Discovery Camp

Bring your friends and meet new ones as we spend the week splashing in the creek and walking through the woods to learn about all things bugs! We will learn about butterfly life cycles, pollinators, aquatic insects, and so much more. Join us to make crafts, play games, tell stories, and explore The North Carolina Arboretum’s bugs!

Session 1: June 22 – 26
Session 2: August 17 – 21

Wildlife abounds at the Arboretum! Join us for a wild encounter as we explore streams, woodlands, and gardens in search of lizards, chipmunks and songbirds. Wildlife crafts, games and stories, along with live animal demonstrations, guarantee a wild week for all!

Session 1: June 8 – 12
Session 2: August 3 – 7

Come grow your knowledge and explore the outside world from head to toe with this tree-mendous camp! Campers will look up, down, and all-around to notice living things that are both big and small. We’ll put the ‘dirt’ in determined, as we unearth new discoveries and learn about a range of topics — from towering trees, all the way to the soil beneath our feet. As we explore our inner scientist for the week, we’ll dig into hands-on activities and grow our knowledge with fun-filled games. Our world is connected, and sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest impact!

Session 1: July 27 – 31
Session 2: August 17 – 21

Embark on an outdoor adventure every day as a little mountaineer. Learn how to get ready for a hike, discover how to read trail maps, and explore the trails and woodlands of the Arboretum on age-appropriate excursions. Don’t miss out on this week of fun in the great outdoors!

Session 1: June 8 – 12
Session 2: July 13 – 17

Explore the world of creative play in the great outdoors! Throughout the week we will make whimsical crafts from found objects, play imaginative games, and design and build fairy houses or gnome homes from natural items. To end the week, we’ll head to the creek to send off our pine cone pioneers and acorn adventurers on a miniature rafting ride!

Session 1: June 15 – 19
Session 2: August 10 – 14

Creeks and ponds and puddles, oh my! Come along as we visit the many aquatic habitats found in our forests and along our trails. We’ll use nets and magnifying lenses in search of fish, salamanders, dragonflies and other animals. There’s no telling what sort of water critters we’ll encounter! Water games and crafts will serve as a great way to cool off this summer!

Session 1: June 29 – July 3
Session 2: August 10 – 14

Get “unplugged” and have fun outside this summer with a different outdoor, active adventure every day! Spend your days hiking the Arboretum trails, exploring the creeks, and playing outdoor games. Make friends, have fun, and challenge yourself as we explore the trails and woodlands of the Arboretum. We’ll even hunt for treasures using GPS devices. Don’t miss out on this week of fun and adventure in the great outdoors!

Session 1: July 13 – 17
Session 2: July 27 – 31
Session 3: August 17 – 21

Join our Nature Ranger team! Learn all about many animals that live in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, how to spot them and where they live. Observe salamanders, insects and fish as you explore Bent Creek. Scout for tracks and other wildlife signs as you explore the homes of lizards, birds and mammals. Special wildlife mysteries will put you to the test as you examine evidence left behind by creatures of the forest. You never know what animals we may encounter!

Session 1: June 8 – 12
Session 2: June 15 – 19
Session 3: July 20 – 24

NEW! Session 4: August 17-21

Have you ever wondered what the wild woods would say if they could talk? Join us as we dive into the stories of the outdoors! From myths and legends of Appalachia, to folk tales of the people who came before, we’ll explore how tales of nature have shaped our world. Each day we’ll connect with nature and our imagination through exploration, reading, art, and play!

Session 1: June 29 – July 3

Discover the diversity of aquatic life in our natural environment. Explore aquatic wonders on creek walks, pond investigations, a salamander safari, and a trip to Lake Powhatan. Learn to use kick nets and dip nets to capture and observe a variety of life; and most importantly, learn how to protect our amazing aquatic habitats.

Session 1: June 22 – 26
Session 2: August 3 – 7

Animals are everywhere at the Arboretum, but seldom seen. Learn how to spot the many critters that live in the mountains and discover how to identify them. Through interactive games and hikes, we will further grasp the importance of these animals to their habitats. We’ll look for tracks and other wildlife signs as we explore the homes of lizards, birds, and mammals that inhabit our ecosystem.

Session 1: June 8 – 12
Session 2: June 15 – 19
Session 3: August 10 – 14

As Junior Mountaineers, we’ll practice all sorts of outdoor skills, games and activities, like making shelters out of found materials, fire building, and learning how to use a map while on a hike. Create nature themed crafts, splash in a creek, and play outdoor games. Get ready for a week of outdoor fun!

