Environmental Summer Camps 2014

By Kelsey Boyajian

Children having a blast at Camp Muddy Sneakers in Brevard, N.C.

Would you like to splash in a mountain creek and identify tree frogs? Study marine biology and learn about sea turtles in the sandy dunes of North Carolina? Or go on backpacking, horseback riding and tubing adventures in the foothills of eastern Tennessee? Browse our online listing of summer camp programs for all ages ranging from five to 18 years old. The majority of the programs have an emphasis on environmental sciences and sustainability, with outdoor activities including hiking, wilderness skills, field science and more. Programs offer opportunities for exciting challenges and games, and an interesting, fun-filled summer! Camp costs vary and some scholarships are available.

RiverCamp
Session: 1 week (6/23-6/27; 7/7-7/11; 7/21-7/25)
Location: Asheville, N.C.
Age Group: 8-14
Cost: Free with registration

RiverLink is having an adventurous, fun, and educational summer camp! Campers will learn about rivers, enjoy the outdoors, and have fun with arts and crafts! June 23rd -27th and July 21st -25th for rising 6th-8th grade. July 7th – 11th for rising 3rd-5th grade. Register online or by calling Education Coordinator, Lizzy.

Camp Chattooga Session: 1-8 week sessions (Open 6/1-8/2) Location: Tallulah Falls, Ga. Age Group: 7-14 years old (girls only) Cost: $695-775	Participate in activities that encourage growth and development, including hiking, archery and arts and crafts. Cabins house 16 campers of various age groups.
Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass Session: 5 day session (Open 6/9-8/1) Location: Versailles, Ky. Age Group: 7-14 years old Cost: $375 total (including $150 deposit)	Life Adventure Center is an educational nonprofit that offers campers various programs from environmental education, to wilderness living, to the challenge course. Campers are encouraged to engage, educate and empower each participant.
Sea Turtle Camp Date: 6/15-6/27 and/or 7/27-8/8 Location: Topsail Island, N.C. Age Group: 13-17 years old Cost:$3,495 (including $1,195 deposit)	Marine Biology Open Water Scuba Camp Escape the heat and explore the water of the Atlantic. The Sea Turtle Open Water SCUBA Camp is for ages 13-17. Campers will be trained by the best divers on the East Coast, and by the end of the session they will receive their SCUBA certification from the National Association of Underwater instructors. Camp tuition includes suites on Topsail Island, all meals, all equipment, professional scuba instruction, transportation, 24-hour supervision.
Sea Turtle Camp Date: 6/22-7/2 Location: Topsail Island, N.C. Age Group: 13-17 years old Cost:$2,895 (including $995 deposit)	Marine Biology Immersion Camp An 11-day session where campers will spend 15 hours working with the volunteers of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital. Campers will participate in rehabilitation at the hospital, conduct sea turtle nest walks, learn about salt marshes and sea turtles and study marine debris in the Sargasso Sea and other oceanic surface currents. Campers will earn up to 25 hours of community service.
Green River Preserve Session: One to three weeks (Open 6/8-8/8) Location: Blue Ridge Mountains, N.C. Age Group: 2nd-9th graders Cost: $1275-$3600	Green River Preserve provides opportunities for young children and teens to connect with nature in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Campers will spend time on hiking, campouts, afternoon activities and group learning projects. Through the activities, campers will learn healthy and rewarding ways to spend their free time.
Eagle’s Nest Session: One to three weeks (Open 6/7-8/10) Location: Pisgah Forest, N.C. Age Group: 5th-9th graders Cost: $2575-$3990 *financial aid available	Join Eagle’s Nest Camp, located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in N.C., with campers from all around the world. Campers are encouraged to grow simply with activities that promote self-expression, personal growth, skill building and fun. Camp activities are related to wilderness, arts and music, athletics, classes and other special activities.
UNCW Marine Quest Session: One to three weeks Location: Wilmington, N.C. Age Group: Varies Cost: Varies	UNCW MarineQuest offers a variety of different programs for that suit different age groups. Campers can observe marine organisms up close, conduct hands-on science experiments, play educational field games and crafts, or explore the ocean through more service learning programs.
