The North Carolina Arboretum will provide a wealth of opportunities for youth this summer, including over 20 summer camps that will occur May 19 through August 8. Camps will be held Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for kindergarten through seventh grade, and from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for pre-kindergarteners.

Camp counselors will teach children about starting and caring for a garden, outdoor safety, camping, environmental responsibility, plant identification, making art materials from natural elements, and more. Select camps incorporate hikes through Arboretum forests and creeks in search of insects, plants and animals important to our mountain environment.

Materials used in these outdoor experiences, including fishing supplies, campfire-cooking gear, and puppets for younger groups, were donated by Diamond Brand Outdoors, an Arboretum 2008 Community Partner. “Since we first opened in 1964, Diamond Brand has been committed to helping youth-serving programs,” says the organization’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Gary Eblen. “With almost daily reports of ‘nature deficit’ among our children, we continue to look for ways to partner with others who share our goal of getting kids outside to connect with nature.”

Summer camps at the Arboretum have also received support from Southern Waterways and Sensibility Spas in Asheville, and grant funding from Leave No Trace.

Summer camps have been part of the Arboretum’s youth programming for three years and participation has nearly doubled during that time. Camp counselors are college educated in the field of natural sciences and trained in CPR and first aid. With one adult for every ten youth, camp provides an intimate setting that will enhance children’s appreciation for nature and the environment.

Registration for summer camps is taken on a first-come first-serve basis, and can be made by mail or drop-off only. Before care and after care are available for an additional fee. Arboretum members receive a discount on summer camps. Visit www.ncarboretum.org for camp offerings, registration applications and membership information, or call 828-665-2492.