Eagle’s Nest (EN) is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and overlooks the Little River Valley in the Pisgah National Forest. The mission at Eagle’s Nest is to help kids discover their identities. All of the activities offered at EN promote community awareness, a connection with nature, and a healthy lifestyle. Campers build self-esteem by participating in every activity of camp including rock climbing, horseback riding, learning about art, forest survival, or whitewater paddling!

Visit their website: http://www.enf.org/camp.

Camp Celo is located in the NC mountains surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest. The camp’s mission is to teach children an appreciation of the natural world, and instill values of compassion, cooperation, integrity, responsibility and service. Campers care for animals or harvest the garden at the Celo farm. They also participate in rewarding hikes, skits, arts and crafts, woodshop, tubing in the South Toe River, and group games!

Visit their website: http://www.campcelo.com/.

We are grateful to the Hal & Holly Levinson Family Fund for joining us as our Featured Sponsor for Camp Celo.

Camp Hanes is located just north of Winston-Salem, nestled on the hillside of Sauratown Mountain which provides the backdrop for the many activities they provide. The camp’s goal is for each child to increase their own sense of accomplishment and belonging while they learn about the positive character traits of a hero. Campers learn accomplishment through developing skills and trying new activities such as horseback riding, archery, swimming, the Blob and Zip Line. The camp teaches character traits of a hero, specifically Honesty, Caring, Respect, Responsibility, and Faith. Camp Hanes places an emphasis on learning from mistakes and always trying your hardest.

Visit their website: https://camphanes.org/summer-camp/resident-camp/.

Camp Grier is located in Old Fort, NC and is a co-ed residential summer camp designed for rising 2nd graders to 12th graders that help teach lifelong social and outdoor skills. Camp Grier believes that all children should have positive outdoor experiences and with the advent of technology, kids need these experiences more than ever.

Visit their website: https://www.campgrier.org/

Camp Kanuga is located in Hendersonville, NC and offers adventure activities, sports and crafts in a strong community-oriented environment that enables campers to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually while developing new interests, skills and friendships.

Visit their website: https://www.kanuga.org

Camp Harrison is located in Boomer, NC and gives kids ages 6-16 the chance to make life-long memories on over 2,000 acres of land, streams, and trails just 90 miles from Charlotte in the mountains of North Carolina.

Visit their website: https://www.ymcacharlotte.org/camps/camp-harrison

Green River Preserve (GRP) is located on a 3,400 acre private wildlife preserve in Cedar Mountain, NC. GRP’s mission is to provide a challenging and nurturing learning experience and inspire a deep appreciation of interconnectedness, ecological respect and the joy of living. Campers experience mentor hikes with naturalists, well-supervised campouts, and a plethora of non-competitive activities to build life skills and independence. Creative expression is encouraged through art, music, theater, and storytelling, and a sense of community is fostered.

Visit their website: http://www.greenriverpreserve.org/.

Gwynn Valley is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Brevard, NC. The camp offers a farm, wilderness, and traditional program to nurture children while fostering a connection with the land and the simple joys of childhood. The camp is based on the values of simplicity and acceptance, where children thrive in a noncompetitive atmosphere that emphasizes individual achievement. Campers enjoy helping out at the farm, horseback riding, canoeing at the lake, swimming at the pool, arts and crafts, playing sports, and so much more!

Visit their website:  http://www.gwynnvalley.com/.

A Thousand Summers is a Wayfinders partner organization who also believes in changing kids’ lives through transformative summer camp experiences. They offer high-quality wilderness camp experiences outside of NC through a rigorous application and interview process.

Visit their website: https://athousandsummers.org/

Duke Pre-College Programs provides middle and high school students rigorous learning experiences to academically motivated, intellectually curious high school students. A diverse selection of enrichment courses brings the Duke experience to 8th-12th graders through trailblazing topics featuring Duke guest speakers, researchers, and resources.

Visit the website: https://learnmore.duke.edu/precollege/all-programs

UNC-Asheville allows scholars to experience life on a college campus. Engage in a fun and challenging academic program while living on campus. For rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Visit their website: https://camps.unca.edu/

Wake Forest Pre-College Programs partners high-school students with WFU staff to design and implement an engaging and challenging STEM curriculum. The curriculum includes hands-on STEM activities and simulations that allow students to dive deeper into topics that interest them. Topics include medicine, finance, entrepreneurship, coding, and more!

