Week 1: June 17-21

Tuition: 395

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!

Instructor: Adelaide Zahren is the 5/6 Campus Early School teacher at CFS and has taught in Early Childhood for over 14 years.  Adelaide received her undergraduate degree, teacher’s license, and Masters in Education from UNC Chapel Hill.  Adelaide is an avid hiker who loves teaching children about the wonders of nature!  When not teaching, Adelaide can be found exploring the Eno River with her two children and one enormous dog.

Tuition: 365

Course: The warm weather provides opportunities for outdoor exploration and water play. We’ll explore the woods, fields, and streams around CFS. Whatever the weather, we’ll be out and about, getting wet, dirty, and sweaty exploring, collecting, wading, creating, and navigating. This camp will celebrate all things sun and summer (even if it rains!). Young adventurers will need appropriate clothing and plenty of energy!

Instructor: Maggie Martone moved to North Carolina in 2022 after 13 years in Pittsburgh, PA. Before Pittsburgh, Maggie grew up in Los Angeles, and as a result she loves the beach, In N Out, and the Dodgers (though her time in Pittsburgh have also made her a Pirates and Steelers fan!). She earned her Masters degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pittsburgh after serving for 5 years as a Senior Program Director at a Boys and Girls Club. She has been an educator since 2012, teaching in multiple settings and populations, including independent day schools, after-school programs, summer camps, and public schools. In her free time Maggie loves traveling, yoga, hiking, and cuddling with her cat Penny on the porch, while listening to a good podcast. 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21, Shannon Neu
Week Two / June 24-28, Jenna Carlson
Week Four / July 8-12, Cheryl Meyer
Week Five / July 15-19, Shannon Neu
Week Six / July 22-26, Cheryl Meyer
Week Seven / July 29-Aug 2, Sarah Woody

Tuition: 365

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! 

Instructor: Shannon Neu joined the CFS Summer Programs staff in 2021 and is excited to be back for another fun summer! She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro in 2016 and has been a music teacher in the Wake County Public School System ever since. For fun, Shannon plays the oboe in the Raleigh Civic Symphony Orchestra and enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, and cooking. She lives in Raleigh with her husband (Logan), her two cats (Jasper and Ruby), and a lot of plants.

Tuition: 380

Course: Love making sweet treats but have no access to an oven? Then have no fear! We will be making lots of delicious snacks that require no baking. Puppy chow, cookie bites, snack bars… the sky’s the limit!

Instructor: Jenna Carlson joined CFS this school year as a Fountain Purple teacher. During the school year, she loves working with the 3rd and 4th years. But in the summer, she is a crafter extraordinaire! Jewelry making, cricut projects, coloring…you name it. She also loves all things Disney and Star Wars. If you’re looking for a fun, laid back camp where you can express yourself in different ways, then these camps are just for you!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21, Markeith Gary
Week Two / June 24-28, Emmanuel Oquaye
Week Three / July 1-5, Emmanuel Oquaye
Week Six / July 22-26, Markeith Gary
Week Seven / July 29-Aug 2, Robinson Earle

Tuition: 365

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: Markeith Gary joined CFS in 2016 and has served as varsity basketball coach for the Upper School. He helped co-found a non-profit travel basketball program called the NC Wildcats serving the Chapel Hill-Durham area. A graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, and a school-year educator, Markeith has served as mentor to many in his community and volunteers at the local community center teaching life skills. He enjoys spending time with his wife Marsha and their three children (Nina, Myles, and Laila).

Tuition: 365

Course: A multimedia art class for young people with busy hands and big ideas. The class will be a balance of art lessons and plenty of self directed time with art materials. We will be drawing, painting, crafting, building, experimenting and more as we chase creative ideas that lead to even more ideas! This camp is all about empowering kids to develop and trust their creative instincts. Our goals are to build a positive foundational relationship with art making, build art skills, make new friends, and of course to have a very fun time at summer camp!

Instructor: Meridy Nicholson is a CFS alumni and currently earning her Bachelor’s Degree at Otis College of Art and Design in Fashion Design. She is passionate about outdoor education, working at nature camp for the past two summers. She loves to be creative and explore new ways to make art, whether that is through painting, digital art, or fashion design. In her free time, Meridy loves to go on hikes, cook, draw, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends.

Tuition: 365

Course: Sharpen your sense of wow! In this hands-on, inquiry-based workshop. You are an artist and scientist all in one as you bring together familiar ingredients and transform them into the unexpected. The fun comes when you perform cool experiments that pop, bubble, and fizz! Tickle your senses and start to wonder about...What happens next? How does that work? What if I try this? We’ll explore the science behind your creations as we tinker and make lovely messes.

