Our programs provide experiential nature education for youth of the Piedmont. These classes, camps, and residencies inspire within children a greater understanding of, and respect for, the natural environment through vivid learning in the outdoors.
Most of our programs occur within the 388 acre West Point on the Eno Park. The Eno River, forest, meadows, and historic buildings provide a lush setting for learning. The restored West Point Mill, for example, allows us to teach students about local history, agriculture, and trade, while our organic garden offers many plants with historical and cultural significance. Learning within such magical spaces allows children to directly experience how the natural world and human tradition have intermingled throughout history.
Our Programs for Families
Gumby’s Tracking Club
A monthly three hour program at West Point on the Eno Park for the whole family. Our staff will instruct and guide participants in practicing skills of observation to learn more about animals in our environment.
Summer and Intersession Camps
Week long day camps and overnight camps celebrate the natural world with youth ages 5-16. Our camp programs in the Winter, Fall, Spring, and Summer are cherished by parents and children throughout the community.
Outdoor School
Outdoor School is our ongoing mentoring program for area homeschool students.
Be a CIT (counselor in training)
Teens with outdoor experience can help lead our our week-long summer camps. Being a CIT at Schoolhouse of Wonder is a mutually enhancing service experience, a CIT giving time and energy to our camps and receiving in return joy and laughter—sometimes tears—from young campers. We are holding more camps than last summer but will not have as many positions in many of the camps. An essay is required with application, and we recommend you devote some time to it, as, if last summer is any indication, we will not have openings for everyone. To create opportunities for more people to CIT a maximum of two weeks of being a CIT is allowed. Deadline April 1. Please download and complete our Counselor In Training Application and mail it to us before April 1, 2009.
Applicants who are twelve and older can apply to CIT the five-to-seven year old camps. Applicants who are fourteen or fifteen can apply to CIT five-to-seven year old camps or seven-to-eleven year old camps. If you are sixteen or seventeen years old and interested in being a Schoolhouse Camp Intern (stipend of $100/ week, please write a cover letter expressing your interest and send it to:
Schoolhouse of Wonder, Attention Dave Cook, 5101-B North Roxboro Rd, Durham, NC 27704. Questions: Give Dave a call. 477-2116
Our Programs for School Groups
Nature School
Our Nature School Program is a day long field trip experience for elementary age children. This occurs every Fall and Spring and reaches over 3,000 children per year.
CAPS Program
Our CAPS programs are science, folklore and living history residencies that that we bring into local classrooms during the months of December, January, February, and March.
Additional On- and Off-Site School Programs
Our programs are not limited to the above options. We have a number of topics we can teach to a wide range of audiences, at our site or yours.
Our Adult Programs
We occasionally run workshops and study groups for adults, as well.