Ages 4 - 6  |  8:30am - 1pm  |  $240

Childhood Magic Aftercare: 1 - 3 pm  $100

Arts, crafts, nature walks, outdoor free play, water play, storytelling, and more led by our early childhood staff from Emerson Waldorf School. Campers will enjoy the outdoors and have fun on our awesome Kindergarten playground! We will offer campers the opportunity to splash in our wading pools every day, so please plan to send them with a bathing suit and towel. Parents can also “opt in” for the additional aftercare from 1:00-3:00, which will include a quiet rest time after we splash. We will send a complete list of suggested items for campers to bring before camp begins.

Ages 6 - 8  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $340

If you are the person who is always stopping to say hello to the roly-polies, snails, and earthworms, this camp is just for you! Join Hannah McKinnis and come discover who is living under rocks, logs, and leaves and in the soil. We will see what insects we can find on our 54-acre campus — from the farm to the pond to the woods. Learn how to safely (for humans and insects alike!) collect and observe our many-legged friends. 

Hannah McKinnis attended Emerson Waldorf School for 13 years, and graduated from Guilford College in 2020. She has wanted to work with children for as long as she can remember and has loved getting to know all the children over the last four years. She has always enjoyed handwork and the outdoors and is excited to explore both further this summer.

Ages 7 - 11  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $340

Get in touch with the stars in this astrologically themed textile collage camp. Campers will learn about the zodiac and other planetary iconography as the inspiration to create their own zodiac textile collage, based on their star sign, a constellation, or a planet. We will use fabric glue, thread, sewing machines, hand sewing, weaving, braiding, and beading to create a variety of astrologically-inspired collages. 

Jill Moffett is an educator, writer, and fiber artist. She teaches language arts at EWS, and fiber arts at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. She lives in Chapel Hill with her family.

Ages 7 - 11  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $340

Join Miss Hannah in relaxing morning walks in the forest, foraging summer-blooming wildflowers and leaves to press. Campers will learn how to care for live flowers by weeding, pinching, and watering. We will then learn techniques for picking, drying, and storing flowers so we can craft wreaths, floral arrangements, and pressed flower art. Campers will finish the week with creative pieces to bring home and cherish.

Hannah Haizlip is a Kindergarten assistant teacher at Emerson Waldorf School. She has spent the past 3 summers flower farming at two local farms. She is looking forward to meeting campers this summer and sharing her love for flowers, crafts, and being out in nature. 

Ages 8 - 12  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $350

Are you a young skateboarder who wants more practice and a chance to improve your skills? Have you always wanted to skate but never had the chance? Spend a week learning the basics of skating and the positive aspects of skate culture. We will get warmed up and practice on campus and then venture out to explore local skateparks of the triangle (Apex, Durham, Chapel Hill). Any level of experience is welcome! All skaters need a board, helmet, and pads to participate in the camp. Let's skate!

Tori Roybal hails from Colorado where she spent her childhood immersed in the wonders of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Skateboarding, snowboarding, climbing, running, and cycling were a part of her daily routine and she spends her adult years pursuing these activities as much as she possibly can. She is a wife and a mother, a teacher and a mentor. She is an outdoor enthusiast to say the least and loves sharing this passion for the outdoors with others!

Ages 10 - 14  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $340

Dungeons & Dragons provides a collaborative storytelling experience that encourages creativity, problem-solving, social interaction, and a sense of community, allowing players to immerse themselves in a shared narrative while developing their characters and overcoming challenges together. Our quest will begin in the world of Krynn (Dragon Lance Campaigns), nearly 300 years after the last of the Dragon Wars. Adventure and heroism await in a world torn asunder.

Each adventurer will 

• craft and create their own character

• choose and paint their own character figurine

• create daily sketches of our adventures for a keepsake graphic novel

For our time together, students will need

• a healthy snack and lunch

• a water bottle

• a positive attitude

Brandon Kohn grew up playing Dungeons & Dragons and has a passion for fantasy novels and role playing. He is also a class teacher at Emerson, an experienced story teller, and an adventurer at heart. Brandon lives with his family in Mebane and spends his free time exploring our beautiful state. Brandon is looking forward to bringing a new generation of wanderers and quest seekers into the realm of fantasy gaming.

Ages 9 - 14  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $340

Campers will participate in all sorts of movement and mindfulness activities from outdoor yoga and stretching, hiking, and dancing to guided meditation, zentangle drawing, and journaling. Movement and mindfulness practices are incredibly beneficial skills which can aid emotional management, grow confidence, and create connection and friendship.

Ella Craddock is currently a student at Appalachian State University in Boone. She is an education major and aspires to become a teacher. Ella attended Emerson Waldorf from 1st to 4th grade, and she was a dancer for 12 years! Ella has also been practicing journaling and yoga for several years. She loves the outdoors, art, and school! 

Ages 10 - 15  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $340

Hosted by 2016 - 2018 Hillsborough Poet Laureate, 2022 ArtPrize Contemporary Art award winner, and author William Davis, this poetry camp encourages all attendees—whether they are poets, poetry-lovers, or even poets-to-be—to cultivate their sense of childlike wonder. It is first and foremost a writing retreat (with free time to write allotted). Students will engage in opportunities to share their work out loud and will be encouraged to write on a broad range of topics from nature to feelings to ongoing situations and issues around the world.

William Davis was appointed Hillsborough Poet Laureate for 2016-2018. For the last 12 years, he has helped create platforms for poets to share their work in Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Grand Rapids, and other places. He placed amongst the top artists in North Carolina at the Coast to Coast Live artist showcase in 2016. His work has been featured in the News of Orange, Chapel Hill Magazine, Princeton University, NC State University, George Washington University, Blue Cross Blue Shield, RedBull, and many grade schools throughout the US.

Ages 11 - 18  |  8:30am - 3pm  |  $420

Join us for an amazing opportunity to learn from experienced craftsman Peter Yencken. Parents, please note that this is a hands-on working camp, so campers who enjoy sustained work on a project will be best suited for Traditional Living Skills. Campers can choose between two tracks, unless they have attended the camp previously. Returning campers can contact Peter to request a different project.  

Track 1: Campers make a wooden hickory bow, wooden arrow with real turkey feathers, and leather quiver.

Track 2: Campers make a knife with a wooden handle shaped to fit their hand, leather bag, and leather water bottle holder. 

Peter Yencken has been making survival tools for over 25 years. He is a guest teacher to many wilderness schools here in the U.S. and Australia. Peter believes that “making things by hand, that are usable in our everyday life, brings a sense of enjoyment not found in purchased items.” His goal is to teach traditional skills that remain relevant to our modern life. 

Learn more about Peter and his work at www.villagelivingskills.com.