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.

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!

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

From the owner: Camp Ton-A- Wandahread more

With decades of experience between them, Erin and Garrett Graham are welcome new directors/owners…read moreof Camp Glen Arden in Tuxedo, North Carolina. My daughter Kate - a former camper of the Graham's - speaks very highly of them. Seeking out a summer camp for your daughter in western North Carolina? Give Erin, Garrett and the entire crew at Camp Glen Arden an opportunity to please. You will not be disappointed. William E. Lewis Jr. Vero Beach, Florida.

Camp Glen Arden is the best! I loved being a camper at CGA. Now my daughters love it! Garrett…read moreand Erin Graham are amazing directors. Awesome food, awesome counselors, awesome life long friendships formed, awesome activities. Glen Arden is the greatest place ever to spend your summers. Thanks Garrett and Erin for such a special place for girls!

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.

My daughter aged 14 just came back from a 19 days California trip with AT and truly loved her…read moreexperience which was physically challenging (and she is a very outdoor kid used to camping and hiking) and socially fulfilling. The instructors were very competent she says and the kids grew into a respectful and fun community. She learned great outdoor skills, while savoring the beauties of the landscape surrounding her in many fun well organized activities. She came back stronger in all aspects. We registered her very last minute and all went smoothly. We had great communication with the instructors while the trip was taking place, photos and some detailed description of some days. They insisted a lot about the kids being disconnected during the trip which for me was a little excessive as our daughter is not that connected anyway. Our daughter is already planning her next summer:) with AT and I am very proud that she really likes to push herself well outside of her confort zone. AT is for me a great chance and from now on, I will consider it for all my kids.!

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.

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 daughter did the Hawaii trip this summer and it was low energy and waste of money and time. They…read moreadvertised zip lining as the one high energy activity but they canceled it and after complaining they replaced it with a 30 min walk to a waterfall in the rain. This was just a very disappointing trip. Most of the hikes got canceled as well and the ones that didn't were just disappointing. The hikes were more like very slow strolls and had no pretty view. Some of the kids could not even accomplish a that 15 min walk. There were no true Hawaiian experiences. No luau there was no hikes really, zipline, cooking class or anything to do with Hawaiian culture. There service was pulling mud out of a pond and many kids got rashes up their legs and had stinging pain for days. Also the councilors were very overly strict for 15 year old kids. They made them wear rashguards 24/7 and watershoes in the ocean and on the sandy beach. Only 7 kids ended signing up; no boys. The kids that ended up signing up had a very huge maturity gap due to them mixing three different age groups all in one group. I would highly discourage you for signing up your kids for this trip if they are active.

A very cool camp for youth. It has everything. The kids really like launching from the blob into…read morethe little lake they have. Very impressive camp site!