Week 6: July 26 - 30

Tuition: 345

Course: There is an unlimited amount of beauty in nature. Explore multiple art mediums while using the physical world as inspiration. We'll create looms from sticks, leaf rubbings, collages, nature drawings, and more. Each day will bring a new nature-inspired art project. We'll spend lots of time outdoors this week!

Instructor: CFS Middle School Teacher Alice Turner (pronouns: she/her) is a Chapel Hill native and a Carolina Friends Lower and Middle School alum. She got her B.F.A. in Acting and minor in French from Elon University. She spent three years teaching pre-k, two of them in an experiential, Reggio-based environment, and is now in her third year back at CFS. When not teaching or making theater, Alice enjoys reading, cooking, playing ukulele, painting, and spending time with her cats.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Three / July 5-9
Week Six / July 26-30

Tuition: 350

Course: Prepare to enter a world of endless creativity and exploration. For nearly a decade Minecraft has soared in popularity across the world and has developed a massive fan base with both children and adults, including at CFS Summer Programs. In this offering, younger students will be introduced to the limitless artistic and creative possibilities that Minecraft has to offer.

Starting with an introduction in the basics of the platform, every student will be granted the opportunity to learn, grow, and create at their own pace. Beginning with things such as a simple brick house and working their way upwards and outwards to build and show off their own personal masterpieces.

We will be using Minecraft: Education Edition on Chromebooks. We’ll also spend time away from screens with other indoor and outdoor activities.

Instructor: Marshall Wilfong was born and raised in Durham. An Eagle Scout from Troop 400, he’s been volunteering and working as a summer camp counselor since the age of 12. When he was 15 he got his first job as a merit badge counselor at Camp Raven Knob instructing First Aid, Search and Rescue, Safety, Camping, and Wilderness Survival. His time in the Scouts gave him a massive amount of respect for the outdoors as well as for the youth he instructs. Marshall has also been an after-school counselor at the Orange County Sportsplex and Aldersgate UMC.

He now works as the Extended Day Teacher for the Carolina Friends Middle School as well as a substitute for the Middle and Upper Schools.

Tuition: 320

Course: Brrrrr... did someone say it’s hot outside? Not here in Winter Summerland! We will spend a week beating the heat with our frozen fun and games. If you like snowball fights, igloos, popsicles, snowmen, candy canes, and anything winter you can imagine, you will love our chilly 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 two children at CFS.

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). He helps beginner 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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 21-25, Tony Arias Sorto
Week Two / June 28-July 2, Tony Arias Sorto
Week Four / July 12-16, Tracy Schledorn
Week Six / July 26-30, Achiri Acha
Week Seven / August 2-6, Sefton Dennis
Week Eight / Aug 9-13, Markeith Gary
Week Nine / Aug 16-20, Tony Arias Sorto

Tuition: 320

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: 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: 320

Course: Learn how to make earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other beaded goodies! Participants will design and create original pieces using different kinds of beads, wire, textiles, and basic jewelry tools, as well as collaborate with other jewelry craftspeople.

Instructor: Coco Casey graduated from UNC - Chapel Hill in Sociology and History, with a minor in Education. They’ve enjoyed getting to know the CFS community through their time working in Extended Day with the Lower School, and is so excited to spend more time there this summer!

They have worked with Student U Durham in a variety of extended educational roles in the past four years, and was also a kids’ bookseller at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. They're currently earning their Master's in Information Science at UNC - Chapel Hill to become a school librarian. When they're not reading or spending time with kids, you can find Coco cooking and baking, making crafts, and playing with their cat, Pepper (but don’t bring him up around Coco if you don’t want to spend five minutes looking at pictures of him).

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Two / June 28-July 2
Week Six / July 26-30

Tuition: 320

Course: You don’t really have to be “mad” to have a blast at this camp! We’ll cook snacks using solar energy, make beautiful crystals (evaporation/water cycle), and work in teams to build effective dams (erosion). We’ll explore the science of sound using our favorite songs, mix up some creative concoctions, and come up with new ideas of how to use them. Come explore chemical reactions, build top-secret spy equipment, launch your own rockets, and much more! Be alert--mad scientists are at work!

Instructor: Tom Latimer has been running camps at CFS for 13 years. He has been teaching for 23 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, watching sports (mainly the Tar Heels and the New York Jets), collecting vinyl records, and working with kids.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Five / July 19-23
Week Six / July 26-30

Tuition: 335

Course: It’s time to get cooking! In this course for younger students, we'll stir up some favorite foods using simple recipes. Ever wonder how ingredients work together to make tasty foods? We’ll find out while we make things we love—pancakes, pizza, mac & cheese, omelettes, a pie, and cookies. After we’ve done our cooking and worked up an appetite playing outside each day, we’ll sample our yummy creations. 

