Week 3: June 29-July 3

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. 

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!

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!

Instructor:  Adelaide Zahren served as 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: 395 

Course: There is an unlimited amount of beauty in nature. Explore multiple art mediums while using the physical world as inspiration. We'll create leaf rubbings, collages, nature drawings, and more. Each day will bring a new nature-inspired art project. We'll spend lots of time outdoors this week! We will learn about nature not only through art but also through books by authors like Eric Carle.

Instructor: Natanaele is a multimedia producer and visual creator from Switzerland, now living in Durham, North Carolina. He studied multimedia production at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons. His work includes film, photography, and digital design. He values simplicity, care, and thoughtfulness in his work. He enjoys supporting learning through creativity and time spent in nature, helping others explore and enjoy everyday moments.

Natanaele brings a calm, thoughtful presence to his projects and to the people he works with. He focuses on being present, listening, and encouraging curiosity, reflection, and confidence in a gentle, supportive way.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:

Week Three / June 29-July 3
Week Four / July 6-10
Week Six / July 20 - 24

Tuition: 395

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. 

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: Creating tiny urban gardens as a child and crewing on the Hudson River educational sloop Clearwater as a teenager planted seeds of love and caring for nature which led to helping start and serve on river basin, conservation and urban agriculture organizations, an urban community and foodbank garden, and a native plant conservation garden. A long-time educator from pre-K to college and adult, Susanna McIlwaine has a graduate degree in environmental conflict and decision-making and worked with communities and NGOs in the US and Europe. She has worked with practical applications of natural systems in sewage treatment. A Virginia Master Naturalist, Susanna is working on her NC environmental education professional certification and joining my local Master Naturalist program. She is deeply appreciative of the opportunity to serve as a substitute and Extended Day/Learning teacher at CFS. Teaching children is a deep calling at this time of her life.

Tuition: 425

Course: In Codemoji's Creative Coding, students will learn the basics of coding and computer science as they are immersed in STEM activities. Students will collaborate to program robots to complete tasks, work with emojis as they dive into the Codemoji platform, and participate in offline unplugged coding activities and games. Throughout the program, students will design a website and learn to utilize their newly acquired coding skills to advance through interactive lessons. The Codemoji program will challenge your students as they advance through HTML, CSS, and JS coding basics and will promote the desire to continue their coding learning outside of the classroom.

Instructor: Codemoji's computer science curriculum for schools allows 1st-8th grade students to learn the basics of web development and coding, including HTML, CSS, and Javascript, in a fun and easy way, allowing them to create their own websites, animations and much more with our unique and adaptable learning platform. Learn more about Codemoji here. 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 22-26, Adelaide
Week Three / June 29-July 3, Shannon
Week Four / July 6-10, Natanaele
Week Five / July 13-17, Cheryl
Week Six / July 20-24, Adelaide 
Week Seven / July 27-31, Natanaele

Tuition: 395

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 22-26, Shannon, ages 6-9
Week Three / June 29-July 3, Jenna, ages 8-10

Tuition: 395

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: Jenna Carlson is a 4th grade teacher in Raleigh. During the school year, she loves teaching reading and social studies. 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 15-19, Elyse
Week Two / June 22-26, Robinson  
Week Three / June 29-July 3, Robinson 
Week Five / July 13-17, Emmanuel
Week Seven / July 27-31, Shay

Tuition: 395

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: Robinson Earle is a music and language arts teacher. He leads a Post-Folk trio called The River Otters. In his free time, he likes to frolic through the woods with his wife, Sara Belle, and their two daughters, Lyra Belle and Maizy Lee. He also enjoys playing sports, watching movies, and reading.

Tuition: 395 

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​ creative animal mask. We will play theater style games that help students build confidence and skill, be expressive without using words,​ create skits, and build relationships. This camp is great for kids who love art, who love performance​, and for kids brand new to performing​ or papier mache who want to try something new in a supportive and open minded space!​  Campers are not required to perform, just mask making is also perfectly welcome.

Instructor: Martha (she/her) works as a visual art teacher for the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. She loves watching students find their own creative paths in the art room and structures her teaching style with an open, choice based framework. Although she works as an art teacher, Martha has had many other career adventures including sushi chef, vegan baker and farmer.

Martha is an animal lover who fills her free time in her garden with her family...building their homestead with her husband (Dylan), daughter (Ruthie), mother (Ruth), three cats (Gilbert, Simon, and Lucy-Ann) and two speckled herding dogs (Luke and Monty-Don).

Instructor: 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! 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 15-19, Noah of Guild of Adventures for ages 14-18
Week Two / June 22-26, Noah of Guild of Adventures for ages 10-14
Week Three / June 29-July 3, Miranda Parker for ages 8-12

Tuition: 395

Course: Are you a brave adventurer ready to take on monsters, villains and perilous encounters? Have you always wanted to try your hand at role playing? Do you love storytelling and collaboration? You’ve come to the right place! Throughout the week, you will build and embody a fantastical fictional character, travel distant lands with your comrades, and allow your creative juices to flow. We will learn the basics of gameplay, try out different concepts and types of quests, and create themed crafts. In addition to the focal point of Dungeons & Dragons (5e), we will also dabble in other RPG and cooperative tabletop games to keep things interesting. Whether you are a seasoned explorer or a complete newbie, you will bring something special and unique to the experience and all are welcome. Full role-playing and/or dressing in costume is certainly not required, but it is very much encouraged. Wear a wig and cape; put on a silly accent; bring (safe) props from home. Let’s go exploring, save some townspeople and, above all else, have an absolute blast!

