A Cornucopia of CAMPS

By Tiffany Allison c/o MountainTimes

As summer draws close and school is coming to an end, parents are looking for something to entertain and

educate their children, while students desire to do nothing, but play outside. What a better way to meet both parties’ criteria than summer camp?

Here are a few camps around the area that offer outdoor activities to stimulate both mind and body during the summer months.

June
Appalachian State University athletic and academic camps
Appalachian State University will offer a variety of athletic and academic camps for those who would like a physical workout, as well as mental stimulation. ASU’s sports camps will include baseball, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, field hockey, football, girls’ fast-pitch softball, track and field, cheerleading, volleyball and wrestling. ASU’s academic camps include anatomy and physiology, a community music school focusing on music therapy, piano, cello and drumming, forensic science, math and a SAT preparation course.
Location: ASU campus, Boone
Ages: Varies between camps
Dates: Camps offered throughout summer
Payment: Varies between camps, most over $100
Contact: (828) 262-3045, www.camps.appstate.edu

STARTALK — North Carolina Summer Institute in Chinese
STARTALK — North Carolina Summer Institute in Chinese — will be a camp whose main goal is to immerse its campers in the Chinese language and culture. This program is collaboration between ASU and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The goal of the program is to improve campers’ proficiency in Chinese language, both in classroom settings and out of class. This program will enhance critical thinking skills and cross-cultural communication. To apply for the camp, visit http://www.conferences-camps.appstate.edu/academic/startalk.php
Location: ASU campus, Boone
Ages: 9-12 graders
Dates: June 16- July 5
Payment: $50 deposit upon acceptance
Contact: Li Jin at (828) 262- 2305

Cannon music camp
Practice your instrument of choice even during the summer at Appalachian State University’s music camp. Cannon Music Camp has offered a comprehensive course in musical instruction since 1969 and prepares high school students for college in performance and music theory. Campers will receive one-on-one instruction and private lessons from their instructors. This camp is open to serious music students who want to excel in their art form.
Location: ASU campus, Boone
Ages: Rising ninth- through 12th-graders
Dates: June 27- July 25
Payment: $1,550, plus meal plan
Contact: Stephen M. Hopkins at (828) 262-4091

Camp UREC
Camp UREC offers a variety of fitness, sports and outdoor activities to occupy your little ones. Ten campers will be paired with one Appalachian State University student, who will lead them in kickboxing, yoga, tennis, soccer, basketball, badminton, dodge ball, the climbing wall and arts and crafts. Camp UREC offers a safe environment for children to enjoy the great outdoors of Boone and the surrounding area.
Ages: First- through eighth-graders
Dates: Registration is April 1; First week starts June 2, running through Aug. 1
Payments: Prices vary upon how many weeks are signed up; $225 per week for general public
Contact: Erin Carpenter at (828) 262-3033

ASU Forensic Camp
Intersted in being a private eye or a detective? ASU’s Forensic Camp will give your child the opportunity to investigate a crime, detect and classify fingerprints, identify unknown substances, study evidence under a microscope and study gun shot residue. If you’ve ever wanted to solve a crime, now is your chance. If “Clue” is becoming a bore, try this camp and find a harder crime to solve.
Ages: Ninth- through 12th-grade
Dates: June 24-27 and July 15-18
Payments: $459 before March 31; $484 after March 31
Contact: (828) 262-8718

Blowing Rock Stage Company’s Theater 2009 CAMPservatories
Blowing Rock Stage Company will offer a variety of weeklong day camps with themes, including improvisation, play production, musical theater madness, technical theater and green screen training. Camps are taught by theater professionals and many are visited by designers, actors, directors and musicians from across the country.
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock
Ages: Vary between programs
Dates: Camps are held each week, starting June 15 and ending Aug. 27
Payment: $200
Deals: Students enrolled in camp will have the opportunity to attend a show performed and produced by the Blowing Rock Stage Company throughout their summer session free of charge.
Contact: Kim Cozort Kay at (828) 295-9168, ext. 3

