Week 7: July 27-31

Tuition: 430

Course: In this camp we will read lots of stories, and find ways to engage with them in the real world! We will make art, learn about STEM, and have tactile play all jumping out from the story books we read.

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!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Four / July 6-10, ages 6-9
Week Seven / July 27-31, ages 5-7

Tuition: 395

Course: Do you love arts, crafts, and everything creative? Join us for Art Explorers Camp! We will be investigating the awesome world of everything artsy and crafty, think rock painting, watercolor salt paintings, homemade scratch off art, tissue paper “stained glass,” and more!! Bring your excitement for some crafts and let’s make some amazing art together!

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 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 play a variety of sports such as soccer, baseball, and gymnastics, focusing on skills and learning the rules. We work on team building, gaining confidence, and cheering each other on! We’ll also play gym games, participate in relay races, and more. An excellent class for the active or wannabe active camper! 

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!

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: Natanaele served as an Extended Day teacher in our Campus Early School program. He 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. 

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.
 

Tuition: 395

Course: Come and learn about the magical world of fairies! We’ll learn about fairies and make our own fairy gardens, wands, and fairy trinkets to welcome our enchanted friends! Create special treats, potions, and crafts to add to our fairy collection. Enjoy tea parties in the fairy garden and read stories about fairies and their garden friends!

Instructor: Cheryl Meyer (she/her), is a Lower School teacher at Carolina Friends School. 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. Over the past two decades, Cheryl has worked with children from ages 0-18 in a variety of classrooms and libraries, including an ESL classroom in Pohnpei, Micronesia! In her free time, Cheryl loves to kayak, make camp fires and explore with her two children.

Tuition: 410

Course: Come explore the wide spectrum of savory and sweet with Robinson (parent, cooking enthusiast, and Friends School sub). We will make everything from cookies to French fries. The kids will learn how to crack, mash, whisk, stir, and perhaps most importantly, CLEAN UP. The menu will be mostly vegetarian. Please reach out with any dietary restrictions or allergies before signing up, and we will do our best to accommodate.

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: 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 hopes to become part of the faculty in a full-time capacity should the opportunity arise and loves the many different facets she gets to experience in her current roles. 

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.

Tuition: 395

Course: Gamemakers Studio is the ultimate camp for kids who love to play, think, create, and laugh! We will play through every type of game—from strategy board games and energetic acting games to social deduction challenges and clever wordplay competitions. Campers experiment with different styles of play, learn what makes games exciting and fair, and then become designers themselves. By the end of the week, every camper will create an original game complete with artwork, rules, and a theme of their own imagination. Let the play-testing begin!

Instructor: Elizabeth, or Liz (she/her), is a third grade teacher at Lyons Farm Elementary in Durham. She teaches all subjects, and is proud to be identified as a highly qualified beginning teacher from the state of North Carolina, a Teaching Fellow, and a graduate of NCSU. Liz joined CFS summer programs last year, after being referred by her Aunt Julia (who just so happens to be the Upper School librarian here at CFS!). Her teaching philosophy focuses on embracing students’ individuality and fostering authentic growth, mainly through encouraging her students’ creative minds. 

In her free time, Liz enjoys playing games with her family, cuddling with her cat Squirrel, reading, doing pilates, watching theatre productions, and spending time with loved ones. She is also a published author, having authorship on conference papers and research papers on science education.

Tuition: 425

Course: Does your student want to learn more about how video games work? In Game On, students will take their skills to the next level while learning about coding basics. During the week, students will be introduced to coding languages and how game animations are made while utilizing their new knowledge to create mini-games including “Shark Eats Fish,” “Treasure Hunt,” and more!

Instructor: Codemoji's computer science curriculum for schools allows first-eighth 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. 

Tuition: 395 

Course: If being outside or running around isn’t quite your vibe, come be cozy for the summer! We’ll learn how to finger knit and weave on cardboard looms, read books, complete puzzles, write stories, create art, and more. We’ll craft together and complete guided projects. You’ll also have unstructured time each day to create on your own, and just chill. Imagine warm lighting, afternoon tea, and lowkey time spent with friends doing some of your favorite crafty activities. 

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 Four / July 7-11
Week Seven / July 28-August 1

Tuition: 395

Course: Beginners and experienced musicians alike will learn the fundamentals of writing lyrics and melodies. We will explore songwriting using guitar, bass, ukulele, keys, percussion, and/or electronic music to make original songs as individuals or in a collaboration with other campers. We will explore your favorite songs to see how they were written. You will have the opportunity to perform your original works on the last day of camp! 

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.

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Instructor: Alexa (she/her) is delighted to return to CFS for her second year as a summer instructor! After teaching a week of Move, Write, Film: A Digital Storytelling Adventure last summer, she began her current role working as an Instructional Assistant at the Hill Learning Center. Last fall, she also worked as a CFS Lower School Guest Teacher. Alexa earned a B.S. in Psychology from Yale University and conducted research as an Education Studies Scholar. In her free time, she is currently enjoying exploring dance forms such as contact improvisation, spending time outside, and cultivating a life of play and curiosity.

Tuition: 410

Course: Latkes, Buche de Noel (Yule log), Melomakarona, Babka, Roast pig, Spiced hot chocolate, Saffron buns, Jansson’s Temptation, Coal candy, Tourtiere, Christmas pudding, Panettone, Kransekake, Lentils… The holidays are full of fabulous food. Together we will take a tour around the world, cooking up some of these holiday favorites from different countries. You will also have an opportunity to share your favorite recipes and family traditions with the group. Please come prepared with your hair pulled back, ready to get cooking! 

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: Mary grew up in New York and Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University and her master’s degree at North Carolina State. This will be her 12th year living and teaching in North Carolina. She taught sixth grade math and science and was a math specialist for several years in Wake County before joining CFS. In her spare time she loves to play soccer and basketball, cook, travel, watch sports, and visit friends and family.

Tuition: 395

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

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

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

This course will involve dealing with gluten, yeast, 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: 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!

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 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: 395

Course: Ready to weave some magic with thread and paper? In this class, you’ll learn to bind your very own books, stitching together stories—both literal and imaginative! Students will learn a variety of bookbinding techniques, as well as various folded and origami book techniques. By the end of the week, students will have had the opportunity to bind their very own, personalized sketchbooks, notebooks, day planners, comics, short story collections, and more!

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.