Week 5: July 17-21

Tuition: 385

Course: This week, we will explore the relationship between nature and art! As a group, we will go on nature walks and collect materials for our art projects. The art projects will be process art! I am excited to see what the campers will create with the materials that they find. We will learn about nature not only through art but also through books by authors like Eric Carle.

Instructor: Olivia Wroth was born and raised in North Carolina and grew up going to Carolina Friends Summer Camps! Her home away from home is the mountains and she has spent the last couple of years exploring the Boone area of North Carolina. When Olivia is not in the mountains, she loves to do art projects. She is passionate about child-led learning and helping children to develop connections with their community. She loves working with children and currently teaches Pre-K students at Lerner School in Durham.

Tuition: 350

Course: Take a virtual trip around the world as we explore a different country each day! We will find our destination on the globe, acquaint ourselves with our setting through pictures and videos, and then explore the culture through music, stories, games, crafts, and some tasty snacks. Let’s see how big - and small- our world is! 

Instructor: Bryson Byrd was born and raised in Durham and when not in school could be found exploring the adventurous countryside of the county on horseback. She has been working as a camp counselor and instructor since age 12. Bryson also worked at the Durham Performing Arts Center for more than eight years.

After graduating from North Carolina Central University with her bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, she started work on her master's at UNC Charlotte in Elementary Education. When not at summer camp you can find Bryson at George Watts Montessori Magnet as an IA; at Aldersgate United Methodist Church for their after-school program; or on her family farm with her family, horses, pups, and sunshine. 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 19-23, Markeith Gary
Week Three / July 3-7, Emmanuel Oquaye
Week Five / July 10-14, Achiri Acha
Week Six / July 17-21, Markeith Gary
Week Seven / July 24-28, Markeith Gary
Week Eight / July 31- August 4, Emmanuel Oquaye

Tuition: 350

Course: An active, fun-filled week of sports adventure just for you! We learn how to play a variety of sports, focusing on skills and learning the rules. We work on team building and create some crafts that go along with our new indoor and outdoor games! We concentrate on learning how to play, building confidence, keeping in shape, and receiving guidance and encouragement from our coach. An excellent class for the active or wannabe active camper!

Instructor: Achiri Acha has been at CFS since he was six years old! He mentored with Jordan Shamp in Sports camp, became a Counselor-In-Training, and then moved on to become a camp assistant and instructor for the past eight summers. Achiri has worked in Extended Day at Lerner School and School’s Out Camps at the Jewish Community Center and currently works at USA Ninja Challenge during the school year. Achiri's goal is to be an elementary school physical education instructor and coach.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 26-30, Bryson Byrd
Week Three / July 3-7, Bryson Byrd
Week Four / July 10-14, (Jr. ages 5-7) Bryson Byrd
Week Five / July 17-21, Cheryl Meyer
Week Six / July 24-28, Kelsie Yohe

Tuition: 350

Course: LEGO camp is just around “the block!” We will have a fun-filled week of building with our extensive LEGO sets. Students are invited to create structures, vehicles, animals, cities and fantastical scenes while they explore the fundamental principles of engineering! New sets appear each year–from Minecraft and Ninjago to Star Wars and the LEGO movie. Come dive into thousands of LEGO blocks and see where the adventure takes us!

If you have LEGO you would like to bring to camp, please visibly mark them well so they will not get mixed in with the Summer Programs sets.

Instructor: Cheryl Meyer (she/her), is a Lower School teacher and librarian at Carolina Friends. A Durham native, Cheryl has a B.A. in English and a certificate in Early Childhood Education from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Masters’ Degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. Before coming to CFS, she taught in a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool and in a high school ESL classroom in Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia, while serving in the Peace Corps. Cheryl’s current position combines so many of her interests - service, education, advocacy, and equitable information access! In her free time, Cheryl loves to kayak and explore with her two children.

Tuition: 365

Course: Spend a week on a Hispanic cooking adventure! We’ll enjoy the flavors of Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, México, Perú, and more. We’ll create our own grocery store with recycled materials. Along the way, students will have the opportunity to learn Spanish vocabulary or improve their Spanish skills and to explore Hispanic culture with a native of Perú.

