July 11 – 15

Rising Graders 1st – 4th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + $20 Fee for Field Trips = $320
Led by Layne Pierce

Description

Adventure Camp finds the point where the natural, creative and physical domains meet and gives kids the chance to use their imaginations in completing teamwork and teambuilding exercises. It allows them to be mindful in nature as camp counselors take them to wooded areas around Rainbow, and encourages them to take part in interactive story building. Counselors and other staff will set up games and challenges for the students such as scavenger hunts and fantastical tours that encourage them to use their senses in a meditative way. There will also be a few off-site field trips for enhanced adventures.

About the Instructor

Since before they can remember, Layne has been playing pretend in their backyard, imagining dragons, giants, unicorns, aliens, you name it, and creating elaborate pretend games with them! They are the third through eighth grade floating substitute teacher, and have extended experience working with children of all ages since they began their career as a childcare worker!

July 11-15

Rising 5th-8th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + $10 for Entrance Fees to Parks and a Sweet Treat on the last day = $310
Led by Susan Waddell

Description

We may not live beachside, but we do have plenty of water in our beautiful mountain home. This camp is all about exploring the unique water features that attract so many people to the area. Waterfalls, rivers, lakes…This will be an active camp, some hikes will be challenging, some will be long and easy, but everyday will most certainly offer fun. One thing to be certain, there will be a lot of time spent swimming and getting wet. This is the perfect camp for those kiddos who like to explore and play in the natural world!

**Your child will be near or in water during this camp.  If your child cannot swim, we highly recommend they wear a PFD, and we are happy to help coordinate acquiring one if help is needed. 

About the Instructor

Susan is a veteran Rainbow teacher and joined the team in 2006. She is currently the lead middle school teacher and when she is not helping her students set personal goals, collaborating on a mega-theme project, inspiring “light bulb” moments, or nudging kids out the door at the end of the week, she enjoys spending time with her young family, running, reading, enjoying music, and knitting.

July 11 – 15

Rising 5th – 8th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + $20 fee for materials = $320
Led by Kurt Campbell

Description

You’ll spend days exploring what woodworking is, how it is done, and time creating projects. Students will spend time working with different tools, learning about tool safety, discovering woodworking techniques, and creating their own wooden creations. 

About the Instructor

Kurt has been an Elementary Educator since 2007. He worked for Asheville City Schools for 12 years; the last seven of those were as a 3rd Grade Classroom Teacher at Vance Elementary. He has been Rainbow’s fourth grade teacher since 2019. Kurt is known for the joy and enthusiasm he brings to the classroom and his love for every child. He was a visible leader at Vance, leading professional development opportunities, bringing creative ideas to the teaching and administrative team, and always going beyond the call of duty. He is also a very high-tech teacher who uses technology to bring learning alive.

Kurt received his BA from Bowling Green State University, OH in Music Performance with a minor in Computer Science. Shortly after moving to Asheville he returned to school and got his K-6 Elementary Licensure from the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Not only is Kurt a skilled teacher, but his personal interests and commitments bring a lot of richness into his professional life. Kurt enjoys playing soccer and gaga ball with students at recess, as well as playing music with them. Kurt is a talented musician and actor from his many years as music director with the Asheville Performing Arts Academy. He has also dedicated many summers to the Read to Achieve Summer Reading Camp, originally as a teacher and then as the director of the program.

July 18-22

Rising 1st – 4th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + $10 to cover gas / travel costs = $310
Led by Jenn Ryan 

Description

We will spend our days exploring nearby creeks and streams and all the magic that lives within. Campers should be prepared to get wet and filled with wonder as we explore local spaces where the water creates an incredible habitat for so many incredible critters.

About the Instructor

Jenn was new to the Omega Program in the Fall of 2020. She is energetic and loves to build a strong classroom community giving her students leadership roles to contribute and synergize in the classroom and within the community. She has lived in WNC since 1999 when she was recruited to play for the Women’s Soccer Team for Appalachian State University. She graduated from there with a degree in Elementary Education in 2004. Since then she has taught 3-6 grades in Buncombe and Henderson County Schools. Jenn leads a multifaceted life where she is creative, active, and adventurous in the classroom and her family life. She loves to hike and explore the outdoors and to use the outdoors as a classroom. Her creative, hands-on approach to education makes her a perfect fit for Rainbow.

July 18-22

Rising 5th -8th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + 20.00 for materials = $320
Led by Maria Smilios

Description

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass”
–Anton Chekhov

At some point, we’ve all seen someone (a stranger, friend, or family member) and wondered, what’s their story? Photographer Brandon Stanton, the creator of the popular story-telling blog-turned book, Humans of New York, decided to act on his curiosity and begin asking people about their story. For the last 10 years, Stanton had brought to life the stories of millions of people across the world. His method is simple. Each story features a photograph (or a series of them) of the person and a short narrative, usually prompted by a single question: “What is your greatest struggle?” or “Give me one piece of advice” or “Tell me something about yourself.” In the end, the portrait and the accompanying text capture something truthful and essential about the subject.

This week, we will imitate Stanton. Campers will choose a person they know and interview them, and then based on the story they choose to tell, select a one (or a series of) visuals that will accompany their text—students can use photos or a drawings or sculpture.

