TOP SUMMER CAMPS IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS NEAR ASHEVILLE, NC

The Toe River Art Camp For Grown-ups Only (see list below for top camps for the younger generations)- May 27-30 in Burnsville, NC
What better way to start the summer camping season than to send Mom, Dad or other adults to camp! "By the time participants leave the camp, which takes place May 27-30, they will have created projects in the following mediums: stained glass, pottery, mixed media sculpture and forged metal.

Instructors for the camp are: Claudia Dunaway (pottery), John D. Richards (mixed media sculpture), Deana Blanchard (stained glass) and Chuck Young (forged metal). All are noted artisans in their field and members of the Toe River Arts Council, as well as the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Campers will be treated to a welcoming cocktail party and light dinner Friday evening, and will work on two projects Saturday and two Sunday. Monday morning provides time to finish up projects before a "show and tell" to close the camp. In between art projects, campers are encouraged to take advantage of the natural wonderland that is Burnsville and Yancey County."

Then it is time for the younger generation to head off into this summer rite of passage. Drop the children off at camp, then come spend 3 days/2 nights with us in May or June, 2011, compliments of the owners, at THE COVE AT CELO MOUNTAIN outside of Asheville. With 3 miles of hiking trails, trout ponds, waterfalls, 4 parks with cooking areas, an area set aside for residents to camp out with children or grandchildren - within this sanctuary setting - and rivers to raft, kayak, fly and float fish and mountains to hike, horses to ride, golf, and more - just outside this premier gated community - you will find that the best of camp experiences can become a part of the rest of your life. Choose a beautifully appointed Cabin at Celo or an estate lot with creek or long or short-range mountain views where you can build your own mountain getaway for the summer - for all seasons of the year and of your life. Call 866-378-4769 for your Discovery Package Getaway.

The following are a few of our top area camps steeped in tradition and recommended by a retired North Carolina high school principal. The ones in SC and NC are within approximately 30 minutes of Asheville. The ones with an asterisk are ones which the Asheville Educator knows personally; however, all the ones listed are considered great camps.

Green River Preserve-NC "For rising 2nd through 9th graders, we offer 1, 2 and 3 week co-ed programs."

Camp Chatuga – SC * "traditional summer camp with Christian values"

Camp voyager – SC "Clemson University has been offering experiential education to the youth of South Carolina since 1934"

Adventure Summer Camp – SC - "Adventure, Wilderness, Backpacking ages 12-17"

Camp Kanuga – NC - Episcopal - "adventure, sports, crafts ages 7-15"

Keystone Camp – NC * "Since 1916, Keystone Camp has encouraged and supported girls to become strong individuals."

Camp Meri-Mac – NC * Camp for girls - "Merri-Mac is a special place, rich in tradition, and dedicated to encouraging growth in the fruits of the Spirit."

Camp Illahee – NC * "For ninety years, Camp Illahee has given girls the opportunity to explore their interests, seek new adventures and forge friendships and memories that will last a lifetime"

Green Cove – NC - 90 years - "Camp Green Cove is a traditional, but unique summer program for girls age 6 to 17."

Camp Ton-A-Wandah – NC * since 1933 - "more than a place - it's a place in your heart."

TANTALIZING TIDBITS - IN THE NEWS

Enjoy the Miracle Worker currently playing at the historic Parkway Playhouse. The 4 wrought-iron chandeliers in the lobby and theater are gifts from local artist, Daniel Boone VI, (a direct descendant of Daniel Boone) who loved this theater. According to Evelyn Hope Bailey, Parkway Playhouse Historian, Boone's work is "internationally known and appears in private homes, public buildings, in museums and in public and private gardens. He was awarded the contract for all of the wrought-iron used in the restoration of Williamsburg, VA, in the early 1930's. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. spent more than $4,000,000 for the 17th century restoration of that city."

En Plein Air, Paint out, will be held in Burnsville on May 21st. Sponsored by the Toe River Arts Council (TRAC), the Blue Ridge Fine Arts Guild (BRAG), and Cove at Celo Mountain estate owners, Susan and Paul Crutchfield, "this popular rite of spring brings tourists from all over the area to capture the spirit of downtown Burnsville in many different mediums of art." This is a juried event with $1000 in cash prizes and certificates being awarded.

"Country Cablevision begins construction this week of a $25.3 million project to bring high-speed internet to 97% of homes and businesses in Yancey and Mitchell counties. The Burnsville-based company partnered with the county’s Broadband Taskforce to pursue federal stimulus funding for the project, with the company providing a 25% match. Country Cablevision founder Ray Vance Miller was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year at an economic summit that provided an update on the broadband project."

Mountain Heritage High School senior and hoops star, John Cannon, picks Georgia over UNC, Northwestern and Old Dominion. Cannon set a NCHSAA record for career blocked shots (606). He averaged 21.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 6.5 blocks a game this past season for the Cougars (21-7) and was named the Western Highlands Conference Player of the Year. Cannon also received all-state honors from The Associated Press and N.C. Basketball Coaches Association.

MHHS cheerleader Allison Tipton, who has been chosen as a finalist in the National Cheerleader of the Year competition. She will travel to Southern Methodist University on May 20th - 22nd, to compete for the title. She is the 2nd cheerleader from MHHS to ever make it this far.

DOT officially opens Mt. Mitchell Scenic Byway - Local officials joined NC Dept. of Transportation representatives on Yancey’s highest peak to open one of the state’s newest scenic byways. The 52-mile stretch of roadway begins at the tallest mountain in Eastern America and winds along the Parkway, down the South Toe Valley (Highway 80 South by The Cove at Celo Mountain), through Burnsville and along Hwy 19 to I-26.

The Art of Reuse - Earth Day Contest sponsored by Etsy names local artist to Top 10 on Today Show

"Trashformations" have been a favorite with art lovers in our Open Studio Tours in Western North Carolina for years. This medium lends itself well to the culture of simplicity, back-to-nature, and thoughtful, green living which is a trademark of the Asheville, NC area.

Burnsville artist and musician (Hot Duck Soup), John Richards, had his work, "Flying Alumifish" named as a top 10 on NBC's Today Show "Art of Reuse" contest last week. John's project was a mobile made from aluminum cat food lids. The mobile is currently hanging in the Mellow Mushroom in Asheville, along with several of John's other works. Judges for the contest included Martha Stewart, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Andy Cohen.

John's works have been sold or displayed at Tiffany & Co., Bonwit Teller, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, The Museum of Contemporary Crafts NYC, The Museum of Modern Art, Jacksonville FL & various publications: House & Garden, American Home, Playboy, Asheville Citizen Times, Yancey Common Times Journal, Southern Living Magazine, The New York Times, The London Times, Folio & the prestigious Saint Augustine Record. John received a BA in English from Union College in Schenectady, NY and taught English, Spanish, and Art for "four long years but has been creatively unemployed ever since."

Visit the Toe River Arts Gallery in Burnsville, NC for other works of the artist as well as those of other local well-known "Trashformationists" like Rolf Holmquist and Susan Hayden.

For more information:

Reuser's Guide to Green Living
John's studio: Yummy Mud Puddle