Summer Camp

AAC'S Summer Camp is held in the mountains of North Carolina (Bryson City) for 5 days during the 2nd week in July - lodging is at the beautiful Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Campers range in age from 8-17 and the camper to counselor ratio is 2:1. Campers and volunteers have come from the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast area. Summer Camp can support up to 38 campers. Each year over 50% of the participants return to camp.

Financial support for the camp is provided through two sources: fundraising - contributions of time/materials from volunteer leadership, counselors, and supporters.  Our camp also relies heavily on donations from individuals and businesses. 

What does a week of AAC Summer Camp typically look like?

It is held at Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Bryson City, NC (where we've held camp for 25 years now).

Wednesday - Campers arrive and the activities begin with white water rafting down the Nantahala River. All rapids are very minimal and each raft has an experienced rafting guide directing us.

Tuesday - Go to Waynesville Recreation Center, where we swim, scuba-dive, play disc golf, ride adaptive bikes, play basketball, do yoga, and we end the day with a dodgeball game - campers vs counselors.

Friday - Stay at NOC and rotate between zip-lining, 20 foot/40 foot ropes courses, scavenger hunts, cooking demonstrations, etc.

Saturday - Go to Lake Fontana for the day where campers enjoy adaptive skiing, tubing, wake-boarding, paddle boards, etc. and we finish our last full day with a cookout/talent show.

Sunday - After a few activities, we say our goodbyes.

By the time the week is over, our AAC family will have grown a little larger.