SUMMER CAMP 2024
Enrollment opens March 1st!
The Movers and Shakers Summer Camp promotes the same values that are the cornerstone of Asheville Community Movement: teaching kids to be independent and conscientious community members within a fun and safe environment. We try to nurture the individual passions of our campers by devoting each week to themes that foster community spirit and sustainable living.
By sustainable living, we mean treating the Earth with respect, as well as yourself, your body and mind, and your fellow community members. Kids may choose from the provided activities based on their individual interests and comfort level, but regardless of theme, campers will participate in activities related to movement, team building, and conflict mediation - skills essential to living within a healthy community.
Movers and Shakers Summer Camp takes place in our 35,000 sq ft facility which sits on over two acres. The majority of the indoor space is a large open space with a full gymnastics facility including spring floors, bars, balance beams and trampolines, basketball area, dance floor, and space for scooters and plasma cars as well as an arts and crafts area.
This open space has gated bay doors that open in order to provide an outdoor feel with a breeze and natural light. We also have fans through out the space and an evaporation cooler that works with the breeze to keep the area comfortable.
Our outdoor area has a playground, garden space, archery area, and open space for outdoor sports, games, and water play. There are pop-up tents along with a covered pavilion to provide shade during outdoor play and lunch. With this space we are able to provide energetic play both in the sunshine and in the shade. Campers will enjoy plenty of time with natural breeze and light, and respite from the heat when needed.
Our facility is also right along the French Broad River. Our outdoor space is fenced, and we do not spend time in the river due to how high the river tends to stay and concerns over cleanliness of the French Broad. However, it provides a beautiful back drop for their play and provides a nice breeze off the water.
Every week regardless of the theme, campers play group games, work through team building activities, learn and practice conflict mediation, have circle time with music, outdoor water play, arts and crafts and a choice of movement opportunities.
Our movement opportunities include:
Gymnastics
Yoga
Dance
Obstacle Course Building
Group Games
Gardening
Archery
Water Play
Scooters and Booster Cars
Soccer
Frisbee
Trampoline
Bounce House
Basketball
Tennis
And more!
This is a general schedule to give an idea of what an average day of camp looks like. Depending on age or week of camp the schedule may vary.
SUMMER CAMP 2024
This year our movers and shakers summer camp program will be divided into two separate camps determined by age. We will have a camp for children ages 5-7 and a camp for children 8 and up. This will allow us to better tailor our workshops, activities and daily schedule to the needs and abilities of our campers.
Week 1 | Wild Week: Children YE Art Loosed
June 10 - 14
School’s out for summer! This is a week to celebrate being out of school, but also to help kids embrace their wild sides. Kids will spend time outdoors learning various survival skills as well as using their creative side to make fun and wild crafts. Everyone will also have the opportunity to get their energy out through group games and various movement activities. Come start your summer off with some wild fun!
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Fire starting (for kids 8 and up)
Archery
Clay Animal Tracks
Mud Painting
Wild Child Parade
Leaf Printmaking
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Week 2 | make some noise!
June 17 - 21
Let’s get loud! This week will focus on the many ways we can make noise and have fun while doing so. Whether partaking in song, music, instrument making, storytelling, theater, or practicing another language, come ready to find your voice and raise it! Kids will also focus on presenting a talent at our big talent show at the end of the week. They can choose to put on a show with their group or other kids, or do a solo presentation!
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Tambourines
Spin Drums
Ankle Shakers
Animal Clackers
Wind Chimes
Play Practice
Sound Science
Week 3 | revolution: Start a movement
June 24 - 28
Calling all revolutionary kids! You are the future. We will remember the passion for change that founded our country, and practice being the change we wish to see. This week is focused on helping kids understand fairness and justice through games and conversations. Using a village model role play, kids will explore ways to work as a group, promote justice and maybe even start a revolution of their own!
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Flag and armband making
King’s Gold
Talking Sticks
Kindness Chains
Week 4 | desert island survival
July 1 - 3
Do you have what it takes to survive on a deserted island? You will after spending a week with ACM in our Desert Island Survival camp. We'll be castaways on our imaginary island where we will learn how to use our resources wisely, work together as a group to solve problems, and live with the bare necessities. But don't worry - our bare necessities still include water slides, play grounds, and gymnastics equipment!
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Trail Mix Treasure Hunt
Emergency Supplies
Camo Craft
Clay Animal Tracks
Wilderness First Aid
Fire Starting (for ages 8+)
Week 5 | world of hogwarts
July 8 - 12
Join us for a week of magical fun. You’ll be sorted into one of our ACM Wizardry Houses! Come ready to make potions, learn magical herbology, hear the secrets of fortune telling, play Quidditch, and celebrate other aspects of the Harry Potter world. This week is sure to be a favorite!
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Potions
Wand Making
Herbology
Madam Pomfrey’s Healing Salves (for ages 8+)
Hogsmeade Visit
Charms
Divination
Quidditch
Week 6 | around the world
July 15 - 19
Let’s take a virtual trip around the world and see what kids in other countries do for fun! We’ll find the similarities and appreciate the differences. Campers will experience food as well as various games and crafts from different countries and cultures. This also creates a great opportunity for them to share their own multicultural lifestyles and experiences.
