Week 6: July 24-28

Tuition: 385

Course: Come join us for a week of grooving to the beat and moving our feet! This camp will give campers the chance to make music, learn different dance styles, and have all kinds of rhythmic fun. You won’t want to miss a beat of the fun!

Instructor: Olivia Wroth was born and raised in North Carolina and grew up going to Carolina Friends Summer Camps! Her home away from home is the mountains and she has spent the last couple of years exploring the Boone area of North Carolina. When Olivia is not in the mountains, she loves to do art projects. She is passionate about child-led learning and helping children to develop connections with their community. She loves working with children and currently teaches Pre-K students at Lerner School in Durham.

Tuition: 350

Course: This camp is a terrific way for children to learn Spanish quickly! Come and experience the fun of learning Spanish in a Hispanic environment with a native teacher. During this week kids will be involved in a variety of fun cultural activities, including Hispanic dances, games, songs, storytelling, dramatic play and more. At the end of the week the campers will participate in a unique performance using their new Spanish language skills. Then we will have a party “Fiesta” where the kids will break the piñata made by them during the week.

Instructor: Kelly Yupanqui is from Perú and moved to the United States in 2005. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education and her M.Ed. in Educational Administration at Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Perú. Kelly got her certification as a Montessori Teacher from the American Montessori Society.

She has taught different levels of students for 25 years in public and private settings in her native country and in the USA (including now at Carolina Friends School). Kelly loves to dance, sing, play the guitar, cook, do arts and crafts, and be outside and she enjoys sharing all her talents and her native Spanish Language during Summer Programs.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 19-23, Markeith Gary
Week Three / July 3-7, Emmanuel Oquaye
Week Five / July 10-14, Achiri Acha
Week Six / July 17-21, Markeith Gary
Week Seven / July 24-28, Markeith Gary
Week Eight / July 31- August 4, Emmanuel Oquaye

Tuition: 350

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: 350

Course: Students will learn the basics of story structure, world-building, and character-building as they create their own original characters. Through improvisation, games, and guided explorations, students will put these characters into a short original play to be shared with friends and family.

Instructor: Blair Cadden is a director, theatre-maker, and teaching artist who is thrilled to be sharing her love of theatre with CFS this summer! She holds a B.A. in theatre from Wofford College and an M.F.A. in directing from Boston University. Blair is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, where she was the co-founding Artistic Director of the theatre company 5th Wall Productions. She’s taught theatre to students of all ages at Lexington Children's Theatre, Spartanburg Youth Theatre, Boston University, and–most recently–Duke University, where she is currently serving as Artist in Residence. 

When she’s not making or teaching theatre, you can find Blair cuddling with her beloved dog Moe, rock-climbing, baking cupcakes, or making very lumpy pottery.
 

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 26-30, Bryson Byrd
Week Three / July 3-7, Bryson Byrd
Week Four / July 10-14, (Jr. ages 5-7) Bryson Byrd
Week Five / July 17-21, Cheryl Meyer
Week Six / July 24-28, Kelsie Yohe

Tuition: 350

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 LEGO 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: Kelsie Yohe (she/her) is a second-year Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University in the Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis program. She was a second grade teacher in Wake County Public Schools for five years before heading back into the classroom as a learner. Kelsie lives in Raleigh with her spouse (Hunter), their two dogs (Pepper and Harley), and their gecko (Henry). When she's not buried beneath academic journals, she enjoys reading, knitting, and playing video games.

Tuition: 350

Course: This course is designed only for students who will enter CFS Lower School this fall. Let’s spend some easy days together reading great books, working on art activities, and also spending plenty of time outdoors enjoying free choice games and activities. Our books will inspire our projects. We may find ourselves working on origami, building castles, and writing stories together. It will be a fun and instructive week to enjoy some great literature along with good summer fun. For those campers who are about to enter CFS as students, this is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the environment as we help you "slide in."

