Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, many summer camps are canceling the 2020 season. Please check with each camp directly.
There are a variety of overnight summer camps for older kids and teens in Western North Carolina. Many of these camps are offered in sessions that range from 3 days up to 8 weeks, depending on the age of the camper. Overnight summer camps (also referred to as residential camps) offer a wide variety of activities ranging from whitewater rafting and zipline tours, to creative writing, painting or science and technology workshops. (Feature image: Camp Pinnacle)
Water balloon toss at Camp Pinnacle, Flat Rock.
While some parents may be hesitant to send their kids to an overnight summer camp, the benefits are great! Experienced camp counselors are there to help your child be responsible, make decisions and engage in the surroundings. The balance of structured activities, adventure, community, responsibility and fun work together to enrich your child, creating summer memories that will last a lifetime.
Benefits of Overnight Summer Camps
- Independance: Campers manage their own space, chores and choices
- Self-Confidence: Campers are encouraged to overcome self doubts and rise to the challenge
- Friendships: Campers develop relationships and find common interests with other campers
- New Skills: Campers develop skills from a variety of activities and experiences
- Gratitude: Time away from home often leads to appreciation for parents and siblings
- Team Player: Campers works together towards a common goal
- Responsibility: All campers have responsibilities, including leadership roles
- Tolerance: Campers learn to work through conflict with others and allow
Top Overnight Summer Camps in Western North Carolina
Camp Cedar Cliff, Asheville
This Christian based camp offers a variety of overnight camps for rising 2nd-10th graders. Depending on age, camps include whitewater rafting, zipline tours, archery, swimming, rope courses and more. 1-2 week sessions, June 13 - August 7, ages 5-16. Cost: $400-$1560
Camp Pinnacle, Flat Rock
This overnight summer camps offers swimming, boating, riflery, archery, tennis, disc golf, game room, crafts, drama, yoga, painting, nature program, field sports and more. 2 to 5-week sessions, June 7- August 7. Ages 7-15. Cost: Starts at $3,395
Camp Wayfarer, Flat Rock
Christian based camp that includes creative arts, horseback riding, swimming, sports, archery, and wilderness adventures. Sessions range from 5-day to 4 weeks with mini sessions for grades 1-6 and even an expedition out west for 8-11 graders. Ages 6-16. Cost: $1,500-$6,600
Eagle's Nest, Pisgah
Encourages boys and girls to live and grow simply, rooted by intentional experiences and connection to community. Activities promote self-expression, personal growth, skill building and fun. With wilderness activities, music and drama, athletics and more. 1 - 3 week sessions, June 13-August 16. Grades K-9. Cost: $1,695-$4,690
Camp Highlander, Mills River
Adventures and activities including canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, water skiing, arts and crafts, pottery, archery, riflery and more. 1-3 week sessions, June 7-July 31. Ages 5-16. Cost: $1,750-$5,050.
App Development Camp, Asheville
This app development camp for teens interested in learning how to make apps for the iPhone and iPad. Other activities include swimming, indoor basketball, coding workshops, app design labs, hiking. 2 week long sessions: July 14-19 and July 22-26. Ages 13-18. Cost is $1250/week.
COMPASS at Montreat College, Black Mountain
Choose among summer immersion programs in Cybersecurity, Exercise Science, Herpetology, Audio Production, Business Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing, Criminal Justice, Theatre, and Outdoor Education. 2 week long sessions: June 21-26 and June 28-July 3. Grades 9-12. Cost: $595-$795/week.
Camp Kanuga, Hendersonville
This inclusive Christian camp by Kanuga Lake offers adventure activities, sports, horseback riding, crafts, talent shows, overnight campouts, and more. 4-21 Day sessions, June 4-August 3. Ages 7-17. Cost: $695-$1575
Ridge Haven, Brevard
With access to hundreds of acres of trails, streams, and views, this Christian camp offers wilderness activities, lake activities, rope and obstacle courses, swimming, archery, games, and more. 5-day camp sessions: May 25-Aug 8. Rising 3-12 grades. Cost: $375-$575, with added cost of activity choices.
Gwynn Valley Camp, Brevard
This overnight summer camp for kids located on a working farm offers farm activities, nature lessons, hiking, sports, blacksmithing, climbing, archery, crafts and more. Programs focus on sustainability, community, outdoors, wilderness and leadership. 7-day to 3-week sessions, June 6-August 8, Completed grades: K-10th. Cost: $1,900-$5100/session
PARI Learning Center, Rosman
Kids can explore the universe and beyond at this 200-acre historic campus in Pisgah Forest. Offering campers an out of the world experience, the camp will focus on astronomy and planetary subjects like astrobiology. See a radio telescope and have fun with activities like building and launching model rockets. 6th-12th graders. 2-3 week sessions June 21-26 & June 28-July 3.
$3960-$5994.
$3960-$5994.
Teen Canoe Camp, Asheville Parks & Rec
During this 4-day overnight canoeing camp, campers will spend each night at a new campsite as they navigate down the New River. There’s plenty of time for swimming and camp games along the way. Participants must be able to swim 50 meters with a PFD. June 16-19 & June 23-26, ages 12-15. $320/session
Big Adventure Camp, Asheville Parks & Rec
Campers will spend 4 days adventuring in WNC & Eastern Tennessee with activities like tubing, caving, the chance to climb a ropes course, mountain biking and more. The trip concludes rafting the Ocoee River. Camp runs 9 AM-5 PM, Monday-Tuesday, with an overnight camp out Wed night, pick up at 5:30 PM Thurs. July 13-16, ages 12-15. $275/session
Helpful Tips for Overnight Summer Camps
- Plan ahead! Camps fill up quickly. Overnight summer camp registration can begin as early as December for some camps.
- Many summer camps in WNC offer scholarships to help local children attend regardless of financial means. Be sure to ask camps about scholarships.
- Looking for full and half-day summer camps? Stayed tuned for our 2020 WNC Full & Half-Day Summer Camps Guide.
- For more kid-friendly adventures, see our Kid-Friendly Hikes, Waterfalls, and Family-Friendly Hotels & Lodging.
- Are we missing a great overnight summer camp? Email us
See more pages from our Family Guide:
Kid-Friendly Hikes | Waterfalls for Kids | Biltmore for Kids | Family-Friendly Hotels & Lodging | Top 20 Indoor Activities for Kids | Hands-On Learning & Children's Musuems | Kids in Parks | 20 Family Dates in WNC | Places for Kid's Birthday Parties| Overnight Summer Camps in WNC | Day & Half-Day Summer Camps in WNC | Kid-Friendly Restaurants
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