Frequently Asked Questions
Preparing for Camp
Can I sign up for part of a session?
In order to have the best possible camp experience for your son, we do not offer partial sessions. With everyone on the same timeline, campers are better able to form a close-knit community.
What should my son bring with him?
This is a suggested packing list for all sessions of camp. We will do laundry for campers every weekend. Please note that we do have a limited number of sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and backpacks you can borrow for a session. If you are interested in borrowing gear, contact us as soon as possible to see if what you need is available.
What is your electronics policy?
To allow boys to connect deeply with their peers and the environment, we do not allow any phones, music players, gaming devices, cameras, tablets, or computers. In general, devices with a screen and/or devices that have the capacity to connect to the internet are prohibited. If your son is flying to camp, he can travel with these items and will be expected to give them to the office to be kept safely until the end of camp (we’ll even recharge it for his return journey.) Without screens and the internet, your son will develop his social and communication skills even more. Rest assured that our staff is still able to communicate with you when needed, and know that we’ll be taking plenty of pictures to share with you. This way you can still keep updated on all of the fun, unplugged activities he will be doing at camp!
How do I get my son to camp?
You can drive your son to camp – we are within a few hours drive of Knoxville, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Charlotte, NC. Once you get to Highway 25, we’re off of Exit 3- Green River Road. After about one mile, you will turn right onto Cabin Creek Road. Camp Arrowhead is on the left, past the sign for Camp Glen Arden. The last mile and a half is a gravel road. When you get here, you can meet your son’s counselor and see his cabin before he jumps into the fun! Just a note, it’s best to type our physical address (1415 Cabin Creek Road, Zirconia, NC) into your car’s GPS rather than the name Camp Arrowhead.
If your son is flying to camp, we are happy to pick him up in Asheville, NC (AVL) or Greenville, SC (GSP). He’ll be met at the gate by a member of our staff and be helped with moving in when he arrives. We prefer flights that land in the morning so our campers can meet each other and sign up for activities at the same time. If you are considering air travel for your son, please call our office.
Wellness
What are the meals like?
Meals at camp are prepared by our in-house kitchen staff. We source fresh, local food when possible and serve well-balanced, kid-friendly meals. We want everyone at camp to be fueled up for all the activities we have going on, so in addition to our three regular meals, there are also some healthy snacks available throughout the day - usually fruit. While camp is a great place to try new foods, we recognize that not every boy will like everything so we have a cereal and yogurt bar at breakfast, and a salad bar at dinner to provide some more options.
What if my child has allergies or food restrictions?
If your son has food allergies or restrictions, our kitchen staff can prepare alternatives or substitutes for him. We cannot however, guarantee that there will be no trace cross-contamination, especially at the salad bar. Parents are highly encouraged to include food allergies and restrictions on the registration form and medical form, and are welcome to call our office with specific questions or concerns.
Do you have medical professionals on staff?
Our health center is staffed by a doctor and/or a nurse. If your son takes medication, it will be administered by the medical staff.
How do you handle homesickness?
As it is common and normal to miss home, our counselors are trained to be on the lookout for and deal with homesickness. Usually, it doesn’t last long as a camper adjusts to his new environment and community, so our staff will help him get involved with activities and building friendships. You can help prevent homesickness before the summer even starts by talking about it with your son, and helping him to set some goals for his time at camp. Please know that if we are concerned about your child adjusting to camp life, we will call you. Likewise, if you have any questions on how he is doing, feel free to call our office.
Is there any mental health support?
While we don’t have any mental health care professionals on staff, we do have directors that have years of experience working with neurodivergent kids- and were those kids growing up! In addition, Alli both worked and trained for a crisis hotline for several years.
Communication
Can I call my son while he’s at camp?
Generally, no. Calling home or receiving a call from home takes a boy’s attention away from the camp community and can even increase homesickness. Exceptions can be arranged for special circumstances. It’s normal for you to miss him and for him to miss you, so if you’d like to communicate with your son, we encourage letter writing that focuses on his experience at camp. One or two letters a week is a good guideline to follow to let him know you support him while fostering his independence. If you have a specific question about how your son is doing, you can call our office and we will be happy to update you.
Can I visit my son?
We do not offer any visiting days during the camp session to help our campers settle and dive deep into camp life. If you’re staying in the area while your son is at camp, there are plenty of fun and interesting things to do in the area - we’ll give you a list if you want!
Will I see any pictures?
A photographer will roam around camp throughout the day (every day!) taking pictures, and we’ll upload them each evening so you can access them through your online account - the same one you registered with. You’ll be sure to see all our activities, events, and trips so you can keep up with what your son is doing.
