Asheville Summer Camps

Summer Camp Registration is Open

Kids goofing around in group photo for Forest Ninjas camp striking funny poses in natural camouflage

2024 Summer Camp Season

We’re grateful for the incredible community support and interest we had for our 2024 camp season. As with past years, camps filled very quickly even with our expanded lineup. We’ve been hard at work all winter lining up another great camp season with new choices and more opportunities to participate.

The registration lottery phase is now complete, with open enrollment without limits. Please note our in-town location now requires separate free shuttle van registration for the majority of our camps which take place at Shope Creek Wilderness. You can also pick-up and drop-off directly at Shope Creek for camps which take place there.

New Shuttle Van Details
  • Reserving a spot on our shuttle van is different this year.
  • Shuttle vans provide transportation from our in-town location of Haw Creek Commons to our forested camp location of Shope Creek and back to Haw Creek Commons each day.
  • The default drop-off/pick-up location for most camps (except Blacksmithing, Run Wild, and Boffing) will be directly at the camp location of Shope Creek.
  • Shuttle van seats for each week of camp are listed as it’s own “camp” on the Camp Availability page.
  • To save a seat in the shuttle van you MUST register for the Shuttle Van “camp” for each week of camp your child is attending at the same time you are registering for their actual camp.
  • The Shuttle Van “camp” for each week will be clearly listed with the other camps for that week and will show if there are any seats still available.
  • The Shuttle Van  “camp” will have a waitlist available, but once the van is full we can’t guarantee more spots will open up and parents on the waitlist should be prepared to drop-off/pick-up at Shope Creek.
  • If your child’s participation in camp is dependent on a seat in the van and the Shuttle Van is listed as full for a given week, we encourage parents to sign-up for a different week of camp.

Enroll by Age

Please choose camps based on the age your child will be this summer.

Use these links to read more about camps for ages 6-7, 7-8, 9-12, or 12-17.

See which camps have spots available and register for camps on our portal.

    Now Offering a Downloadable Schedule

    One page summary with all programs and phased registration dates.
    Print, discuss, and plan in advance before registration opens.
    Full camp listings follow below as usual.

    Why Choose Forest Floor?

    We mentor children  to have fun, be healthy, and achieve their fullest potential by connecting with nature.

     

    • Health benefits of nature connection
    • Learn wilderness skills & traditional crafts
    • Meet new friends and reunite with old ones
    • Unforgettable adventures every day
    • Skilled and caring mentors
    • Exciting wilderness experiences
    • Convenient in-town drop-off & pickup
    • Flexible hours for drop-off & pickup

    Nature Connection Camps

    Our weeklong camps run all summer with multiple camps happening each week for various age groups. Crafts, role playing, archery, stealth, blacksmithing, foraging and more.

    Camp sizes are generally capped at 14 or lower, and run by two skilled nature-connection mentors. You won’t find better camper to counselor ratios.

    There’s something to get any kid excited about some healthy outdoor time. Your kids are going to LOVE IT.

    2024 Summer Camp Registration is Open

    Lottery registration has completed and summer camps now have open enrollment without restrictions.

    Ages 6-7

    Girls at summer camp in forest created a tiny model village for faeries to reside in

    Ages 6-7

    Flight of the Faeries

    June 17 – 21
    July 22 – 26

    Wander the mountainside making whimsical crafts and brewing flower tea.

    Group of children dressed as forest gnomes at day camp hearing story told by actor

    Ages 6-7

    Legend of the Gnomes

    June 3 – 7
    July  8 – 12

    Create a gnome village in the woods as a base to learn crafts and go exploring.

    Young summer camper discovering interesting salamander in the forest

    Ages 6-7

    Mysterious Animals of the Forest

    June 24 – 28
    July 15 – 19
    July 29 – August 2

    Campers uncover tracks, role play a hunting fox, craft animal personas and learn about their wild neighbors.

    Hand holding a small bird during nature camp experience

    Ages 6-7

    Feathered Friends

    June 10 – 14
    July 1 – 5
    August 5 – 9

    Learn to identify birds by sight and sound, with a variety of stories, educational games, observation, and even some craft projects.

    Newsletter Signup

    Get updated when camp seasons open for registration, grab early bird discounts and gifts, and receive nature-connection info useful for parents.

    Ages 7-8

    Campers at foraging skill summer camp with baskets full of wild edible plants

    Ages 7-8

    Nature’s Kitchen: Fire Craft & Cooking

    June 17 – 21
    July 15 – 19

    Hunt down wild edibles and learn which are safe to eat.

    Asheville summer day camp Archery Range with kids learning archery arrows drawn

    Ages 7-8

    Archery Range

    June 3 – 7
    July 8 – 12

    Practice a variety of different projectiles and become a more skilled archer.

    Child hiding in the forest learning stealth and natural camouflage at summer camp

    Ages 7-8

    Stealth Rangers

    July 1 – 5
    July 29 – August 2

    Begin your training and develop the skills needed to become a Forest Ninja.

    Crafty Critters camper weaving a basket in the forest at summer camp in Asheville

    Ages 7-8

    Crafty Critters

    June 10 – 14
    August 5 – 9

    Create a variety of fun and useful items using materials found on the land.

    Summer camp role playing at Journey of the Green Man, an Asheville summer camp

    Ages 7-8

    Journey of the Green Man

    June 24 – 28
    July 22 – 26

    Join the fabled Green Man on his magical quest to save the realm.

