We offer experiential, adventure-based, wilderness and therapeutic activities for children, individuals and families navigating Neurobiological Disorders, Aspergers Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Learning Disabilities and other special needs.
Our programs are intended to contribute a unique experience to the overall treatment plan for each client. This contribution is accomplished by directly working with parents, practitioners and educators that provide ongoing service. Aerie coordinates closely with staff of the practices, both in preparing clients for the wilderness journey and in providing follow up on client reactions to the experience.
10% discount for early registration by 4/1
Our Coastal Expedition includes three nights of beach camping on Sapelo Island, where campers will explore the forested uplands, the vast salt marsh and the complex beach and dunes system – as well as play a lot of camp games and learn to surf cast. Campers will experience a two-day paddle down the Satilla River, where they can fish for bass and sun fish, and explore the possibilities of self, mingled with the possibilities of the wild. A one-day protected inlet and tidal marsh paddle will provide opportunities for finding treasures like ancient shark teeth and shells. Our coastal expedition is a beautiful and fun setting for exploration and developing friendships, self-awareness and social emotional growth under the guidance of Aerie’s experienced and professional staff.
7/1 – 7/8
Limit 12 campers
13 years +
Our Mountain Wilderness Expedition will provide campers with the opportunity to explore the beautiful scenic wilderness of North Georgia and North Carolina while exploring the possibility of self. Campers will paddle the waters of North Carolina, climb and repel granite outcroppings in North Georgia, and hike and camp in the forests of North Georgia. Campers will experience the intense satisfaction of accomplishing new feats while expanding the possibilities of self in the safe, nurturing and developmentally-sound environment fostered by Aerie Experiences.
6/16 – 6/23
Limit 12 Campers
13 years +
Our Equine Expedition, campers will spend four days living on a working cattle ranch, Cedar Creek Cattle Ranch, followed by three days exploring the Big South Fork National Park on horseback. While staying on the ranch, campers will live the life of a ranch hand, residing in Yurts and working with and developing a relationship with their own individual horse and each other. Campers will feed, brush, ride and care for the horse they will be riding on the trail. Campers will also develop a sense of community through group living, adventure based counseling activities, a day hike and group games. While in residence on the ranch, campers will also visit the natural bridges and rock formations of the Cumberland Plateau. Throughout the week, campers will become the heroes of their own stories while learning new skills like primitive fire building, camp craft and outdoor cooking. No equine experience needed.
6/2 – 6-9
13+ years old
Limit 12 campers
Our llama expedition uses llamas as pack animals, trail companions and therapeutic assistants. The journey takes place in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina under special use permits in partnership with Challenge Adventures. The youth leads, feeds and cares for his or her llama and the llama, in turn, carries equipment and food, provides unconditional acceptance and demonstrates, along with herd mates, how to be part of a cooperative team/community. The llamas form a protective relationship toward their human partners, which seems to give participants a sense of security and allows our campers to be part of the herd. This expedition also includes opportunities for adventure based counseling, group games, camp craft and primitive skills for those who want to learn.
Ages 8 -13
Limit 7 campers
7/5 – 7/21
More About Camp
This summer Aerie Experiences is offering one week Wilderness Expedition Camps tailored for young men and women aged 13-17. Participants will spend eight days and seven nights exploring the south east's scenic wilderness and their own infinite potentials. Our strength based, prescriptive program is designed and sequenced to build confidence and competence through challenge and accomplishment readying the participant for life's transitions and challenges, such as schooling, preparing for college, and everyday stressors such as socializing and networking. This course is intended to:
-Be Fun
-Encourage independence
-Coach self-advocacy
-Instill a sense of responsibility
-Develop self-reliance
-Solidify and expand identity development
-Provide opportunity for role testing
The program is designed to be fun, exciting, challenging and to inspire enduring recreational
pursuits. Program activities include:
-Canoeing
-Hiking & Backpacking
-Rock climbing
-Rappelling
-Adventure based counseling activities
-Basic camp craft
-Fire starting
-Camp cooking
-Water purification
-Plant identification
-Wilderness navigation
Our Campers:
Our programs are designed to offer wilderness and camp experiences for nontraditional campers. Ideal candidates for this program include children and teenagers navigating:
-Learning Disabilities
-Mild Autism Spectrum Disorders
-Neurobiological Disorders
-Aspergers Syndrome
-Pervasive Developmental Delays
-Nonverbal Learning Disabilities
-ADHD
Our campers come from loving and involved families but at times struggle with home, school or social environments. Whether due to poor understanding of social cues, language processing issues, inattention or other learning deficits, many of our campers have struggled to establish and maintain meaningful and positive relationships in some mainstream environments.
Through adventure-based counseling activities, close cohort living and interdependence our participants will have the opportunity to:
-Discover individual strengths
-Identify and practice effective communication habits
-Build friendships
-Build community
-Improve ability to function within a group.
-Enhance group trust levels
Over one hundred years of wilderness, educational and therapeutic experience between our staff and no more than a 4:1 student to staff ratio ensure the safety, individual attention and accommodation needed to provide for a meaningful and memorable experience.
Activities & Features
Outdoor Activities
Mountaineering Ropes Course Backpacking Hiking Rock Climbing