Instructor: Spencer Ware is the Upper School Chemistry teacher at CFS. He also teaches Advanced Chemistry and the Science of Cooking. Before coming to education in 2020, he was an organic vegetable farmer in the Triangle for 4 years. Spencer loves getting his hands dirty in the strange, wonderful, and messy chemistry of our world. 
Spencer lives with his wife, Rachel, in Durham with their two cats, Biscuit and Luna. In his free time, he enjoys playing bass, rock climbing, and cooking unnecessarily elaborate meals.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21
Week Three / July 1-5

Tuition: 365

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: 395 (this includes field trip expenses)

Course: Dive into the ultimate summer adventure as we transport campers through time, exploring the rich history and dazzling landscapes of North Carolina. Join us as we explore the importance of learning through hands on experiences. Imagine learning about the Civil War while exploring an old battleground, or strolling through trails while learning about local flora and fauna. We will be learning and exploring and helping our community through fun field trips to local NC wonders!

Instructors: 

Instructor: Sarah Woody joins us from Grady Brown Elementary in Hillsborough. Where she was named Beginning Teacher of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year in Orange County. She loves all things history and STEAM-related and loves to talk about all the cool places to visit in North Carolina. When she's not teaching 4th graders she is watching movies, hanging out with her two dogs and husband, or playing card games with her family. 

Jennifer Ferraro joined the Carolina Friends Upper School in 2017 to teach American Sign Language. She continues building CFS’ ASL program as both a modern language option for students and as an elective program for students who wish to learn ASL. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her two children who look forward to attending CFS summer camp every year. Jennifer is an active ASL interpreter and also loves crafting! 

Please note: this is a two-session course, running Weeks One and Two (June 17-28). Please register under the Summer Programs Week One drop-down in your CampInTouch account.

Tuition: 725 (covering both weeks)

Course: The spotlight is on you! Calling all actors, technical designers, and directors to help us put on a play! In this two-week theater camp we will write and stage an original play. In the first week we will develop acting skills, play theater games, do warm ups, and practice vocal and movement exercises. We will also create characters and write our play. In the second week, we will design props, sets, costumes, and make-up, all while perfecting our roles. Then we will invite family, friends, and other campers to attend a special performance on Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Instructor: Susan Kincaid began teaching at CFS Summer Programs in 1992! Besides being a writer, playwright, and actress, Susan headed the theater program in the Upper School at Carolina Friends for many years, directing and producing shows three times a year. She is eager to collaborate with a new generation of young artists again this summer.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21
Week Two / June 24-28
Week Three / July 1-5 (Advanced)
Week Four / July 8-12
Week Five / July 15-19
Week Six / July 22-26
Week Seven / July 29-Aug 2 (Advanced)

Tuition: 365

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: 365

Course: In this hands-on course, students will explore the wild and yeasty world of fermented foods and fantastic fungi! We will start our days in the kitchen making sourdough bread, sauerkraut, kombucha, pickles, kefir, and more. You’ll have the opportunity to add your favorite spices and herbs to make your own unique blends to share with family and friends.

Then we will head out to learn more about the wild (and sometimes tasty) world of fungi. We will walk through the woods on and off campus to find fungi in all forms, taking samples and making observations as we go. We will use our samples and observations to make some fungi inspired art and learn a ton along the way!

Back in the classroom we will go into some of the history of how fermented foods were discovered and what parts of the world they come from. We’ll also learn about the science behind the fermentation process (think microorganisms!) and some of the health benefits of eating fermented foods. Wow everyone with your unique knowledge and kitchen creations--it's bound to be a deliciously probiotic good time!

Instructor: Ari Nicholson (they/them/theirs) is a CFS graduate and lover of nature, science, culture, and activism. They earned their undergraduate degree from Clark University in Social & Environmental Justice and their graduate degree in Geographical Information Science. They have led backpacking trips in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Adirondack Mountains. They are a certified Wilderness First Responder with a passion for teaching survival and nature skills. Most recently they were working for the Augsburg University Center for Global Education and Experience with study abroad students in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In their free time, they love to hike, climb, cook, learn, and play ultimate frisbee.

Tuition: 365

Course: Art, performance, and play!! Where does one end and another begin? During this week, students will learn to create detailed and functional papier mache masks, and every camper will leave with their own animal helmet mask. We will also experiment with building and playing with other types of puppets, from simple to giant! We will play plenty of physical theater style games that help students build confidence and skill, be expressive without using words, and create relationships. We will create skits and mini performances, and practice devising collaboratively! This camp is great for kids who love art, for kids who have a lot of energy or who love performance, or for kids brand new to performing that want to try something new in a supportive and open minded space! 

