12 campers to 2 staff and 2 counselors. These ratios do not include additional volunteer staff.

Camp teachers and assistants come from a variety of backgrounds. Our art teachers are advanced artists from various disciplines and the naturalists are nature educators. Our counselors are selected from recommendations from people in our community. All go through reference and national criminal background checks and Child Protective Services check.

Yes. Each group has at least one instructor trained in CPR and First Aid.

Our teachers are qualified and trained to be with children outdoors; however, nature is unpredictable. Injuries can occur at any time. Bee stings, tripping over roots, snake or other animal bites are all risks that your child will be exposed to. Our teachers are ever vigilant of danger; however, we count on the children to be active participants in their own safety - not wandering from the group, asking for clarification if they don’t understand instructions and responding immediately to instructions of freeze or run. If you feel your child cannot handle these situations, please think twice about sending them to camp.

SHCAC has one small pond and a wet weather stream. The children will not be allowed to go into the pond, but will observe wildlife and nature around these areas. They may step into the stream, which usually has only a few inches of water in it, if any.
Water play via sprinklers and slippery slides on the grass will be a daily part of camp.

The policy of the SHCAC is to only give emergency, life-saving medications such as epi-pens or rescue inhalers. If your child has other medication needs, such as antibiotics, we ask you administer it before or after the camp day. SHCAC staff is not permitted to administer daily medications. If you do need to bring an emergency medication to camp you are responsible for all paperwork, including medication forms signed by the doctor, and having medications in their original containers. If you do not bring in the properly signed paperwork according to NC state law the teachers can NOT accept it!

Please do not hesitate to contact the staff via email for a phone conversation about your needs and requirements. We can accommodate some, but not all special needs. We endeavor to serve all children within our abilities. 

Non-perishable items and/or an ice pack are a must. Lunches are NOT and can NOT be refrigerated. For the environment’s sake and for your sanity, put as much as possible in containers that can be re-used and closed tightly. Make sure your child has a separate drink for lunch and enough food for lunch and snacks. Please do NOT send glass containers.

SHCAC Summer Camp strives to leave no trace on our land. One of the ways we do this is by packing out all garbage we bring in (and more if we find it.) This means that if you pack a juice box, sandwich, yogurt, apple and cookie in your child’s lunch, when you clean out the bag at the end of the day you will have a cup with a little yogurt left in it, the rest spread across the box, mixed in with smelly apple core, cookie crumbs, sandwich crusts and some dirt for good measure.

Our campers spend the ENTIRE day outside. Eating on rocks, under trees, on grass, playing games and taking nature explorations in the woods, painting, and working with many mediums in art and nature - your child will come home dirty! Plan their clothes and your after camp activities accordingly.

No. Cell phones, ipods, toys, trading cards and the like are disruptive distractions and not allowed at camp! SHCAC takes no responsibility for lost items. Any items we do find (including lunch boxes, hiking boots, rain jackets, etc.) are put in lost and found until one week after the end of camp.

We take bathroom breaks several times during the day. Teachers do not accompany campers into the bathroom. If they must go another time, campers, after checking with their instructor, are allowed to walk to the bathroom by themselves from the various meeting areas. Counselors and/or teachers make sure the areas are secure.

For a small fee Pre and After camp are available on a weekly or daily basis. Regular Camp hours are from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Optional early drop off beginning at 7:45 am and late pick-up until 6:00 pm. See the Camp Description and Payment form for details.

There is a late fee of $5 for every 15 minutes, beginning at 6:00 pm.  Please keep in mind that we understand emergencies, but we respect our staff’s personal schedules before and after their work day at camp. Also, keep in mind that children may be embarrassed and feel badly when they are picked up after the scheduled pick up time, so punctuality is very important to them. Please call the camp if you have an emergency that will prolong your arrival to camp.