Registration for Summer 2025 will open in mid-January!
Our Award Winning Outdoor Summer Camp
Schoolhouse of Wonder has served North Carolina children and families for over 30 years, and we’ve been selected as Indy’s Best of the Triangle for 12 straight years in one or more Triangle counties.
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Durham Summer Camp
Some kids play easily with others, some walk intrepidly into adventure, while others may fear the unfamiliar. At Schoolhouse of Wonder, every kid matters. Each person, young or old, is different. We love that. Every Schoolhouse camp provides a unique environment of kindness, respect, and learning.
Our camps are designed to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. We believe in creating a culture of kindness, respect, and learning, where campers can develop new skills, build confidence, and make lasting memories.
The Schoolhouse “Dirty, Tired, Happy” Guarantee
Our Schoolhouse guarantee is simple: Dirty, Tired, Happy. Or your money back.
We don’t know a better way to demonstrate the confidence we have in our summer programs than by putting our money where our mouth is. This means that, if you and your child decide that our camp is not the right fit and choose to not return, we’ll refund your camp registration for the remaining days of the camp week.
Durham County Camp Locations
NEW! Eno River State Park
Eno River State Park camps are located in the Cole River parking lot.
West Point on the Eno Park
Summer Camp Programs at West Point on the Eno
5–6 Year Olds
- Cost: $324 per week with optional Aftercare at $100 per week (for 5-day camp)
- Camp week’s days and times: Monday through Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm
- Check-in time: 8:00am to 9:00am.
- Pick-up time: 3:00pm to 3:30pm.
- Aftercare pick-up time 5:00pm to 5:30pm
7–9 Year Olds
- Cost: $432 per week
- Camp week’s days and times: Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm.
- Check-in time: 8:00am to 9:00am.
- Pick-up time: 5:00pm to 5:30pm.
- Alternative early pick up: 3:00pm to 3:30pm (advance notice required)
10–12 Year Olds
- Cost: $432 per week
- Camp week’s days and times: Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm.
- Check-in time: 8:00am to 9:00am.
- Pick-up time: 5:00pm to 5:30pm.
- Alternative early pick up: 3:00pm to 3:30pm (advance notice required)
Why Choose Schoolhouse of Wonder Summer Camp in Durham?
- Our dedicated staff creates a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for children thrive.
- We offer a wide range of activities, from outdoor adventures to nature-based arts and crafts, music, and more.
- We believe in fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity and encouraging campers to explore their interests and discover new passions.
- We believe that everyone deserves to be witnessed, heard, and respected, and we strive to create a culture of inclusion and acceptance.
- We provide opportunities for campers to develop new skills, build confidence, and promote teamwork.
- We send every kid home dirty, tired, and happy, with memories that will last a lifetime.
Activities Offered at Our Durham Summer Camp
Our outdoor camp in Durham offers a wide range of activities, from outdoor exploration and adventure to arts and crafts, music, and more. We believe in the power of play and creativity to inspire learning and growth, and our campers have the opportunity to try new things, take risks, and discover new passions.
Adventurous Play
Some perceive activities like tomahawk throwing, climbing trees, swinging on a vine, and whittling to be too risky for kids. However, we believe that supervised risk-taking is an essential part of growing up and that these activities not only provide valuable experiences and opportunities to build skills and confidence—they’re fun!
Games
Games played during a Schoolhouse of Wonder summer program might include Kick the Can, Scout Mission, Sock Wars, Backweli, Werewolf, Six Feathers (a Schoolhouse original!), Park Ranger, Beckon, Dragon’s Egg, Jump the Creek, Camouflage, and Defeat the Lich (another Schoolhouse original)!
Wilderness & Homesteading Skills
It’s back-to-basics with wilderness and bushcraft skills like primitive fire building, navigating with a compass and map, knot tying, tracking, making candles, sewing, and finding edible plants.
Projects
Campers embark on any number of special projects, depending on the focus of their camp– these could include tracking and cataloging wildlife, building forts, making camouflage, service projects for our host sites, and more fun outdoor camp projects.
Stories
Storytelling has always been a sacred and beloved tradition at Schoolhouse, and we believe there is a storyteller in all of us. Campers who attend our outdoor camp are invited to immerse themselves in the exciting and ancient art of storytelling by listening to old tales and helping to spin new ones.
Music
The hills are alive with the sound of music when camp is in session! Our campers love crafting their own instruments, writing nature songs, and that old summer camp classic: sing-alongs.
Arts & Crafts
The sky is the limit and nature is our canvas when it comes to creating one-of-a-kind nature art, including fanciful creations like leaf art, rock stacks, mud faces, fairy and troll houses, monster masks, corn husk dolls, pine cone bird feeders, bat boxes, and whatever else our imagination can conjure!
Water-Play
Many of our activities center around our various waterways, including canoeing, rock skipping, building stick boats, identifying animal tracks in the mud, learning to observe and safely handle some of the animals we find, and of course—wading, splashing, and floating!
Animals & Insects
Campers learn to respect, find, and identify local critters like crawfish, salamanders, snakes, turtles, toads, deer, and more—and, for some animals, like snakes, kids learn proper identification and handling techniques.
