The Small Group:
"The Heart of the Don Lee Experience!"
Join us for Summer Camp! Camp Don Lee's summer program is built around a group model that includes eight girls and eight boys of approximately the same age led by two trained and experienced counselors. The group is also supported by two program staff members from the waterfront, pool, craft, nature or operations staff.
A Typical Day at Camp:
Each day begins with Morning Watch and ends with group vespers. The group has the opportunity to create its own schedule each day choosing from adventure sailing, stimulating faith formation activities, swimming 'hole' fun, creek canoeing, sea kayaking, creative expressions in crafts, drama, marine science, and challenge (a team building period where groups visit the low ropes challenge course). CLICK HERE to see a typical daily schedule.
And the Fun Goes On:
The experience does not end there. Campers have opportunities to sail on over-lunch picnics to Shark's Tooth Point, stargaze on our pier, feed seagulls off the Minnesott Beach Ferry, spend a night camping at an outpost, cook over a campfire, ride the hay wagon, crab off the pier, write caper cheers, sing in the Dining Hall, go on a early morning Polar swim, canoe to the beaver dam, rig up the Flying Scots for an after dinner sail, challenge other groups to a game of volleyball or soccer, and so much more! The Camp Don Lee experience is an exciting, intense time of fun and Christian fellowship that your camper will remember for years to come.
Every Camper Learns to Sail:
Camp Don Lee is known nationally for its strong, adventure-filled sailing programs. Campers of all ages can learn the basics of sailing on one of our 13' Sunfish. Campers will also have the chance to experience sailing on the larger 19' Flying Scots and 16' Hobie 16 Catamarans. Sailing in the three miles wide Neuse River is available every day for every camper. Older extended stay groups go on sailing trips to points along the river and coast, such as Croatan National Forest, our outpost near Oriental, South River, Vandemere, historic New Bern , Shackleford Banks, Pamlico Sound, and Cape Lookout National Seashore. These two- and three-week programs include camping in tents and preparing meals over a fire on these two- to five-day journeys.
Logistics:
Campers are housed in cabins with bunk beds. All cabins have a screened porch area. All meals are served family style in our Dining Hall or are cooked over a campfire. Summer camp is a time for fun, adventure, friends and growing closer to God.
The mailing address is:
Camp Don Lee
315 Camp Don Lee Road
Arapahoe, NC 28510
For summer camp information, please contact the Leadership Team at:
(252) 249-1106 ext 27, or info@donleecenter.org
Summer Camp Check-in:
Check-in: Sundays is 2:30pm - 4:00pm. You will be assigned a designated check-in time that will be emailed to you several days prior to your campers session.
In order to get camp ready for the next group of campers and to make sure pick-up is conducted in a safe and orderly manner, the new gate at Camp Don Lee will be closed Friday evening until 7:00pm. At that time, parents will be welcomed into camp with staff there to greet and direct you to the location of your camper's group for pick-up. Please plan to pick up your camper between 7:00pm and 8:30pm. All campers must be picked up by 8:45pm. This information will be shared on Thursdays before pick-up via phone call and email. If you miss it, Staff will direct you. When you arrive at the camper's pick-up location, you will find your camper, their luggage and their counselors. Parents will sign out campers, receive any leftover medications, crafts and luggage. If there are questions for the nurse or physician, they will be at checkout.
Testimonials:
“God sent me to camp to be surrounded by people of faith. Messages from pastors seemed to speak directly to my situation. Being at camp has helped reaffirm my belief that there is a God.”
- Camper
It's All About the Experience:
Experience the presence of God through wind and water, through story and song, and through friendships that last a lifetime. Camp Don Lee has offered Christian camping experiences for children and youth for seven decades. Nestled on the north shore of the Neuse River near New Bern, North Carolina, it is an ideal setting for campers to learn how to sail, to explore God's creation, and to grow in their faith.
