Registration is now OPEN for AICL's Summer Enrichment Camp 2024 season. Click the link below to register now, and scroll down for more details and class descriptions.
Who:
AICL is designed for rising 3rd to 12th graders.
Campers can attend as a residential or a day camper.
What:
An academic summer camp with classes designed to both introduce the novice and challenge the advanced learner. The classes are small, and our innovative teachers create an environment in which learning is fun and curiosity is rewarded. We offer a wide variety of courses, hoping to encourage our campers to choose subjects that may be outside of their comfort zone. Campers have the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities in the afternoon, then after dinner go to clubs and evening activities, which can range from campus-wide alien hunts to the disco.
When:
Week 1: July 7 - July 13
Week 2: July 14 - 20
Where:
Mars Hill University, North of Asheville, NC.
For more information, check out Mars Hill’s website!
Tuition:
$579/week for day campers
$899/week for overnight campers
$482.50/week for Junior Counselors
Schedule:
For each week-long session, campers choose four classes (9:00, 10:30, 1:00 & 2:30)
7:45-9:00 ~ Breakfast & Morning Meeting
9:00-10:30 ~ 1st Period
10:30-12:00 ~ 2nd Period
12:00-1:00 ~ Lunch
1:00-2:30 ~ 3rd Period
2:30-4:00 ~ 4th Period
4:00-5:15 ~ Afternoon Activities
5:30-6:15 ~ Dinner
6:15-7:30 ~ Clubs
7:30-9:00 ~ Evening Activities
9:00-10:00 ~ Dorm Time
10:00 ~ Lights Out
Scholarships:
A note on scholarships from our Executive Director:
Dear AICL Families,
AICL is currently unable to provide scholarships for the 2024 camp season but is continuing to work towards securing additional funding that will enable us to do so. We deeply appreciate the commitment of all families to AICL and want to assure you that we are working diligently to build an infrastructure that supports scholarship provision at a similar level to previous years. Any updates or changes will be communicated via our website and email. If you would like to receive personal notifications regarding scholarship availability, please reach out to us at operationsmanager@appalachianinstitute.org.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Jenn Conner
More Info:
New to our program? Learn more by reviewing our camp policies or our Frequently Asked Questions. Feel free to reach out to us with specific questions at operationsmanager@appalachianinstitute.org or 828-782-3299.
Classes Summer 2024
Classes are first come, first serve. When you register your camper, you will be asked to select a first, second, and third choice class. We do our best to get every camper into their top choices, but the earlier you register, the more likely we will be able to accommodate your selections.
Week 1
July 7 - 13, 2024
Period 1
Making a Better Me
Lamont Holley
This class will combine mindfulness, relaxation, and self reflection techniques to introduce the class participants to self-esteem and awareness practices that can be used to calm their nerves and minds, while being present in the moment.
Movement Storytelling
Graham Marema
A dance, stretching, and movement class, where students will collaborate to choreograph and tell a story through group movement.
Synthesizers
Homer Jenkins
Synthesizers are instruments that harness the power of electricity and turn it into sound and music. Students will learn about and explore the different parts of a synthesizer and how they work together to create what we hear. This class will involve more talking about and gaining an understanding of synthesizers than playing with them, but we will play with the synths some every day.
Post-Apocalyptic Acoustic Campfire
Phil Blank
Guitar players, songwriters, uke maestros, bassoon aficionados! All musicians, poets and storytellers are invited to construct a fun happening around an (imaginary) campfire. Will we write songs? Learn to play the hits? Construct a soundtrack? It's up to you!
Pickleball
Matthew Coppola
Join in on America's fastest growing sport! Lace up your sneakers and knock the ol' wiffleball around.
Beats, Beats, Beats!
Brandon Bush
Rhythm is a fundamental building block of all music. We will learn methods to count out, document and recreate rhythms in popular music. No musical experience necessary.
Dinosaurs
Nathan Dagenais
You’re never too old to be fascinated with Dinos! Learn the basics of paleontology and familiarize yourself with the fieldbook of local dinosaurs.
Embrace Fearlessly Your Glorious Nervous System
Danbee "Tauntaun" Kim
We are living through a time of great change. Thanks to our nervous systems, we are marvelously well-adapted to thrive in rapidly and unpredictably changing situations. Come draw, dance, and sing an understanding of what we know so far about nervous systems – what they do, how they are shaped, and who we can become when we use our nervous systems intentionally.
Reading the Short Story
Douglas Bradley
“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.”-Neil Gaiman. We will read and discuss short stories.
Backyard Apothecary
Rachael Burton
We will explore the area for local edible herbs, trees, and other plants for wildcrafting. Learn about the chemistry of plant medicine. Get your hands dirty and then clean, exploring essential oils, soaps, and herbal first aid goodies.
