Camp Kindle
Central United States, 28245 Avenue Crocker Ste 104, Santa Clarita, CA 91380
About
Camp Kindle includes recreation, camp songs, arts and crafts, science experiments, games, and other camp activities. The program also includes educational components such as Math, Science, Music, and Art programs, as well as time to sing, eat lunch, talk about mental and physical wellness, and share stories. Programs also include online “Kindle Nights” with Monday night Zoom calls where participants play games, sing, talk about mental and physical wellness, share stories, and connect within a safe loving community.
• Ages: 7–15 years old
• Schedule: Day camp runs for one week from 9am–3pm; residential programs and Camp2U are described as week-long or one-day sessions
• Price: Camp Kindle Midwest, Camp Kindle West, and Camp Kindle Day Camp are cost free, and Camp Kindle Day Camp is 100 percent cost free to its participants
Camp Kindle Midwest and Camp Kindle West each serve children ages 7–15 infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS through cost free residential week-long programs. Camp Kindle Day Camp focuses on programming for children ages 7–12 with any medical complication or life challenge, and past participants have included children on the autism spectrum, ADHD, visual impairments, cerebral palsy, and mental health challenges. Because of the high needs of the participating campers at Camp Kindle Day Camp, most are paired with a counselor forming a 1:1 camper/staff ratio, and all the Camp Kindle Day Camp staff are volunteers.
Camp2U brings the summer camp experience to children that cannot attend a traditional day camp or residential camp program and can be held in hospitals, parks, clubhouses, or family backyards. Camp2U began when a group serving mostly children on the autism spectrum asked Camp Kindle to bring a camp program to them, and Camp2U is looking to expand by working with college students across the country to help them establish Camp2U chapters.
Camp Kindle was established in August of 1998 and began as a one week summer camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS, holding its first camp session in July of 1999. Camp Kindle West was established in 2005, and both Camp Kindle Day Camp and Camp2U were established in 2012. Camp Kindle’s camp programs have served over 4,500 children according to the About page, and the homepage states they have served over 5,000 campers and educated over 24,000 students, with news mentioning the 22nd annual Camp Kindle session taking place this summer.
Project Kindle’s primary purpose is to serve those with serious illnesses, special needs and other life challenges by providing cost-free camping programs, year round support and advocacy, and innovative peer-based HIV/AIDS education for young people ages 12–24. The purpose of Camp Kindle is to enhance the overall well-being of children and young people living with a chronic or life threatening illness, disability, or other life challenge, primarily through camping events held in Nebraska and California. The camps serve youth facing health challenges throughout the Central and Western United States and offer educational and recreational programming, supportive environments, and year round support, with a vision of helping young people build a stronger future in which they believe in themselves and have the leadership and character to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Camp Kindle began as a one week summer camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS and has evolved to include health strategies that incorporate the promotion of mindfulness and wholehearted living through human connections, and the organization states that it offers a safe, nurturing, supportive space for each participant to be themselves wholeheartedly, with no secrets, no shame, and no stigma.
The organization’s Founder and President, Eva Payne, has an extensive background in youth camping programs. Vice President and Camp Director Mandy Nickolite brought a strong background in mental health and was working on her Masters in Counseling at Doane University in Nebraska at the time she took on her role. Camp Kindle held its first camp session with the help of 30 professional volunteer staff members, and campers are usually paired 1:1 with a volunteer camp counselor.
Camp Kindle Day Camp is held each year through the help of funding from local foundations, companies and individuals, and the organization notes that it is only able to offer its programs because of the generosity of thousands of individuals, corporations and organizations. Camp2U brings typical camp programming and volunteer staff to nonprofit groups that do not have experience running camp programs, and the organization states it is committed to creating similar “safe spaces” in communities for those facing various health challenges.
Last updated June 8, 2026.
• Ages: 7–15 years old
• Schedule: Day camp runs for one week from 9am–3pm; residential programs and Camp2U are described as week-long or one-day sessions
• Price: Camp Kindle Midwest, Camp Kindle West, and Camp Kindle Day Camp are cost free, and Camp Kindle Day Camp is 100 percent cost free to its participants
Camp Kindle Midwest and Camp Kindle West each serve children ages 7–15 infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS through cost free residential week-long programs. Camp Kindle Day Camp focuses on programming for children ages 7–12 with any medical complication or life challenge, and past participants have included children on the autism spectrum, ADHD, visual impairments, cerebral palsy, and mental health challenges. Because of the high needs of the participating campers at Camp Kindle Day Camp, most are paired with a counselor forming a 1:1 camper/staff ratio, and all the Camp Kindle Day Camp staff are volunteers.
Camp2U brings the summer camp experience to children that cannot attend a traditional day camp or residential camp program and can be held in hospitals, parks, clubhouses, or family backyards. Camp2U began when a group serving mostly children on the autism spectrum asked Camp Kindle to bring a camp program to them, and Camp2U is looking to expand by working with college students across the country to help them establish Camp2U chapters.
Camp Kindle was established in August of 1998 and began as a one week summer camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS, holding its first camp session in July of 1999. Camp Kindle West was established in 2005, and both Camp Kindle Day Camp and Camp2U were established in 2012. Camp Kindle’s camp programs have served over 4,500 children according to the About page, and the homepage states they have served over 5,000 campers and educated over 24,000 students, with news mentioning the 22nd annual Camp Kindle session taking place this summer.
Project Kindle’s primary purpose is to serve those with serious illnesses, special needs and other life challenges by providing cost-free camping programs, year round support and advocacy, and innovative peer-based HIV/AIDS education for young people ages 12–24. The purpose of Camp Kindle is to enhance the overall well-being of children and young people living with a chronic or life threatening illness, disability, or other life challenge, primarily through camping events held in Nebraska and California. The camps serve youth facing health challenges throughout the Central and Western United States and offer educational and recreational programming, supportive environments, and year round support, with a vision of helping young people build a stronger future in which they believe in themselves and have the leadership and character to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Camp Kindle began as a one week summer camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS and has evolved to include health strategies that incorporate the promotion of mindfulness and wholehearted living through human connections, and the organization states that it offers a safe, nurturing, supportive space for each participant to be themselves wholeheartedly, with no secrets, no shame, and no stigma.
The organization’s Founder and President, Eva Payne, has an extensive background in youth camping programs. Vice President and Camp Director Mandy Nickolite brought a strong background in mental health and was working on her Masters in Counseling at Doane University in Nebraska at the time she took on her role. Camp Kindle held its first camp session with the help of 30 professional volunteer staff members, and campers are usually paired 1:1 with a volunteer camp counselor.
Camp Kindle Day Camp is held each year through the help of funding from local foundations, companies and individuals, and the organization notes that it is only able to offer its programs because of the generosity of thousands of individuals, corporations and organizations. Camp2U brings typical camp programming and volunteer staff to nonprofit groups that do not have experience running camp programs, and the organization states it is committed to creating similar “safe spaces” in communities for those facing various health challenges.
Last updated June 8, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.