Discover Greensboro Winter 2025

Featured STORY

Summer Camps!

When summertime hits and schools let out, life feels like a bit of a free-for-all – especially if you’re a parent. When you’re working, you don’t want to have to worry about where your kid is, and it’s why summer camps have been a rite of passage for years now. Here in Greensboro, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department knows that kids and teens need a place to not only have a good time, but to also grow as individuals. And while camps for kids are the norm, finding camps specific to teens can be difficult – it’s why the department offers up multiple camps dedicated to teens; each with their own unique offerings. “These unique environments provide teens with opportunities to build social skills, gain independence, and develop resilience,” said Rashida Bryant, the recreation center supervisor for the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. “Through engaging activities and teamwork, campers discover their interests and strengths while forming lifelong friendships with peers from diverse backgrounds.” The department’s four camps for teens includes Camp Joy, Xtreme Teen Adventure Camp, Teen Xperience, and Service Learning Camp. Over at Hagan-Stone Park in Pleasant Garden, kids and teens with special needs can take in an inclusive summer camp in Camp Joy that offers two three-week sessions that offer a wide variety of activities from swimming, craft-making and beyond. This year the theme is continents, with each week featuring activities relating to the continent of the week. For teens looking to get outdoors, look no further than the Xtreme Teen Adventure Camp – the City’s only outdoor adventure week

for teens 12-15. In these three sessions offered throughout the summer, teens can participate in activities ranging from hiking to kayaking to indoor rock climbing. Based at Lake Higgins, campers will also get to take trips to natural areas throughout the Triad. If the outdoor adventuring isn’t your kid’s thing, then the Xperience @ Caldcleugh may be more up there alley. This camp for teens 12-15 is for those too old for summer camp, but too young to stay home alone. Running through most of the summer, the day camp will include trips to the pool and other activities that are designed to keep older kids engaged and entertained. Last, but certainly not least, the department’s Service Learning Camp offers up a chance for teens to get involved with their community by learning about a variety of topics such as active adults, inclusion, and poverty, in order to better help the world they live in. At the end of each week, a certificate of completion will be provided, and participants can earn up to 60-service hours for all three weeks of the program. From going out and exploring the natural world, to helping in the community, the Parks and Recreation Department’s myriad summer camps offers teens around Greensboro a chance to get out there and enjoy themselves. “Beyond just fun, camps promote physical and mental well being, offering a break from everyday stressors,” said Bryant. “They encourage connection to nature and provide valuable life skills that prepare teens for the future. Join us in celebrating the positive impact of teen camps—where adventure meets personal growth, and lasting memories are made!”

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