Superhero Camp Returns This Summer to Help Kids Build Resilience, Confidence, and Emotional Well-Being

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May 22, 2026

Community invited to volunteer, sponsor, and support the 10th year of free programming

MARION, Ind. — This summer marks a major milestone as Superhero Camp celebrates its 10th year of helping children discover the strengths they already carry inside themselves.

Hosted by Lark’s Song, Superhero Camp is a free five-day experience designed to help children build emotional intelligence, resilience, confidence, and practical tools for navigating life’s challenges. Through stories, music, movement, time in nature, meditation, and hands-on activities, campers learn to identify their unique strengths while developing healthy ways to respond to stress and adversity.

This year’s camp includes two opportunities to participate:

  • June 1–5: Community-wide camp at Matter Park, sponsored by the City of Marion
  • June 8–12: Partnership week with Marion Community Schools as part of summer programming

Since launching in 2017, Superhero Camp has remained completely free to families to help remove barriers to participation and increase access to social and emotional learning experiences.

The camp curriculum focuses on evidence-informed protective factors that support children’s long-term well-being. Research summarized from public health and childhood resilience studies shows that strengthening protective factors can decrease violence, increase psychological well-being and resilience, buffer children from the harmful impacts of traumatic experiences, and promote healthier outcomes across childhood and adolescence.

“At Superhero Camp, kids discover the superhero they already are,” Megan Gilmore, Lark's Song Founder and Executive Director, said. “They identify their strengths, learn to challenge stress and limiting beliefs, and imagine the problems they want to help solve in the world. Our goal is not to change who children are. It’s to help them recognize the strengths they already carry.”



Why Does This Matter?

According to data summarized from the CDC and shared by Lark’s Song, the protective factors taught at Superhero Camp can decrease violence by up to 20% and increase psychological well-being and resilience by up to 40%. Protective factors help buffer children from the harmful impacts of traumatic experiences, increase resilience to adversity, and promote overall well-being.

This work happens through a camp experience focused on:

  • Emotional intelligence and stress management
  • Identifying personal strengths
  • Challenging limiting beliefs and “mind bandits”
  • Building courageous choices and internal resources
  • Reflection and lasting learning

Participants also received take-home resources, including personal affirmation tools, guided activities, mindfulness resources, and access to continued learning after camp ended.

For the last 8 years Super Hero Camps have provided five days of full participation with nearly perfect attendance. 

This year's program will welcome: 

  • 135 campers
  • 21 junior leaders
  • 22 adult team leaders

To make this year’s camp possible, Lark’s Song is asking the community to join in three ways:

  • Volunteers: More than 10 adult volunteers are still needed
  • Sponsors: Businesses can support children’s well-being with sponsorships starting at $100
  • Donors: Approximately $7,000 remains to fully fund this year’s experience

Learn more, volunteer, sponsor, or donate at: Lark’s Song Superhero Camp