This backpacking trip is designed for teens 14 to 17 years of age that have attended our Otter backpacking trip or with mid-level experience. Deer trips bridge the gap between our introductory and advanced trips. Teens have the opportunity to hone backpacking abilities as they learn from instructions and share their skills with peers, all while deepening personal connection with nature in the beautiful Appalachian mountains.

Take your nature connection to the next level! Explore remote areas. Build your survival skills. Piedmont Wildlife Center offers many opportunities to get away and discover the wilderness around us. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a curious newcomer, we’ve got the program for you!

Transportation will be provided for all campers from Leigh Farm Park in Durham, NC.

Ages: 14-17

Price: $600

Location: Roan Mountain Highlands, TN

Mileage: 7-12 miles

Orientation Date: TBD

Comfort and community can be built anywhere! In this camp, we will learn about shelters, fires, and primitive structures of all kinds. Learn what makes good mud, where to find the best rocks, and how to make a roof waterproof! Join us as we explore the forests and streams while responsibly using the resources the land has given us.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

In honor of the 33rd Olympic Games being held in Paris, join us to make your Olympic games with the world around you. Start the week with opening ceremonies, find natural materials to build and compete in games you create in addition to building your own Olympic Village. End the week with a friendly competition and closing ceremonies with parents. 

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Let curiosity be your guide! Each day is a different adventure where we will discover the secrets of nature through outdoor games, hands-on activities, and question-based learning. Campers will connect with the many plants and animals of Piedmont by exploring the environments they occupy!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

You stand on the threshold between being a camper and being a counselor. You have the power to shape your own adventure and guide those who are taking their first steps into nature. Hone your outdoor skills and learn to become a community leader!

All teens must attend this program before being a Counselor in Training (CIT). Participants need to attend the TOL program and then be approved by our staff to graduate on to CIT Level 1. Most of our participants do graduate but we want to make sure each person is ready to be a CIT.

Teen Outdoor Leadership is only offered during the summer season.

Ages 13-17

Price: $390

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

This is an advanced-level backpacking trip designed for older teens with backpacking experience. the hiking is strenuous with elevation and 4 to 6 miles a day. A central part of this experience is that we will work on building a community in which we can share stories and deep nature connections. There will be an option to do a solo overnight.

Take your nature connection to the next level! Explore remote areas. Build your survival skills. Piedmont Wildlife Center offers many opportunities to get away and discover the wilderness around us. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a curious newcomer, we’ve got the program for you!

Transportation will be provided for all campers from Leigh Farm Park in Durham, NC.

Ages: 15-17

Price: $720

Location: Roan Mountain Highlands, TN

Mileage: 16-19 miles

Orientation Date: TBD

You stand on the threshold between being a camper and being a counselor. You have the power to shape your own adventure and guide those who are taking their first steps into nature. Hone your outdoor skills and learn to become a community leader!

All teens must attend this program before being a Counselor in Training (CIT). Participants need to attend the TOL program and then be approved by our staff to graduate on to CIT Level 1. Most of our participants do graduate but we want to make sure each person is ready to be a CIT.

Teen Outdoor Leadership is only offered during the summer season.

NOTE: This is a four-day camp. To honor Juneteenth, camp will not meet on Wednesday, June 19th.

Ages 13-17

Price: $311

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Fairies, gnomes, trolls, and sprites! We will hear ancient stories and lore from around the world. Together we will construct fairy villages and gnome homes. We will adventure to magical places in the forest to look for elusive friends. Make a costume from nature’s bounty and invent mystical tales of your own. This week is all about imagination!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

NOTE: This is a four-day camp. To honor Juneteenth, camp will not meet on Wednesday, June 19th.

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $290
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $135

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Welcome to Village Camp! This week, each group will work together through hands-on study and creative play, we will create our own village community in the forest. We will learn to build the physical structures of our village, and then create natural crafts and tools such as baskets, counsel sticks, pigments, small pots, and much more! We will learn to barter some of our creations with different group villages.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

NOTE: This is a four-day camp. To honor Juneteenth, camp will not meet on Wednesday, June 19th.

