Camp · Specialty · Ages 13–17 · $2,059/week
Directory · United States · North Carolina · Balsam
▌ Specialty · Ages 13–17

SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea

SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea · $2,059/week

Adventure-based summer camp for youth with ADHD and learning differences, focusing on self-sufficiency.

▌ Editor's read The SOAR website (soarnc.org) loads as a legitimate camp site, offering programs specifically designed for youth with ADHD and learning differences. It is ACA accredited, with accreditation valid through 2025, as confirmed by the ACA directory. The camp was founded by Jonathan C. Jones and has been operating for 48 years, indicating extensive experience in this specialized field. SOAR is a non-profit organization. The website explicitly states a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:2 and mentions that all staff undergo background checks. Google reviews for SOAR Camps show an average rating of 4.8 stars from 127 reviews, with many parents praising the positive impact on their children's confidence and social skills. The NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea is an overnight program, part of their broader offerings.
★
ACA-accredited~300 standards audited
⌬
Since 197848+ years operating
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Nonprofit operator501(c)(3) tax-exempt
Register → Shortlist in planner → Visit website

Who thrives here Ages 13–17

SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in specialty, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type
Overnight camp
ACA accredited
Yes
Established
1978 (48 years)
Operator
Nonprofit organization
Staff-to-camper ratio
Published by camp see camp site →

How we verify these →

Details

  • Category: Specialty
  • Ages: 13–17
  • Hours: 24-hour residential
  • Address: 226 SOAR Lane, P.O Box 388, Balsam, NC 28707, USA
  • Phone: (828) 456-3435
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Cost notes: Financial aid is available.

Runs 24-hour residential, 22 sessions (0 one-week, 22 multi-week blocks), from Jun 13 to Aug 11.

Sessions ⛓

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

  • Session 1 Jun 13 – 23, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 1 Jun 14 – 30, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,000
  • Session 1 Jun 14 – 23, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 1 Jun 14 – 24, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,200
  • Session 1 Jun 14 – Jul 4, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,700
  • Session 1 Jun 20 – 29, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,600
  • Session 1 Jun 21 – 30, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,900
  • Session 2 Jun 27 – Jul 7, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 2 Jun 28 – Jul 7, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 2 Jun 28 – Jul 8, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,200
  • Session 1 Jul 5 – 15, 2026 · 2 weeks · $5,600
  • Session 2 Jul 5 – 21, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,000
  • Session 1 Jul 6 – 15, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,950
  • Session 3 Jul 11 – 21, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 3 Jul 12 – 21, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 3 Jul 12 – 22, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,200
  • Session 2 Jul 12 – Aug 1, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,700
  • Session 1 Jul 18 – Aug 3, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,000
  • Session 4 Jul 25 – Aug 4, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 3 Jul 26 – Aug 11, 2026 · 3 weeks · $5,000
  • Session 4 Jul 26 – Aug 4, 2026 · 2 weeks · $3,800
  • Session 4 Jul 26 – Aug 5, 2026 · 2 weeks · $4,200

↗ What parents like

  • Specializes in ADHD/LD
  • Low staff-to-camper ratio

↘ Watch for

  • High cost

Logistics

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

Frequently asked about SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea

What ages does SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea accept?
SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea is open to children ages 13–17. 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 SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea cost?
SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea publishes $2,059/week for the standard session. That sits 17% below the $2,469 median for specialty camps in Balsam, which makes it one of the more affordable options in the category. Financial aid is available. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
What are SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea's hours?
SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
Is SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea accredited?
Yes — SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and has been operating for 48 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 SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea?
SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea is operated by a nonprofit organization, with 48 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 SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea provide lunch?
SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
How does SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea compare to other specialty camps in Balsam?
SOAR Summer Camp - NC Expedition: Mountain-to-Sea is one of 17 specialty camps in Balsam 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.

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