Instructor: Adrienne was born in Greensboro, NC, and raised in the New Garden Friends Meeting community. She earned her undergraduate degree in Literature from UNC-Asheville and her Masters of Arts in Elementary Education from UNC-Greensboro. She spent many summers working as a camp counselor, and later on as a camp director, at New Garden Friends School. While living in Asheville, Adrienne served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Asheville City Schools Foundation. She enjoys teaching through the lenses of experiential education and social-emotional learning. In her spare time, Adrienne likes reading, writing, hiking, and cuddling with her three sweet pets.

Tuition: 365

Course: Let’s stir up some favorite foods using simple recipes! Ever wonder how ingredients come together to create tasty foods? We’ll find out while we make things we love—pizza, omelettes, pies, mac & cheese, cakes, and more. Along the way, we’ll learn some important cooking techniques, create some new recipes, and taste our many creations. One word for this class? Yummy!

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Five / July 17-21 (ages 11-15)
Week Six / July 24-28 (ages 7-12)
Week Seven / July 31-Aug 4 (ages 11-15)
Week Nine / August 14-18 (ages 7-15)

Tuition: 350

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!

About Triangle Ultimate: 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: 350

Course: Script writing! Acting! Prop design! Oh my! During this week, students are invited to create dramatic interpretations of a favorite story. Hosted in the Lower School Library, we will read a variety of short stories together and choose which one will come to life. All students will have the opportunity to act, but they are also welcome to only focus on writing the script or creating props, scenery and costumes! 

Instructor: Cheryl Meyer (she/her), is a Lower School teacher and librarian at Carolina Friends. A Durham native, Cheryl has a B.A. in English and a certificate in Early Childhood Education from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Masters’ Degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. Before coming to CFS, she taught in a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool and in a high school ESL classroom in Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia, while serving in the Peace Corps. Cheryl’s current position combines so many of her interests - service, education, advocacy, and equitable information access! In her free time, Cheryl loves to kayak and explore with her two children. 

Tuition: 365

Course: Calling all pie and ice cream lovers.Each day we will create one of a kind pies and ice cream of all kinds. Bring ideas of what kind of pie to create, we will brainstorm and experiment with different combinations of sweet, salty, savory, and more. We will compare which ingredients work well together and which did not. All while exploring various baking techniques and tools in the kitchen.

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! She is excited to bring her crafty skills to camp this summer.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 19-23
Week Two / June 26-30
Week Three / July 3-7 (Advanced)
Week Four / July 10-14
Week Five / July 17-21
Week Six / July 24-28
Week Seven / July 31-Aug 4 (Advanced)

Tuition: 350

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: 350

Course: This course will introduce campers to basic hand-building and wheel throwing ceramic techniques. Campers will learn how to create decorative and functional works and will explore Principles and Elements of Design such as texture, balance, variety, and form. They will be encouraged to express themselves artistically through their creations. Join us this week to learn a new creative medium!

Instructor: A California native, Stella Bowers (she/her) has been proud to call Durham home for 14 years. In May 2023 she will graduate from Meredith College with a B.A. in Psychology, a minor in Theatre, and a K-6 Teaching Licensure. She has almost 10 years of experience working with children as a babysitter, nanny, camp counselor, party princess entertainer, and student teacher. Her life’s passion is teaching and nurturing a love of learning in her students. In her free time Stella can be found creating art, reading, participating in local theatre productions, thrifting, and making music. This is her first year teaching CFS summer programs.

Tuition: 350

Course: Sharpen your improvisational skills with Improv 201! First, we’ll refresh on basic improv skills, and throughout the week, participants will learn even more games and acting techniques. We’ll introduce “game of the scene,” long-form improvisation, and build on skills for developing character and relationships. Of course, we will end the week with a show on Friday!

Some experience recommended (either Improv 101 or another improv class/camp).

Instructor: Abby Kameny has been involved in Carolina Friends School Summer Programs for 18 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 received her B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Maryland, took a gap year to teach English in Spain, and is now back at UMD for her Master’s in teaching English to speakers of other languages. She has also been involved in theatre, improv, and singing throughout high school and college.

