Second week of JuneOpen
Week 1: Creek week
Nets, buckets and flat stones: finding what lives under them, and putting every one back where it was.
- Ages 5 to 10
- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Nature day camp, Weaverville, NC
Days in the woods, one trail at a time
Pinecone is a nature day camp for ages 5 to 10, in a county park near Weaverville. Campers spend the day on the trail, at the creek and in the shade, earning badges as they go.
The badge path
Five badges, earned on the trail
Every camper starts at Acorn and moves along at their own pace. A counselor signs a badge when they have seen the skills in the field.
Acorn
Where every camper startsSkillsWalking the trail in a line with a buddy
Naming five sounds we hear on a still morning
Packing and carrying our own daypack
A tick check with a buddy
Moving upWhen a counselor has seen the skills on the trail and signs the badge sheet
Sprout
SkillsTelling three plants apart by their leaves
Following a track across soft ground
Keeping a field journal with a pencil and a page
Knowing which plants we leave alone
Moving upWhen a counselor has seen the skills on the trail and signs the badge sheet
Creek
SkillsCrossing shallow water with a partner
Netting, looking and returning what we find
Reading how high and fast the water is
Wearing water shoes and a life jacket when asked
Moving upWhen a counselor has seen the skills at the creek and signs the badge sheet
Fern
SkillsFinding north with a compass
Tying a square knot and a hitch
Helping to build a lean-to from fallen branches
Leaving a place as we found it
Moving upWhen a counselor has seen the skills on the trail and signs the badge sheet
Pinecone
SkillsReading a simple trail map with a counselor
Taking the front of a short walk for the group, one stop at a time
Showing a younger camper a knot
Looking after the camp's field guides and nets
Moving upThe last badge on the path, signed by a counselor when the skills have been seen
Where to startHow badges work
Sample levels.
Summer and fall break
Six weeks, each with its own theme
Book the weeks that fit your family. Every week runs Monday to Friday, with the same day and a new place to look.
Summer and fall break
- Fourth week of JuneOpen
Week 2: Tracks and trails
Mud prints, tracking games and a trail we walk a little farther each day.
- Ages 5 to 10
- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Second week of JulyWaitlist
Week 3: Plants up close
Leaf rubbings, field sketches and a plant walk: what we touch and what we leave alone.
- Ages 5 to 10
- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Fourth week of JulyOpen
Week 4: Shelters and knots
Lean-tos from fallen branches, a tarp roof and the knots that hold it down.
- Ages 5 to 10
- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- First week of AugustFull
Week 5: Rain or shine
Puddles, ponchos and the pavilion: a week planned for whatever weather comes.
- Ages 5 to 10
- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Fall break, in OctoberOpen
Fall break: Leaves and seeds
A week in October for leaf piles, seed hunts and one long walk under changing trees.
- Ages 5 to 10
- 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sample sessions.
Weeks open, fill and gather waitlists as families register. Our registration page has the latest.
Ticks, plants and creek
How we handle ticks, plants and the creek
A day outside means ticks, poison ivy and water. Here is what we do about each, every day.
Tick checks
Campers wear long pants, socks and closed shoes, and families put repellent on at home. Buddies check each other at lunch and again before pickup, and we tell you the same day if we find a tick.
Pants tucked into socks
Buddy checks at lunch and before pickup
A note home when we find one
Plants we know
On the first morning we meet the plants along our trail, including poison ivy and stinging nettle, and we walk around them. Campers touch only what a counselor has named, and nothing goes in a mouth.
Leaves of three, we leave them
Looking, drawing and smelling only
Hands washed before lunch
Creek days
The creek is shallow and slow. Campers wear water shoes, a counselor stands in the water with them, and any camper who wades beyond their knees puts on a life jacket first.
Water shoes on every foot
A counselor in the water
Life jackets past the knees
Safety and notice
What the state says about camp, and our numbers
The numbers are what we plan for every group on the trail.
License
This camp is a seasonal day camp and is not licensed as child care by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults to children
1 adult to 6 children
5 to 9 years
Group size: 12
1 adult to 8 children
10 years
Group size: 16
Capacity
40
Ages 5 years to 10 years
Staff checks and training
- Background checks
- CPR and first aid
- Mandated reporter training
- Medication training
Safety routines
Signing in and pickup
A counselor signs each camper in at the trailhead shelter. At pickup a camper leaves only with an adult on your list, and we ask for ID from anyone we haven't met.
Trail groups
Every trail group walks with two adults and camper partners, and we count heads at every stop. The groups are by age and by badge, so a walk fits the people on it.
Ticks and plants
Buddy tick checks happen at lunch and before pickup, and we tell you the same day about a tick. Campers learn the plants on our trail on the first morning and touch only what a counselor has named.
Creek time
The creek is shallow and slow, with a counselor in the water, water shoes on every camper and a life jacket for anyone who wades past their knees.
Storms, heat and cold
When we hear thunder, everyone goes to the pavilion and waits there until the sky has been quiet for thirty minutes. On hot days the trail blocks move into shade and the creek; on cold mornings we start moving early.
Allergies, medicine and illness
Tell us about allergies, including reactions to stings, when you register; we ask what we need privately. Medicine is given only with your written permission by a staff member trained to give it, and a camper with a fever stays home.
Sample details.
From parents
What parents tell us
“My son came home with muddy knees and a list of everything he had found at the creek. The weekly note told us where the trail went and what to send.”
Odette H.Parent of a seven-year-old
“I liked that the tick checks and the plant rules were written down before we started. My daughter told me about the plants she had learned to walk around.”
Tamara R.Parent of a six-year-old
“The rain days were a surprise. They stayed outside under the pavilion roof and came home happy, and a counselor texted me about the plan that morning.”
Marcus W.Parent of two campers
Sample reviews.
Questions
What families ask before camp
Who is Pinecone for?
Campers aged 5 to 10, in groups by age and by badge. A friend can ask to join your camper's group when you register, and we say yes whenever the groups allow.
What is a day like?
We meet at the trailhead shelter at 8:30 a.m., walk to the day's place, have lunch from home, rest in the shade and finish with a circle before pickup.
What happens in rain, heat or storms?
Rain is part of camp, and the pavilion has a roof. When we hear thunder everyone goes under it, and on hot days the trail blocks move into shade and the creek. We text families if the plan changes.
How does pickup work, and who may collect my camper?
A camper leaves only with an adult on your list. A counselor signs each camper out at the trailhead shelter, and we ask for ID from anyone we haven't met. Tell us ahead of time when someone new is coming.
How does tuition work?
It depends on the weeks you book. Our registration page shows the figures.
What about ticks and poison ivy?
Campers wear long pants and closed shoes, buddies check for ticks at lunch and before pickup, and we tell you the same day if we find one. We name the plants on the first morning, and campers touch only what a counselor has named.
Pick your weeks
Registration opens in February. Call us with a question and we will talk through the weeks with you.