Camp Muddy Sneakers Session: 5 Days (Open 6/9-8/8) Location: Brevard, N.C., Asheville, N.C., or Fletcher, N.C. Age Group: 5th graders Cost: $295	A new and exciting day camp located in western N.C. that seeks to educate rising 4th through 7th graders on the natural world through hands-on exploration. Camp Muddy Sneakers offers an innovative day camp that seeks to build on each organizations’ recognized environmental education programming while filling a niche in the current summer camp offerings.
Western North Carolina Nature Center Session: 1 week (8:30am- 3pm); open 6/16-8/8 Location: Asheville, N.C. Age Group: Pre-school- Elementary school Cost: $70-175	Each session has a different theme covering subjects such as plants and animals, social studies and the arts and sciences. Crafts and lessons in the classroom will encourage environmental awareness among children.
National Environmental Summit Date: July 8-12 Location: Salisbury, N.C. Age Group: High School (14-17 years of age) Cost: $490	The 2014 National Environmental Summit for High School Students will be led by the Center for the Environment at Catawba College and the Rocky Mountain Institute. Participants will learn the skills needed to create a sustainable environment in their futures. Small workshops will also teach students leadership skills.
Camp Explore Session: One week (Open 5/26-7/11) Location: Greeneville, Tenn. Age Group: 4th-6th graders (grade just completed) Cost: $25 for day trip, $100 for overnight trip	Camp Explore is committed to enhance student awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the environment by teaching and modeling good character traits while exploring nature. The camp features environmental education, character education, hands-on experiential activities, critical-thinking development, cooperative learning and more.
Smoky Mountain Adventure Camp Session: 5 days to 4 weeks (Open 6/22-7/25) Location: Smoky Mountains, Tenn. Age Group 8-18 years old Cost: $795 – $2795	Take an adventure with Smoky Mountain Adventure Camp. Activities include backcountry hikes, caving, rock climbing, rafting, tubing, horseback riding and overnight backpacking expeditions at the foothills of East Tennessee.
Tate’s Day Camp Session: 4 to 5 days (Open 5/27-8/1) Location: Knoxville, Tenn. Age: 3-13 years old Cost: $266- $286	Tate’s Day Camp offers traditional camp activities. Through hands-on activities and low counselor-to-camper ratios, campers are given opportunities to build self-esteem and allowed individual growth and maturity.
Camp Idyllwild Session: One-night sleepover, and 4 to 5 days (Open 5/27-8/7) Location: Duck River, Tenn. Age Group: 5-13 years old Cost: $300 for weekly sessions. Discount may apply.	Camp Idyllwild provides opportunities for campers to explore nature in an unstructured way and use their imaginations to discover their environment. Campers will build forts, explore creeks, hike, make arts and crafts, and learn about organic gardening. Camp Idyllwild’s child-centered camp philosophy allows campers to make choices throughout the day and encourages independent thinking and decision-making.
Nature Camp Session: 2-3 weeks (Open 6/15-8/9) Location: Rockbridge County, Va. Age Group: 7-15 years old Cost: $815 *financial aid available	Nature Camp offers educational and recreational programs. Founded by Lillian Schilling of Afton, Va., in 1942, this camp educates campers on the importance of conserving and protecting the environment.
Browne Summer Camp Session: 8 weeks, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Location: Alexandria, Va. Age Group: 3-13 Cost: $270-$390 per week for mini camp. $390 for both junior and senior camps.	Browne Summer Camp offers a variety of activities to meet the interests of our campers and increase self-confidence and pride. Activities include daily swimming with certified lifeguards, art, sports, music, dance, technology, nature, drama and more.
Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing Session: 1-4 weeks (Open 6/15-8/23) Location: New Castle, Va. Age Group: 8-18 years old Cost: $795- $2640	Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing lies on 500 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just 35 miles northwest of Roanoke, Va. Campers can explore the outdoors learn about wildlife. Provided programs are designed to challenge children both physically and mentally, but the ultimate goal is the fun, friendship and camaraderie that can only be found around a campfire, sleeping under the stars.
