Rafting on the Nantahala River!!!

Our last program of the 2009 camping season just left on Friday, Oct 23^rd.  Camp High Rocks hosted ten different middle and upper school programs during its spring and fall LEAP seasons this year.  We host some of the best private and charter schools from throughout the southeast!  School programs this year included:

• Ravenscroft School, Raleigh, NC, 8^th Grade
• KIPP WAYS Academy, Atlanta, GA, 6^th Grade
• KIPP Believe, New Orleans, LA, 6^th Grade
• Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA, 9^th Grade
• Trinity Prep, Winterpark, FL, 9^th Grade
• Durham Academy, Durham, NC, 10^th Grade
• The Summit School, Winston-Salem, NC, 9^th Grade
• St. Andrews School, Savannah, GA, 12^th Grade
• The O’Neal School, Southern Pines, NC, 7^th Grade
• Ashley Academy, Johnson City, TN, Grades 5-8
• Tampa Prep, Tampa, FL, 6^th Grade

Each school participates in its own custom designed program that focuses on particular goals and outcomes based on our own philosophy and the needs of the school.  Activities include backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, high and low adventure course, stream ecology, and a number of other fun events.  We use our 110-acre facility along with nearby Pisgah National Forest, and beautiful Dupont State Forest.

 The 2009 season was an amazing group of programs and an incredible staff of caring adults!  We look forward to next spring when we will start it all over again!  For more information about the High Rocks LEAP program, visit http://leap.highrocks.com.

Don Gentle

don@highrocks.com

The American Camp Association® (ACA) announced today that CAMP HIGH ROCKS has received ACA-Accredited®Camp status for 2010. On July 29, two ACA standards visitors reviewed the Camp High Rocks program by interviewing directors, program staff, nurses, kitchen managers, and campers as well as  looking over nearly 300 protocols and supporting written documentation.

“ACA Accreditation means that Camp High Rocks submitted to a thorough (up to 300 standards) review of its operation by the American Camp Association (ACA) — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management — and complied with the highest standards in the industry,” said Cindy Moore, National Standards Commission.

“Parents expect their children to attend accredited schools.  They also deserve a camp experience that is reviewed and accredited by an expert, independent organization,” Moore said.

“CAMP HIGH ROCKS and ACA form a partnership that promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment committed to safety,” said Don Gentle, Associate Director, “ACA accreditation demonstrates our commitment to quality camp programming.”

Camp High Rocks is currently the only camp in the nation that is Accreditated by the American Camp Association and the Association for Experiential Education (AEE). AEE focuses more on high adventure activities like rocks climbing, whitewater canoeing, mountain biking, and backpacking.  AEE accredits adventure programs like NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and Project Adventure, as well as other outdoor university programs and and schools.  Camp High Rocks was the very first program to be accredited by AEE back in 1994.  We enjoy how the two accreditations compliment each other and help keep our program not only on top of industry standards but focused on some of the best practices available.