Week 2: June 23-27
All courses are dependent on minimum enrollment.
You can use the Course List by Age and Course List by Instructor to help plan your Summer Programs choices.
As quickly as possible when enrollment is within three students from full capacity, we'll indicate the number of remaining spots next to the title of the course or that the class is waitlisted. CampInTouch always has real-time numbers as you move through the enrollment process. We glad to add a student to waitlists with no financial obligation and can have openings right up to the start of a session.
Spaces remaining last updated: Wednesday, February 12 at 9:30 am..
Happy exploring!
- Snackin' Good (4-5) | Waitlist
- Disney Crafts (6-9) | 1 space
- LEGO Explorers (6-9) | Waitlist
- Nature Lab, Jr. (6-9) | Waitlist
- Let's Kick It! Soccer Camp (7-10) | 1 space
- Poetry Playground: Rhyme Time Adventures! (7-11)
- Science of Fun (7-11) | Waitlist
- Spectacular Snacks and Creative Cookies (7-11) | Waitlist
- Gotta See NC (8-11) | 1 space
- Let's Put on a Play! (8-12) | Waitlist
- Comic Design (9-16) | Waitlist
- Minecraft Community (9-16) | Waitlist
- Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (11-16)
- Stage Combat (11-18)
- Leadership Challenge (12-15) | Waitlist
- Bread Baking Magic (12-16)
- Comfy Crochet (12-16)
- Dungeons and Dragons Beyond (13-17)
Snackin' Good (4-5) | Waitlist
Tuition: 415
Course: Let's get cooking with a week of food-based fun. We will make real things to eat like fruit skewers and decorated cookies. We will make up funny recipe ideas as a group and maybe even make a giant pretend sandwich. We will embark on kitchen science adventures by creating gak, slime, Oobleck, and cloud dough from ingredients such as flour, salt, corn starch, cocoa powder, and other pantry items. We will sing food themed songs like "It's Raining Tacos", play food games, and read books about food. The week will include unusual sensory experiences using rice, spaghetti, dried beans and corn.
Instructor: Charlotte Schmitt (she/her) is a second generation fiber artist living in North Durham close to the Eno. A poly-musician, she loves introducing early learners to real instruments and making simple versions from recycled materials.
Her motto is “Never throw out a paper towel tube because it is REALLY a rain stick”
Charlotte created a series of sensory bins while doing daycare for an autistic grandchild. She dabbles in making kid chaos and creative mess with science and household items, indoors and out.
A retired office nurse, Charlotte homeschooled her two children and grandchildren through certain seasons (such as recently during the pandemic). Her son was a percussion musical prodigy and tested her noise tolerance from an early age.
Charlotte holds a BA from UCF and has additional degrees in Child Development and Practical Nursing. She is experienced in pediatric rural medicine and malnutrition and made two dozen trips to the rural mountains of Haiti, as a nurse. Charlotte brought her medical interpreter and family as refugees to the USA in the summer of 2023.
Disney Crafts (6-9) | 1 space
Tuition: 384
Course: Are you a Disney fan? Do you love being creative? Well, lets combine the two for a week of super fun Disney-themed crafts. Each day we’ll focus on a movie and work on a craft to go with it. Classic Disney, Pixar, Disney World…let’s get magical!
Instructor: Jenna Carlson joined CFS this school year as a Fountain Purple teacher. During the school year, she loves working with the 3rd and 4th years. But in the summer, she is a crafter extraordinaire! Jewelry making, cricut projects, coloring…you name it. She also loves all things Disney and Star Wars. If you’re looking for a fun, laid back camp where you can express yourself in different ways, then these camps are just for you!
LEGO Explorers (6-9) | Waitlist
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 23-27, Adelaide
Week Three / June 30-July 4, Shannon
Week Four / July 30-July 4, Jenna
Week Five / July 7-11, Cheryl
Week Six / July 22-26, Cheryl
Week Seven / July 29-Aug 2, Dana
Tuition: 384
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 is the 5/6 Campus Early School teacher at CFS and has taught in Early Childhood for over 14 years. Adelaide received her undergraduate degree, teacher’s license, and Masters in Education from UNC Chapel Hill. Adelaide is an avid hiker who loves teaching children about the wonders of nature! When not teaching, Adelaide can be found exploring the Eno River with her two children and one enormous dog.
