Week 6: July 20-24

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, and create magical crafts.

This camp takes place at Campus Early School, 4809 Friends School Rd, Durham, NC 27705. 

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!

Tuition: 395

Course: Use your imagination to have your very own Disney adventure! This week, we’ll learn what it takes for Disney heroes to go the distance with the friends who help them along the way. We’ll sing, dance, play-act favorite characters, make crafts, and more! Through playing Disney adventure-themed games, campers will work together to overcome the challenges of a hero’s journey and share the joys of adventure with friends. “When there’s a smile in your heart, there’s no better time to start!”

Instructor: Shay has recently started working at CFS as the Middle School Extended Day teacher and is excited to lead CFS camps for the first time this summer! Shay has nearly a decade of experience working with young people ranging in age from 2 weeks old all the way through young adulthood. One of her favorite experiences was spending two years working with LGBTQ+ youth in Jacksonville, Florida while completing her MSW at Smith College. Most recently, she has been having a blast volunteering with children and youth at Durham Friends Meeting. In her free time, Shay enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, learning guitar, playing word games, and exploring the outdoors. Her favorite place in the world is Puerto Rico, where her family is from, and she’s super pumped to attend the 2026 World Baseball Classic in San Juan this spring!

Tuition: 395

Course: This course uses ecotherapy, expressive arts, and community building to help young children connect with the natural elements and their own embodied experience. Through playful exploration of earth, water, fire, air, and spirit, participants develop body awareness, creative expression, and group connection. This offering adapts my previous work with interest groups for younger learners who thrive with hands-on, imaginative, nature-based activities.

Instructor: Joy Long is a healing artist, prosperity guide, and ecotherapist who is honored to be part of the Carolina Friends School community as a camp facilitator and as the parent of an 8-year-old CFS student. She brings a deep love for youth, creativity, and nature into her work with young people, supporting them in exploring identity, embodiment, and self-trust through earth-based and expressive practices.

Joy will be facilitating two camps this summer, Elemental Bodies and Who Are You?, which invite youth to explore movement, reflection, creativity, and connection with themselves and the natural world. Her approach is grounded, relational, and playful, creating space for curiosity, imagination, and authentic expression.

Outside of camp, Joy loves spending time with her daughter, going to the river, dancing, writing, drawing, traveling, and being with her loved ones. She believes that creativity, nature, community, and honest self-inquiry are powerful tools for helping young people feel more connected, confident, and at home in themselves. Joy’s approach to healing is rooted in her Southern heritage, inspired by her travel experiences, shaped by her lived experience as a neurodivergent person, and guided by a deep commitment to intergenerational wellness.

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: 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: Elyse Cole is a student at the University of Ottawa in Canada! She is studying psychology with a focus in child development. This will be Elyse’s 6th summer working at Carolina Friends School summer programs. She started as a CIT, then became an intern, and is excited to be an instructor this summer! Elyse grew up going to CFS summer camp and was inspired by the variety of camps opening up doors to new passions every summer! She rows for her university, but when she's not practicing or studying, she loves to crochet, read, paint, run, go to the gym, and craft. Elyse has been a swim instructor, nanny, soccer and volleyball coach, and her love and passion for working with kids has grown so much through her time at CFS. 

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: 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: 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: 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).

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Four / July 6-10, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-16
Week Six / July 20-24, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-16
Week Eight / Aug 3-7, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-16

Tuition: 395

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!

Instructor: 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 Six / July 20-24
Week Seven / July 27-31

Tuition: 395

Course: Have you been waiting for your letter from Hogwarts? Celebrate your love of all things Harry Potter as you create themed crafts, play wizard games, compete for the House Cup and much more. Discover your inner witch or wizard as you are sorted into your house and your wand chooses you. Find your inner Magizoologist. Become a Potionsmaster. Zoom across the Quidditch field. We'll spend our time immersing ourselves into the Wizarding World by making keepsakes, practicing creativity and, most importantly, creating memories that can be enjoyed for years to come. Activities will be diverse and include art projects, potion making, spellcasting, Quidditch and other games. Join me in bringing the magic alive this summer!

Note: Previous knowledge of the Harry Potter series is helpful when participating in this course, but activities will be enjoyable for all.

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:
Week Four / July 6-10
Week Six / July 20-24

Tuition: 410

Course: Time to make your dinner experience complete! Join us as we learn how to make delicious cookies that will become lifelong favorites! We’ll get into the kitchen and start with some simple recipes, then do some research to find more unusual or enticing ones, then put on our aprons, get out the oven mitts, locate the mixing bowls, and get started. YUMMMMM! Students are asked to wear full foot coverings (so, no sandals or flip-flops). 

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: Tom Latimer has been running camps at CFS for 17 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: 395

Course: Do you have what it takes to be in Friends Got Talent? We think you do! Bring your special talents, whether it’s song, dance, magic, jokes, or a unique talent you would love to share, we want to see it! Students will spend the week crafting a performance. We will explore the different performance categories the students choose, play games that encourage movement and be comfortable with our bodies, participate in fun team activities and challenges, have a Karaoke party, and, of course, bring it all together for Friday’s Friends Got Talent!

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.

