I attended a 3 day camp with the Franklin School of Innovation. While there kids openly told staff members in group they had pills in their cabin and discussed buying pill crushers on Wish. Our hike guide laughed as students continued to call tree sap, “tree cum” and wipe it on other students. Students openly bullied and cursed at special needs students. Although I made request to have students be removed from activities due to safety concerns, I was told there was not enough supervision. Elliott gave students a lighter, which was taken by the students and never located. The comment of having a 3 to 1 ratio is totally untrue!
I can't say enough positive things about GRP. I went as an expeditioner, and it truly changed my life. It is far more than a "summer camp." It's more like a utopia. I not only learned such things as how to start a fire by friction or how to hang a bear bag, but I also learned invaluable lessons like how to love myself and stand up for my beliefs. Green River gave me the confidence in myself and the love that I need to succeed in life. I was physically and mentally challenged, learning and growing the whole two weeks alongside 11 amazing peers whom I continue to maintain friendships with. The staff absolutely could not have been better. Their overwhelming knowledge and willingness to share it with us was incredible, and their true passion for doing what they're doing drove them to do everything possible to make our experiences worthwhile. They encouraged us to speak out and take on leaderships roles, and they took the appropriate amount of authority, while still allowing us to contribute. When my parents came to pick me up after two weeks, I started sobbing. I couldn't have asked for more.
Both of our daughters loved Green River Preserve! It was a stretching, exciting, enriching experience. The staff, counselors, and activities were all wonderful.
My daughter will be attending Green River Preserve for her 5th season this summer. It is her favorite place in the world. She loves everything about it. It has been a big part of forming her interests and values, from her love of nature to her respect of others. I myself have enjoyed attending family camp, which allowed me to understand her experience at camp. The daily mentor hikes are wonderful, and the whole environment is one of peacefulness and fun. The campers learn to respect the environment and to be conscious of their environmental choices, from learning to not put more food on their plate than they will eat to thinking about how much toilet paper they really need to use. They learn to love the natural world and to care about protecting it.
I attended Green River as both a camper and an expeditioner. My experiences there were most definitely life-changing and helped mold who I am as a person today. Attending GRP gave me an enormous appreciation for the environment and spending time outdoors.
I attended the Outer Banks expeditions, which had a great influence on my interests, considering I am currently a Marine Science and Biology major at the University of Miami. Without Green River, I wouldn't have found my true calling.
This is a wonderful and unique camp with a focus on nurturing the individual spirit and promoting a love and deep respect for nature. My shy, bookish then 9-year old had her first sleep away camp experience at Green River, and it was transformative. She returned the following summer for a longer session, will be returning again for an even longer session, and we are sending another child for her first experience this summer as well. Campers are encouraged to explore nature, develop their interests, have fun, and learn about the environment from creative, nurturing, and knowledgeable counselors and mentors. The level of freedom to be in and learn from the outdoors is unsurpassed during in their lives throughout the rest of the year.
The Green River Preserve (GRP) is practically indescribable. You will learn lessons to last you a life time and some of the most amazing people. GRP is a safe place where everyone is accepted, individuality is encouraged and people are free to express their opinions. Also, this is for all ages. If you're 8 or 50 you'll still have the experience of a life time. There is never a dull moment at GRP.
Green River Preserve is a unique co-ed summer camp for children. Four of our children have attend GRP as campers; three as expeditioners ; and all six of them have served on the staff at different times. All felt nurtured and challenged; more importantly all of our children felt acceptance and enthusiasm from people around them. The staff encouraged them. We watched as some of our children emerged from their shells and became the young adults they are today.
Green River Preserve prepares young people for the future. It provides children with a safe environment with excellent standards. The staff are outstanding role models and are carefully selected for their academics and their extra curricular achievements. Their camper to staff ratio is three to one. I knew my children would get plenty of attention at GRP with this type of ratio.
Green River is one of the few camps with a farm to table program. The majority of the produce served the children is grown organically on their farm. It was very refreshing for me as a parent to know that GRP practiced sustainable ethics and that the foods prepared for my children were fresh and without preservatives.
Green River Preserve gave my children lifetime leisure skills. They all love to hike today because of the daily morning field study hikes. Each day at GRP, campers experience a three hour morning hike with a professional naturalist on the 3400 acre Preserve. They explore caves, snorkel in the river, learn about edible plants, polar bear in waterfalls and all without leaving the Preserve to travel to another destination. They love the outdoors and they love to hike. They all have a greater appreciation for plants, trees and wildlife. Two of our children were natural resource majors in college and are now environmental scientists and foresters.
It is by far one of the best kept secrets in the world of summer camping and it should not be. Green River is teaching our young people to be better stewards of the land and preparing future leaders for our communities. This is something we should all want for our children today.
The Green River Preserve is an amazing place for children to grow and learn while experiencing the great outdoors. It is an amazing place to meet new people and see the true beauty of the mountains. They teach children to be themselves. It is truly an amazing place
Green River Preserve is an amazing summer camp focused on teaching young people the value of an integrated, experiential life. They combine good environmental stewardship with active learning skiils, and through it all they have fun.
My son has been for many years and each time he comes home he says, "I'm my best me at GRP." I think he says this because he gets to his truest core values about living peacefully on this planet. There are no cliques or clubs -- the kids learn to respect and honor each person, no matter how different than themselves. And they learn this from the modeling offered by the camp's leaders, Missy and Sandy Schenck.
I never had the opportunity to go to camp, but GRP is the kind of place I love sending my son and knowing that it is shaping him into a wonderful young man.
Green River Preserve is a summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina. Summer camp is the best antidote for the loss of summer learning. It promotes educational enrichment that enhances the development of our children. A recent study by the American Camping Association confirms that summer camp is the single most important factor in youth development next to parenting.
Green River Preserve allows me to be my best me. My experiences at GRP allows me to connect to the natural world, and discover my full potential. Green River has given me confidence. It has inspired me to to preserve and protect the green spaces that are left in our world. As well as share with children how important and wonderful the outdoors are.
Our Son Has had such a wonderful time at GRP. the Staff truly cares and helps them overcome unease and worries of being away from home and making them comfortable. The program diversity at GRP is top notch . He has taken everything from Yoga to BB skeet . He has learned cooking skills for backpacking and hiking . He has learned everyday skills as well . Every year we drop off our child and when we go to get him he always has grown as a human being .We can not say enough about how Special GRP is to us and our family . The camp has shown our child how to care for the land from scraps of food for compost , to growing food and recycling . Also how to treat the outdoors with respect .