Period 2
Racism in America
Lamont Holley
Race has been an issue in America since its inception. We will discuss the history of racism in America and its lingering effects in our world today. We’ll then take that information and use it to determine how we each can be positive change agents.
Korean Folk Art
Jinwon Kim
Minhwa is the art of unknown artists used in the royal courts. Emulate these artists as you study and recreate Korean paintings using Hanji paper and watercolor techniques, and work on a project on paper fans, called Danseon. Skilled artists and beginners are welcome!
Sound and How it Works
Homer Jenkins
This multidisciplinary survey will present the phenomenon of sound from a variety of perspectives. Through discussions centered around Physics, History, Biology, Music and Arts, Philosophy, and other subjects, students will gain a deeper understanding of the sensory experience of hearing.
Poetry
David Dykes
Poetry takes ordinary language to extraordinary places. It zings and sings and stings, opens the unconscious mind, and allows us to express the inexpressible. We’ll look at poems from ancient times to contemporary poets, then write our own poems to share or simply to tie up in string and store in our chiffoniers.
Printmaking
Phil Blank
We'll investigate the techniques and history of printmaking, specifically the linocut. In particular, we'll be investigating the "cheap art" movement, a human scaled alternative that tries to make art accessible and non-corporate.
Tarot for Terrestrials
Brandon Bush
An introduction to the mysteries of the Tarot deck. Learn about the history, how to interpret the cards, and even design your own tarot deck.
Mythology
Nathan Dagenais
Before Brad Pitt was Achilles, before Maggie Smith played Thetis, and before Disney discovered Hercules, these heroes and gods were part of the stories that defined Western Culture. Look back into the original myths to see what the big deal is and why we still tell these tales today.
Mythbusters
David Kyser & Alexa Nemeth
Got the detective itch? Use science, engineering, and design thinking to construct experiments and find out if urban legends and rural myths are true.
Jugger
Danbee "Tauntaun" Kim
It is a post-apocalyptic future, where the wars of the 20th century have left the world barren and the past forgotten. Do you wish to escape the miserable existence in the dogtowns on the planet's surface? Do you long to taste the luxurious life in one of the Nine Cities, buried deep underground? Become a jugger and fight your way to glory! Please note that this class is very physically active and takes place outdoors. Students must wear closed-toed shoes while participating in this class and are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle and sunscreen.
Counselor-in-Training (2-week course for rising juniors)
Tara Watson
Want to run camp someday? Put leadership training on your college application? This class provides a behind-the-scenes look at AICL. Learn counselor-in-training skills from comforting a homesick camper to planning evening activities. This is your chance to help make camp happen. CIT is required for application to AICL’s Junior Counselor program. It is a two-week course for rising juniors.
Who Owns the Ice House?
Rachael Burton
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? YouTube channel?
Come learn about Uncle Cleve and His Ice House and his journey as an unlikely entrepreneur. We will explore your creativity for launching your idea at AICL or beyond using mindset, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Period 3
Come on Down!
Lamont Holley
Ever want to be a contestant on a game show? Ever want to create a game show that would take the world by storm?! In this class we will play made up trivia and games while creating our own game show that could be played for years to come! Are you up for a challenge? Do you think you could win made up games of skill, trivia, and fun? Come on down and find out!
Korean and Chinese Calligraphy
Jinwon Kim
Learn the Korean alphabet and pronunciation. Gain basic knowledge of Chinese and Korean calligraphy through practice. Learn about family members and your names in Korean, and use Korean-made ink and brushes to write on Hanji (traditional Korean paper) for Calligraphy.
Hillbilly
Graham Marema
What do you picture when you hear the word “hillbilly” ? Where do you think that picture comes from? In this class, we’ll explore the history, stereotypes, and complexities of this region many of us call home, and see how identities of “rural,” “Southern,” “Appalachian,” and others form a tapestry of experiences in the mountains that surround AICL.
Worldbuilding for Games
David Dykes
Create campaign settings for fantasy role playing games, science fiction and horrors games, societies and scenarios for video games, concepts for board games and deck building games. We will work from the theoretical to the practical and discuss such subjects as character creation and game balance.
Watercolor and Journaling
Phil Blank
Have a sketchbook? Bring it and we'll dive into all the different techniques you can use to create visually powerful images that resonate and turn everyday experiences into events.
Ozobot Storybook Theater
Matthew Coppola
Students will learn how to program with Ozobots, then write and perform a short play using multiple robot actors. Then we'll make a movie.
Ambient Music Lab
Brandon Bush
Welcome to the chill zone. We will learn all about the universe of ambient music. How do we make it? How do we enjoy it? We will learn to enjoy and create our own ambient music with experiments in field recording, synthesis, and musique concrète.