Session 1: June 22 – 26
Session 2: July 20 – 24
Session 3: August 3 – 7

There is an artist inside everyone, and you’ll find yours exploring with Nature’s Studio. Hike with us through forests, creeks, and meadows and meet live animals as we search for inspiration from the Arboretum’s incredible landscape. With fun activities like games, crafts, painting, journaling, and more, we’ll find joy and creativity during an amazing, art-filled week!

Session 1: July 27 – 31

Ever notice how many superheroes and heroines get their powers from nature and wildlife? Join our “Creature Crew” as we choose our own secret identities, learn about animals that have their own superpowers, and discover ways that we can be heroes in nature. We’ll head outside to observe animals and learn about their adaptations through games, observation, and exploration. Be sure to get in on the adventure!

Session 1: June 29 – July 3
Session 2: August 10 – 14

Take a deep breath, connect with nature, and allow the secrets of the Arboretum’s natural ecosystems to reveal themselves to you. We will hike deep into the forest to search for animal tracks, listen to the chatter of wildlife, and discover how animals use special skills to survive. Join us as we heighten our senses and explore the woodland ways of nature.

Session 1: July 13 – 17

Come hop in the Arboretum’s time machine, ‘cause we’re taking a whirlwind tour of Appalachian history! We’ll travel through 500 Million years in just five days, starting by exploring how the mountains first formed. Things could get a little “rocky” as we use crafts and games to traverse “lava rivers”, explore the ancient wildlife that lived here (yeah we’re talking dinosaurs!), and learn how Appalachian land has been used and cared for over time. We’ll end our time travel journey back in the present, marveling at the amazing wildlife we share the mountains with today!

Session 1: July 13 – 17 (OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT – THURSDAY EVENING)

Just like detectives, scientists ask questions and search for answers. As Eco-Investigators, we’ll help scientists explore questions like, “How do box turtles live so long?” and “Why do birds love to call the Arboretum home?” With the tools of a naturalist and the spirit of a detective, we’ll adventure through the Arboretum’s forests, fields, and streams, play games, get creative, and use our observation skills to discover the answers to all our nature-related questions.

Session 1: June 29 – July 3

Ever wonder what lives beneath the surface of a stream or pond? Join us for an exciting week of discovery as we explore the hidden world of water at the North Carolina Arboretum. From investigating critters that call the water home to learning how to protect our aquatic ecosystems, we’ll dive deep into the wonders of water. Get ready for hands-on fun — whether it’s splashing in the creek, identifying healthy waterways, or becoming a true water protector, this camp will turn you into a Hydro Hero!

Session 1: August 10 – 14 (OFF-SITE)

Disclaimer: This camp will spend one day off-site around the Asheville area. Campers should be ready and able to spend up to 2 hours of travel time in the car as we journey to this exciting destination.

Embark on an exhilarating week of adventure in Mountain Sports camp! Uncover hidden geocaches at the North Carolina Arboretum, swim by stunning waterfalls in Dupont State Forest, try your hand at catch-and-release fishing at one of western North Carolina’s renowned fish hatcheries, and dive into even more outdoor thrills surrounded by the region’s striking mountain landscapes. We provide transportation to each off-site location, with convenient daily drop-off and pick-up at the Arboretum.

Session 1: June 22 – 26 (OFF-SITE)

Disclaimer: In this camp we’ll be exploring different locations around the Asheville area. Campers should be ready and able to spend up to 2 hours of travel time in the car as we journey to these exciting destinations.

Many artists have found inspiration in nature, and through journaling, sketching, and painting, you’ll have a chance to commune with a multitude of animals and plants in the national forest. Take a hike on a trail to sketch a mountain vista and observe live animals to inspire the artist within you. Get in touch with your creative side as you paint and draw from nature, using the rippling streams and majestic mountains of the Arboretum as your muse. Make an original masterpiece every day!

Session 1: June 15 – 19

Dig in, play hard, and taste the fun! During Plant to Plate, we’ll get our hands dirty planting and tending a vibrant veggie garden, then harvest the fruits (and veggies!) of our labor to cook up delicious, healthy meals together. Through games, hands-on activities, and outdoor adventures, we’ll discover how plants, pollinators, soil, and sunshine all work together to fill our plates and fuel our bodies. Throughout the week, we’ll explore new gardening skills and try out tasty recipes. From seed to salad, and ‘plant to plate’, this camp will connect the garden, the kitchen, and the great outdoors in one flavorful summer experience.