Nature Lab, Jr. (6-9) | Waitlist
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Tuition: 384
Course: Help ignite a lasting interest in the most beautiful things our planet has to offer. During this exciting week-long program of activities we’ll see, hear and feel nature first hand. Fresh discovery awaits our young explorers through games, art, observation and adventuring. This introductory course is based on the Scandinavian Forest School model where direct outdoor experiences help to foster social skills, confidence, creativity, problem solving and much more.
Program Sessions Days
Nature’s Playground
Students participate in ecologically themed games that help build interpersonal relationships, collaborative skills and curiosity of the natural world.
Wildlife Detectives
On this fun day out, participants will learn some of the basics field skills needed for experiencing nature. We’ll learn how to use camouflage, stealth and listening skills to get up close and personal with those woodland creatures. We’ll look at tracks and signs and undertake the bird olympics challenge.
Creative Creatures
Through a variety of artistic methods, this arts-based day will use nature to inspire and encourage students to explore and celebrate their unique sense of creativity.
Micro-adventures
Students set out on a small adventure designed to cultivate basic outdoor skills (shelter building etc) and to encourage local nature exploration and a continued curiosity in the natural world.
Life aquatic
We will explore the creeks around school and use nets and tanks to catch amphibians, crustaceans, insects and other aquatic life.
Instructor: Mike Werndly (or Ranger to his friends) introduced our popular Nature Lab environmental education classes in Summer 2017. He is a lifelong birder and practiced field biologist and outdoor educator with a passion for sharing environmental experiences that promote awareness and respect of the natural world. Working and traveling in remote areas around the globe has given Mike a wide knowledge of the Earth’s habitats and ecosystems.
He’s been hooked on wildlife since a chance encounter with an owl when he was eight and hasn't looked back. He studied Ecology and Outdoor Environmental Education at university and has worked for numerous conservation organizations, including the Aigas Field Centre, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and Scottish Natural Heritage. Mike’s wildlife encounters have been numerous, but some memorable ones include being followed home one night by two otters and being covered head to foot in smelly seabird guano!
He moved from Scotland in 2016 and now lives in Hillsborough with his wife and two young children and their friendly food-crazy labrador, Fogo :0)
Let's Kick It! Soccer Camp (7-10) | 1 space
Tuition: 384
Course: Ah, the beautiful game! This is an opportunity to be in a friendly, non-competitive setting and get better at the simple game so many of us love. We will focus more on playing the right way, emphasizing teamwork, sportsmanship, and safety, and less on keeping score. We will practice intermediate skills like first touch, passing and moving, spatial awareness, and using our bodies to shield the ball in order to move beyond “kick and run” soccer. We will also practice with the challenge of playing on a mixed-ability team - some minimal familiarity with a ball at your feet is preferred, but this camp is open to all skill levels, including up to current club players. A great camp for anyone who loves soccer!
Instructor: James Rees was born in England but grew up in Davidson, North Carolina from the age of 4, when his family immigrated to the U.S. He spent a lot of his free time growing up playing soccer, tennis, and basketball, or puzzling over brain teasers and math puzzles. Years later, he attended Duke University and spent his time similarly there, graduating with a B.A. in Mathematics in 2019. James arrived at CFS in 2022 and has worked as a Lower School teacher for the past two years. He is excited to have fun sharing his excitement for math and sports this summer!
Poetry Playground: Rhyme Time Adventures! (7-11)
Tuition: 384
Course: Step into the poetry playground, where rhyme and rhythm come to life in a world of creative fun! In this whimsical adventure, you’ll explore haikus, limericks, acrostics, and more, drawing inspiration from poets like Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl, Mary Oliver, and Edward Lear. Through story time, poetry games, and writing prompts, you’ll discover what makes a poem shine! By the end of the week, you’ll have your very own collection of poems, which you will bind into a small book and decorate. So come join the fun, share your poems aloud, and let your imagination soar in this playful, poetic journey!
Instructor: Nora Boyle (she/her) is a bookbinder, poet, and educator who currently works as the CFS Extended Day Coordinator and as a bookbinding instructor at the Durham Arts Council. She adores teaching all ages and believes that everyone can be an artist! Nora received her BA in Creative Writing from Hamilton College, where she was introduced to the world of “Book Arts.” After graduating, Nora founded a small publishing company, Lady Book Witch Press, where she publishes poetry books and a biannual literary magazine, The Cackling Kettle. In addition to reading, writing, and binding books, Nora enjoys making pottery and spending time with her partner and their dog, Nube, and their cat, Delilah.
