Family Camp – Basic Information

Dates and rates

Family camp at Gwynn Valley will run for six sessions this summer from June 28-August 6. These camps are being offered as an all-inclusive, 5-day, 4-night experience (running from Sunday through Thursday) for a maximum of thirteen families per week. The cost is $650 per person, with a minimum price per family of $1500. This fee covers accommodation in a camp cabin, three meals a day, and fun program activities!

Accommodations

Live like a camper for the week and enjoy cool mountain air in your own private screened-in cabin. Each family will be housed in a single cabin with its own half-bathroom (sinks with cold water only and toilets). For showers, each cabin will have access to a showerhouse that’s just a short walk away. 

  • Cabins are screened in and have electricity, but no air conditioning.
  • Most cabins have 3 single beds and 4 or 5 bunk beds. Camp mattresses on average are a luxurious 3.5” thick. It’s not glamping, nor camping…it’s camp!
  • We ask that you bring your own bedding and towels. All beds will fit regular twin-sized sheets.
  • Cabins have a tin roof, which can be loud in a rainstorm. 

Meals

Take a break from cooking and dish-washing. Amazing, scratch-made meals prepared with farm-fresh ingredients are a hallmark of Gwynn Valley, and family camp is your opportunity to enjoy them. In order to promote physical distancing, you and your family will be assigned your own table in our spacious dining hall for the duration of your session. Gwynn Valley staff will set tables and deliver food while wearing face coverings and gloves.

Travel to Camp

Unfortunately, all Family Camp attendees must be able to drive themselves to camp. Due to risk of exposure, we ask that families not fly into or out of our area.

Arrivals and Departures

Arrival time is between 2 pm and 5 pm on Sunday for each session.

Departure time is 11 am on Thursday for each session.

Schedule and activities

“Choosing your activities” is an important part of Gwynn Valley’s culture, and family camp will be no different. Each day will include several activity periods with plenty of fun options families can select. We’ve given a lot of thought to which activities can be done while maintaining physical distance and high levels of sanitation, and we’re excited to offer the following:

  • Swimming at the pool and lake
  • Paddling on the lake (canoes, sit-on-top kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards)
  • Farm
  • Mountain biking
  • Climbing wall
  • Archery
  • Crafts 
  • Camping skills and nature 
  • Horse care/grooming
  • Hikes
  • Court games: Thunderball, volleyball, basketball, nine-square, Jedi Training Center

Sample schedule:

7:30 – 8:30: Coffee / tea available
8:30: Breakfast
9:45 – 12:15: Morning activities
12:45: Lunch
2:30 – 5:00: Afternoon activities
5:00: Family time
6:00: Dinner 
7:00: After Supper Activities and choose tomorrow’s activities
7:45: Evening program or campfire time
9:30: Quiet time at camp

More information

Each evening we’ll check in with each family about their activity choices for the following day. All members of a family are NOT required to attend each activity period (this is an opportunity for some downtime!), though children must be accompanied at all activities by at least one adult.

For everyone’s safety, instructors and participants must maintain physical distancing during activities. When adequate physical distancing is not possible, face coverings may be required. Between each activity period, instructors will clean the activity area and equipment according to CDC standards. For more complete information, see the information about our COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

What to bring

In general, each family should bring:

Bedding/linens. Mountain nights can be cool, so make sure you have a thick blanket or sleeping bag!

A rain jacket or poncho for each person. The weather can change VERY quickly in the mountains of western North Carolina, and afternoon thunderstorms are common.

Enough clothing and toiletries for the duration of your stay.

A water bottle for each person so everyone can stay hydrated.

We will supply gear for the activities we are staffing (biking, climbing, etc.) but we also encourage families to bring personal adventure equipment such as kayaks and paddles, road bikes, and mountain bikes (don’t forget helmets – they’re required when biking at GV). Bikes and boats can be used at GV and/or on your own at lots of nearby rivers, roads, and trails away from camp!

Face coverings for each family member over 2 years old, for times when physical distancing is impossible or impractical.

Please note that parents will be responsible for keeping and administering all medications to their children.

For more information, see this complete packing list.

/by