Visit their websites: https://exploration.summer.wfu.edu/ and https://immersion.summer.wfu.edu/

Red Hat Shelton Challenge has a focus on establishing a strong foundation for future generations, the Shelton Leadership Center cultivates tomorrow’s leaders through values-based leadership programs for rising 10th-12th graders. The core curriculum of this six-day program is based on four values related to leadership: integrity, diversity, social responsibility and compassion.

Visit their website: https://sheltonleadership.ncsu.edu/pre-college/shelton-challenge/

iD Tech is the world’s premier destination for STEM education, offering summer camps & online programs for ages 7-19.

Visit their website: https://www.idtech.com/

UNC-Greensboro provides 10th-12th graders with hands-on learning through meaningful real-world experiences, robust academics, an inclusive campus culture, networking and mentorship. Students are able to discover their passions and clarify their future pathway by exploring a particular field of study. 

Visit their website: https://www.uncg.edu/academics-support/summer-camps-and-courses/summer-camps/

UNC-Wilmington/MarineQuest is a marine biology camp on the campus of UNCW, on the coast of NC, for middle and high school students. There students will explore the biodiversity of the coastal system and the chemistry, geology, and physics of the marine environment.

Visit their website: https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/get-involved/community/teens-children/marinequest/summer-enrichment/

Davidson Sumer Promise Program allows students to experience a snapshot of the holistic college experience to strengthen their confidence and enthusiasm for persisting in high school and pursuing higher education.

Visit their website: https://www.davidson.edu/offices-and-services/civic-engagement/signature-programs/summer-promise-program

UNCG CHANCE is a summer college access program that brings high school Latinx and Hispanic rising seniors from across NC to UNCG for several days to get experience with college level classes and faculty, leadership and civic programming, cultural enrichment, and campus life. The main purpose of CHANCE is to encourage and equip Latinx and Hispanic students with the culturally informed awareness, knowledge, and skills to persist through high school and continue to higher education with UNCG as a school of choice.  

Visit their website: https://www.uncg.edu/academics-support/summer-camps-and-courses/summer-camps/

Do Greater provides creative day camps for Middle and High School students at their Creative Lab in West CLT. Camps explore entrepreneurship, game design, architecture, branding, marketing, communications, and design. 

Visit their website: https://dogreater.org/10-2/

Johnson & Wales Summer Programs
Discover the many facets of the food industry! Work with chefs and industry experts as you explore international cuisines and take your skills to the next level. Participants learn valuable skills while discovering just how much fun they can have in the kitchen. Plus they will sample and take home the foods and pastries they create.

Visit their website: https://charlottecommunity.jwu.edu/summer-camps.html

Dottie Rose Foundation provides STEM based summer camps for Middle School Scholars where the mission is to set the standard in computer science education while bridging the gender gap in the technology field. Dottie Rose Foundation envisions a future where computer science education is accessible, inclusive, and equitable for all, regardless of gender, and a technology industry that values and benefits from the diverse perspectives and contributions of women.

Visit their website: https://dottierosefoundation.org/

Charlotte FC Camps and Clinics offer a variety of opportunities for individuals of all abilities to develop their soccer skills in a player-centric environment. Weeklong day camps are planned with the goal to connect with the youth soccer community in a fun and educational manner.

Visit their website: https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/cltfc-youth

Central Piedmont Community College provides elementary through high school students with hands on experiences in technology and engineering, cosmetology, forensics and law, and arts and expression in week-long day camps.

Visit their website: https://youth.cpcc.edu/files/38bba7e3-07fc-44af-8f3b-ddd66d9b5b30–3aeac98b-d4e5-4d21-a453-b6ac964490fa/summer-camp-brochure-2021.pdf

For Goodness Cakes is a perfect camp for kids who love cooking, baking, and getting creative with their hands! This fun and engaging camp introduces young bakers to the art of cake decorating while fostering patience, creativity, and skill-building in a lively, social environment.

*List as of Summer 2025 and subject to changes/additions.*