Summer Camps

Claytor Nature Study Center Camps (Elementary and Middle School)
Debate & Forensics Camp
Outdoor Leadership Program Camp
Sports Camps

Claytor Nature Study Center Camps

The nature books come alive in these comprehensive 5-day summer day-camps for rising first through eighth graders. Camps take full advantage of the property’s spectacular location at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Campers have plenty of fun while learning about the diversity of plants and animals in the center’s woodlands, grasslands, freshwater streams, and beautiful stretch of the Big Otter River. Free play, supervised hikes and river splashing also help introduce campers to the wonders and beauty of nature in Virginia. And when shelter and shade are called for, the onsite education building and pavilion provide additional spaces for activities designed to entertain young minds. As one camper put it, this is an “awesome opportunity!”

Themes for 2021

Nature Makes Sense
Sprouts – rising 1st – 3rd graders (ages 6-9)

Campers will spend time outdoors experiencing nature through four of their six senses: sight, hearing, smell, and touch. They will learn descriptive vocabulary, compare and contrast objects they contact, and engage in creative interpretation of what they experience.

Diversity, Diversity, Diversity
Cubs – rising 4th – 6th graders (ages 9-12)

Kids will discover diversity in nature by exploring the woods, ponds, river banks, and fields of Claytor Nature Center. They will see many different critters from grubs to raptors to deer and learn about how all the animals compete with each other for resources and sometimes form beneficial partnerships. They will discover that there are more animals out there than we see at first glance and that we all have a role to play.

Full-Day Schedule for all camps

9 a.m. Drop off at picnic pavilion at Claytor Nature Center
2:00 p.m. Pick up at picnic pavilion at Claytor Nature Center
*3:30 p.m. Pickup at picnic pavilion for those adding extended child care hours

*Extended child care option available for an additional fee.

Anticipated Fees

		Early Bee (March 14)	Early Bird (April 30)	Base Price (after April 30)	Multiweek or Multichild Discount
Elementary Camp
	Member	$190	$200	$215	8% off bill
	Non-Member	$225	$235	$250	8% off bill
Add-ons	Extended afternoon hours (pickup at 3:30 p.m.)			+ $35
	Nature camp water bottle			+ $16

More Information and Pre-registration

Hiring for Summer Camps

Interested in employment, internship credits, or a new training experience? We are hiring lead camp counselors, counselors-in-training, and teachers for our summer camps. Please visit our Claytor camp page for more information.

Donate to Camps

Each year we are able to welcome financially needy children to our summer camps, thanks to generous donations from private individuals and local non-profits like the Bedford Outdoor Sportsman Association and Garden Thyme Club of Forest, VA. If you would like to donate a scholarship or other funding, please contact Dr. Michael Coco at coco@lynchburg.edu.

Debate and Public Speaking Summer Camp

June 3-7, 2019
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

June 10-14, 2019
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The University of Lynchburg’s invites all local middle and high school students to attend Debate and Public Speaking Summer Camp.

Spend five days with us, and you will:

Hone your public speaking and analytical skills with certified instruction and coaching.
Learn presentation and critical skills that will help you to become a more outspoken and confident student in the classroom.
Enjoy working with our award-winning collegiate team.
Acquire debate, forensic (public speaking) fundamentals including instruction and the development of persuasive, informative, declamation, single and duo interpretive, prose, poetry, after-dinner, impromptu, extemporaneous, and parliamentary debate speaking.

Best of all — leave with the confidence and ability to present yourself and your ideas in any public situation.

Cost $250.

For more information, contact Dr. Paula Youra, Professor of Communication Studies and University of Lynchburg Debate and Forensics coach, at 434.544.8178 or youra@lynchburg.edu.

Outdoor Leadership Program Camp

July 1 – 5, 2019
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day
Age and enrollment limit: Current or rising High school students

University of Lynchburg’s Outdoor Leadership Program invites all local high school students to come spend 5 days outdoors rock climbing, caving, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, and zip-lining while learning about team-building, leadership development, and the outdoor environments we’ll be exploring!

Tentative Schedule

Monday: Challenge Course
Spend the day getting to know the other campers as we learn about group dynamics and spend the day building our Adventure Team for the week on Low Ropes Elements and High Ropes Course with the Leap of Faith and Zip-Line!
(Lynchburg low and high ropes)
Tuesday: Canoeing/kayaking
We’ll be cooling off in the river today- learning about reading whitewater while paddling some Class II and III rapids on the James River.
(Glasgow to Snowden – James River, Balcony Falls*)
Wednesday: Rock climbing
Belay on! Climb some of Virginia’s best rock, with routes for new climbers and rock jocks.
(Goshen Pass – Chamber’s Ridge)
Thursday: Caving
Spend the day underground in one of the best wild caves of Appalachia for all ranges of experience.
(Blacksburg – New River Cave)
Friday – Backpacking
Explore scenic vistas with you new friends as we learn land navigation and hike to some of the most picturesque spots in the blue ridge.
(Petite’s Gap to Snowden – 10.3 miles); camping overnight at Claytor (Bedford)
Saturday – Departure

*Depending on pre-existing experience of group and water levels.

Cost $175: Covers all gear, transportation, and meals.

For more information, contact Tim Slusser, coordinator of Outdoor Leadership Programs, at Slusser_tt@lynchburg.edu.