Early Learners Program

Our longstanding Early Learners program includes a course each week this summer.

These offerings are generally led by current and former early education teachers, with early childhood experience and expertise. They are assisted by a CIT and Intern each week. Each Early Learners camp is carefully structured with a scheduled rest time.

Our Early Learners classes tend to fill very quickly (even within hours of registration opening). We apologize if you end up in a waitlist situation. Family plans do change between enrollment and summer and we're glad to contact a waitlist family right up to the start of a course.

Options for Five-Year-Olds

There is at least one alternative option for five year olds in each week of Summer Programs — please view our weekly courses for more information here: Courses 2026. We encourage families to consider if their five-year-old is ready for such classes, thus freeing up space for a four-year-old, who only has the Early Learners option. Please note camps for 5+ do not have a scheduled nap time.

Our Day

Early Learners classes run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday. They are carefully structured with a scheduled rest time. Extended Day care is available from 8:00 to 9:00 am and from 3:00 to 4:00/5:45 pm.

Our Environment

Classes take place at both CFS Main Campus (4809 Friends School Road) and Chapel Hill Early School (531 Raleigh Road) with colorful indoor spaces and beautiful outdoor play areas. Main campus has a stream and wooded areas for nature exploration.

Chapel Hill Early School

Week 2 (June 22 - 26): Let's Go Camping!
Week 3 (June 29-July 3): Space Exploration

Week 2 (June 22 - 26): Let's Go Camping!

Tuition: 430

Course: Join us on our camping trip around our school’s beautiful campus. We will use our imagination to explore rivers, climb mountains, tell stories around blazing campfires, and more! If you love the experience of going on a super fun getaway to the outdoors, this is the camp for you.

This camp takes place at Chapel Hill Early School (531 Raleigh Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514). Please note we do not offer Extended Day care for campers at CHES. If your Early Learner has an older sibling on main campus, we will provide Extended Day gratis for the older sibling, so there is time to pick up both of your campers.

Instructor: Dan Hill is an early school support teacher at CFS who holds a B.A. in mathematics as well as a B.A. in creative writing. They have worked in education as a tutor in various subjects for learners ages 4-35, taught high school math, and now have found a calling for working in early education.

They spend their free time crocheting, reading, and making spreadsheets for fun!

Week 3 (June 29-July 3): Space Exploration

Tuition: 430

Instructor: Dan Hill

Course: Blast off into outer space in this exciting space camp! We will learn about planets, stars, space travel, and more! In this camp, we will turn the mysteries of deep space into a week of play and out of this world discovery.

This camp takes place at Chapel Hill Early School (531 Raleigh Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514). Please note we do not offer Extended Day care for campers at CHES. If your Early Learner has an older sibling on main campus, we will provide Extended Day gratis for the older sibling, so there is time to pick up both of your campers.

They spend their free time crocheting, reading, and making spreadsheets for fun!

Main Campus

Week 1 (June 15-19): Nature Explorations

Tuition: 430

Course: Are you raring to creek wade, search for salamanders, and build magnificent forts? Then this camp is for you! We will explore the creeks and forest of the amazing campus at Carolina Friends School, finding creatures, adventures, and friends along the way!

This camp will spend lots of time outdoors and will use one of our Lower School classrooms on main campus for eating, rest, and weather contingencies | 4809 Friends School Rd, Durham, NC 27705.

Instructor: Julie (she/her) is the current long term sub for the Lower School Sky teacher. Julie first joined the CFS community in January, 2022, as an Lower School Assistant Teacher (grades 3-4) and LS Extended Day Teacher. During the following school year, she had the joy of filling the same roles at the Chapel Hill Early School location. Julie earned a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Education from UNC Asheville, and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from UNC Chapel Hill. She is passionate about experiential and project-based education, learning alongside her students, and fostering an inclusive, compassionate community. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, playing board games with friends, and trying any and all forms of dance!

Week 3 (June 29-July 3): Water Wonders

Tuition: 430

Course: Come join us for Water Wonders! We’ll splash the day away as we learn about water dragons, mermaids, fairies, selkies, and other fantastical water creatures. We will read stories about water creatures both familiar and new, create magical crafts, and use costumes to transform ourselves into the water creatures of our choice!