Tuition: 350

Course: 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. After studying History and Latin American & Caribbean studies at Duke, she taught at the Montessori Farm School, where she still loves to contribute as a substitute teacher. Meaghan has facilitated summer and school-year exchange programs with high schoolers from over 20 countries. She earned her M.A. in International & Multicultural education before working at the United World College in Freiburg, Germany. Back home in Durham, she loves exploring the natural world of the Piedmont and sitting with her local mindfulness group.

Tuition: 350

Course:  Calling all artists, makers, and outdoor adventurers! We'll each build a rigid heddle backstrap loom (in use today around the world and probably as old as weaving itself). Then, we'll learn about animal anatomy in art. That’ll help us weave small 3D animal creatures--to which we'll explore how to add light-up eyeballs. Let your creativity run wild!

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 hundreds of 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, and Extended Day (AfterHours) staff. She’s also a former CFS parent!

Tuition: 350

Course: Ever heard the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words?" Well, we’re taking that into the modern age! Each day of this adventure, we will explore photography through mini-activities, experiment with various photography projects, and learn how to use Google photos and other apps in post-production to make great images even more dynamic. Participants will need a cell phone or tablet which they have used to take photos. All participants will create a keepsake photo album at the end of this fabulously fun camp! 

Instructor: Chloe Gillespie (they/them) is an outdoor enthusiast, athlete and artist. They have a passion for helping guide kids towards becoming their best selves through art, recreation and talk therapy. They are currently enrolled in Durham Technical Community College and working towards their associate in arts with hopes of transferring to a four year college. Their goal is to eventually graduate with a masters in psychology in order to work as a school counselor.

Chloe attended Friends School from kindergarten through high school and graduated with the class of 2019. They have returned to the CFS community as a cross country coach, a basketball coach and a soccer coach, as well as a substitute teacher for the middle school. This is their second year leading summer camps and they are very excited to work with children as they learn and grow through fun activities, socialization, and exploration.

Tuition: 380

Course: 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.

Tuition: 380

Course: Math, mental discipline, and subject knowledge are necessary for success in any card game. In this camp we will work on all three with an emphasis on how we can use statistical analysis to improve our skills at the popular card game "Magic the Gathering." We will learn why and how math is important in card games, formulas that will help us succeed, how to use online calculators and tools to assist us, and, of course, we’ll play lots and lots of Magic.

Students are free to bring their own cards but do so at their own risk! We will provide physical cards and use electronic tools to simulate card games as well. We won't limit ourselves just to Magic either; in this course we will also learn to apply our math skills to a broad range of standard 52-card deck games such as Texas Hold 'em. Get ready for a week of learning, collaboration, and intense competition!

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 19-23 (spaces open)
Week Six / July 24-28 (waitlist)

Tuition: 350

Course: Do you ever pick up a stick and pretend it's a magic wand? ME TOO! Do you ever wish you could have one of those epic lightsaber battles that you see in movies, but still stay safe and not really hurt anyone or get hurt yourself? ME TOO! Wow! We have so much in common. In this camp, we’ll learn about how actors and stunt people create and perform fights so that they look dangerous while actually being safe (and fun!). 

*hint* it’s all planned out and practiced slowly over and over again until the action is really more of a dance than a fight. Then, you sprinkle in some acting. We will start by learning how to move our bodies, how to move with our campmates, how to safely handle our pretend swords (or whatever fighting tool your imagination invents), and how to act/react so that it looks real. Then, we will create and perform our own staged fights!!!!!!

Hmmm…If you were in a magic wand battle, how would you react to make it look like you were just hit by a petrificus totalus spell? 

Instructor: Aaron Piepmeier has been part of the CFS community for five years (thanks to his awesome kid who is currently in Lower School)! He grew up in a theatrical family and spent countless hours singing, dancing, and acting in community theatre productions in Tennessee. While earning a theatre minor in college, Aaron trained to obtain certifications in Stage Combat through Dueling Arts International which led to choreographing and directing fight scenes for many local productions.

When not teaching people how to pretend to fight, Aaron also studied and taught martial arts as a 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Elon University, where he does not allow any fighting in class (fake or real).