Session 1: July 20 – 24

We’ll follow our curiosities as we learn about plants and animals. Through exciting games, hands-on activities and off trail adventures, we’ll use all our senses, deepen our natural awareness and build outdoor skills. Join us as we walk on the wild side of the Arboretum!

Session 1: July 27 – 31

Birds, beetles, and bears, oh my! Join us for a whirlwind of wildlife and fun as we search the Arboretum’s incredible landscape for some wildlife encounters. We’ll visit whispering streams, flower-filled meadows, and dense woodlands in search of elusive wild critters and the extraordinary places they call home. With nature crafts and games abound on top of fascinating wild encounters, there’s no doubt it will be an amazing week!

Session 1: June 8 – 12

Become a true Wilderness Explorer by learning essential outdoor skills such as Leave No Trace principles and survival skills, and find the best places to practice them! You’ll experience heightened senses during awareness games that will help you master the art of observation. Put your new skills to the test with treks that go beyond the normal trails and out into the less visited places within the Arboretum’s 434 acres. Who knows what wildlife we will encounter!

Session 1: August 3 – 7

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime at The North Carolina Arboretum! We’ll hike to and swim in the stunning Catawba Falls, crush it at Fiddlehead Farm & Forests’s climbing gym, and fly through the air on epic zip lines at NAVITAT. With breathtaking views, heart-pumping activities, and a fun campfire hangout to cap it all off, this camp is packed with excitement! We’ll handle transportation to each site, with pick-up and drop-off at the Arboretum daily except for the campout on Thursday night. Don’t miss this wild adventure!

Session 1: August 3 – 7 (OFF-SITE & OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT – THURSDAY EVENING)

Disclaimer: In this camp we’ll be exploring different locations around the Asheville area. Campers should be ready and able to spend up to 2 hours of travel time in the car as we journey to these exciting destinations.

The Southern Appalachians are home to some of the most unique plant and animal communities in the world! Join us for a week spent visiting some of these special places, where we’ll hike through forests, explore waterways, and take in the view from mountaintops. Along the way, we’ll discover why Western North Carolina is such a special place for both plants and people to live! We will provide transportation to each offsite location. Pick-up and drop-off will still be at the Arboretum each day, with an optional campout at the Arboretum on Thursday night.

Session 1: July 27 – 31 (OFF-SITE & OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT – THURSDAY EVENING)

Disclaimer: In this camp we’ll be exploring different locations around the Asheville area. Campers should be ready and able to spend up to 2 hours of travel time in the car as we journey to these exciting destinations.

Nature has always offered inspiration to artists, whether from the shape of a delicate flower, the rushing waters of a mountain stream, or the vivid colors of a songbird. Discover the many trails and secret spots of the Arboretum that will ignite the inner artist in you. Using natural materials and/or art supplies, this camp will offer open space and time to hone your unique artistic voice and create original works of art you might not have known you were capable of creating!

Session 1: June 22 – 26

Forget the lab coats — this camp is all about getting outside and exploring the world around us! Spend the week immersing yourself in the vibrant scientific community of Western North Carolina through exciting field trips, engaging guest speakers, and hands-on demonstrations. We’ll have a blast while discovering the science behind WNC’s natural wonders — and by the end of the week, you’ll be a better scientist for it!

Session 1: June 15 – 19 (OFF-SITE & OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT – THURSDAY EVENING)

Disclaimer: In this camp we’ll be exploring different locations around the Asheville area. Campers should be ready and able to spend up to 2 hours of travel time in the car as we journey to these exciting destinations.

With off-property adventures to incredible Appalachian wildlife hotspots, we’ll explore worlds big and small through the lens of a camera. We’ll climb high and low to capture the immense biodiversity of the region, and through the use of Community Science tools like iNaturalist, our wildlife photos will contribute vital information to scientists in the Appalachian region and beyond. Campers are invited to bring their own camera equipment if they would prefer, but should be aware that cell phones are not permitted, and the majority of camp days are spent outdoors in the elements. We’ve got transportation covered to each offsite location, with daily drop-off and pick-up at the Arboretum.

Session 1: July 13 – 17 (OFF-SITE)

Disclaimer: In this camp we’ll be exploring different locations around the Asheville area. Campers should be ready and able to spend up to 2 hours of travel time in the car as we journey to these exciting destinations.