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $295
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $135

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Chirping crickets, colorful butterflies, and delicate orb weavers - these creatures exhibit incredible beauty and creativity! We will explore the unique ways these organisms interact with their environment, and express what we’ve learned with colors, songs, costumes, stories, and more.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

NOTE: This is a four-day camp. To honor Juneteenth, camp will not meet on Wednesday, June 19th.

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $295
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $135

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

Everything in nature is connected. From mushrooms to coyotes, join us to explore what makes up an ecosystem! We will get our hands dirty learning about soils and our feet wet learning about water. We will investigate trees from their roots to their leaves and track animals by their scat. Discover what makes a plant grow, what makes water flow, and how all things, living and nonliving, are woven into the web of life.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

You stand on the threshold between being a camper and being a counselor. You have the power to shape your own adventure and guide those who are taking their first steps into nature. Hone your outdoor skills and learn to become a community leader!

All teens must attend this program before being a Counselor in Training (CIT). Participants need to attend the TOL program and then be approved by our staff to graduate on to CIT Level 1. Most of our participants do graduate but we want to make sure each person is ready to be a CIT.

Teen Outdoor Leadership is only offered during the summer season.

Ages 13-17

Price: $390

Location: Umstead State Park - Crabtree Creek Entrance (8801 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617)

Let curiosity be your guide! Each day is a different adventure where we will discover the secrets of nature through outdoor games, hands-on activities, and question-based learning. Campers will connect with the many plants and animals of Piedmont by exploring the environments they occupy!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Branch out with us and learn more about trees and your place in the forest. From saplings to stumps, you can’t have a forest without trees! Tall trees, short trees, fallen trees, and snags - each one plays an important part in the forest ecosystem! We will get to know the quiet giants of the forest through up-close examination, sensory learning, and games.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

Join us for an exciting three-day introductory adventure to explore the wonders of and challenges facing a mountain stream ecosystem! On this trip, we will travel to the Wilson Creek Wilderness Area near Marion, NC, where we will combine fly fishing activities with stream awareness and volunteer conservation activities to plant a seed for lifelong stewardship of nature. During this adventure, campers will learn about aquatic ecology and biodiversity with a biology professor from ASU; stream-side discovery and identification of aquatic insects; fly tying to imitate those aquatic insects; and, fly fishing with the guidance of adult fly fishers.

In partnership with with A Clean Wilson Creek (ACWC), we will introduce these young people to not only the challenges facing the Wilson Creek watershed but also the power of community involvement and volunteerism. ACWC will lead a session on conservation and the specific challenges of Wilson Creek. The campers will be volunteer helpers with stream cleanup or another ACWC-led project. We plan to further support the Wilson Creek community by having some meals catered by Coffey’s General Store.

Transportation will be provided for all campers from Leigh Farm Park in Durham, NC.

Ages: 12-15

Price: $400

Location: Wilson Creek, NC

Orientation Date: TBD

Join us as we discover the wonders of birds! We'll immerse ourselves in the art and science of ornithology and discover what we can learn from the birds around us. We will learn how to understand the secret language they speak and practice awareness techniques to sharpen our senses for exploration and games.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

NOTE: This is a three-day camp due to the July 4th holiday.

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $220
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $100

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Coyote is nature’s trickster. We will follow their lead as we tap into our sense of humor and immerse ourselves in the playful spirit of the Coyote. Using this energy, we will gently push our edges as we adapt to the forest around us. Patience, planning, and stealth are key for causing good coyote mischief!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

NOTE: This is a three-day camp due to the July 4th holiday.

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $220
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $100

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

How can our planet be 71% water, yet we know so little about it? Join us as we dive into the inner workings of this precious resource and how it shapes our environment. We’ll play games, conduct experiments, create art, and explore our own impact on the water of our world.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

NOTE: This is a three-day camp due to the July 4th holiday.

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $220
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $100

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

Fully engage your mind and body while playing some of PWC’s famous woodland games! Join us for story-driven games that encourage fair and honorable play. Children will learn to work in groups and resolve conflicts in a safe environment. During these games, your child will strive to be quiet as a fox, fast as a wolf, and persistent as the wind!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

You stand on the threshold between being a camper and being a counselor. You have the power to shape your own adventure and guide those who are taking their first steps into nature. Hone your outdoor skills and learn to become a community leader!

