2026 Discovery Camp: Week 5

Membership Information:

Membership discounts cannot be added retroactively, please read the following and be prepared with the proper information before checking out: To activate your membership discount at checkout, you must enter your member promo code and click "apply", before checking out your cart. Please note that your promo code is not the same as your member ID. If you have questions regarding your membership or promo code, please contact Membership at [email protected] or call 828-665-2492.

Discovery Camp Cancellation Policy:

Eventbrite service fees and processing fees are non-refundable. If you choose to issue a refund more than 30 days prior to the program start date, you will be refunded the full ticket price; however, Eventbrite will keep the service and processing fees. If you cancel your purchase(s) 30-11 days prior to the program start date, half the total fee is refundable. If cancellation occurs 10-0 days prior to the start date, none of the total fee is refundable.

Waitlist Information:

A link to our Discovery Camp 2026 waitlist will be posted when Open Enrollment begins on February 25th.

Camps Running July 13th - 17th:

Rising K/1st Grade

Little Mountaineers (Session 2)

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!

Rising 2nd/3rd Grade

Active Adventurers (Session 1)

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!

Woodland Ways (Session 1 )

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.

Rising 4th/5th Grade

Appalachian Time Travelers (Session 1) Optional Overnight

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!

Rising 6th-8th

Wildlife Trek (Session 1) Off-Site

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.

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

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Host or Publisher The NC Arboretum: Youth Education Programs