JULY 2023
(FL) Through Sept. 4, 2023, SPIDERS ALIVE! Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, 352-846-2000. Take an eight-legged walk on the wild side with Spiders Alive! This exciting exhibit dives into the world of spiders, scorpions and their relatives with more than a dozen LIVE species on display. Discover the unique traits and characteristics of this diverse group of animals at this interactive, family-friendly experience! Spiders and their relatives highlight the ecological importance of these animals that include black widows, orb weavers and scorpions. Large touchable models reveal more about spider anatomy and their differences from insects while rare fossils — including one that’s 100 million years old — display species from the past. Videos showcase a variety of unique animal behaviors, such as a diving bell spider living under water and a southern black widow spinning silk. Separate fact from myth and learn about ancient spiders, conservation, venom and more. $8 adults | $7.50 FL. residents, seniors & non-UF college students; $5.50 ages 3-17; FREE for ages 0-2, UF students & Museum members. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/.
(MD) July 1, 2023, DRAYDEN AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOLHOUSE OPEN HOUSE, 11:00 am-2:00 pm. Drayden African American Schoolhouse, 18287 Cherryfield Road, Drayden, Maryland 20630, 301-994-1471. The St. Mary’s County Museum Division, in partnership with the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions (UCAC), will be offering free Open Houses for visitors and the community at the Drayden African American Schoolhouse in Drayden. The Drayden African American Schoolhouse is one of the nation’s best-preserved one-room African American schoolhouses, and its story represents a significant part of St. Mary’s County’s African American history. The St. Mary’s County Museum Division also offers special programs for school, bus, and other tour groups who would like to schedule a visit to the Drayden site. Individual visitors who would like to see the schoolhouse during times outside open house hours can contact the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum at (301) 994-1471 to arrange a visit. For more information about the Drayden African American Schoolhouse Open Houses, programs, admission prices, and more, visit the Drayden African American Schoolhouse Facebook page at Facebook.com/DraydenSchool or call (301) 994-1471.
(NC) July 6-15, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: LLAMA TREK, Ages: 8-10, SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. Our Llama Trek course is quite popular and tends to fill up the quickest. At only 10 days long, it is designed for our youngest campers, and the staff in this course are more sensitive to their needs (i.e. homesickness and bedwetting). This course will go on a 3-day, 2-night llama trek expedition where each camper will be assigned a llama to care for and lead for the duration of the expedition. Campers will also work on team building with a low ropes course, self-confidence with rock climbing, and gain some independence and social skills in a non-threatening environment. There will be opportunities for whitewater rafting, swimming, day hikes, and visiting a nature center. Cost of Event: $4,400. https://soarnc.org/nc-llama-trek-adventure/
(NC) July 7 – 17, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: NORTH CAROLINA CLASSIC, Ages: 11 – 18. SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. SOAR’s North Carolina Classic is the original course SOAR started with in Western North Carolina. This course will take campers on a four-day, 3-night backpacking excursion through Pisgah National Forest. Campers will also be able to participate in other outdoor activities such as our high ropes course, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, and white water rafting across Western North Carolina. Don’t wait, adventure is here! Cost of Event: $4,300. https://soarnc.org/nc-classic-adventure/
(NC) July 7-17, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: NORTH CAROLINA CANOE Ages: 11-18. SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. SOAR’s North Carolina Canoe adventure is a great way to spend the summer surrounded by mountain lakes and rivers. This adventure takes campers on a four day canoe trip around Lake Fontana, located in the Nantahala National Forest. While on their trip campers will get a chance to see local wildlife as they paddle around this gentle lake. Additionally, campers will be able to participate in outdoor activities such as fishing, rock climbing, white-water rafting, hiking, and camping throughout Western North Carolina. Don’t wait, adventure is here! Cost of Event: $4,300. https://soarnc.org/nc-canoeing-adventure/
(NC) July 19-August 2, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: NORTH CAROLINA EXPEDITION, Ages: 13-18. SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. At 15-days, this course is designed to be slightly more physically challenging and offers a broader range of adventures than other courses. The NC Expedition crew’s biggest adventure – a 5-day backpacking trip in Pisgah National Forest, through which they learn the fundamentals of expedition planning: using a map and compass, planning their backpacking route, and organizing and packing just the essentials! Hiking days will be rewarded with exhilarating views and the satisfaction of navigating “the road less traveled.” Along with traditional activities you see in other courses this group also gets to go mountain biking, rappelling, and caving! They spend more time on the water where they Funyak the Tuckasegee, then whitewater raft down the 2-3 class Nantahala River, and also whitewater raft on the Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater competitions and home to prime Class 3-4 water. Cost of Event: $5,200. https://soarnc.org/nc-expedition/.
(NC) July 20-29, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: LLAMA TREK, Ages: 8-10, SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. Our Llama Trek course is quite popular and tends to fill up the quickest. At only 10 days long, it is designed for our youngest campers, and the staff in this course are more sensitive to their needs (i.e. homesickness and bedwetting). This course will go on a 3-day, 2-night llama trek expedition where each camper will be assigned a llama to care for and lead for the duration of the expedition. Campers will also work on team building with a low ropes course, self-confidence with rock climbing, and gain some independence and social skills in a non-threatening environment. There will be opportunities for whitewater rafting, swimming, day hikes, and visiting a nature center. Cost of Event: $4,400. https://soarnc.org/nc-llama-trek-adventure/
(NC) July 20-August 6, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: NORTH CAROLINA ACADEMIC DISCOVERY, Ages: 11-18. SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. At 18 days, NC Academic Discovery combines a multitude of outdoor adventure activities and academic / study skill instruction. The differentiating aspect of this course is the classroom experience, which is designed to help prevent summer “learning loss” (in either Language Arts or Math) while providing instruction in study skills and organizational strategies, which so often challenge our ADHD campers. Interspersed throughout the course are 8 days that include classroom instruction. The remainder of camp is spent doing adventure activities including high ropes, team building initiatives, archery & hatchet throwing, primitive skills, etc. On weekends, the teams head to the field for a variety of exciting expeditions including backpacking, rock climbing, caving, swimming, and whitewater rafting. Cost of Event: $5,500. https://soarnc.org/nc-academic-discovery/.
(NC) July 21 – 31, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: NORTH CAROLINA CLASSIC, Ages: 11 – 18, SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. SOAR’s North Carolina Classic is the original course SOAR started with in Western North Carolina. This course will take campers on a four-day, 3-night backpacking excursion through Pisgah National Forest. Campers will also be able to participate in other outdoor activities such as our high ropes course, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, and white water rafting across Western North Carolina. Don’t wait, adventure is here! Cost of Event: $4,300. https://soarnc.org/nc-classic-adventure/
(NC) July 21 – 31, 2023, SOAR ADHD SUMMER CAMP: NORTH CAROLINA CANOE, Ages: 11 – 18. SOAR Balsam Base, 226 Soar Lane, Balsam, NC 28707, 828-456-3435, admissions@soarnc.org. SOAR’s North Carolina Canoe adventure is a great way to spend the summer surrounded by mountain lakes and rivers. This adventure takes campers on a four day canoe trip around Lake Fontana, located in the Nantahala National Forest. While on their trip campers will get a chance to see local wildlife as they paddle around this gentle lake. Additionally, campers will be able to participate in outdoor activities such as fishing, rock climbing, white-water rafting, hiking, and camping throughout Western North Carolina. Don’t wait, adventure is here! Cost of Event: $4,300. https://soarnc.org/nc-canoeing-adventure