Camp Pinnacle is one awesome summer camp for kids ages 6-14. This was my home away from home for…read moremost of my childhood (now 30+ years ago) but it was so worth going. I was up at Pinnacle this past weekend for their annual Open House and Grand Revealing of their new Dining Hall. It was so breath taking to see all the great new improvements. I arrived and the staff welcomed me and provided some nice refreshments after driving. I was then able to walk the property again (had been around 7 years since I was last there) and was just amazed. The camp has a long great history and several famous historical people are on their alumni roster including the late General William Westmoreland. Consider checking out camp for your kids. It's a life changing event where they make real friends for life and not on a computer screen. The camp is an "unplugged" camp for the campers, so kids, leave your electronics at home and time to learn real friendships. I know I did and I was so thrilled to see a childhood friend this past weekend that I hadn't seen in 30+ years.

Camp Pinnacle exceeded our expectations. Son loved every aspect of camp, immersion into great…read moreenvironment with spectacular views and facilities, knowledgeable, fun staff, making long-lasting, coed friendships with young people from all over the world. There are many opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, water sports, as well as traditional camp activities. Lots of time for creativity, singing, campfires, and good old-fashioned FUN! The food has been consistently another thing our boys rave about - good variety, healthy options, ample portions, and always fresh - served with a smile by Richard and his crew. No electronics; and no one minds, at all! We have seen such growth and confidence and increased love of the outdoors in both our sons as a result of their wonderful experiences at both Camp Pinnacle and their adventure / outdoor experience travel camp, Adventure Treks. The sense of community, shared responsibilities, and camaraderie... We've never had a moment's worry or lost a night of sleep while our kids have been at either Camp Pinnacle or backcountry with Adventure Treks. We can't thank you enough for your efforts, at all levels. From the logistics/planning/support team headquartered in NC to trip leaders, everything is seamless; we appreciate it! The Dockendorf Family, Dave McGlashan, Dmac, Amanda, Fayssoux et al - you are the BEST!

My daughter, now 11 just got back from her 6th year at TAW. She literally cried when I picked her…read moreup after her 3 week session knowing it would be another full year until she'd be able to return. The owner is an absolute doll, the director is fabulous and the atmosphere the counselors and staff create for the campers is like no other. We live two states away yet we still fly our daughter out to attend camp because there's nowhere else she'd rather be!!!!

Summer has arrived and my 11 year-old daughter Katherine is back for a 3rd year at Camp…read moreTon-A-Wandah. Not just a place, but a place in your heart, the staff and counselors are extremely knowledgeable and well trained. After all, the camp has been around since 1933. Two and three week camping packages, Kate has once again signed up for the 3 week program. Building friendships from past years, my daughter has kept in contact with several of her fellow campers and counselors. She looks forward to camp, but not the day her 7 year old sister joins her. Sort of personal, I'm of the belief that this is something Kate want to "do alone" without pesky parents or siblings around. The Camp Ton A Wandah summer program provides campers several dozen activities such as horseback riding, zip lining, fine arts and crafts, performing arts, dance, volleyball, basketball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, games, archery, riflery, rock climbing, high ropes, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, hiking, backpacking, field trips and much more. A tie to nature and a deep respect for the Native Americans who originally inhabited the Blue Ridge mountains are a Camp Ton-A-Wandah inspiration behind an alliance of the "three tribes - Cherokee, Navajo and Mohawk. Handed down from generation to generation, the three tribes are among the camps oldest and most revered traditions. Kate is proud to be a "Mohawk" at Ton-A-Wandah. Care packages and birthday parties are a plus. Parents can order "care packages" from several places in Hendersonville or plan a cabin "birthday party" for all to enjoy. Kate reports 5 stars for Camp Ton-A-Wandah. /s/ William E. Lewis Jr. Vero Beach, Florida

My daughters as they were growing up all went to Camp Glenn Arden, but now we have a houseful of…read moregrandsons. The boys go to Camp Arrowhead, for their summers. Great adventures, they enjoy Riflery, Blacksmithing, swimming, animal husbandry, wood rafting, camping, hiking and above all each other. Wonderful camp, highly recommend.

