2012 Discovery Camp Sessions
A day camp with a lot to offer! Our programs are based on the philosophy that every child deserves a chance to enjoy and explore the natural world. Younger children will enjoy activities within our 434-acre campus such as wildlife safaris, creek explorations, nature crafts and fort building. Older students engage in adventure activities both within our campus and at other local destinations. Our excursions encourage campers to be mindful of their safety and their impact on the environment as we raft, hike, geocache, camp, mountain bike, fish and enjoy the beauty and adventure of our mountains and streams.
Registration in now open! Register early, sessions fill quickly!
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View our Printable "Refrigerator" Camp Schedule
Pre-Kindergarten Sessions
Animal Adventures- June 4-8, 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Our forests, pond and fields are home to many amazing animals. Come along to discover these critters as we enjoy short hikes, meet real live animals, make crafts and listen to stories. Bring your curiosity along with you; there are lots of animals to encounter at the Arboretum! Siblings under age 2 may accompany for free. Parents must attend along with their child/children. $90.00/members, $110.00/general public.
Gone Buggy- July 23-27, 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Come see through the eyes of an insect as we learn how they live, what they eat and how special each one is. Go on short hikes to discover the smallest and largest bugs you can find. Fun-filled stories will help children explore how bugs get along with the rest of the world. Siblings under age 2 may accompany for free. Parents must attend along with their child/children. $90.00/members, $110.00/general public.
Camouflage Critters- August 13-17, 9:30 am to 11:30 am
Who's hiding here? Join us as we explore the many different places animals hide at the Arboretum. Look for lizards in the garden, hunt for butterflies and birds in a meadow, and even examine insects found in a stream! Come prepared each day for a short hike as we investigate the many critters that call the Arboretum home. Siblings under age 2 may accompany for free. Parents must attend along with their child/children. $90.00/members, $110.00/general public.
Rising Kindergarten/First Grade Sessions
Nature Rangers- June 4-8, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Come with us as we learn how to protect and cherish some of the most amazing things on earth. As a little Nature Ranger you will play outdoor games, go on hikes, make crafts from recycled items, and even meet a grown up Park Ranger! If you love hunting for animals and exploring woodlands, meadows and streams- this camp is for you! $185/members, $205/general public.
Wet and Wild- June 18-22, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Creeks and ponds and puddles, oh my! Come along as we visit the many aquatic habitats found in our forests and along our trails. We’ll use nets and magnifying lenses in search of fish, salamanders, dragonflies and other animals. There’s no telling what sort of water critters we’ll encounter! Water games and crafts will serve as a great way to cool off this summer! $185/members, $205/general public.
Little Mountaineers- July 2-6, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Embark on an outdoor adventure every day as a little mountaineer. Meet a new friend as we learn how to get ready for a hike, discover how to read trail maps, and explore the trails and woodlands of the Arboretum on age-appropriate excursions. Don’t miss out on this week of fun in the great outdoors! $185/members, $205/general public.
Fur, Feathers and Scales- July 16-20, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Wildlife abounds at the Arboretum! Join us for a wild encounter as we explore streams, woodlands, and gardens in search of lizards, chipmunks and songbirds. Wildlife crafts, games and stories, along with live animal demonstrations, guarantee a wild week for all! $185/members, $205/general public.
Eco Artists- July 30-August 3, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Get in touch with your inner artist this summer as we explore the wonders of the woods! We'll get energized while we discover how “food energy” moves from one animal to another in an ecosystem. There’s an amazing variety of life found in the gardens and woodlands of the Arboretum, and we’ll put our own artistic touch in the paintings, drawings and crafts they inspire us to create. $185/members, $205/general public.
Arboretum Adventure- August 13-15, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Join us as we explore all the amazing classic camp adventures waiting for you at the Arboretum. Bring your friends and meet new ones as we hike in search of critters, splash in creeks, harvest vegetables from the children’s garden, and play games outside. You’ll even make a special souvenir to remember the fun! $125/members, $145/general public. Please note this camp runs from Monday to Wednesday only to accomodate Buncombe County School's schedule.