Instructor: Kelly Yupanqui is from Perú and moved to the United States in 2005. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education and her M.Ed. in Educational Administration at Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Perú. Kelly got her certification as a Montessori Teacher from the American Montessori Society.

She has taught different levels of students for 25 years in public and private settings in her native country and in the USA (including now at Carolina Friends School). Kelly loves to dance, sing, play the guitar, cook, do arts and crafts, and be outside and she enjoys sharing all her talents and her native Spanish Language during Summer Programs.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Five / July 17-21
Week Seven / July 31-Aug 4

Tuition: 350

Course: Spin and dye wool yarn. Weave cotton cloth. Create all kinds of fantastic fiber art. By trying your hand at it yourself, discover how humans made everyday clothing and shelter items from local plant and animal fibers.

Instructor: Jan French is a fiber artist and weaving educator/advocate, demonstrator, and collaborator weaving on location at schools, arts councils, museums, festivals, and Scrap Exchange events. She is a member of the Triangle Weavers Guild’s Education Committee and has instructed hundreds of folks of all ages how to build and weave delightful and useful items on a simple handmade loom.

Before coming to CFS in 2008, Jan worked in environmental and open space planning and lived for two years in Geneva, Switzerland. She has Masters degrees in Environmental Management from Duke University and in Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University’s School of Design.

At CFS Jan has served students as Middle School substitute teacher, art project coordinator for three Martin Luther, King, Jr. Day celebrations, Science Day guest speaker, and Extended Day (AfterHours) staff. She’s also a former CFS parent!

Tuition: 350

Course:  Over the course of the week, students will put together a full performance of a short scripted play. As they rehearse, they will be exploring the fundamentals of script analysis, character-building, and the use of body, voice, and imagination to create characters and bring a script to life. Students will also be introduced to the basics of scenic and costume design as they work together to create the world of the play, which will be shared with friends and family.

Instructor: Blair Cadden is a director, theatre-maker, and teaching artist who is thrilled to be sharing her love of theatre with CFS this summer! She holds a B.A. in theatre from Wofford College and an M.F.A. in directing from Boston University. Blair is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, where she was the co-founding Artistic Director of the theatre company 5th Wall Productions. She’s taught theatre to students of all ages at Lexington Children's Theatre, Spartanburg Youth Theatre, Boston University, and–most recently–Duke University, where she is currently serving as Artist in Residence. 

When she’s not making or teaching theatre, you can find Blair cuddling with her beloved dog Moe, rock-climbing, baking cupcakes, or making very lumpy pottery.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Three / July 3-7
Week Five / July 17-21
Week Eight / August 7-11

Tuition: 350

Course: Celebrate your love of all things Harry Potter as you create themed crafts, play wizard games, and whip up tasty snacks. During camp you will be sorted into a house so that you can mix and mingle with Gryffindors, Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws. Then, you'll spend your time immersing yourself into the world of Harry by making memorabilia and creating memories that you can enjoy for years to come. Activities include creating your own wand, making "potions," and enjoying playing the game of Quidditch!

Note: Previous knowledge of the Harry Potter series is helpful when participating in this course.

Instructor: Cyrise Davis holds a B.A. in Art Education K-12 and a B.S. in Commercial Art and Photography. In addition to her freelance photography, she worked for 10 years as an art and photography teacher at The Hawbridge School in Saxapahaw, as a site coordinator and lead teacher for a middle school after-hours program, and as a YMCA summer camp counselor.

For eight years, Cyrise served the CFS family as the Extended Day (AfterHours) Director, substitute teacher, and Summer Programs instructor. Cyrise employs her child-centered style of teaching (and passion for art, engineering, and science) to help CFS summer students and Lower and Middle Schoolers learn to explore and create.

Tuition: 350

Course: Can you escape? These rooms have become a sensation all over the nation over the last few years, so why not come join us for a week of solving puzzles, uncovering clues, and creating your very own escape room! 

