2025 Summer Camps
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’re leaning into the hard work of preparing for another great year in 2025.
We anticipate opening registration for 2025 Summer Camps on or about February 1, 2025. Details on our 2024 season are preserved below for anyone who’d like to familiarize themselves with our past schedule. As usual, we anticipate bringing back lots of past favorites with some fun new camps in the mix.
2024 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 Season is Over
We’ll launch our 2025 camp season on or about February 1, 2025. The lottery system was well-received and we expect to do somthing similar. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to get relevant announcements.
Ages 6-7
Ages 6-7
Flight of the Faeries
June 17 – 21
July 22 – 26
Wander the mountainside making whimsical crafts and brewing flower tea.
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.
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.
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.
Ages 7-8
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.
Ages 7-8
Archery Range
June 3 – 7
July 8 – 12
Practice a variety of different projectiles and become a more skilled archer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ages 9-12
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ages 12-17
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.
Ages 12-16
Girls Blacksmithing
July 8 – 12
A special session of Blacksmithing camp for young ladies led by an all-female team.
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.
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.
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.