SPARK Leadership Camp 2026

SPARK Leadership Camp is a week-long summer program designed for high school students with disabilities in the Milwaukee area who want to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and learn how to advocate for themselves and others. Through hands-on activities, group discussions, and creative experiences, participants explore what it means to speak up, promote change, advocate for rights, raise their voices, and kindle confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Held at Independence First, SPARK offers opportunities to make new friends, learn about healthy and safe relationships, and practice real-world advocacy skills. Camp days include engaging activities such as songwriting and music production, games and raffles, ComedySportz, and calming experiences like Zen gardens. 

SPARK Leadership Camp will take place June 22–June 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with an early dismissal at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and will be held at Independence First, 540 South 1st Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204.

Seats are limited. To apply or to request accommodations, contact Kristin Stern at 414-226-8332 or email YLS@independencefirst.org. 

Reasonable Accommodations  
Independence First is committed to providing the highest degree of accessibility when offering agency-sponsored events. Please notify Kristin Stern at (414) 226-8332 with your disability-related accommodation requests by 2 weeks before the event. We will do our best to honor accommodation requests made after this date. 

Environmental Chemical Sensitivities 
For the safety and comfort of those with chemical and environmental sensitivities, Independence First requests that when attending agency-sponsored events, please refrain from using any perfumed products such as scented soaps, deodorants, perfumes, colognes and heavily scented fabric softeners. To maintain a smoke-free environment, please also refrain from smoking in paths of travel and doorways.