Sunday, July 12, 2026-July 31, 2026 (meets at Eagle’s Nest Camp)
For participants completing grades 7th through 11th grade in Spring 2026
Cost: $5,850
One of Eagle’s Nest Camp’s most popular activities, Nature Lore, is spreading its wings beyond the confines of the Nest this summer. Join us to discover the roots of this unique and diverse class, traveling across a wide expanse of Western North Carolina to learn about the local history, ecology, and artwork from esteemed educators. As your group explores these vital connections, you will camp and trek through the Smokies, paddle and climb on nearby lakes and boulders, and navigate and forage amongst one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. You will return to Camp at the end of your journey to share the learnings from your experience, serving in an important role to support the long term well being and character of this community.
Register for Hante nature lore
Register and pay online securely using CampDoc. Once you complete the initial application in CampDoc, you will receive an email from CampDoc. Please follow the link and instructions in the CampDoc email to complete your participant’s Camp Application and Parent/Guardian Questionnaire as well as have your participant complete the online Participant Questionnaire by November 15th to be considered for a Hante Adventure. After November 15th, applications are considered on a rolling basis if spots are still available. Your participant’s application is not complete for the selected program until you receive an email from the Camp Registrar at molly@enf.org confirming receipt of your participant’s full application.
- Spend weeks exploring the biodiverse ecosystems of Western North Carolina.
- Actively engage with and learn from indigenous peoples and culture of Western North Carolina
- Enhance understanding about the ecology and conservation practices that make the Appalachians globally unique
- Practice craft skills through the structure of a multi-week-long project, learning from professionals and one another
- Sharpen leadership skills and form long lasting bonds through traveling as a group
- Develop competence in backpacking, paddling, rock climbing, campcraft, navigation, backcountry cooking and more!
Trip Highlights
Nature Lore Tentative Itinerary
- Day 1-3: Arriving at Camp and preparing for the trip! These first few day will be full of nerves and excitement: you will arrive on Opening Day along with the rest of camp, take part in similar communal activities as a Hante group while also busily organizing your gear, food, and crafts. You will learn about the trip ahead, the opportunities to cultivate your own project over the course of the trip, and leading in teaching lessons to others. You will wrap up your preparation in the comfort of the Sun Lodge, the original accommodations of Hante Adventures.
- Day 4: Depart for the Smoky Mountains and learn the history and craftsmanship of indigenous peoples. Before setting out as a group, you will stop to visit the capital of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee in Cherokee NC, who are the original keepers of the land you will be traveling on. This intentional time spent learning within the community aims to develop an understanding about the importance of this areas’s history, ecology, and practices, as well as an appreciation for where you are and for those who came before you.
- Day 5-10: Trekking and base camping throughout the mountains and forests of the Smokies and surrounding area. The journey begins! The group will begin their initial trek, challenged yet awed by your resilience and appreciation of the unique scenery. While some parts of the day will be spent working together to navigate creeky, wet, and leafy terrain into the mountains, other parts of the day will be spent learning within your community about local ecology, plant identification, foraging, and crafting; much of it stemming from your time spent at Camp during the first few days. Evenings will be spent camping under the stars, preparing delicious food, debriefing the day’s adventures, practicing leadership skills, and enjoying time together.
- Day 11-13: Resupply, give back, and transition to water-based teaching and learning. After about a week in the backcountry, your group will be resupplied with gear and materials to continue on your journey, as well as join a local organization for restoring and cleaning the trails you have been traveling. Lessons about land conservation will be enhanced with water based activities like canoe paddling and fishing and discussions about lake and stream ecology.
- Day 14-15: Travel to the most western part of the state to better understand local geology, topography, and craftmanship. The area surrounding Murphy NC provides a haven for bouldering, additional exploration of protected landscapes, and access to impressive educators in the artistic practices unique to the region. As you begin to reflect on the overall movement of your trip, from the geographical to your own physical movement, these days will offer an opportunity to attend a local contra dance
- Day 16-17: Finalize learnings, reflections, and projects with solo time in Snowbird Wilderness Area, and a pit stop at the Highlands Biological Research Station. Your group will spend their last night in the field in one of the more remote, beautiful, lesser known pockets of the state at Snowbird Wilderness Area. When traveling back to Camp following this night, you will happen to pass the Biological Research Station in Highlands, NC, which boasts real examples and information on native species and resources for learning beyond the trip.
- Day 18-20: Return to Camp to finish up projects and stories from your time together as a group. Along with debriefing the trip as a whole, there will be plenty of opportunities to share and discuss your experiences and hopes for the future with the rest of Camp, as well as attend Final Banquet!
Nature Lore Equipment List: Coming in Fall 2025
To apply for a Hante Adventure:
All Hante participants and their caregivers must complete a Parent/Guardian Questionnaire in CampDoc and a Participant Questionnaire before being considered for acceptance. (*) Select Hantes have an application deadline of November 15th and are not eligible for the Early Bird Discount. Rolling admittance pending availability after November 15th for (*)Hantes.
“I just want to say ‘thank you’ for what you and Eagle’s Nest give to Evan. The letter we received from Evan was amazing. You simply can not imagine how great it feels to hear him tell me how he has grown emotionally and then list specific skills that have strengthened him physically. He said he feels so proud of himself and what he has accomplished. He described how he found each of his Hante instructors helpful to him in different ways. I wanted to say how grateful I am to the Eagle’s Nest staff for the gift you are to Evan.”
To learn more about what is gained on a Hante Adventure, visit our Vision and Curriculum page:
REGISTER TODAY!
All Hante Adventures, and Junior Counselor participants and their parents or guardians must complete all questionnaires before being considered for the program. Questionnaires are available with registration on CampDoc.
Questions about your application or having trouble getting started? Please email us at register@enf.org or call us at 336-761-1040.