The mornings will be spent immersed in the craft of writing—we will look at Stanton’s portraits and discuss what makes them effective, what kind of mood or emotion he is trying to invoke; how he uses select details and dialogue to enhance the story. Then we will look at how the photos enrich the text. Kids will journal and use prompts to play with voice and mood and dialogue. We will discuss how to conduct an interview, what kind of questions are effective, and how to disseminate the information into a short text that is meaningful and interesting.
In the afternoon, we will have lunch and free time outside and then work on the visual aspect of the story. On Friday afternoon, campers will showcase their work for parents.

About the Instructor

Maria Smilios is the author of the forthcoming book The Black Angels: The Untold Stories of the Nurses who helped Cure Tuberculosis. A New York City native, Maria has a Masters of Arts from Boston University in Religion & Literature where she taught Essay & Research writing in the university’s writing program. In 2007, she left Boston and moved back to New York City to teach English Literature at an all-girls high school. There she created and ran a writing program for teens. Last year, she moved to Asheville with her family. She has been published in Narratively, The Guardian, The Rumpus, Dame Magazine, The Jewish Daily Forward, American Nurse, among others.

July 25-29

Rising 4th – 6th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + 20.00 for materials = $320
Led by Jenn Ryan

Description

During the Lego Stem Camp, campers will work in a stem lab setting to use Lego bricks to complete daily math and science STEM challenges. During our hands-on classes, campers will build famous landmarks while exploring architecture, engineering, and physics. Students will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Participants will build a new project each day while learning new structural concepts while building bridges and skyscrapers. Campers will play and socialize with friends while building a collaborative construction of a scaled model of Rainbow Community School.

About the Instructor

Jenn was new to the Omega Program in the Fall of 2020. She is energetic and loves to build a strong classroom community giving her students leadership roles to contribute and synergize in the classroom and within the community. She has lived in WNC since 1999 when she was recruited to play for the Women’s Soccer Team for Appalachian State University. She graduated from there with a degree in Elementary Education in 2004. Since then she has taught 3-6 grades in Buncombe and Henderson County Schools. Jenn leads a multifaceted life where she is creative, active, and adventurous in the classroom and her family life. She loves to hike and explore the outdoors and to use the outdoors as a classroom. Her creative, hands-on approach to education makes her a perfect fit for Rainbow.

July 25-29

Rising 1st – 4th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + 20.00 for materials = $320
Led by Kurt Campbell

Description

Campers will spend a week exploring all things theater, including parts, props, and backdrops. In addition to working on the scenery and creation of the stage, students will fill parts and and perform on our outdoor stage as the culminating activity! What a great space for students interested in acting to get their feet wet.

About the Instructor

Kurt has been an Elementary Educator since 2007. He worked for Asheville City Schools for 12 years; the last seven of those were as a 3rd Grade Classroom Teacher at Vance Elementary. He has been Rainbow’s fourth grade teacher since 2019. Kurt is known for the joy and enthusiasm he brings to the classroom and his love for every child. He was a visible leader at Vance, leading professional development opportunities, bringing creative ideas to the teaching and administrative team, and always going beyond the call of duty. He is also a very high-tech teacher who uses technology to bring learning alive.

Kurt received his BA from Bowling Green State University, OH in Music Performance with a minor in Computer Science. Shortly after moving to Asheville he returned to school and got his K-6 Elementary Licensure from the University of North Carolina Asheville.

Not only is Kurt a skilled teacher, but his personal interests and commitments bring a lot of richness into his professional life. Kurt enjoys playing soccer and gaga ball with students at recess, as well as playing music with them. Kurt is a talented musician and actor from his many years as music director with the Asheville Performing Arts Academy. He has also dedicated many summers to the Read to Achieve Summer Reading Camp, originally as a teacher and then as the director of the program.

July 25-29

Rising 3rd – 5th Graders
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Rainbow Community School
Camp Cost: $300 + 20.00 for materials = $320
Led by Maria Smilios

Description

“There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of Space, and a fourth, Time.”
― H.G. Wells, The Time Machine

For centuries, the idea of time travel has captivated people and inspired a litany of spectacular books and movies from H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine to Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. Unfortunately, at the moment, time travel isn’t possible, but luckily through the power of our imagination we can become time travelers and go anywhere at anytime.

In this camp, kids will imagine their own time machine and build it. Then they will craft a narrative about it—the places it will take them, chronicling the adventures and people they might encounter.

The morning will be spent immersed in the craft of writing—we will read excepts from stories that use time machines, then discuss them; kids will journal and use prompts to play with voice and different ideas; we will talk about plot, characters, use of dialogue, and work on drafting the their narratives and finding the best genre for telling it, fiction, memoir, diary entries, autobiography, or a graphic novel.

In the afternoon, we will have lunch and free time outside and then work on building their time machines or devices. On Friday afternoon, students will showcase their time machines and share their narratives with parents and each other.

About the Instructor

Maria Smilios is the author of the forthcoming book The Black Angels: The Untold Stories of the Nurses who helped Cure Tuberculosis. A New York City native, Maria has a Masters of Arts from Boston University in Religion & Literature where she taught Essay & Research writing in the university’s writing program. In 2007, she left Boston and moved back to New York City to teach English Literature at an all-girls high school. There she created and ran a writing program for teens. Last year, she moved to Asheville with her family. She has been published in Narratively, The Guardian, The Rumpus, Dame Magazine, The Jewish Daily Forward, American Nurse, among others.