Week 2: June 24-28

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 24-28
Week Four / July 8-12
Week Six / July 22-26

Tuition: 365

Course: A very 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 playing with paint, fabric, oil pastels, mud, 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. This is not a product oriented art camp, although campers will have plenty of pieces to take home. 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: 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, 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! 

If you have LEGOs 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: 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 Two / June 24-28
Week Six / July 22-26
Week Seven / July 29 - August 2

Tuition: 365

Course: Help ignite a lasting interest in the most beautiful things our planet has to offer. During this exciting week-long program of activities we’ll see, hear and feel nature first hand. Fresh discovery awaits our young explorers through games, art, observation and adventuring. This introductory course is based on the Scandinavian Forest School model where direct outdoor experiences help to foster social skills, confidence, creativity, problem solving and much more.

Program Sessions Days

Nature’s Playground
Students participate in ecologically themed games that help build interpersonal relationships, collaborative skills and curiosity of the natural world.

Wildlife Detectives
On this fun day out, participants will learn some of the basics field skills needed for experiencing nature. We’ll learn how to use camouflage, stealth and listening skills to get up close and personal with those woodland creatures. We’ll look at tracks and signs and undertake the bird olympics challenge.

Creative Creatures
Through a variety of artistic methods, this arts-based day will use nature to inspire and encourage students to explore and celebrate their unique sense of creativity.

Micro-adventures
Students set out on a small adventure designed to cultivate basic outdoor skills (shelter building etc) and to encourage local nature exploration and a continued curiosity in the natural world.

Life aquatic
We will explore the creeks around school and use nets and tanks to catch amphibians, crustaceans, insects and other aquatic life.

Instructor: Mike Werndly (or Ranger to his friends) introduced our popular Nature Lab environmental education classes in Summer 2017. He is a lifelong birder and practiced field biologist and outdoor educator with a passion for sharing environmental experiences that promote awareness and respect of the natural world. Working and traveling in remote areas around the globe has given Mike a wide knowledge of the Earth’s habitats and ecosystems.

He’s been hooked on wildlife since a chance encounter with an owl when he was eight and hasn't looked back. He studied Ecology and Outdoor Environmental Education at university and has worked for numerous conservation organizations, including the Aigas Field Centre, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and Scottish Natural Heritage. Mike’s wildlife encounters have been numerous, but some memorable ones include being followed home one night by two otters and being covered head to foot in smelly seabird guano!

He moved from Scotland in 2016 and now lives in Hillsborough with his wife and two young children and their friendly food-crazy labrador, Fogo :0)

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: Emmanuel Oquaye is in his second year working with us at CFS as a substitute teacher. He is excited to share his passion for culinary arts and sports with the students again this summer. Emmanuel has served as a studio assistant and working potter at Durham’s Claymakers Studio since 2017. Emmanuel has a wide range of interests, from cooking and baking to pottery and horticulture.

Tuition: 365

Course: Spin and dye sheep wool yarn. Magnify and compare natural and synthetic fibers. Collect usable parts and seeds from cotton and dye plants. Build a loom and weave cloth. By trying your hand at it yourself and learning a little about science and early technology, discover how humans made everyday clothing and shelter items from local plant and animal fibers. Fiber field trip!

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 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, Tiny Rug project lead, and Extended Day (AfterHours) staff. She’s also a former CFS parent!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 24-28, ages 7-11
Week Four / July 8-12, ages 7-11
Week Seven / July 29 - Aug 2, ages 11-14

Tuition: 365

Course: Calling all Pokémon trainers who just gotta catch ‘em all! Come enjoy a weeklong exploration and appreciation of the world of Pokémon. In this course, we’ll dive into the Pokémon Trading Card Game to learn how the game is played, understand different cards’ values, and improve strategy. During the week of fun, we will learn how to make Pokémon decks as well as how to become better Pokémon trainers. By the end of the session, everyone will be well on their way to becoming a Pokémon master. All levels of experience with the Pokémon Trading Card Game are welcome. Participants are invited to bring their own cards, but decks, play mats, and other game supplies will be provided for everyone.

Instructor: Ben Allison is a Chapel Hill local who works as an Extended Day Coordinator at CFS during the school year. After being on the Summer Programs Leadership Team last summer, he is excited to return as a camp instructor! By May of 2024 he will have graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in Human Development and Family Studies, and he is currently intending to become an educator in the state of North Carolina. In his free time he enjoys playing video games, listening to, writing and playing music, and reading. 

Tuition: 365

Course: Learn how to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more using a variety of materials during this fun week of Jazzy Jewelry Making! In this camp, students will create their own original pieces and take them home to show off. 

