What ages does Camp Highlander accept?

Camp Highlander is open to children ages 7–16. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.

How much does Camp Highlander cost?

Camp Highlander doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. See individual sessions for pricing. Some 2026 sessions are waitlisted for girls. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.

Is Camp Highlander accredited?

Yes — Camp Highlander is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 60 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.

Who runs Camp Highlander?

Camp Highlander is operated by a private business, with 60 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.

Does Camp Highlander provide lunch?

Yes — Camp Highlander includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.

How does Camp Highlander compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Horse Shoe?

Camp Highlander is one of 11 overnight/sleepaway camps in Horse Shoe that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

▌ Overnight/Sleepaway · Ages 7–16

Camp Highlander

North Carolina

Traditional overnight summer camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains offering a wide range of activities for boys and girls.

▌ Editor's read Camp Highlander is an ACA accredited overnight camp, with its accreditation expiring in 2025, indicating adherence to industry standards (ACA website). The camp has been operating for over 60 years, founded by Shelley and John Johnson, demonstrating a long-standing history and experience in youth development (About Us page). They maintain a favorable staff-to-camper ratio of 1:4, which suggests individualized attention and supervision (Staff page). The camp explicitly states that all staff undergo background checks, ensuring a commitment to camper safety (Safety & Health page). Their program offers a wide variety of activities, from watersports to arts and adventure, catering to diverse interests (Activities page).

★

ACA-accredited~300 standards audited

⌬

Since 196660+ years operating

Who thrives here Ages 7–16

Camp Highlander is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. overnight/sleepaway programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.

Facts & Credentials

Program type: Overnight camp
ACA accredited: Yes
Established: 1966 (60 years)
Operator: Private business
Staff-to-camper ratio: Published by camp see camp site →

How we verify these →

Details

Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
Ages: 7–16
Address: 93 Newfound Lake Rd, Horse Shoe, NC 28742
Phone: (828) 891-7721
Email: [email protected]
Cost notes: See individual sessions for pricing. Some 2026 sessions are waitlisted for girls.

5 sessions (1 one-week, 4 multi-week blocks), from Jun 6 to Jul 28.

Sessions ⛓

Bookable units published by the camp. Multi-week blocks marked ⛓ are indivisible — register for the full session.

Session 1 Jun 6 – 12, 2026 · 1 week · $2,750
Session 2 Jun 14 – 26, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,950
Session 3 Jun 28 – Jul 10, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,950
Session 5 Jun 28 – Jul 28, 2026 · 5 weeks · $11,300
Session 4 Jul 12 – 28, 2026 · 3 weeks · $6,150

↗ What parents like

Co-ed for boys and girls
Electronics-free environment
Family camp weekends offered

↘ Watch for

Some sessions waitlisted for girls

Logistics

Lunch provided: Yes
Transportation: No
Financial aid: No
Setting: outdoor

Frequently asked about Camp Highlander

What ages does Camp Highlander accept?: Camp Highlander is open to children ages 7–16. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does Camp Highlander cost?: Camp Highlander doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. See individual sessions for pricing. Some 2026 sessions are waitlisted for girls. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
Is Camp Highlander accredited?: Yes — Camp Highlander is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 60 years. ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
Who runs Camp Highlander?: Camp Highlander is operated by a private business, with 60 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does Camp Highlander provide lunch?: Yes — Camp Highlander includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
How does Camp Highlander compare to other overnight/sleepaway camps in Horse Shoe?: Camp Highlander is one of 11 overnight/sleepaway camps in Horse Shoe that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare Camp Highlander with other camps.

How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.

Camps near here

Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside Camp Highlander.

Camp Highlander · Horse Shoe, NC · Ages 6–16 · $2,500/week
Camp Highlander - Kick Off · Horse Shoe, NC · Ages 5–13 · $2,750/week
Camp Highlander - Session A · Horse Shoe, NC · Ages 5–16 · $2,475/week
Camp Highlander - Session A · North Carolina · Ages 7–16 · $2,475/week
Camp Highlander - Session B · Horse Shoe, NC · Ages 5–16 · $2,475/week
Camp Highlander - Session B · North Carolina · Ages 7–16 · $2,475/week
Camp Highlander - Session BC · North Carolina · Ages 7–16 · $2,750/week
Camp Highlander - Session C · Horse Shoe, NC · Ages 8–16 · $3,208/week