Instructor: Tom Latimer has been running camps at CFS for 16 years. He has been teaching for 30 years and has a Masters degree in elementary education. He currently teaches 2nd grade at Immaculata Catholic School in Durham and plays guitar in Chapel Hill band Zoltar’s Fortune. 

Tom lives in Chapel Hill with his wife Alison and their two cats Nora and Lionel. He enjoys seeing and playing music, eating at our local restaurants, collecting vinyl records, and working with kids.

Tuition: 350

Course: Beginners and experienced musicians alike will learn the fundamentals of writing lyrics and melodies. We will explore songwriting using guitar, bass, ukulele, keys, percussion, and/or electronic music to make original songs as individuals or in a collaboration with other campers. We will explore your favorite songs to see how they were written. You will have the opportunity to perform your original works on the last day of camp! 

Instructor: Leites Chiong has been playing guitar for almost 30 years and teaching guitar for over a decade, with stints in various bands along the way. He's a father of four, including three children at CFS.

Leites teaches all styles of music for acoustic and electric guitar, as well as bass guitar and Ukulele (including in CFS’ after-school music program for children AND adults). He helps beginner through advanced students learn how to play and how to write songs. Leites enjoys working with children and seeing the love of music grow within them.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 19-23
Week Two / June 26-30
Week Three / July 3-7 (Advanced)
Week Four / July 10-14
Week Five / July 17-21
Week Six / July 24-28
Week Seven / July 31-Aug 4 (Advanced)

Tuition: 350

Course: Addicted to comics? Doodle in class? Come create your own comic book characters and stories. Bring creativity, imagination, and motivation along with your pencil. Exchange ideas, receive input, and work on technique with a professional comic artist. There’s also time for Four Square, games, and Capture the Flag. Oftentimes, campers take multiple sessions. Please bring pencils, erasers, and favorite drawing pens. (Two Advanced Comic Design sessions are available for those who want to expand their skills.)

Instructor: Jamie Charles, a working illustrator, graduated from UNC-G in Fine Arts. Besides exhibiting his own work, Jamie works at CFS as an art instructor for Middle School students. He is also a champion Capture the Flag leader, having coached his workshop groups to many victories (not that he is bragging). Jamie offers private lessons in drawing and art.

Tuition: 350

Course: Calling all directors, actors, script-writers, and editors! This camp will allow creatives to go through the process of developing a story, writing a screenplay, filming, and editing footage. At the end of the week, the cast and crew will premiere their work to other campers and their families. A copy of the final production will be distributed to all involved.

Instructor: A California native, Stella Bowers (she/her) has been proud to call Durham home for 14 years. In May 2023 she will graduate from Meredith College with a B.A. in Psychology, a minor in Theatre, and a K-6 Teaching Licensure. She has almost 10 years of experience working with children as a babysitter, nanny, camp counselor, party princess entertainer, and student teacher. Her life’s passion is teaching and nurturing a love of learning in her students. In her free time Stella can be found creating art, reading, participating in local theatre productions, thrifting, and making music. This is her first year teaching CFS summer programs.

Tuition: 350

Course: Calling all singers! In this camp, you’ll get an introduction to the world of singing and performing. Sign up for Musical Cabaret to learn various voice techniques, vocal warm-up exercises, theatre games and warm-ups, and acting and performing skills. Students will group up and learn various songs from musical theatre, and perform in a showcase on Friday! No experience necessary (you do not need to know how to read music!).

Instructor: Abby Kameny has been involved in Carolina Friends School Summer Programs for 18 years. She started out as a camper, served as a Counselor-In-Training, was hired to work in the Extended Day program, and then became an instructor! She received her B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Maryland, took a gap year to teach English in Spain, and is now back at UMD for her Master’s in teaching English to speakers of other languages. She has also been involved in theatre, improv, and singing throughout high school and college.

