Englishton Park receives large Capital Improvement Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Aims to help Indiana residential youth camps improve the overall camp experience and outcomes for youth

Englishton Park, Inc. has received a $750,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Capital Project Initiative for Residential Youth Camps. This is one of 69 implementation grants being awarded summer camp programs throughout Indiana in phase 2 of the initiative, which aims to help Indiana residential youth camps improve the overall camp experience and outcomes for youth through new, enhanced and expanded facilities integral to quality youth camp programming.

Earlier in the Summer, Lilly Endowment, Inc. had provided a $150,000 Planning Grant in a first phase. With it, Englishton Park had hired Ratio Design of Indianapolis and the architectural and design firm had updated the Englishton Park Masterplan. From the updated Masterplan, an Englishton Park committee had identified two focus projects for the implementation phase.

With the implementation grant, in phase 2, Englishton Park, Inc. will build a new 2 room dormitory and renovate its existing kitchen and food service facilities. The new dormitory will house a total of 22 campers for each 10-day session of the summer camp. The building will include 2 large bathrooms for campers. It will be built in the center of the main campus adjacent to the famous barn. The kitchen and food service facility improvement will expand food preparation, add a dishwasher and will expand the dining room.

“Englishton Park Children’s Summer Camp is thrilled to receive this $750,000 Capital Project Initiative Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. This is the largest single gift granted to Englishton Park, Inc. in our 58 year history. It represents a level of trust by the Lilly Endowment Inc. in the special academic remediation and behavior modification program offered for youth at Englishton Park Summer Camp. The new dormitory facility and kitchen improvements are answers to needs we have had for several years,” said Larry Truax, Executive Director, Englishton Park Inc.

About Englishton Park Children’s Summer Camp

The Englishton Park Children's Summer Program is a 10-day residential, overnight, summer camp program for at-risk girls and boys, aged 8-12 in June and July each summer. There are three 10-day sessions, focused on academic remediation and behavior modification. All daily learning activities are paired with fun outdoor activities in a Summer Camp setting. As many as 32 to 35 children from all over central and southern Indiana attend each session. The children, ages 8-12, who come to Englishton Park Summer Camp may present a learning disability, an emotional disability, or a diagnosis of ADHD, anxiety, and/or mild depression. Many of the children have experienced adverse childhood events and trauma. Children are referred by classroom teachers, school counselors, school administrators, private mental health professionals, and agencies like DCS. Children who present IEPs are accommodated. Staff members utilize cognitive behavior modification strategies such as positive verbal and physical praise, a daily reward system, modeling, and frequent positive behavior support. Our approach is focused on removing obstacles which hinder grade-level appropriate achievement. Each camper also receives special, daily, focused, grade level appropriate, one on one tutoring in Language Arts and Math.

2026 will be the 58th consecutive summer camp. For information about the camp and enrollment visit www.englishtonpark.com.

About Lilly Endowment

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.