All teens must attend this program before being a Counselor in Training (CIT). Participants need to attend the TOL program and then be approved by our staff to graduate on to CIT Level 1. Most of our participants do graduate but we want to make sure each person is ready to be a CIT.

Teen Outdoor Leadership is only offered during the summer season.

Ages 13-17

Price: $390

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Branch out with us and learn more about trees and your place in the forest. From saplings to stumps, you can’t have a forest without trees! Tall trees, short trees, fallen trees, and snags - each one plays an important part in the forest ecosystem! We will get to know the quiet giants of the forest through up-close examination, sensory learning, and games.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Join us for an exciting week-long introductory adventure of wilderness living! As we travel down the beautiful trails of Wilson Creek Wilderness Area, we will explore the rock outcroppings and trout-filled mountain streams. Campers will increase their wilderness knowledge, and develop confidence and new friendships.

Take your nature connection to the next level! Explore remote areas. Build your survival skills. Piedmont Wildlife Center offers many opportunities to get away and discover the wilderness around us. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a curious newcomer, we’ve got the program for you!

Transportation will be provided for all campers from Leigh Farm Park in Durham, NC.

Ages: 11-14

Price: $600

Location: Wilson Creek, NC

Mileage: 4-5 miles

Orientation Date: TBD

Fairies, gnomes, trolls, and sprites! We will hear ancient stories and lore from around the world. Together we will construct fairy villages and gnome homes. We will adventure to magical places in the forest to look for elusive friends. Make a costume from nature’s bounty and invent mystical tales of your own. This week is all about imagination!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

Fully engage your mind and body while playing some of PWC’s famous woodland games! Join us for story-driven games that encourage fair and honorable play. Children will learn to work in groups and resolve conflicts in a safe environment. During these games, your child will strive to be quiet as a fox, fast as a wolf, and persistent as the wind!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

We will hone our senses to make music inspired by birdsong, paintings inspired by the colors of the forest, and rhythms inspired by raindrops. Bring home artwork, instruments, and songs. Let imagination, creativity, and natural wonder be your guides. Most of all, develop your mind’s eye so you can see the world in a whole new way!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

The forest holds many mysteries, and each step carries a new lesson. This camp introduces campers to survival skills through a series of group challenges. As their woodland wisdom grows, they will unlock new opportunities!

*This camp is for ages 5-10 and runs simultaneously with Deep Forest (ages 9-13), which allows older campers to practice more specialized skills.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-10): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

New challenges await those who delve deeper into the forest. This camp focuses on advanced wilderness skills: what can you achieve without matches, ropes, or guidebooks?

*This is an advanced course for older campers (ages 9-13) who are able to travel farther away from basecamp and practice more advanced wilderness skills. This camp runs simultaneously with Forest Edge (ages 5-10), which is designed for younger and less-experienced campers.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 9-13): $390
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

This is an introduction to backpacking for older teens who want to improve their wilderness skills as they gain more backpacking experience. This can be a perfect next step for those who have participated in our original Otter trip or those who want to hike a couple more miles for the week.

Take your nature connection to the next level! Explore remote areas. Build your survival skills. Piedmont Wildlife Center offers many opportunities to get away and discover the wilderness around us. Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a curious newcomer, we’ve got the program for you!

Transportation will be provided for all campers from Leigh Farm Park in Durham, NC.

Ages: 15-17

Price: $600

Location: Wilson Creek, NC

Mileage: 6-7 miles

Orientation Date: TBD

Have you ever wanted to sail the seven seas? Even though we are all landlubbers at PWC, we can still experience some of the thrills of being a pirate. Whittle your own peg leg, create your own Jolly Roger, build your own boat to race in the creek, and more. By the end of the week, we will all be best mateys!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Fully engage your mind and body while playing some of PWC’s famous woodland games! Join us for story-driven games that encourage fair and honorable play. Children will learn to work in groups and resolve conflicts in a safe environment. During these games, your child will strive to be quiet as a fox, fast as a wolf, and persistent as the wind!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Saw, shave, bend, and string. Learn the ins and outs of longbow archery while building your own bow from sapling to bowstring. You’ll develop hand tool skills during construction, and hone your focus and accuracy during target-shooting at the end of the week. Upon completion of their bows, campers will receive a series of challenges to prove their archery skill. This unique experience taught by our skilled staff is truly one of a kind!