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. His favorite pies are anything citrus, chocolate, pecan, peach, peanut butter, or coconut. I guess he’s really never met a pie he didn’t like. In addition to cooking, Bo’s been a lover of animals, architecture, and art, and a collector of treasures as long as he can remember.

Tuition: 320

Course: The Broadway Dance Extravaganza is an energetic dance class for all aspiring Broadway stars! This class is for all levels of dance skill and experience. We will explore the different styles of Broadway dance through fun musicals like Hamilton, Hairspray, Grease, Mamma Mia, and many more! Leap into Musical Theatre dance with Broadway Dance Extravaganza!

Instructor: Jesse Farmer is a recent Musical Theatre graduate from William Peace University. He has performed in many theatrical productions around the Raleigh area and he has a great passion for singing, dancing, acting, and music! Jesse is very excited to share his passion with young artists at Carolina Friends! He loves to collaborate, have fun, and make discoveries through theatre and storytelling. 

Tuition: 320

Course: You’ve heard of soccer… but have you ever paired it with slacklining? This camp is a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy a game of soccer, practice drills, learn new skills, and challenge yourself with the balancing act of slacklining. Slacklining is as simple as walking on rope, from one tree to the other. Easy enough, right?! Okay, it’s definitely not as simple as that, but if you enjoy a challenge and would like to learn how to balance on a rope like a gibbon monkey, slacklining is a great way to learn a new skill. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Instructor Tony has been slacklining for more than five years and, while it’s incredibly fun, it also encourages an appreciation for the values of patience and practice. 

Soccer is team driven and slacklining is an individual activity, but both will provide a great opportunity to go outside and get moving! We’ll spend our week playing soccer in the mornings and slacklining in the afternoon-- plus some awesome outdoor games. Come try something new with us!

Instructor: Tony Arias Sorto is from Honduras and moved to Massachusetts in 2014. He moved to North Carolina in 2018 and is now the Before and After Care Program Coordinator at Leesville Elementary in Raleigh. Tony earned his A.A. in Education and B.A. in English and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainability. Tony believes in creating spaces for children to fill with laughter and he’s very excited to join the CFS team for the first time this summer. 

He was raised playing soccer but enjoys anything from volleyball and basketball to slacklining and trail running. Tony lives in Pittsboro where he loves running with his two dogs and exploring the woods.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 21-25
Week Two / June 28-July 2
Week Three / July 5-9 (Advanced)
Week Four / July 12-16
Week Five / July 19-23
Week Six / July 26-30
Week Seven / August 2-6 (Advanced)

Tuition: 320

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.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 21-25, Adam B
Week Two / June 28-July 2, Achiri Acha
Week Three / July 5-9, Achiri Acha
Week Four / July 12-16, Adam B
Week Five / July 19-23, Adam B
Week Six / July 26-30, Tony Arias Sorto
Week Eight / August 16-21, Tony Arias Sorto

Tuition: 320

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, 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: Markeith Gary joined CFS in 2016 and serves 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: 320

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!

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week One / June 21-25
Week Two / June 28 - July 2
Week Six / July 26-30

Tuition: 320

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: Julia has been working with children since 2012 when she began working at the summer camp in her hometown. Since then, she has graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After completing her undergraduate program, she moved to Athens, Ohio to pursue a Master’s degree in Critical Studies in Educational Foundations from Ohio University. Julia traveled around southeastern Ohio interviewing expert teachers about establishing and maintaining democratic practices in their classrooms. She learned (and absolutely loved) the teaching philosophies of John Dewey, Paulo Freire, and Ira Shor! Upon graduating, Julia moved to Santa Barbara, California to teach at a school focused on experiential learning. Julia has always wanted to live in North Carolina after spending time hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail during her graduate program and was thrilled to accept a job at Carolina Friends School. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, doing yoga, and reading.

This course is offered in multiple weeks:
Week Four / July 12-16
Week Six / July 26-30

Tuition: 320

Course: Learn the science behind solving crimes as we explore some of the tools and methods used in forensic science. Physical evidence left behind at a crime scene (such as fingerprints, hair, fibers, and DNA) can provide valuable evidence linking a suspect to a crime and telling the story of the crime. Through a variety of hands-on experiences including finger-printing, microscopy, gel electrophoresis, and fiber burn analysis, we will explore how crime scene investigators collect and evaluate evidence. With this expertise, students will complete the week by working together to solve a crime scenario, then collaborating in small groups to design their own crime scenario for the rest of the class to solve based on the evidence presented.

Instructor: Lydia Nethercutt majored in anthropology, and is especially passionate about forensic anthropology and applying anthropology to social justice issues. She has also studied music and theatre, and enjoys participating in these arts in the community. Lydia has previously worked at camps at the Montessori School of Raleigh SummerScape program. In her free time, Lydia loves to cook and bake, particularly enjoying making soups, baking bread (she fell hard into the 2020 sourdough craze!), and experimenting with new recipes, as well as creating her own.