Camp Broadstone’s Day Camp
Camp Broadstone is offering for its 33rd year of high-quality summer programs for gifted youth. The camp’s goal is to encourage social interaction, improve self-esteem and decision making by promoting educational and physical growth. Their summer 2009’s themes include “Broadstone sampler,” Blue Ridge base camp, aquatic adventure and global village week.
Location: Valle Crucis
Ages: Third- through sixth-graders
Dates: Start June 15, through July 31
Payment: Rate per week $250
Contact: Beth Higley at (828) 262-2944

Camp Broadstone’s Resident Camp
Camp Broadstone’s resident camp provides an opportunity for children to participate in adventurous activities, such as hiking, whitewater rafting and rock climbing, while stimulating their minds with science, history, arts and crafts and journalism courses. Campers will receive a balanced body and mind transformation throughout their stay ad Camp Broadstone.
Location: Valle Crucis
Ages: Fourth- through ninth-grade
Dates: Two-week sessions for fourth- through ninth-graders will be held June 14-26, July 5-17 and July 19-31. Single-week explorer sessions for fourth- through sixth-graders will be held June 14-19, July 5-10 and July 19-24.
Payment: Two-week sessions: fourth- through sixth-grade, $1,950; seventh- through ninth-grade, $2,045; and one-week session: $1,100.
Contact: Beth Higley at (828) 262-2944

Lutheridge and Lutherock camps
This camp offers summer camping with a focus on teamwork and Bible study. Activities include swimming, crafts, games, canoeing, hikes and a low-ropes course. Lutherock offers campers outdoor adventure programs, including rafting, backpacking, caving, rock climbing and rappelling.
Location: Lutheridge is located in Arden and Lutherock is in Newland
Ages: Camps sessions vary, ranging from first- to 12th-grade
Dates: Each camp offers weekly sessions, starting on June 7 and ending Aug. 8
Payment: Vary, depending on age and session. Range from $399 to $589.
Contact: For more information and to register, visit www.llmi.net.

Appalachian Summer Festival workshops and day camps
Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and Appalachian Summer Festival teamed up to provide kids and teens with a season full of arts and crafts all summer long.

Cre8tive Drama Day Camp
This camp offers a weeklong day camp focusing on drama and movement, taught by ASU faculty member Gordon Hensley and her student assistants.
Location: ASU’s I.G. Greer Studio Theater, Boone.
Date: Monday- Thursday, June 29- July 2, from 1-5 p.m.
Ages: 6 to 16 years old
Payment: $50 for Turchin Center members, $75 for others
Contact: (828) 262-3017 or e-mail turchincenter@appstate.edu.

3-D Sculpture: This event is taught by Vicky Grube’s art education students to engage children’s sculpting nature by building objects with cardboard, tape, string, clay and a variety of other materials.
Location: Arnold P. Rosen Family Education Wing, third floor classroom, ASU campus.
Date: Monday-Friday, June 15-19, from 10-11 a.m.
Ages: 4-9
Payment: $50 for non-TVCA members and $40 for members.
Contact: (828) 262-3017

Camp Cheerio and Cheerio Adventure Camp
YMCA-governed Camp Cheerio is offering horseback riding, aquatics, sports, creative arts, nature study and day trips. Cheerio Adventure Camp offers backpacking, climbing, rappelling, canoeing and kayaking, and whitewater rafting, not to mention their evening games, including capture the flag, carnival night, counselor hunt and talent night.
Ages: 7 to 15 years old.
Dates: Traditional: girls — June 7-July 11; coed — July 12-Aug. 21; and Adventure: June 14-Aug. 8
Payment: Depending upon camp length and age.
Contact: www.campcheerio.org