I just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to Bold Earth for the incredible…read moreimpact they've had on my daughter over the past three years. She's participated in multiple trips, but Ultimate Hawaii 2 was by far her favorite--and not just because of the epic adventures and fun activities (which she absolutely loved). It was truly transformative. She came home beaming with confidence and excitement for the future. Before the trip, she was really stressed about college applications, but Bold Earth changed all that. Hearing the trip leaders' stories and seeing the diverse paths others had taken completely opened her eyes. It gave her the perspective, inspiration, and self-assurance she needed. She now sees multiple pathways to her goals, and she returned with a whole new mindset. Now, she's loving her senior year--despite a crazy-busy schedule, she's happy, motivated, and present. She's chasing her dreams without letting fear hold her back, and I honestly credit Bold Earth for helping make that possible. If you're a parent wondering whether to send your teen on one of these trips, my advice is: Do it.

My child's 8th-grade class went to Yosemite with Bold Earth and the kids had nothing but wonderful…read morethings to say about the trip and their guides! They were very easy to work with (from a planning and parent point of view) and had a lovely Zoom presentation with parents ahead of time to answer questions. I would highly recommend Bold Earth to schools planning out-of-town trips!

We sent our son on a 13 day trip with Adventure Treks. Our son canoed, backpacked, hiked and white…read morewater rafted. He's always liked these kinds of activities with us, but the experience was made so much more special by the AT instructors and the other kids on his trip. He gained real confidence. And most importantly to me, he gained an appreciation for having a positive mental outlook. This is an experience he will always remember.

My son participated in an adventure trek trip in 2010. And he has signed on for another trip this…read moresummer -2011. What he liked about last years trip included: #1 Rock Climbing then: Sea Kayaking, White water rafting, Back backing, story telling, hunting for the mount shasta pineapple, and making a lot of new friends from around the country. What I liked was the positive impact it had on my sons life including: appreciation for nature, increased independence, confidence, self-esteem, self-efficacy, personal effectiveness and coping strategies and increased communication skills and teamwork. Bravo to the leadership team. especially BT.

I attended Mondamin for two 8-week summers as a young teenager in the early 1980's, and it had a…read moreprofound impact on me. I arrived literally afraid of the water, having fallen into a pool as a child, but the staff somehow got me in that lake, taught me to swim, and enabled me to fall into love with sailing. I spent countless hours sailing that lake and found a love for the water that remains today. But there was so much more to Mondamin... the 5-day hikes in the national forest, where you learned to fend for yourself and have the courage to press on when you questioned if you should stop.... Or the rock climbing and repelling trips off some of the most beautiful mountains in the country... or the whitewater canoe trips on class 3-5 rapids... Or the archery and rifle range, where you could hone your skills.... But the evenings around the fire pit stand out, where achievement awards were granted to campers in the form of awards, painted on a canoe paddle, which every camper knew and respected. I look back as an older man today, and am appreciative of my opportunity to experience Mondamin, and glad to see it still able to leave a mark on the young men who attend.

I went to the camp during the summer of 1973, I was 14. I believe it was for 6 or 8 weeks. I carved…read moremy initials into the rafters above my bunk. If I am again in the area, I am going to ask to try and find them. I would highly recommend all parents to send their young boys, especially at 12 or older, to this experience.

Both of my children attend Blue Star in the summer, but the conversations about camp continue ALL…read moreYEAR LONG. It is a special time and space that the kids look forward to the entire year and start counting down the days as soon as a season ends! The camp provides a nurturing environment, creativity, innovation, exciting activities, and a safe space for children and teens to grow socially. Traditional Jewish values are explored and encouraged, kindness and attentiveness is apparent throughout. I feel blessed that my children have the opportunity to experience camp life at such an incredible place. Furthermore, Hendersonville is gorgeous!! The camp is very well maintained and staff is wonderful. There are serveral options which provide much flexibility for families: first session, second session, full season, or a 1-2 week program for very young campers. My only regret is that I did not attend camp there myself:(, but my children are third generation campers from my husband's side of the family!!

Our child went to Blue Star and was physically assaulted and bullied by another camper; the camp…read moreinvestigated, acknowledged that the event did happen owing to a lack of supervision, and will be allowing the other camper to return with no concern for other campers' safety going forward. Their policies around safety and bullying are not enforced, and our child will not be returning. When asking for a refund for the year he was bullied and beaten up, we were told we got what we paid for. What a horrible experience, and beware to any parent considering Blue Star, your campers safety as you can see from other Google reviews around a lack of supervision is far from assured.