Enrichment Activities

Wayfinders provides numerous enrichment activities and outings for our scholars at no cost to their families throughout the year. These activities offer a way for scholars and mentors to stay connected and provide meaningful out-of-school time activities that our scholars might not have access to otherwise.

Here is a list of some of the many enrichment opportunities we provide:

Camp Kick-Off Party (May) – an event to celebrate our scholars and the start of the camp season with free trunks and sleeping bags for all new scholars and an array of other “camp goodies” for all scholars including water bottles, stationary, stamps, playing cards, and books to read while at camp.

Back-to-School Bash (August) – an event where we provide free backpacks filled with school supplies, promote excellent school attendance, complete post-camp surveys, and enjoy an ice-cream party.

Fall Nature Outing (October) – an opportunity for our 4th – 6th grade scholars to explore one of our beautiful Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation nature preserves and/or learn about raptors at the Carolina Raptor Center.

“Wayfinders Gives Back” (November) – Wayfinders encourages mentors to participate in a service project along with their mentee. Some service examples include: working in the Urban Farm at Aldersgate, making sandwiches for Roof Above, baking cookies and delivering them to firefighters and police officers, and sorting donated clothing at Crisis Assistance Ministry.

U.S. National Whitewater Center Outing (Fall and Spring) – scholars participate in educational programs on engineering, the environment, or team-building and enjoy ziplining, bouldering, climbing, and hiking.

Holiday Books (December) – Wayfinders provides each scholar with a grade-appropriate book to read over the winter holidays.

Swim Lessons (January, February, and March) – free swim instruction provided to our 4th – 6th grade scholars, thanks to the generosity of the Levine Jewish Community Center.

Earth Day Service Project (April) – Our scholars participate in an outdoor service project.

Theater and Museum Outings (throughout the year) – our scholars and mentors enjoy free tickets to performances at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and the Charlotte Symphony, along with events at The Levine Museum of the New South, Discovery Place, and other local museums.

Great Outdoors University (GoU) – provides nature outings such as Creek Hikes, Canoeing and Fishing so our scholars can continue to get out in nature following their summer camp experiences.

Dottie Rose Foundation – shares tech opportunities with our Wayfinders scholars. Some examples include Girls in Tech Day, Cooking and Coding Spring Break Camp, and LEGO Robotics workshops.

Arts+ – this community arts hub provides arts instruction and workshops to our scholars.

Charlotte Junior Soccer – this recreational soccer league partners with Wayfinders to provide opportunities for our scholars to join our Blue Hornets Soccer Team. 

Do Greater – this non profit partner empowers our scholars to do greater by facilitating exposure and access to creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship. Some examples of classes, workshops, and camps offered to Wayfinders by Do Greater are DJ workshops, photography classes, and Intro to Architecture and Entrepreneurship.

Trips for Kids – this non profit partner of Wayfinders, Trips for Kids takes our scholars and mentors on mountain bike rides, providing all equipment needed, as well as offers Earn A Bike programs for our scholars.