West Virginia State Conservation Camp Session: One six-day session (6/9-6/14) Location: Webster County, W.Va. Age Group: 14-18 Cost: $185, scholarships available	WV State Conservation Camp is located on the edge of Monongahela National Forest in the towering mountains of southern Webster County, West Virginia. Campers can enjoy an action-packed week filled with interactive workshops, group assemblies, recreation opportunities, evening campfires and social events.
34th Annual Junior Conservation Camp Session: 1 week (6/16-6/20) Location: Ripley, W.Va. Age Group: 11-14 Cost: $170	The camp offers a wide variety of classes that will enhance the participant’s knowledge of the environment and enable them to become good stewards of our natural resources. Classes include forestry, wildlife, archery, water study, recycling, hunter education, fishing, and many others. Sports activities include basketball, kickball, volleyball, and more.
Department of Environmental Protection Junior Conservation Camp Session: One five-day session (6/16-6/20) Location: Ripley, W.Va. Age Group: 11-14 Cost: $170	Nestled in the foothills of Appalachia, Cedar Lakes sits on more than 200 acres in Jackson County, W. Va. Morning classes on environmental education include forestry, wildlife, hunter and fishing education and more. Afternoons include activities such as traditional sports, archery, canoeing, yoga and geocaching.
Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies Session: 3-12 days (Open 6/22-7/27) Location: Capon Bridge, W.Va. Age Group: Ages 8-21+ Cost: $880- $1520	Located in a remote valley of the West Virginian Appalachians, the Burgundy Center offers campers great ways to explore nature. Small camp size fosters camaraderie.Campers may get to see deer, dragonflies, red-spotted newts and more.
Camp Greenbrier for Boys Session: 3-6 weeks (Open 6/29-8/9) Location: Alderson, W.Va. Age Group: 7-18 years old (boys only) Cost: $2775- $4750	Camp Greenbrier For Boys, found in 1898, is located on the banks of the Greenbrier River in Alderson, West Virginia. Operated by the same family for three generations, Camp Greenbrier is a safe haven where boys have fun, gain self-confidence, and make lifelong friends.
Camp Rim Rock for Girls Session: 1-4 weeks (Open 6/29-8/23) Location: Yellow Spring, W.Va. Age Group: 6-16 years old (girls only) Cost: $1300-$4200	Operating for over sixty years and regarded by campers and camp professionals as one of the finest camps for girls, Camp Rim Rock Camp for Girls offers a well-rounded program. Activities include performing arts, arts and crafts, horseback riding, various sports and more.
Camp High Rocks Dates: June 14th-27th or July 12th-27th Location: Hillsboro, W.Va. Age Group: 7th grade (First session) and 8th-11th grade (Second session); girls only Cost: Free *recommendations required	Camp High Rocks serves girls from three rural counties in West Virginia: Pocahontas, Nicholas and Greenbrier. High Rocks teaches young women leadership skills, the value of building a community and how to live healthy and empowered lifestyles.
Full Circles Foundation Dates: July 14-August 1 (4-day sessions) Location: Raleigh, N.C. & Lexington, Ky. Age Group: 4-17 years old; girls only Cost: Free *recommendations required	Full Circles Foundation’s Strong Camp is a residential program for young women that helps to promote a strong self, strong neighbor and strong home in their day-to-day lives, through lessons on culture, community-building and our global systems.
Rolling Academy Session: 1 session (6/24-7/7) Location: Across the U.S. Age Group: 9th-11th graders Cost: Free *recommendations required	This advanced leadership academy is based out of a van that travels all throughout the United States. Participants will see anything from a West Virginia coal mine to New York City on their excursions. Participants must be from Watauga County, N.C., to apply and are selected by a committee after being recommended.
Camp Easter Seals UCP Session: 6 and 12 day sessions (6/8-8/16) Location: North Carolina & Virginia Age Group: All ages Cost: $1,000-4,600 *scholarships available	Easter Seals UCP is a camp working specifically with disabled children and adults with assistance available through trained staff members. Campers participate in anything from sleeping under the stars to canoeing down Craig’s Creek or even riding a horse. Easter Seals provides a life changing experience for any age.