Watauga Arts Council
This year’s Summer Arts Camp offered by the Watauga Arts Council will feature the Missoula Children’s Theatre. The theater troupe will come to Watauga High School and teach Watauga County children their spin on “Beauty and the Beast.” When the kids are not in rehearsal, they will attend music, visual arts, storytelling and dance classes. Due to request, the Arts Council has bundled the camp costs, which now includes two performance tickets and one DVD, into the cost of registration.
Location: Watauga High School, Boone
Ages: Rising first- through 10th-grade
Dates: June 22-27
Payment: $150 registration for first child, and additional $125 for each sibling
Contact: Christy Chenausky at (828) 264-1789

Mountain Quest Summer Camp
Mountain Quest Summer Camp will be offering team building and cooperative games and sports for 9- to 12-year-olds. Children can come and develop their problem-solving skills, character and artistic talent at Mountain Quest.
Location: Blowing Rock Conference Center
Ages: 9-12
Dates: June 8-12, July 6-10, July 20-24 and Aug. 3-7
Payment: $300, includes lunch and fees
Contact: Sabrina at (828) 265-0602

Earth Quest: Part of Mountain Quest, the Earth Quest camp is geared toward hiking and learning basic camping skills. It is suitable for beginners and experience campers to come and enjoy nature with their fellow campers. If your young one loves hiking, storytelling, music, campfires and the outdoors, they will enjoy Earth Quest.
Location: The great outdoors
Ages: 9-12
Dates: June 29- July 3, July 13-17, July 27-31 and Aug. 10-14
Payment: $500
Contact: Sabrina at (828) 265-0602

Holston Presbytery Camp offers a small group camping structure and activities, such as canoeing, hiking, caving, backpacking, rock climbing, campouts, rappelling, crafts, rafting, backpacking and Bible study.
Location: Banner Elk
Ages: Varies depending upon camp session. Ages range from 8 to 17 years old
Dates: The camp offers weeklong sessions, starting on June 21 and ending July 24
Payment: Vary depending on age and camp session. Range from $370 to $515
Contact: To register and for more information, contact the camp at (828) 898-6611 or go online to holstoncamp.org.

Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camp
Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation’s summer day camps feature hiking, field trips and explorations of the Boone, Blowing Rock and Watauga County area. Campers will go on various field trips, including whitewater rafting, rock climbing and trail hiking. They will also attend a Hickory Crawdads game.
Location: Blowing Rock, various field trips
Ages: Rising first- through seventh-graders
Dates: June 9 through July 31
Fees: Rising first- and second-graders, $40 for Blowing Rock taxpayers, and $95 for others. Third- through seventh-graders, $50 for Blowing Rock taxpayers, and $110 for others.
Contact: Jennifer Brown at(828) 295-5222.

Creating in Clay — This session taught by Dana Krengel is designed to stimulate your child’s artistic side by making functional and artistic clay pieces. The class is guided step-by-step to help your child make bowls, wind chimes and clay creatures.
Location: Arnold P. Rosen Family Education Wing, third floor classroom, ASU campus.
Date: Monday-Friday, June 29-July 3, from 10- 11 a.m.
Ages: 8-12
Payment: TVC member $40, others $50

Watauga County Parks and Recreation — T-ball
This T-ball program is designed to equip children with the fundamentals of baseball and softball, including throwing, catching and batting. The program emphasizes teamwork and sportsmanship. Participants will meet three times per week for practices and games.
Location: Watauga County
Dates: Registration ends March 20
Ages: Children 5-6
Payment: $33 per child
Contact: 828-264-9511

Watauga County Parks and Recreation — Little League Coach Pitch Soft
Little League Coach Pitch Softball is designed to teach girls ages 6-8 the fundamentals of fast pitch softball. Teams are formed by geographic location, and the girls will play 10 games during the season, and they meet four times a week. Games are played Saturday morning and one weekday evening beginning at 5:30.
Location: Watauga County
Dates: Registration by March 20
Ages: Girls 6-8
Payment: $33
Contact: (828) 264-9511

