: Junior – Grades K-6 (TVI referral)
Des Moines
Contact Shelley Smith
Mon
23
2025
Mon
23
2025
Mon
23
2025
June 23 – June 27 2025
Expanding Our World: Teen – Grades 7-12 (TVI referral)
Des Moines
Contact Shelley Smith
Mon
23
2025
June 23 – June 27 2025
Westside Camp
Council Bluffs
Contact – TBD
Link to Flyer
Other Residential Camp Opportunities
These camps are not hosted by IESBVI and have separate registration processes.
IESBVI funds camperships for a limited number of eligible families
ONLY ONE (1) WEEK WILL BE COVERED PER CHILD
Sun
20
2025
July 20 – July 25, 2025
Camp Courageous-Youth Visual Impairment Camp (Residential)
Monticello
Camp Courageous offers a variety of services including week-long camp sessions, respite care weekends, camper trips, family camp sessions, and experiential education sessions for individuals with disabilities. Eligible students will receive information to register directly with Camp Courageous.
Superhero is the theme for the week.
For more information and to register: Camp Courageous Registration
Contact Crystal Beighley, Susan Rolinger or your child’s TVI
Sun
TBD
2025
July – July 2025
Easterseals Camp Sunnyside
Des Moines
Camp Sunnyside offers a true summer camp experience for children with higher level behavioral, health, or medical needs. Eligible students will receive information to register directly with Camp Sunnyside. Choose from Residential and Day Camps.
VI camp week is TBD.
For more information and to register: Easterseals Iowa | Camp Sunnyside
Contact Celie Kohls, Susan Rolinger or your child’s TVI
Sun
13
2025
July 13 – July 18 2025
Camp High Hopes
Sioux City
Camp High Hopes offers exceptional recreational activities for children, teens, and adults with disabilities, special needs, and chronic illnesses. Camp High Hopes provides tailored programs, adaptive equipment, low staff-to-camper ratio, and personalized attention. Inclusivity, empathy, respect, and fun are at the core, empowering every individual to flourish and grow. Eligible students will receive information to register directly with Camp High Hopes.
VI camp week is Youth Camper Assist week.
For more information and to register: Camp Schedule and Information
Contact Susan Rolinger or your child’s TVI
Camp Abilities Spotlight
For most children in the United States, running and jumping and hanging with friends is a given. But for children who are visually impaired, nothing is a given. Until, that is, they arrive at Camp Abilities. Camp Abilities provides the environment, the support, and the expectation that all children can participate on the ball field or in the gym. Yes, Camp Abilities is an educational sports camp with individualized instruction. But for children who are visually impaired, it’s one week where running and jumping and making new friends IS a given. Strong. Determined. Fearless. And Empowered. At Camp Abilities, children who are visually impaired embrace these descriptions. Camp Abilities is not just a week at camp. It’s a lifetime of believing in yourself.
Girls Night Out Spotlight
Girls Night Out is an overnight camp for female students across the state. While attending this camp, girls get to participate in group activities to pamper themselves and create new friendships with other students. Each year, we try to introduce a wide variety of new recreation and leisure activities. In previous years, we have hosted silent discos, hair/nail appointments, and watched an accessible movie at a local movie theater. We also go out to eat at local restaurants to practice social skills and money budgeting. Girls Night Out is an annual camp that many of our students look forward to and is a great opportunity for students to pamper themselves and make memories with new friends!
Transition Life Skills Spotlight
Transition Life Skills camp focuses on independence. From independent living skills to job preparation, we explore it all! Campers participate in the job seeking process from application to resume to job interviews using their assistive technology. We will build their resume through volunteer experience and develop skills around the apartment in a college dorm. Campers will explore the city while taking the city bus to various locations. Campers will be engaging in one adventure after another designed to develop their independent living skills.