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Rice Around the World
Fabric Stamping
Ojo de Dios
Djembe Drums
Mbira Making
Venetian Masks
Mosaics
Clay Coil Pots
Yarn Painting
Week 7 | grub week
July 22 - 26
Who loves tasty, healthy snacks? Late summer harvest brings lessons on local foods, cooking, and nutrition. This week is all about making and of course eating delicious and nutritious recipes. At the end of the week everyone will get to enjoy a grand feast that they helped to prepare!
Some of the fun cooking workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Salsa
Pesto
Pickled Watermelon Rinds
Tortilla Chips
Zucchini Bread
Cucumber Salad
Sun Teas
Cornbread and Butter
Hummus
Sauerkraut
Week 8 | art in nature
July 29 - August 2
You’d be surprised by how many art materials we can find just by walking outside! This week we will use tools provided by Mother Nature, as well as our own imaginative minds, to create a multitude of masterpieces. Kids will also work with their groups to create beautiful tiny homes for fairies to live in for the week, allowing for lots of magical fun!
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Suncatchers
Field Journals
Pebble Plaques
Spirit Sticks
Fairy Wands and Wings
Nature Crowns
Sunshadow Tees
Natural Dyes and Paintbrushes
Week 9 | brilliant building adventures
August 5 - 9
Calling all future architects and engineers! This week is all about getting creative through building structures. Whether crafting small models out of legos and clay, cozy forts inside the gym, or just having fun hammering a nail into wood, make sure to bring some muscle and an eye for design.
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Marble Runs
Catapults
Patchwork Houses
Building Challenges
Balloon Cars
Skewer Structures
Week 10 | Folk Art and Wildcrafting
August 12 - 16
We cannot forget to appreciate these beautiful mountains! This week we’ll experience what makes Appalachia so unique through traditional arts, crafts, music, and food preparation. Come ready to learn about the furry, flying, and leafy friends with whom we share our home.
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Loom Art
Corn Husk Dolls
Candle Making (8+)
Healing Salves (8+)
Book Binding
Macrame
Quilting
Fire Starting (8+)
Cornbread Making
Week 11 | i like to move it, move it!
August 19 - 23
Due to high demand for this week, we are only allowing families already signed up for 4 weeks of camp to enroll in this week.
This week is all about movement! Hey, it’s in our name - Asheville Community MOVEMENT! Let’s learn and practice all of the different ways we can enjoy exercise, whether it be through sports, group games, gymnastics, dance, or something you have never tried before. Campers will learn why it’s so important to make movement a habit.
Some of the fun workshops kids can look forward to this week are:
Hand and Feet Painting
Dancing Ribbons
Ankle Shakers
Baton Making
Basketball
Football
Soccer
Dance
Additional Pricing Details:
$25 non-refundable annual registration fee required for participants in ACM programs. If you have not already paid your yearly fee, you will be charge this yearly fee at the time of enrollment for camp.
$75 non-refundable and non-transferable deposit per week required at time of enrollment to hold your child’s spot in camp each week. This deposit cannot be transferred to other camp weeks if a change of week is required and will not be refunded if you need to cancel camp for any reason so please make sure you are certain of the weeks you will need before you enroll. The full deposit will be applied to camp tuition.
Full payment of tuition for the week is due 2 weeks prior to camp week start date. If payment is not made in full, camper’s enrollment will be cancelled with no refund of registration fee or deposit. Valid credit card must be on file.
10% Sibling Discount on regular and late registration camps when siblings enroll for the same week
10% Class Discount if campers also enroll for a full summer of classes (not applicable for pro-rated or drop-in classes or team)
$15 admin fee to make changes to enrollment after 1st change request or less than 2 weeks before camp starts.
The week of July 1st (Desert Island Survival Week) will be prorated because it is a 3 day camp week.
If you are in need of childcare for the summer, but may have difficulty paying, please contact the office through email for more information on whether you qualify for financial assistance.
Swim field trip
Our weekly swim field trip is optional. We transport the children in newer model vans and all children are restrained in shoulder belts. Children 7 years and younger ride in booster seats. ACM usually rents out the entire pool; we are the only ones at the pool other than lifeguards. In addition to lifeguard supervision, the kids are closely supervised by counselors assigned to each section of the pool.
We conduct a swim test for each child and assign them to the appropriate area of the pool. Counselors work with non-swimmers to improve their water awareness and basic swimming skills.
We provide time and guidance for children to apply the sunscreen they bring from home before the field trip and ask them to reapply while at the pool. We strongly recommend sun blocking swim shirts to make sure the children don’t get sunburned.
Sun Screen Service
Due to SafeSport requirements which now regulate the athletic industry, we can no longer apply sunscreen to kids and cannot offer the sun screen service. Please make sure your child brings sunscreen to camp every day.
PRE-K SUMMER CAMP 2024
9am - 1pm
Pre-K Camp is tentative for 2024. We will update as soon as we have more information on what weeks will be made available.
Our pre-K camp option for 4 year olds who are ready to move, play, do activities and crafts, but are not quite ready to join the big camp. This camp will allow our youngest campers to learn and grow with an experienced counselor who will stay with them from the beginning of the day to the end. Pre-K campers will still participate in weekly themes, but with all activities modified to meet their needs as preschoolers. List of weeks available will be posted soon.
Registration Open March 1st through our Online Parent Portal:
You will receive an email confirmation once your registration is complete. If you do not receive an email, your registration is NOT complete. Please call the Asheville Community Movement office at (828) 254-6060 to complete your registration.