    Children playing gaga ball at a youth sports summer day camp

    Ages 8-12

    Run Wild!

    June 10 – 14
    July 1 – 5
    July 15 – 19
    July 29 – August 2
    August 12 – 16

    Re-imagining what sports can be! An active, sports-based camp that’s a departure from our typical wilderness camps.

    Children playing with foam swords during boffing summer camp session

    Ages 8-12

    Forest Guardians Boffing Camp

    June 24 – 28
    July 8 – 12
    July 22 – 26
    August 5 – 9

    Become a defender of the natural world as you train with foam swords and compete in epic tournaments.

    Newsletter Signup

    Get updated when camp seasons open for registration, grab early bird discounts and gifts, and receive nature-connection info useful for parents.

    Ages 9-12

    Child hiding in camouflage during bushcraft lessons at nature summer day camp

    Ages 9-12

    Archer’s Arena

    July 1 – 5
    August 5 – 9

    Become the target and play Capture-the-Flag with safe foam-tipped arrows.

    Group photo at nature camp of camoflauged and face painted kids at summer camp for stealth in forest

    Ages 9-12

    Forest Ninja

    June 10 – 14
    July 29 – August 2

    Move silently through the landscape as a team and learn the art of camouflage.

    Child climbing a tree at Asheville day camp in the forest

    Ages 9-12

    Bramblehurst School of Bushcraft & Wizardry

    June 3 – 7
    June 24 – 28

    Head out into our wooded campus for a MOST interesting week of learning new skills alongside your freshly sorted House-mates.

    Summer camper learns Jedi skills at Asheville area nature camp

    Ages 9-12

    Secrets of the Jedi

    June 17 – 21
    July 8 – 12

    Deepen connection to nature and grow attuned to its life force, while honing the physical skills of survival.

    Boy holding pendant and necklace made at nature camp

    Ages 9-12

    Wild Crafters

    July 22 – 26

    Answer the ancient call to create with a series of nature-based crafts in community with fellow creatives.

    Children playing gaga ball at a youth sports summer day camp

    Ages 8-12

    Run Wild!

    June 10 – 14
    July 1 – 5
    July 15 – 19
    July 29 – August 2
    August 12 – 16

    Re-imagining what sports can be! An active, sports-based camp that’s a departure from our typical wilderness camps.

    Children playing with foam swords during boffing summer camp session

    Ages 8-12

    Forest Guardians Boffing Camp

    June 24 – 28
    July 8 – 12
    July 22 – 26
    August 5 – 9

    Become a defender of the natural world as you train with foam swords and compete in epic tournaments.

    Newsletter Signup

    Get updated when camp seasons open for registration, grab early bird discounts and gifts, and receive nature-connection info useful for parents.

    Ages 12-17

    Instructor showing proper handling of knife made at knife-making camp

    Ages 12-16

    Knife Making

    June 10 – 14
    July 1 – 5
    July 29 – August 2

    Create a handmade knife from scratch using a variety of blacksmith & shop tools.

    Four young women standing arm in arm with blacksmithing tools at blacksmithing day camp

    Ages 12-16

    Girls Blacksmithing

    July 8 – 12

    A special session of Blacksmithing camp for young ladies led by an all-female team.

    Photo of forest at night at summer overnight camp with moonbeams slanting between dark tree trunks

    Ages 13-16

    Shadow Scouts: Advanced Forest Ninja

    July 22 – 26

    An overnight adventure camp where teens can push their edges in a real way learning The Craft of the Scout.

    Blacksmithing project under way with glowing curled metal on anvil

    Ages 12-16

    Blacksmithing

    June 3 – 7
    June 17 – 21
    June 24 – 28

    July 22 – 26
    August 5 – 9
    August 12 – 16

    Create useful tools from red hot metal using a forge, hammer and anvil.

    Instructor pointing out something to group of older nature school students

    Ages 14-17

    Counselor In Training Camp

    June 17 – 21

    Take the first step in learning to be a nature connection mentor with our Counselor in Training program.

    Day Camp Hours

    Our summer camps run daily, Monday through Friday.

    Camp hours:  9:00am – 3:00pm

    Flexible Drop-off:
    8:30 – 9:00am at Haw Creek Commons
    8:45 – 9:15 am at Shope Creek Wilderness

    Flexible Pick-up:
    3:00 – 3:30pm at Haw Creek Commons
    2:45 – 3:15 pm at Shope Creek Wilderness

    Our In-town Drop-Off and Pick-Up Location

    Our new location since spring 2020 is Haw Creek Commons, in East Asheville off Tunnel Road.  This is our main Drop-Off and Pick-up location for MOST summer camps.

    Haw Creek Commons is a community co-working and activity center where Forest Floor has a presence. See the location on Google Maps.

    Please note that on some weeks our reservations for van transportation fill up. If you are not interested in Drop-Off and Pick-Up in the Forest (see below), please make sure to check  the camp registration page to see if shuttle transportation from Haw Creek Commons is still available.

     

    Drop-Off and Pick-Up in the Forest

    Parents may also choose to drop-off and pick-up at Shope Creek Wilderness. The  Address is 472 Shope Creek Road.  The timing of Drop-Off and Pick-Up in the forest is slightly different than at Haw Creek Commons.

    A few teen crafting programs (Blacksmithing, Bowls & Spoons) and RunWild! take place in the woods at Haw Creek Commons, in these cases there is no transportation or forest drop-off/pick-up.

    A Day at Forest Floor