Tuition: 350

Course: This course will explore the ways in which nature and science can merge with creative and artistic expression. Students will explore biological patterns through printmaking, use microscopes to study the details of living organisms, make outdoor sculptures with natural materials, and more. If you like learning about plants and animals and making art, this is the camp for you!

Instructor: Larissa Wood joined Carolina Friends School in 2021 to teach Ceramics, Environmental Science, and Geology. She has also taught science at Northwood High School in Chatham County and art summer camps at the Arts Center in Carrboro. She received her B.A. in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill in 2018, where she also pursued a North Carolina teaching licensure and a creative writing minor. Larissa recently published her very own children’s book, There’s Wondrous Fungus Among Us! She is thrilled to combine her passions for education, science, and art here at the Carolina Friends School. 

Tuition: 365

Course: This week involves everything dough! Phylo, pie, cookies, pizza, bread, pretzels, puff pastry, and more. Even playdough. What makes one dough different from another and what can ruin one and make another amazing? We’ll explore all week through delicious creations in the kitchen. Please bring a small notebook for recipes, ideas, and ingredients lists. Please note that, unfortunately, we may not be able to accommodate dietary restrictions in this class.

Instructor: Karen Clark is a science teacher at Immaculata Catholic School in Durham. She teaches middle school, so enjoys working with other age groups during the summer. She has three wonderful kids and a crazy dog named Ralphie that keep her active. In her spare time (yeah, right) she enjoys playing the flute, reading mysteries, exercising, and doing puzzles.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Five / July 17-21 (ages 11-15)
Week Six / July 24-28 (ages 7-11)
Week Seven / July 31-Aug 4 (ages 11-15)
Week Nine / August 14-18 (ages 7-15)

Tuition: 350

Course: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a... Frisbee! Ultimate Frisbee is one of the fastest growing youth sports in the US, and we want to teach you how to play! Ultimate combines the continuous play of soccer, the end-zones of football, and the pivoting of basketball all with a frisbee to create a fast-paced, exciting game! This camp will teach the fundamentals of the sport, going over different types of throws and the basic strategies of offense and defense. Participants will learn about Spirit of the Game, a fundamental part of Ultimate that focuses on sportsmanship and respect for all players. Each camper will receive an Ultimate Frisbee disc with registration!

About Triangle Ultimate: Triangle Ultimate is a local nonprofit whose mission is to collaboratively build a community emphasizing accessibility, relationships, and engagement through learning, playing, and teaching the sport of Ultimate in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Triangle Ultimate is excited to strengthen our relationship with the Carolina Friends School community through great summer camp experiences. The camp will be led by some of the top leaders in the Triangle's Ultimate Frisbee community!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 19-23, Tony Arias-Sorto
Week Two / June 26-30, Meaghan Kachadoorian
Week Three / July 3-7, Tony Arias-Sorto
Week Five / July 10-14, Meaghan Kachadoorian

Tuition: 350

Course: What makes you a more effective leader and team player? Let us show you some tools. Using group building games, art, theater, movement, discussion, and individual reflection we learn and practice leadership techniques. We will work as individuals and as a group to enhance confidence, cooperation, and communication. The workshop is an excellent exercise in developing leadership skills for jobs and community roles. 

If you're interested in being a Counselor-In-Training (ages 13-15) in CFS Summer Programs, this course is a prerequisite. We work through some basic “how to deal with” situations, focusing on conflict resolution and effective ways of listening and responding. And no, we do not sit in chairs throughout the day listening to lectures! This is an active course culminating in a "shadow day" as a CIT and a certificate of successful leadership training completion.

Instructor: Meaghan Kachadoorian (she/her) is an educator who is excited to foster CFS campers’ connection with the natural world and one another this summer. After studying History and Latin American & Caribbean studies at Duke, she taught at the Montessori Farm School, where she still loves to contribute as a substitute teacher. Meaghan has facilitated summer and school-year exchange programs with high schoolers from over 20 countries. She earned her M.A. in International & Multicultural education before working at the United World College in Freiburg, Germany. Back home in Durham, she loves exploring the natural world of the Piedmont and sitting with her local mindfulness group.