Science of Fun (7-11) | Waitlist
Tuition: 384
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: Elizabeth, or Liz (she/her), is completing her B.S. in Elementary Education at NC State with a STEM concentration and a minor in Psychology. Graduating this May, she is thrilled to bring her expertise to CFS! Currently student-teaching in a third-grade class in Wake County, Liz has extensive experience working with children through YMCA camps, nannying, and teaching. Her philosophy focuses on embracing students’ individuality and fostering authentic growth.
In her free time, Liz enjoys card games with her family (including her aunt Julia Stivers, the Upper School librarian at CFS!), cooking with her partner, watching cooking shows, cuddling with her cat Squirrel, doing pilates, cheering on her favorite football teams, and spending time with loved ones. She is also a published author, having authorship on conference papers and research papers on science education.
Spectacular Snacks and Creative Cookies (7-11) | Waitlist
Tuition: 398
Course: In this tasty camp we will be learning to make a variety of savory snacks and sweet little treats. From savory crackers to custom trail mix to gooey cookie bars to crunchy cut-out cookies, it’s all here! You will even make a recipe book full of recipes so you can make things again at home. We will make one snack and one cookie each day and have time for games, art projects, songs, and stories. Bring your taste buds and your imagination and let’s cook together!
Instructor: Betsy Ferney (she/her) is a longtime educator and parent of two CFS summer programs super fans. She has a Master’s degree in Innovative Early Childhood Education and over twenty years of experience working with children as a preschool teacher, tutor, and volunteer. Betsy is originally from a small town in Washington State, but has been calling North Carolina home for two decades. She is excited to be a camp instructor this year!
When she’s not in the classroom, Betsy enjoys baking with her children, knitting, reading, and hiking.
Gotta See NC (8-11) | 1 space
Tuition: 398 (cost includes field trip expenses)
Course: Dive into the ultimate summer adventure as we transport campers through time, exploring the rich history and dazzling landscapes of North Carolina. Join us as we explore the importance of learning through hands-on experiences. Imagine learning about the Civil War while exploring an old battleground, or strolling through trails while learning about local flora and fauna. We will be learning and exploring and helping our community through fun field trips to local NC wonders!
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!
Let's Put on a Play! (8-12) | Waitlist
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 23-27
Week Seven / July 28-August 1
Tuition: 384
Course: Are you ready to take the stage?! Over the course of just one week, we will prepare a full performance of a short scripted play. As we rehearse, you’ll explore script analysis, character-building, and how to use your body, voice, and imagination to bring our play to life. You will also venture into the basics of scenic and costume design as we work together to create the world of the play, which will be shared with friends, family, and fellow campers.
Instructor: Blair (she/her) is a 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, Duke University, and–currently–McDougle Middle School in Carrboro.
When she's not making or teaching theatre, you can find Blair cuddling her beloved dog Moe, hiking, baking cupcakes, or making very lumpy pottery.
Comic Design (9-16) | Waitlist
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 16-20
Week Two / June 23-27
Week Three / June 30-July 4 (Advanced)
Week Four / July 7-11
Week Five / July 14-18
Week Six / July 21-25
Week Seven / July 28-Aug 1 (Advanced)
Tuition: 384
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.
Minecraft Community (9-16) | Waitlist
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 23-27
Week Eight / August 4-8
Tuition: 415
Course: Anyone ever told you to “get lost?” If so, there’s no better way to take their advice than to delve into the amazingly expansive and immersive world of Minecraft. For a moment, let’s step away from the term “video-game” and substitute “wildly-versatile-open-ended-world-manipulating-art machine.” Minecraft’s critically acclaimed, sandbox-style gameplay is a constant exercise in collaborative exploration, goal-setting, and boundless “Imagineering”—whether hunting and gathering to build agrarian homesteads across various landscapes or configuring an automated railway/refinement system that acquires, transports, and processes raw materials the player can use to create their own scaled recreation of the Taj Mahal.