Can I send my son a package?
While letters are always welcome, Camp Arrowhead has a no-package policy. Packages can detract attention away from what your son is experiencing at camp, and cause a feeling of inequity between cabin mates who don’t receive anything. Care packages with food can also invite critters into the cabins. If your son forgets to pack an important item, call our office and we’ll help figure it out! Often, we have something to lend or can obtain something locally faster than shipping would take. Please let family and friends know of our policy, and that they are welcome to send letters to a camper.
What if my son’s birthday is during camp?
It is so much fun to have a birthday during camp! Besides all of the great things that happen every single day, we’ll celebrate your son a little extra if his birthday falls during his session - including a delicious birthday treat to share with his cabin. Send a birthday card, but please honor our no-package policy, we’ll make sure he has a good day and feels the love.
Camp Life
Can I request for my son to be in a cabin with another camper?
You can let us know if you’d like your child to have a specific cabin mate, but we may not be able to honor every request. One of the best parts of camp is making new friends from different places, so talk to your son about what it might be like if he doesn’t know anyone in his cabin, and how the other boys will be in the same boat, so to speak. If your child does come to camp with a friend, they’ll be able to see each other often even if they aren’t in the same cabin.
When do my son’s activities get decided?
At Arrowhead, boys get to choose their own activities, so there is no form where parents request their choices before they arrive. After a full camp tour and activity explanations on Opening Day, boys rank their favorite activities for their 3 morning periods. We’ll create a schedule to fit their choices to start the first Monday. While that will be their ‘default’ schedule for the remainder of camp, boys are able to change activities the first 3 days, and then each Sunday after that. Afternoons get filled in with anything else campers are eager to learn and counselors are eager to teach – it’s different all the time! If your son is really interested in learning something specific, he can advocate for that skill to be taught. The afternoon is also time for longer in-camp bike rides, trying out the climbing wall, going on creek hikes, and other fun adventures. We believe this schedule and program allows boys to progress in the activities they are passionate about, try new things, and build their decision-making skills.
Will he be able to do all of the activities he wants?
Campers have a lot of freedom to make choices at Arrowhead. Everyone will have a chance to try the activities we offer, but not all of them will happen everyday. We’ll offer the most popular choices more often, plus new and exciting options are constantly being added so your son will have plenty of opportunities to try new things.
Will my camper be able to work on his Scouts merit badges while at camp?
Yes, he can! We have several year round staff members with lots of Scouting experience, so while we do not offer specific merit badge clinics during the summer, we can sign off on certain skills and requirements that he practices during his activities. Please let us know if this is something your son is interested in, and talk with him to see how he can prepare and take initiative to work on getting some badges at camp.
Are campers separated by age?
Boys will share a cabin with campers in their age group (based on rising grade level), with whom they’ll spend their mornings and nights. In addition, evening programs are often differentiated by age. During activity periods throughout the day, campers will be in mixed-age groups. This facilitates a cohesive whole-camp community, where everyone knows everyone’s names, and also allows older boys more leadership opportunities and younger boys more role models.
Are there any overnight trips?
Every cabin group will go on an overnight camping trip together. The specifics of these trips vary by age, but they all include a night sleeping away from their cabin (in a tent, shelter, or tarp), cooking dinner together (over a campfire or camping stove), and lots of fun.
Do we have to bring all the equipment he might need for the activities?
Activity equipment is provided, but if your son has a favorite piece of gear, he is welcome to bring and use it. Please be sure to label everything and consult our packing list if you’re unsure.
Financial
Are there any extra fees for activities?
Nope! There are no add-on expenses for specific trips or activities so your son is able to decide on his own what he wants to sign up for and try out.
What if he forgot deodorant? Do you sell extra?
In the interest of everyone, we’ll just give it to him along with toothbrushes, toothpaste, or other essentials he may have forgotten.
Sundays
What is your in-camp service like?
Camp Arrowhead is not religiously affiliated, and we welcome campers of all faith backgrounds along with those from non-religious families. Our Sunday morning services are a time for the whole camp community to gather together, reflect on time at camp, and focus on themes like community, patience, and gratitude.
What do you mean by the second Sunday service?
After the morning gathering, we like to give back and pay it forward by participating in community projects. Cabins can come up with their own ideas (such as blazing a new trail between activities), or directors can offer suggestions (like adding shelves to cabin bathrooms). This helps campers not only realize everything that goes into a place like camp being able to run, but gives them some ownership in daily operations as well.