History

OVER SEVENTY YEARS OF ENRICHING LIVES

IKUS has been expanding the options available to individuals with disabilities and their families for over seventy years. Along the way, this has meant consistently expanding our offering of services in order to meet the needs of a wider range of clients.

This process began in 1952 when concerned parents of children with disabilities in the Grand Rapids area assessed their children’s options for summer recreation and decided that those options needed to be broadened. With the support and guidance of the public school system, they started the process of founding a camp solely dedicated to giving children with disabilities a summer camp experience. A year later, with a permanent grant of fifteen acres from the City of Grand Rapids and a small building built with the support of the local G.R. Rotary Club, Indian Trails Camp began serving physically disabled children.

Through the years, Indian Trails began offering recreational experiences for both children and adults, as well as individuals with both physical and developmental disabilities, due to a need for more choices and opportunities. Our programming also began to expand off-campus, with everything from skill building to supported employment to community living support. In 2016, we launched the camp’s parent organization, IKUS Life Enrichment Services, with the intention of continuing to grow and serve an ever-widening range of clients with a comprehensive suite of services and a person-centered approach. Going forward, IKUS will remain committed to providing another best day for individuals with disabilities by giving them a wide range of experiences.