Rising Second/Third Grade Sessions
Advanced Nature Rangers- June 11-15, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Join our Nature Ranger team! Learn all about the animals that live in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, how to spot them and where they live. Observe salamanders, insects and fish as you explore Bent Creek. Scout for tracks and other wildlife signs as you explore the homes of lizards, birds and the mammals. Special wildlife mysteries will put you to the test as you examine evidence left behind by creatures of the forest. You never know what animals we may encounter! $185/members, $205/general public.
Junior Mountaineers- June 25-29, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
This camp offers all sorts of outdoor skills, games and activities like making shelters out of found materials and learning how to use a map while on a hike. Use teamwork to create camp gadgets and play outdoor games. Gain essential survival skills while learning the basics of using a compass, setting up a tent and planning a day hike. Get ready for a week of outdoor fun! $185/members, $205/general public.
Nature’s Studio- July 2-6, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Beautiful mountain views and crystal streams will provide amazing inspiration as you paint, sketch and mold your own creations. Explore the picture perfect details of the world around you while in search of insects, salamanders, birds and more. Get in touch with your inner artist as you create art with materials you find in nature. Learn the basics of taking good pictures as we go on a photography hike. Make an original masterpiece every day! $185/members, $205/general public.
Woodland Ways- July 9-13, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
The rich environment of our forest and valleys provide a natural classroom for examining the heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Games, music and local history are a fascinating and playful part of a guided discovery in this culturally diverse area. Learn to identify wildflowers as well as medicinal and edible plants used by settlers. Practice textile and candle making, and other techniques used by settlers and natives to live off the land. $185/members, $205/general public.
Nature’s Superheroes!- July 16-20, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Ever notice how many superheroes and heroines get their powers from nature and wildlife? Join our "Creature Crew" as we build sidekicks, choose our own secret identities and learn about animals that have their own super powers. We'll head outside to observe animals, do good nature deeds for our environment, and complete our own special comic coloring book. Be sure to get in on the adventure! $185/members, $205/general public.
Aquatic Adventures- August 6-10, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Discover the diversity of aquatic life in our natural environment. Use microscopes to observe tiny single-celled critters and then fish for splashing trout at Lake Powhatan. Explore aquatic wonders on creek walks, pond investigations and a special salamander safari. Learn to use minnow traps and nets to capture and observe a variety of life; and most importantly, learn how to protect our amazing aquatic habitats. $185/members, $205/general public.
Active Adventurers- Augsut 13-15, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Get “unplugged” and have fun outside this summer with a different outdoor, active adventure very day! Spend your days hiking the Arboretum trails, exploring the creeks, and playing outdoor games. Make friends, have fun, and challenge yourself as we explore the trails and woodlands of the Arboretum. We'll even hunt for treasures using a GPS device. Don’t miss out on this week of fun and adventure in the great outdoors! $125/members, $145/general public. Please note this camp runs from Monday to Wednesday only to accomodate Buncombe County School's schedule.
Rising Fourth/Fifth Grade Sessions
Boots, Paddles and Reels- June 11-15, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Join us as we embark on a new outdoor adventure every day. We’ll hike the trails using a GPS unit to locate hidden geocaches and take in a day of fishing at Lake Powhatan. Learn the basics of fishing with a spin cast rod and try your luck with some catch and release bass and bluegill fishing. A quiet-water paddling trip with Asheville Outdoor Center along the French Broad River is sure to be a highlight! Safety and care for your sporting equipment along with hands-on instruction and demonstrations ensure a great experience. $235/members, $255/general public.
Nature Adventure- June 25-29, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm overnight campout at the Arboretum Thursday evening (before care also available)
Become a junior field ecologist as you explore woodland and stream habitats, hunt for local wildlife and take part in small animal and minnow trapping. Take a night hike as we search for nocturnal animals, learn to identify frogs by their calls, observe the night sky and go camping Thursday evening in a pine forest. Discover the amazing habits and behaviors of the many birds, reptiles, mammals and fish we encounter. $220/members, $240/general public.