Instructor: Nyssa Collins is a multimedia artist, musician, and generally enthusiastic person. She is originally from Burlington, NC and studied Piano Performance at Humboldt State University. Tragically, she no longer lives in Durham, where she was a piano teacher, stilt walker, public artist, and puppeteer/artist with Paperhand Puppet Intervention for five years. She is currently a graduate student in the art department at the University of Tennessee, where she studies time based media, including shadow puppetry and animation, and the pipe organ. See her art here!: www.nyssacollins.com

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21, Achiri Acha
Week Two /  June 24-28, Zeke Petrou
Week Three / July 1-5, Mike Oggiani
Week Four / July 8-12, Achiri Acha
Week Five / July 15-19, Achiri Acha 

Tuition: 365

Course: Can’t get enough of sports? We totally understand. Some of our students take sports all summer. So we get it. We introduce basic rules, strategy, and techniques of basketball, Frisbee, soccer, and some indoor gym games (as well as Capture the Flag!) for the fun of playing. We focus on technique, skill development, and team building. All activities take place on our outdoor playing fields (using cooler morning temperatures) and in our two air-conditioned gym facilities. Sports experience is absolutely not necessary. Our goal is for you to learn how to play so you’ll feel comfortable knowing the rules, understanding the strategy, and practicing good teamwork. We don’t stress competition. We're here to help you improve your game and have fun!

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 seven 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.

Tuition: 365

Course: Games. We all know their purpose, to entertain, to be fun. But what is fun? What qualities should a game have that makes it more fun than another? In this camp we will play a number of table top and board games with a focus on examining the underlying game design principles that make them fun. Once we’ve done that, we will use common game pieces such as playing cards to construct some games of our own.

Instructor: Zander Hall is a former camper who suddenly one day found himself too old for any available camp so he went to the greatest camp of all, college. Having survived that experience, he returned to CFS in the summer to co-teach Magic the Gathering Camp with his cousin Achiri and lead Board Game Design camp. He’s excited to be back for another summer!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21
Week Seven / July 29-Aug 2

Tuition: 380

Course: Dreaming of piles of pies and other pastry pockets? You need EASY AS PIE! We’ll make pies of all sorts--sweet, spicy, tart, savory, creamy, baked, and frozen. Any way we slice them, they’ll have our taste buds singing! There’ll be fruit pies with super-flaky pastry…but that’s just the beginning. We’ll also try our hands at making galettes, empanadas, quiche, and more. Get your taste buds ready!

Instructor: Bo Newsome is a musician (an oboist, composer, and educator), teaching students at his home (or on Zoom) and at Duke. He frequently creates and presents programs and residencies for young people, and attended workshops presented by Kennedy Center’s program for teaching artists. He developed a general music program and created original operas with children in a remote public school on an island in Maine. 

To satisfy his sweet tooth in a house with few sweets, Bo started baking pies, cakes, and cookies when he was little. Though he’s really never met a pie he didn’t like, he especially likes lemon, lime, and peach. In addition to cooking, Bo’s been a lover of animals, architecture, and art, and a collector of treasures as long as he can remember.

Tuition: 365

Course Description: The Piedmont region we call home has surprises waiting around every bend! This week, we will turn our attention to blooming flowers, mossy rocks underwater, and turtles plunging off logs to cool off. We will spend our days hiking (easy/moderate level), reading nature poetry and prose, and crafting our own written creations inspired by the natural world. Campers will create a collection of their writing complete with pressed leaves, flowers, and artistic renderings of nature. No matter your experience with hiking or writing, all who enjoy a walk through the woods are most welcome!

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. She currently works as a Learning Specialist supporting neurodivergent teens and young adults. Meaghan has facilitated summer and school-year exchange programs with high schoolers from over 20 countries. She loves exploring the natural world of the Piedmont and sitting with her local mindfulness group. She can't wait to join CFS for her second year in Summer Programs!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 17-21, Tracy Schledorn
Week Three / July 1-5, Blair Cadden
Week Four / July 8-12, Kate Pendergrass

Tuition: 365

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: Tracy Schledorn just finished her third year as a CFS staff member. She teaches health and life classes across units and is the school counselor for the Middle School. Before that she worked as a teacher and school counselor in Alamance County for 21 years. She enjoys gardening and exploring with her husband and two young children. Tracy adored summer activity camps growing up and is always ready to learn something new. As a life-long athlete, she enjoys a variety of activities and relishes the opportunity to have fun and play!