Debate
Nathan Dagenais
Take on the major issues of the day and learn to create and defend a viable position using evidence.
Puppetry
David Kyser & Alexa Nemeth
Guerrilla Filmmaking
Dylan Bradley
Scout locations, use what you have, and above all improvise in the pursuit of making a film.
Period 4
Doodling
Jinwon Kim
Want to draw but don’t know where to start? This introduction to basic doodling will have you drawing with a group art project in no time.
Let's Take it Apart
Homer Jenkins
Students in this hands-on class disassemble various manufactured items, including digital clocks, toasters, or remote controls, all of which will be safely un-connected to any power source. Under the supervision of an experienced electronics technician, they will use simple hand tools like screwdrivers to take things apart in a (mostly) non-destructive manner. We will discuss the manufacturing processes used to create the parts and some of the design considerations for those processes. If time allows, we will put the things back together.
Etymology
David Dykes
How is a tulip like a turban? How is a union like an onion? Become a word detective, using dictionaries, online research, and knowledge of foreign and ancient language roots to discover the origins and surprising relatives of modern words.
Barbenheimer
Matthew Coppola
Show you are Kenough by designing your own atomic bomb, taking down the patriarchy, and vengefully denying a cabinet appointment to the bureaucrat who revoked your security clearance. Explore the parallel existential crises experienced by the main characters of both movies.
Ropework & Knots
Danbee "Tauntaun" Kim
Have you heard of the water knot, or a monkey-fist knot? A bowline or a clove hitch? From decorative knots to essential sailing knots, ropework is both practical and beautiful. Each knot tells a story, holds hope for the future, or is just plain useful. We'll learn a range of knots for every occasion, in addition to learning the basics of rope function and care.
French New Wave
Dylan Bradley
Go back to the late 1950s, France, and explore the films that broke from the formulaic production and put the directors’ aesthetics, thematic obsessions, and style centerstage.
Sustainable Transportation
Rachael Burton
Care about the environment but still have to get from point A to point B? Learn about different ways we can make better transportation for the environment and for people. Also learn how to take care of your own car because you’ll still need one for a while.
Week 2
July 14 - 20, 2024
Period 1
Making a Better Me
Lamont Holley
This class will combine mindfulness, relaxation, and self reflection techniques to introduce the class participants to self-esteem and awareness practices that can be used to calm their nerves and minds, while being present in the moment.
AICL Literary Journal
Graham Marema
Writers of flash fiction, poetry, creative personal essays, and advice columns – come together to write and produce AICL’s annual literary journal.
Synthesizers
Homer Jenkins
Synthesizers are instruments that harness the power of electricity and turn it into sound and music. Students will learn about and explore the different parts of a synthesizer and how they work together to create what we hear. This class will involve more talking about and gaining an understanding of synthesizers than playing with them, but we will play with the synths some every day.
Printmaking
Phil Blank
We'll investigate the techniques and history of printmaking, specifically the linocut. In particular, we'll be investigating the "cheap art" movement, a human scaled alternative that tries to make art accessible and non-corporate.
Dinosaurs
Nathan Dagenais
You’re never too old to be fascinated with Dinos! Learn the basics of paleontology and familiarize yourself with the fieldbook of local dinosaurs.
Learning How to Learn
Danbee "Tauntaun" Kim
Great teachers are more than sources of information – they are those who know how to learn, and can put that knowledge towards lifting up others. They create warm, inviting learning spaces where all can courageously and playfully explore their curiosities while welcoming and embracing failure. If this sounds like something you’d like to experience, there’s good news – you can learn how to be a great teacher to yourself! Join us to learn principles and strategies for creating excellent, empowering learning experiences, for yourself and others.
Reading the Short Story
Dylan Bradley
“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams. They are journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.”-Neil Gaiman. We will read and discuss short stories.
Period 2
Racism in America
Lamont Holley
Race has been an issue in America since its inception. We will discuss the history of racism in America and its lingering effects in our world today. We’ll then take that information and use it to determine how we each can be positive change agents.
Still-Life Drawing
Jinwon Kim
In this class, students will learn how to draw still-life objects. Students can choose any object of their choice. Learn sketching and how to observe the light and colors. Use pastels to mix beautiful colors.
Sound and How it Works
Homer Jenkins
This multidisciplinary survey will present the phenomenon of sound from a variety of perspectives. Through discussions centered around Physics, History, Biology, Music and Arts, Philosophy, and other subjects, students will gain a deeper understanding of the sensory experience of hearing.
'Splodin' Conspiracies
David Dykes
Conspiracies can be the justification for wars, a quirky way for people to feel special, or even a social statement about gullibility. We’ll be looking at some of the world’s most famous conspiracy theories from today and from history and weighing their merits, from the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE to “Birds Aren’t real.”