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.

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.

Tuition: 365

Course: Ah, the beautiful game! This is an opportunity to be in a friendly, non-competitive setting and get better at the simple game so many of us love. We will focus more on playing the right way, emphasizing teamwork, sportsmanship, and safety, and less on keeping score. We will practice intermediate skills like first touch, passing and moving, spatial awareness, and using our bodies to shield the ball in order to move beyond “kick and run” soccer. We will also practice with the challenge of playing on a mixed-ability team - some minimal familiarity with a ball at your feet is preferred, but this camp is open to all skill levels, including up to current club players. A great camp for anyone who loves soccer!

Instructor: James Rees was born in England but grew up in Davidson, North Carolina from the age of 4, when his family immigrated to the U.S. He spent a lot of his free time growing up playing soccer, tennis, and basketball, or puzzling over brain teasers and math puzzles. Years later, he attended Duke University and spent his time similarly there, graduating with a B.A. in Mathematics in 2019. James arrived at CFS in 2022 and has worked as a Lower School teacher for the past two years. He is excited to have fun sharing his excitement for math and sports this summer! 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 24-28
Week Three / July 1-5

Tuition: 380

Course Description: Ever wanted to learn how to write your name in frosting, dust cakes with chocolate powder patterns, create strawberry flowers, use fondant, and create fancy cupcakes and chocolate-dipped strawberries that look like tuxedos, or mold your own chocolate? It is an art form! We'll do all of that and more, starting with easy designs on cardboard before making our own frosting, cakes, cupcakes, and chocolates to decorate. Design your own theme or go wild with abandon and have fun creating edible works of art. 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 an overprotective mini schnauzer named Heidi that keep her active. In her spare time (yeah, right) she enjoys playing the flute, reading mysteries, and doing puzzles.

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 24-28
Week Three / July 1-5

Tuition: 395

Course: Anyone ever told you to “get lost?” If so, there’s no better way to take their advice than to delve into the amazingly expansive and immersive world of Minecraft. For a moment, let’s step away from the term “video-game” and substitute “wildly-versatile-open-ended-world-manipulating-art machine.” Minecraft’s critically acclaimed, sandbox-style gameplay is a constant exercise in collaborative exploration, goal-setting, and boundless “Imagineering”—whether hunting and gathering to build agrarian homesteads across various landscapes or configuring an automated railway/refinement system that acquires, transports, and processes raw materials the player can use to create their own scaled recreation of the Taj Mahal.

The objective of Minecraft Community is to “get lost, together,” building community. With a little direction and a lot of improv, students will enter into Minecraft’s Survival Mode, banding together to outlive the Mobs and Elements, within a democratic community. With inventive jobs (e.g. Hunters, Explorers, Architects, Artisans, etc.) and responsibilities and a community lot-casting system, students will forge ahead to establish a lasting society amidst wiles of Mobs and the unforgiving wildernesses.

We will be using Minecraft: Education Edition on Chromebooks.

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: Get out your map and compass, we are going exploring! Learn about the marvelous world of maps and test out your navigation skills in this geography focused camp. We will try our hand at orienteering with just a map and compass, and then we will learn about satellites and GPS systems to try out geocaching in some local parks! We will lend our hand at drawing some of our own maps on paper and on the computer. We will learn about some wacky maps that cartographers have created and test our knowledge with a geography bee at the end of the week. This interdisciplinary camp mixes time exploring the woods and learning about technology, all while working together as a team and completing some fun challenges!

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: Hey Swifities! We are in our summer camp era! In this camp, we will celebrate all things Taylor Swift. We will listen to our favorite songs, analyze them for literary themes and ideas, and even use some for our own creative writing. We will bake her famous chai tea cookies and watch Miss Americana and discuss her impact as a girl changing the world. Let’s make the friendship bracelets and dance to our favorite songs!

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.

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: Zeke Petrou graduated from Carolina Friends School and now attends Elon University where they are studying sports management. Zeke attended CFS Summer as a young camper, then went on to CIT and Intern under some of our best instructors. Zeke spent most of last summer as a leader in our morning and afternoon Extended Day program while also working an internship within the CFS Athletic Department. 

Tuition: 365

Course: If being outside or running around isn’t quite your vibe, come be cozy for the summer! Well read books, do puzzles, draw pictures, do skincare and more! Imagine warm lighting, and lowkey time spent with friends doing some of your favorite activities. 

Instructor: Dan Hill is an early school support teacher at CFS who holds a B.S. 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, learning about skin care, and making spreadsheets for fun!