Watauga County Parks and Recreation — Jr. Tennis
Jr. Tennis is designed to teach every level of tennis player. Transportation for matches will be provided, and a junior tennis team T-shirt and balls for practices and matches will be given to every player.
Location: Watauga County
Dates: Begins June 1
Payment: $80
Contact: (828) 264-9511

Camp Rainbow
Camp Rainbow is a residential day camp run by the Eastern Star Chapter of North Carolina. Directed toward children ages 9-17, this camp offers a wide variety of activities for participants to enjoy, including trips to Tweetsie and gem mines. On other days, campers can swim in the pool, climb Outward Bound-certified ROPES course or expand their creative minds in the craft house. Talent shows will be held on Thursday nights during camp weeks for campers to show off their talents.
Location: Foscoe community
Ages: 9-17
Dates: June 1- Aug. 3; first four weeks, girls, and last week, boys only
Payment: $240 per week
Contact: Donna Mcgrath at (828) 963-4680

Western Youth Network summer day camps
Western Youth Network summer day camps will offer overnight trips to different locations around the state, as well as backpacking, hiking, swimming, canoeing and whitewater rafting. Western Youth Network is planning fun activities to entertain today’s youth.
Location: Western Youth Network, Boone, with the four day-a-week camp starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m.
Ages: 6-9 graders
Dates: Tentatively June 16-July 23
Contact: Holste Ronny

July
ASU Super Skills Academy
Need to practice hitting home runs or need a little coaching on your speedball? Sign up for ASU’s baseball academy and receive coaching from ASU’s coaches. The camp includes drills, videotape review, a lecture and simulated live game situations, which will enhance the camper’s learning experience. Each camper will receive a T-shirt and will be evaluated at the end of the week by the coaches.
Ages: 6-16
Dates: July 19-22
Payments: Resident, $345; day,$195; half day, $135
Contact: Chris Pollard at (828) 262- 6097

Appalachian State University’s Math Camp
For those who hate, fear or love the logical, brain-teasing subject of math, sign up for ASU’s Math Camp to answer that million dollar question of “What is math good for?” This camp might seem like a bore, but the days are packed full of competitions, prizes, snacks, and even magic tricks. The orchestrators provide hands-on activities with graphing calculators and computers to help your child excel in the subject of math.
Location: Third floor of Walker Hall on the ASU campus
Dates: July 13-16 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Payment: $120 per student
Contact: www.conferences-camps.appstate.edu/academic/mathcamp.php

Create Your Own Fantasy Chair: This session is taught by Dr. Gayle Weitz’s art education students to challenge your child to build his or her own functional yet artistic seating device. Imagine a panda bear beanbag, or a pink flamingo folding chair, the options are endless.
Location: Arnold P. Rosen Family Education Wing, third floor classroom, ASU campus
Date: Monday-Friday, July 20-24, from 1- 3 p.m.
Ages: 8-12
Payment: TVC member $40, other $50

Family Camp: Looking to enjoy the summer with your family? Mountain Quest offers a family camp for those interested in breaking away into Appalachian’s forest with their family. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is considered a relaxing trip geared toward building family values.
Ages: All
Dates: July 3-6, July 17-19 and July 31-Aug. 3
Payment: $55 per person (minimum of 16 people)
Contact: Sabrina at (828) 265-0602

And for adults:
Awakening the Spirit
Enjoy a nature study of birds, medicinal plant walks, dance, music drums, tai chi and lake swimming to connect with yourself and others. Let the powers of dance, music and nature bring awareness to your body’s needs.
Location: Sugar Hollow Retreat
Ages: Adults
Dates: June 25-28
Payment: $435 per person (includes meals and lodging)
Contact: Dingo Brown (828) 964-5734

If you don’t see a regional camp listed above, please contact reagan@mountaintimes.com to be included in a future update.

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