Mythbusters
David Kyser & Alexa Nemeth
Got the detective itch? Use science, engineering, and design thinking to construct experiments and find out if urban legends and rural myths are true.
Jugger
Danbee "Tauntaun" Kim
It is a post-apocalyptic future, where the wars of the 20th century have left the world barren and the past forgotten. Do you wish to escape the miserable existence in the dogtowns on the planet's surface? Do you long to taste the luxurious life in one of the Nine Cities, buried deep underground? Become a jugger and fight your way to glory! Please note that this class is very physically active and takes place outdoors. Students must wear closed-toed shoes while participating in this class and are strongly encouraged to bring a water bottle and sunscreen.
Counselor-in-Training (2-week course for rising juniors)
Tara Watson
Want to run camp someday? Put leadership training on your college application? This class provides a behind-the-scenes look at AICL. Learn counselor-in-training skills from comforting a homesick camper to planning evening activities. This is your chance to help make camp happen. CIT is required for application to AICL’s Junior Counselor program. It is a two-week course for rising juniors.
Guerrilla Filmmaking
Dylan Bradley
Scout locations, use what you have, and above all improvise in the pursuit of making a film.
Period 3
Come on Down!
Lamont Holley
Ever want to be a contestant on a game show? Ever want to create a game show that would take the world by storm?! In this class we will play made up trivia and games while creating our own game show that could be played for years to come! Are you up for a challenge? Do you think you could win made up games of skill, trivia, and fun? Come on down and find out!
Korean Folk Art
Jinwon Kim
Minhwa is the art of unknown artists used in the royal courts. Emulate these artists as you study and recreate Korean paintings using Hanji paper and watercolor techniques, and work on a project on paper fans, called Danseon. Skilled artists and beginners are welcome!
Activism 101
Graham Marema
Take the first steps toward creating positive change in your school, community, or right here at camp by building out your activist toolkit and finding out what it means to make your voice heard for what you believe in.
One Good Short Story
Dylan Bradley
One week, one story, from conception to finished story. Bring something you’re working on or work through from inspiration to masterpiece in five days.
Post-Apocalyptic Acoustic Campfire
Phil Blank
Guitar players, songwriters, uke maestros, bassoon aficionados! All musicians, poets and storytellers are invited to construct a fun happening around an (imaginary) campfire. Will we write songs? Learn to play the hits? Construct a soundtrack? It's up to you!
Mythology
Nathan Dagenais
Puppetry
David Kyser & Alexa Nemeth
Create your puppet! Write your puppet’s story! Perform your own puppet show! Put it all on film!
French New Wave
Dylan Bradley
Go back to the late 1950s, France, and explore the films that broke from the formulaic production and put the directors’ aesthetics, thematic obsessions, and style centerstage.
Period 4
Korean and Chinese Calligraphy
Jinwon Kim
Learn the Korean alphabet and pronunciation. Gain basic knowledge of Chinese and Korean calligraphy through practice. Learn about family members and your names in Korean, and use Korean-made ink and brushes to write on Hanji (traditional Korean paper) for Calligraphy.
Voice
Graham Marema
Whether you want to win American Idol or just be the best shower singer in your house, this class is for you. Learn to use your voice and sing it out.
Let's Take it Apart
Homer Jenkins
Students in this hands-on class disassemble various manufactured items, including digital clocks, toasters, or remote controls, all of which will be safely un-connected to any power source. Under the supervision of an experienced electronics technician, they will use simple hand tools like screwdrivers to take things apart in a (mostly) non-destructive manner. We will discuss the manufacturing processes used to create the parts and some of the design considerations for those processes. If time allows, we will put the things back together.
Introduction to Classical Music
David Dykes
We hear classical music all around us every day, from cartoons to commercials, from ringtones to video games. This introduction will familiarize you with some of the most famous pieces, with a bit of the history and theory of classical music. If you always wanted to know a symphony from a bagatelle, an oboe from a clarinet, a Mozart concerto from Wagner’s Ring Cycle, but you don’t want a whole course in music, this intro will give you the basics.
Dada & Surrealist Poetry
Phil Blank
Doing things with words. Burying poems, writing songs with cut-ups, having fun with nonsense and pushing boundaries of meaning. We'll investigate the history of dada and surrealism, including its serious side, as well as have a ton of fun by playing with words, poems, and images.
Debate
Nathan Dagenais
Take on the major issues of the day and learn to create and defend a viable position using evidence.
Embrace Fearlessly Your Glorious Nervous System
Danbee "Tauntaun" Kim
We are living through a time of great change. Thanks to our nervous systems, we are marvelously well-adapted to thrive in rapidly and unpredictably changing situations. Come draw, dance, and sing an understanding of what we know so far about nervous systems – what they do, how they are shaped, and who we can become when we use our nervous systems intentionally.