Team-building
No, no trust falls happening here! Schoolhouse of Wonder team-building takes the form of fun group challenges such as getting your group through a “spider web” or walking together on skis.
Campfire Cooking
Soup’s on! Campers learn to slice and dice veggies, make hobo packets, pita pizzas, pancakes, doughboys, pine needle tea, hot chocolate, chocolate cake, and of course, our favorite—s’mores!
Plant Identification
Kids enjoy searching for and learning to identify various plants, including those that are edible or have medicinal qualities. We often put our findings to good use by creating natural dyes, mixing up a natural bite and sting soother, and more.
Learn About Schoolhouse of Wonder
At Schoolhouse of Wonder, we’re much more than an average summer camp where kids can get outside and have some fun. We are a place where every child can play, learn, and grow toward being their best selves! We believe open-hearted children become open-minded adults—and that vision creates the foundation for everything we do.
Schoolhouse of Wonder: Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Our mission, vision, and core values guide our decision-making, inform our plans for the future, and remind us why we’re here:
- Mission: To create kind, curious, and confident kids through nature-based outdoor adventures.
- Our Vision: That open-hearted children grow up to become open-minded and compassionate adults. That’s why we’ve created a summer camp program that’s all about fostering a sense of wonder, exploration, and connection.
- Our Values: To promote self-awareness, empathy, and the celebration of individuality.
Schoolhouse’s Non-Discrimination Policy
We are committed to creating a supportive environment for all marginalized groups including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people by promoting collaboration within our organization and community. Schoolhouse of Wonder does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Schoolhouse of Wonder FAQs
We know you probably have questions about Schoolhouse’s summer program and how things run in our Durham County outdoor summer camp programs. Because of this, we’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions (and their answers) here. If you have a question you do not see here, please feel free to call us at 919-477-2116 or email us at schoolhouse@schoolhouseofwonder.org anytime.
Where are Durham summer camps held?
Since 1989, Schoolhouse has primarily operated our Durham camps at the 400-acre West Point on the Eno Park (5101 North Roxboro Street). We are excited to share that we’ll be running new camp programs at Eno River State Park beginning in Summer 2024.
How will you keep my child safe while they are in your care?
Physical and emotional safety is always our first priority. We maintain safety in our camp community through:
- Year-round safety training
- Low camper-to-staff ratios
- Constant vigilance
- Hiring and maintaining an outstanding staff of responsible, caring, adult mentors
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes! Most programs are eligible for a discount when you register for two or more programs for the same child in the same order. Discounts automatically apply, so you don’t need to get too into the math side of things. Please note that discounts only apply to camps that are included in the same order.
- Multi-camp discounts: Did you add a camp to your cart? Did you add another? You will automatically receive a $20 discount off the cost of a second and any additional camp seat purchased in the same order.
How do I prepare my kid for camp?
Check out our Camp Handbook for everything you need to prepare for camp each day.
Are there scholarships available to campers?
We understand that the cost of summer camp can be a barrier for some families. Each year we partner with individuals, businesses, and community organizations to make scholarship funds available to as many families as possible. Scholarships are available for both campers and CITs. Please read more about our scholarship program here here.
Does Schoolhouse offer field trips for campers?
Our field trip program was suspended due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.We are excited to be restarting this program in Spring 2024. If you’re interested in more information about booking a field trip, please reach out to us.
The camp I am interested in is already full; is it worth joining the waitlist?
We strongly encourage joining the waitlist. It isn’t unusual for Durham summer camp seats to become available. We are also able to schedule additional staff and run additional groups in some instances when we know that there is an interest far enough in advance.
How does the Dirty, Tired, Happy Guarantee work?
If for ANY reason your child decides that camp is not for them and chooses to leave camp before the end of the week, we’ll refund camp tuition for the remaining days.
How do I get a refund for the Dirty, Tired, Happy Guarantee?
To obtain a refund under our “Dirty, Tired, Happy” guarantee, all you have to do is send us a written request within a week stating that our camp is not a good fit for your child and that you would like a refund for the remaining days of the camp week. It’s that simple. Guaranteed. We recognize that we might not be the right fit for your camper now, but as they grow and change, we may be a great fit in the future. Any camper who receives a “Dirty, Tired, Happy” refund is welcome to give camp another try one year (or more) after the refund.
Looking for the Ideal Summer Camp Experience for Your Child? Contact Schoolhouse of Wonder in Durham Today!
Are you searching for a summer camp experience that will ignite your child’s curiosity, build their confidence, and inspire their sense of adventure? Look no further than Schoolhouse of Wonder in Durham, NC.
We know that choosing the right summer camp for your child can be a daunting task, which is why we’re here to help. Our team is available to answer any questions you may have about our camps, including our schedule, activities, and pricing. Don’t wait to give your child the summer camp experience of a lifetime.
Contact Schoolhouse of Wonder in Durham today by calling us at 919-477-2116, emailing us at schoolhouse@schoolhouseofwonder.org, or filling out our contact form below.