The objective of Minecraft Community is to “get lost, together,” building community. With a little direction and a lot of improv, students will enter into Minecraft’s Survival Mode, banding together to outlive the Mobs and Elements, within a democratic community. With inventive jobs (e.g. Hunters, Explorers, Architects, Artisans, etc.) and responsibilities and a community lot-casting system, students will forge ahead to establish a lasting society amidst wiles of Mobs and the unforgiving wildernesses.
We will be using Minecraft: Education Edition on Chromebooks.
Instructor: Achiri Acha has been at CFS since he was six years old! He mentored with Jordan Shamp in Sports camp, became a Counselor-In-Training, and then moved on to become a camp assistant and instructor for the past seven summers. Achiri has worked in Extended Day at Lerner School and School’s Out Camps at the Jewish Community Center and currently works at USA Ninja Challenge during the school year. Achiri's goal is to be an elementary school physical education instructor and coach.
Triangle Ultimate Frisbee (11-16)
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 23-27, ages 11-15
Week Four / July 7-11, ages 7-12
Week Six / July 21-25, ages 7-12 AND ages 11-15
Week Eight / Aug 4-8, ages 11-15
Tuition: 384
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!
Stage Combat (11-18)
Tuition: 384
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 six 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).
Leadership Challenge (12-15) | Waitlist

Week One / June 16-20, Jules Collins
Week Two / June 23-27, Kate Pendergrass
Week Four / July 7-11, Tracy Schledorn
Tuition: 384
Course: What makes you a more effective leader and team player? Let us show you some tools. Using group building games, art, theater, movement, discussion, and individual reflection we learn and practice leadership techniques. We will work as individuals and as a group to enhance confidence, cooperation, and communication. The workshop is an excellent exercise in developing leadership skills for jobs and community roles.
If you're interested in being a Counselor-In-Training in CFS Summer Programs this year or next, this course is a prerequisite. We work through some basic “how to deal with” situations, focusing on conflict resolution and effective ways of listening and responding. And no, we do not sit in chairs throughout the day listening to lectures! This is an active course culminating in a "shadow day" as a CIT and a certificate of successful leadership training completion
Instructor: Kate Pendergrass joined the CFS Middle School staff in 2009. She has a B.A. in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in math and social studies from Elon University, and a Masters Degree in Math Education from UNC-CH. Kate teaches a range of math classes as well as an Identity class in the Middle School. She is actively engaged in work on diversity and inclusion, including as co-clerk of the staff Diversity and Inclusivity Committee and as Diversity Coordinator in the Middle School.
Bread Baking Magic (12-16)
Tuition: 398
Course: In this camp, we will explore the art and science of bread baking! We will learn about a range of baking approaches from simple yeast bread and speedy soda bread to sourdough from scratch. As we bake bread, we will learn about the cultural traditions and foodways connected to each recipe. Each camper will create a small handmade cookbook of favorite recipes to take home at the end of our session.
Instructor: Billy Dee (they/them) is a visual artist and educator. They currenlty 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 Cowlick, the most wonderful chicken.
Comfy Crochet (12-16)
Tuition: 384
Course: Calling young crafters to join us in a beginner-friendly crochet course where we’ll learn stitches and work our way up to making simple, fun projects! Perfect for the camper who loves adding color to their life by creating cute accessories. Sit back, relax, and create with us.
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 four and up, 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!
Dungeons and Dragons Beyond (13-17)
This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 23-27
Week Seven / July 28-August 1
Tuition: 384
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, create themed crafts, and experiment with potions and nibbles. Campers will even get to participate in a real-life dungeon crawl!
In addition to the focal point of Dungeons & Dragons (5e), we will also learn and play 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!
Note: D&D cannot be played without engaging in fictional combat. These battles will be entirely imaginary, but will involve the use of fictitious weapons and attack-based magical abilities during gameplay. It will be significantly less visually realistic and violent than most combat-based video games, but campers (and parents) should be prepared for themes of death and warfare within the campaigns.
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. While real estate is her full-time job, Miranda is always looking for ways to build connections and experiences.
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. She is a die hard Harry Potter fan (among many other fandoms), a former athlete who still dabbles in team sports and a general seeker of fun and adventure.
In This Section
Personalized Camps
This year, we are again offering customized weekly experiences for groups of 6-14 students.
Register via CampInTouch
Questions about summer? We're here to help!
ExtendedLearning@cfsnc.org
984.316.0123