Instructor: Miranda is a CFS alum and Triangle native who is thrilled to return this summer to bring both new and old camps to life. She works as a real estate agent for Weaver Street Realty, but in the past year, has found herself drawn to the school in a very meaningful way, acting as a regular substitute teacher, coach and member of the Extended Learning staff. She loves the many different facets she gets to experience in her current roles and hopes to become part of the faculty in a full-time capacity should the opportunity arise. 

Miranda has many passions and likes to try new things. She recently discovered her love of role playing games, and has long been an avid board gamer. Reading and writing are some of her favorite pastimes, particularly fantasy and mythology. She is a die hard Harry Potter fan (among many other fandoms), a former athlete and current CFS coach (both volleyball and basketball), and a general seeker of fun and adventure.
 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Weeks One and Two/ June 15-26
Weeks Three and Four / June 29-July 10

Please register under the Summer Programs Week Three drop-down in your CampInTouch account.

Tuition: 780 (covering both weeks)

Course: The spotlight is on you! Calling all actors to help 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 twenty years, directing and producing plays two times a year. In the fall of 2023, she had the pleasure of directing the Upper School production of “Radium Girls.” Collaborating with younger students as well over the years has been a real joy for Susan.  She is eager to meet a new generation of young artists this summer.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 15-19
Week Two / June 22-26
Week Three / June 29-July 3 (Advanced)
Week Four / July 6-10
Week Five / July 13-17
Week Six / July 20-24
Week Seven / July 27-31 (Advanced)

Tuition: 395

Course: For our older students, here’s an opportunity to enhance your skills in comic drawing. Led by Jamie Charles who has been teaching Comic Design in CFS Summer Programs for 20+ years, the workshop provides a meeting place for expanding skills and talents. You do NOT have to have taken Comic Design prior to this. This is for those students who want to work a bit intensely on their creations. Share your techniques, exchange tips, learn new skills, collaborate with a partner, and learn from the community.

Instructor: Jamie Charles is a visual artist and the middle school art instructor at Carolina Friends School, where he has been teaching for over two decades. He graduated from UNCG as an art major with a concentration in painting. Passionate about fostering creativity and self-expression, Jamie has dedicated his career to guiding young artists as they explore various artistic mediums and techniques. A parent of an alum of Carolina Friends, he has a deep connection to the school community and values the commitment in shaping well-rounded, thoughtful individuals.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 15-19
Week Two / June 22-26
Week Three / June 29-July 3 
Week Five / July 13-17 (Volleyball with Miranda Parker) 
Week Seven / July 27-31

Tuition: 395

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 Carolina Friends School 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 One / June 15-19
Week Three / June 29-July 3 

Tuition: 395

Course: Do you think you’d have what it takes to survive in the wild? Well, we won’t leave you to the elements this week, but you’ll learn some intense wilderness survival tips, tricks, and techniques. This week you can expect to learn how to purify water, build shelters, identify edible plants, and track wildlife. 

Instructor: Before coming to North Carolina and, for a time, CFS as a member of the Shop crew, Matt Walters spent 18+ years working in outdoor educational programming at numerous schools, camps, nature centers, and non-profit children's museums. He served as a park ranger for the National Park Service and as an educator for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. While living in Washington, D.C., he founded and directed Outdoors With Friends, an organization committed to facilitating outdoor recreational programming for children with Autism. He is certified as a Wilderness First Responder.​

In his spare time Matt enjoys all things out-of-doors, in particular backpacking, kayaking, climbing, and skiing with his two children. Off campus you can find him playing guitar, wandering aimlessly through the woods, or keeping a keen eye out for the ultimate snowball fight.

Tuition: 410

Course: Do you want to travel the world AND eat your way through it? If you said yes, this camp is the one for you! Each day, we will explore a different part of the world by cooking up delicious meals and learning about different cultures. Along the way, we’ll learn some unique cooking techniques, explore new recipes, learn about different parts of the world, and, best of all, taste our many creations! We may even take a field trip to an international grocery store. 

Certain dietary restrictions and allergies may not be able to be accommodated in this particular camp. If you have questions about possible accommodation possibilities, please feel free to email extendedLearning@cfsnc.org before signing up.

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 keeps her active. In her spare time (yeah, right) she enjoys playing the flute, reading mysteries, exercising, and doing puzzles.

Tuition: 395

Course: Campers will learn about the history of embroidery as an art and craft form and learn how to create a wide range of decorative stitches. Campers will also learn about how embroidery is an increasingly popular technique used in contemporary art as a form of “drawing” with thread. Camp will culminate in the creation of an embroidered garment, bag, or original artwork.

Instructor: Billy Dee (they/them) is a visual artist and educator. They currently work as an art teacher at Insight Colearning Center and as an adjunct professor of art at Elon University and UNCG. Billy loves to collaborate and has worked in theatre as a set and prop designer and puppet builder. They have collaborated with numerous community organizations to create posters, illustrations, and educational materials. Billy is currently working on illustrations for a book, and is very excited to collaborate with campers at CFS this summer! :)

Billy enjoys spending time with their animal friends Cookie and Lyra (sheep), Gilbert and Venus (pigs), and their wonderful chickens.

Tuition: 410

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! 

Certain dietary restrictions and allergies may not be able to be accommodated in this particular camp. If you have questions about possible accommodation possibilities, please feel free to email extendedLearning@cfsnc.org before signing up.

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: 425

Course Description: Do you like to experiment with sounds or create your own music? Learn how to take your ideas and bring them to life in the studio. We will work with some of the latest digital recording software and effects, learn how to record instruments and vocals as well as learn how to produce digital music and beats. If students have their own computers or instruments they are welcome to bring them at their discretion, otherwise we will have access to everything we need on site.

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 Carolina Friends. 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 from CFS or anywhere else). He helps beginners 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.