Outdoor Explorations- July 16-20, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm overnight campout at bordering Lake Powhatan Thursday evening (before care also available)
Come along with us to discover the natural wonders of Western North Carolina! Explore the Davidson River and visit the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education to learn about aquatic wildlife habitats. Spend a day exploring the unique plants and animals that live in high elevations. Take in a day at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and find out how biologists study elk and other wildlife populations. All these great explorations, plus an overnight camping trip at Lake Powhatan on Thursday evening, add up to an amazing week of discovery and adventure! $265/members, $285/general public.
Wilderness Explorers- July 23-27, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, overnight campout at the Arboretum Thursday evening (before care also available)
Learn to read maps and use a compass to accomplish a cross-country orienteering course and design a course for your friends to try. Purify water, cook outdoors, make a shelter, provide first aid in the back country and learn how to limit your impact on the environment while outdoors. At the end of the week your skills will be put to the test in an overnight camping trip in the beautiful forest at the Arboretum. $220/members, $240/general public.
A Natural Artist- July 30- August 3, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Many artists have found inspiration in nature, and through journaling, sketching, and painting, you'll have a chance to commune with a multitude of animals and plants in the national forest. Take a hike on a trail to sketch a mountain vista and observe live animals to inspire the artist within you. Get in touch with your creative side as you create paper, fashion art with materials you find in the woods, make natural dyes, pattern a t-shirt, and even work with clay. Make an original masterpiece every day! $195/members, $215/general public.
Mountain Sports Camp- August 6-10, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Get out and get active for this fun-filled week of outdoor adventure! Head down to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education for a fly fishing class, spend the day tubing down the French Broad River, and try your hand at disc golf. Learn a bit about bike safety and tune-up basics with staff from Liberty Bicycles before we embark on a mountain bike trek along the Arboretum’s forested trails. Participants are required to bring a bike and helmet in good working order and be able to confidently ride on gravel roads in order to participate in biking activities. $235/members, $255/general public.
Rising Sixth-Eighth Grade Sessions
Wildlife Trek- June 18-22, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, overnight campout in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Thursday evening (before care also available)
Our area is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. Join us on an exploration of the unique habitats of the Southern Appalachians with trips to Pisgah National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn about the signs animals leave behind as we track animals in the wild and photograph wildlife in their native habitats. Participants will spend an evening high atop Purchase Knob at the biological research station and help park biologists identify, measure and record salamanders and other wildlife. We'll even get to camp out at the station and learn from actual field biologists! $275/members, $295/general public.
Advanced Mountain Sports Camp- July 9-13, overnight campout at Kings Mountain State Park Thursday evening, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Get out and get active for this fun-filled week of outdoor adventure! Learn to play disc golf, hike some of the best trails our mountains have to offer and head down to the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education for a fly fishing class before fishing one of the top 100 trout streams in the country. Camp out at Kings Mountain State Park and spend a day doing high-flying adventure activities at the US National Whitewater Center. Participants will choose their own adventure at the center and select from challenge courses, zip lines, climbing, kayaking, war canoes and eco trekking. Our most action packed week of Discovery Camp yet! $315/members, $335/general public.
River Trek- July 23-27, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (before care also available)
Our region is home to an abundance of aquatic habitats. Explore many of these fascinating places as we learn about the fish, salamanders and insects that inhabit our area, hike along the trails of DuPont State Forest in search of colossal waterfalls, and evaluate water quality while paddling the French Broad River with Asheville Outdoor Center. Be sure to bring a camera on this action-packed adventure. $275/members, $295/general public.
Mountain Trek- July 30-August 3, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, overnight campout near Mount Mitchell Thursday evening (before care also available)
Learn the basics of land navigation and become skilled in using a GPS, map, and compass to navigate trails at the Arboretum and at off-site destinations. With a GPS unit in hand, we’ll head to destinations in Pisgah National Forest on a high-tech treasure hunt to seek as many geocaches as we can find. Skills learned throughout the week will be put to the test on Thursday on a hike to the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak East of the Mississippi, before relaxing around the campfire on a campout at Briar Bottom Group Campground. We'll cap off our excursion on Friday spending some time exploring the Linville Gorge before heading home. $275/members, $295/general public.
Opportunities for Rising Ninth-Twelfth Graders
Our Counselor in Training Program is open to interested high schoolers. Learn more
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