Tuition: 395 

Course: Do you love to create fun projects with your hands? Join us as we explore the world of fiber arts in this crafty adventure! Learn how to finger knit, weave on cardboard looms, and sew felt stuffies with friends. We’ll craft together and complete guided projects. You’ll also have time each day to improvise and experiment with a variety of materials including yarn, fabric, felt, mini looms, embroidery thread, beads, and buttons. Bring in a backpack or garment to embellish, or make an accessory for a stuffed animal! No prior experience is necessary.

Instructor: Husnaa (she/her) is an Upper School social studies teacher at Carolina Friends School excited to cultivate camper creative expression this summer. She received her B.A. in Africana Studies with a creative writing minor and her M.S.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Husnaa has extensive experience facilitating poetry workshops for all ages in third spaces. A Philadelphia Youth Poet Laureate (2017-2018), she is the author of the chapbook Honey Sequence (The Head & The Hand, 2018). Husnaa is proud of her West Philadelphia roots. She enjoys writing poetry, crafting (knitting, sewing, collaging), running, cooking, and building community.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Six / July 20-24
Week Eight / Aug 3-7

Tuition: 425

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 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 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: 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 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.

Tuition: 425

Course: Calling all directors, actors, writers, and editors! In this camp, we will create a short movie from start to finish. You will help develop a story, write the script, film the scenes, and edit the footage. At the end of the week, we will premier the movie to other campers and families, and everyone will get a copy to take home. 

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 Five / July 13-17
Week Six / July 20-24

Tuition: 395

Course:  Join us for a weeklong celebration and exploration of queer identities, communities, joy, resilience, resistance, and creativity. Make some new friends and invite the ones you already have to enjoy LGBTQIA+ fashion, visual and performing arts, games and activities, nature walks, and talking circles. We will learn about LGBTQIA+ history while we envision our joyful queer futures together. 🌈🌈

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 15-19, Miriam, 12-16
Week Six / July 20-24, Emmanuel, 10-15
Week Seven / July 29-31, Miriam, 12-16

Tuition: 415

Course: If you have an affinity for the culinary arts and a curiosity about the science, then this is the camp for you! We will dive deep into physical and biological forces at play to bring us food that nourishes our body and soul. We will of course be tasting all sorts of things along the way! My hope is that at the end of our time together, you feel as though you have new appreciation for the astounding complexity behind food as well as its perfect simplicity.

Please note that while students will be cooking each day, they should still plan to pack or bring money to purchase lunch each day.

This course will involve dealing with gluten, yeast, dairy, and other allergens. We want this learning opportunity to be accessible to all students, while also providing a comprehensive experience. If allergies are of concern please reach out before signing up to see if this camp would work for your student.

Instructor: Emmanuel Oquaye is in his second year working with us at CFS as a substitute teacher and summer programs instructor, and is serving long term as a Spanish teacher this spring. He is excited to share his passion for sports and culinary arts with the students again this summer. Emmanuel has a wide range of interests, from cooking and baking to pottery and horticulture.Emmanuel Oquaye is teaching Physical Education as well as assuming the role of Assistant Athletic Director this year. They have been a part of the CFS community for the past two years teaching across units-- from Middle School Spanish, coaching volleyball, and various summer camps. They have their Associates degree in Visual art from Durham Tech. They have spent the last several years honing their communication, teaching, and administrative skills at Claymakers studio, touted dining establishments, and as a private child care provider for ages < 1-5. In their free time Emmanuel loves to bake, play basketball, and take care of their plant babies.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Four / July 6-10
Week Six / July 20-24

Tuition: 410

Course: Ever wanted to learn how to write your name in frosting, dust cakes with chocolate powder patterns, create meringues, use fondant, create fancy cupcakes, 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, as well as a container to bring home your creations each day. Please note that, unfortunately, we may not be able to accommodate dietary restrictions in this class.

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Four / July 6-10, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-16
Week Six / July 20-24, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-16
Week Eight / Aug 3-7, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-16

Tuition: 395

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!

Instructor: 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! 

Tuition: 395

Course: The third level of improv camps is here! With a foundation in basic longform and game of the scene, actors will learn the most famous longform structure: Harold. Campers will explore strong group games, create and track multiple storylines and characters, and recognize patterns that connect scenes over time. As always, we’ll end the week with a show on Friday! Improv fundamentals and longform experience recommended (Improv 101/201 or other classes/camps)

Instructor: Abby Kameny has been involved in Carolina Friends School Summer Programs for 20 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 recently taught English in Spain, and is now a high school ESOL teacher in Maryland. Abby has also been involved in theatre, improv, and singing throughout high school and college.

Tuition: 395

Course: This course will teach the basics of the types of bees and the roles they play (queen, workers, drones), bee anatomy, and fun things to do with wax and honey! In addition there is the critical role they play in pollination.

Activities include:  

• Design a pollinator garden and grow flowers/plants to take home
• Learn about Langstroth hives 
• Taste different types of honey and compare flavor, color, & viscosity
• Talk about bees, environmental stewardship, & biodiversity
• Make beeswax crafts (candles, lip balm, soap)
• Make honey based recipes
• Meet the other pollinators: butterflies, bats, and birds
• Hatch butterflies and set them free

Instructor: Miriam is a high school science teacher in Caswell County.  A love of nature, gardening, and awareness of the importance of bees to our environment and the threats they face, led her to beekeeping, and she will be a certified beekeeper as of January of 2026.  

Her prior experience is in medical research, so exploring, discovering, and being creative in figuring things out with experimentation are favorite things to do!