Ages 13-17

Price: $390

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Comfort and community can be built anywhere! In this camp, we will learn about shelters, fires, and primitive structures of all kinds. Learn what makes good mud, where to find the best rocks, and how to make a roof waterproof! Join us as we explore the forests and streams while responsibly using the resources the land has given us.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

Twist some tales and explore some trails. This camp will encourage your child to fully engage their mind in writing stories about the wonders of nature. Campers enter the story world they create while exploring and playing games of mythical creatures and or famous folklore and may even create their own.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

We will hone our senses to make music inspired by birdsong, paintings inspired by the colors of the forest, and rhythms inspired by raindrops. Bring home artwork, instruments, and songs. Let imagination, creativity, and natural wonder be your guides. Most of all, develop your mind’s eye so you can see the world in a whole new way!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Rain patters in the canopy above as the sun starts the set. Your stomach grumbles as you look down at your pile of kindling. You have already built your shelter, but can you start a fire? This camp is for motivated teens ready to take the next step in survival skills. Find food and water. Start a fire without matches. Navigate without a map. Learn how to hew wood, work stone, lash rope and harness your own strength. Hone the skills that allow you to be truly close to nature. Go beyond the edge for a lifetime of wilderness connection!

Ages 13-17

Price: $390

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Comfort and community can be built anywhere! In this camp, we will learn about shelters, fires, and primitive structures of all kinds. Learn what makes good mud, where to find the best rocks, and how to make a roof waterproof! Join us as we explore the forests and streams while responsibly using the resources the land has given us!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Umstead State Park is massive! This camp is all about hiking, creek exploring, and taking time to hit pause and play games. Kids in this camp might enjoy hiking a mile or more to find the ultimate lunch spot, learning how to use a compass and map, practicing water filtration, and searching for evidence of Umstead’s past.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)

Don a mask and become a character to explore the natural world through acting, improvisation, and storytelling! Warm up your stage voices to sing, act, and put on a show as we learn from ancient stories and the world around us. We will design sets and costumes, write a miniature play, and interpret old stories in a new way. Come play, explore, and express yourself!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

This camp is all about knowing what creatures and critters live in our neighborhoods. What are they doing? How can we help them live peacefully in the wild? Our week will be filled with up-close encounters, hands-on discovery, games, stories, little-known facts, and perplexing mysteries. The wonder of life science will be our central theme and we will be modern naturalists exploring everything we see.

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

Fairies, gnomes, trolls, and sprites! We will hear ancient stories and lore from around the world. Together we will construct fairy villages and gnome homes. We will adventure to magical places in the forest to look for elusive friends. Make a costume from nature’s bounty and invent mystical tales of your own. This week is all about imagination!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Blackwood Farm Park (4215 NC 86 S, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

This camp will be the last hurrah of the summer! Don a mask and become a character to explore the natural world through acting, improv, and storytelling! Warm up your stage voices to sing, act and put on a show as we learn from ancient stories and the world around us. We will design sets and costumes, write miniature plays, and interpret old stories in a new way. Come play, explore, and express yourself!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:00 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 5-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: Leigh Farm Park (370 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC 27707)

The creeks and ponds are full to the brim, and amphibians of all kinds are active! Exchange your lungs for gills and keep your skin wet as we explore the water features at Umstead from an amphibian’s perspective. We’ll come face to face with many of these plants and animals as we study streams and search for salamanders!

This summer, join your friends at Piedmont Wildlife Center as we connect with nature (and each other!) at our award-winning outdoor camps. Explore some of the Triangle’s best parks, play exciting forest games, go creek crawling, meet native NC wildlife, and more. Experience the Best Summer Camp in Durham (INDY Week Best of Durham 2023) for yourself this summer!

To all our old-timers and newcomers, we are excited to welcome you back into the wild!

Drop-off: 8:30 -9:00 AM
Pick-up: 2:45 - 3:00 PM

Camper price (ages 7-12): $365
Level 1 CIT price (ages 13-17): $165

CITs (Counselors in Training) are required to attend Outdoor Leadership Camp first.

Option to add aftercare until 5:30 PM for an additional fee

Location: William B. Umstead State Park (8801 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27617)