Cave & Wave Explorers
A day inside Worley’s Cave, a day on whitewater, and a night camped out. For 6th–8th. June 13–18 and July 25–30.
6th–8th grade
Details
Dates
| June 13–18 | Sun – Fri |
| July 25–30 | Sun – Fri |
Questions?
Underground. On the water. Under the stars. Cave and Wave is the outdoor adventure program that takes middle schoolers into three completely different worlds in a single week — and comes out the other side with stories they’ll be telling for years.
The centerpiece experiences are as different as adventures get. First, campers descend into Worley’s Cave, one of the most remarkable cave systems in the region — navigating passages, discovering formations that took thousands of years to grow, and experiencing a kind of darkness and quiet that is unlike anything above ground. Then comes the whitewater — a rafting trip down a nearby river where the energy is completely flipped: loud, fast, exhilarating, and demanding total teamwork from everyone in the boat. Add an overnight campout under the stars and you have a week with more genuine variety than most people pack into an entire summer.
What ties it all together isn’t just the adventure — it’s the community that forms around it. There’s something about navigating a cave together, screaming through rapids together, and falling asleep under the same sky that builds friendship quickly and deeply. Campers arrive as strangers and leave as a crew.
Experienced, trained counselors guide every step of every adventure, ensuring campers are prepared, safe, and supported to push their limits with confidence. Back at camp, all the classic elements of a great week — the pool, crafts, the challenge tower, and more — round out the experience.
Cave and Wave is for the camper who wants it all. This week delivers.
Activities
- Pool
- Crafts
- Group Interaction Course
- Campfire
- Interactive faith time
- Tour of Worley’s Cave
- Rafting
- Overnight camping
- Campfire cooking
- End of week celebration
What a day looks like.
Thursday is different: the group is off site from 9:45.
- 8:00Morning Watch
- 8:30Breakfast
- 9:45C3ARE
- 11:15Group Interaction Course
- 1:00Lunch
- 1:45Feet on Bed
- 3:00Tower
- 4:30Tower
- 6:00Dinner
- 7:00Store/Snack Bar
- 8:15Area Activity
- 9:00Area Vespers
- 10:00Lights out
Choose the pricing tier that fits your family.
Every participant receives the same camp experience, regardless of tier selected. Choose the level that best fits your family's financial situation.
Tier I
Partially Subsidized
Most affordable
$880
- Our historically subsidized rate
- Made possible by gifts from donors and churches
- Helps make camp possible for more families
Best for families seeking the most affordable option.
Tier II
Direct Cost
Standard rate
$1,010
- Covers the direct cost of camp
- Program costs and food
- Staff and camp administration
A good fit for most families.
Tier III
True Cost
Supports the mission
$1,140
- Reflects the fuller cost of camp
- Includes deferred maintenance, insurance and utilities
- Helps stretch scholarship funds further
For families able to support this level.
All tiers are voluntary and confidential. Every camper receives the same experience.
If Tier I is still not affordable, scholarship assistance is available.
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Campfirmation
A few things you may be wondering.
Here are a few answers to help you feel confident before you register.
Is this the right week for my camper?
If your camper sits right on the edge of this week's grades, call us at 828-209-6302 before you decide. A year either way can matter more than the number on the page, and we'd rather talk it through with you than have you guess.
And if the bigger question is whether they'll make friends, ask us that too.
What if we can't afford it?
Then tell us, and we'll work it out with you.
You choose one of three price tiers, and the tier you choose stays between you and us. Every camper gets the same week, whichever tier you pick.
If Tier I is still out of reach, there are scholarship funds for families in that spot, and our registration office can set up a payment plan.
A $175 deposit holds your camper's place when you register.
Can my camper call home?
Phones and other devices stay home at summer camp, and campers don't usually call home while they're here.
If you need to reach your camper, call the office at 828-209-6302.
What do we need to turn in before camp?
Every form is completed online in CampWise when you register, including your camper's health information and the waiver. There's nothing to download or mail.
The week you register is the easiest time to finish them.
Who's looking after my camper?
Counselors who live in the cabin with them. Every counselor has a background check before their first day.
Do you have to be Lutheran to come?
No. We're a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and we welcome everyone the way God welcomes everyone, whatever your background, your family or your circumstances.
Cave & Wave Explorers
June 13–18, 2027