Welcome to Camp Discovery
Reservations & Payment
To arrange your school or group’s Discovery Days program, complete a Program Request Form and forward to Camp Discovery. A $25 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your program date. Deposits and payments can be made to Camp Discovery via check, credit card or online through PayPal. After reservation form and deposit are received, teachers will receive a program confirmation and additional instructions to insure a successful Discovery Day.
Program Fees
Discovery Days fees are $15.00 per student with a minimum charge of $150.00 per group. To maximize the learning experience, group sizes are limited to 25 students per program. Teachers and chaperones are free of charge. Programs last between 2.5 hours to 4 hours depending upon the interests of the group. Each program can be customized to any group.
Arrival Time
Programs begin at 9:30 am, 10:00 am or 10:30 am. Program start times can be adjusted in advance upon request. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before scheduled time. If unforeseen circumstances arise, please call and let us know. In order for the group to get the full benefit of their time at Camp Discovery, we cannot delay a program.
Upon arrival, please have an exact count of the number of children and adults in your group. Full payment is expected by program date. Camp Discovery accepts checks, credit cards and purchase orders.
Note: With the exception of service dogs for guests with disabilities, pets are not allowed on Camp Discovery grounds.
Lunch
Grassy areas and quilts are available for picnics. Benches can also be reserved in advance at no cost. Camp Discovery does not have vending machines or water fountains. Participants should bring bag lunches and drinks, including waters, as children will be outside for much of their program.
Other Program Related Fees
Cancellation Fee, if less than 2 weeks in advance................................... $25.00
No-Show Fee……………………............................................................. $35.00
Rescheduling Fee, if less than 2 weeks in advance................................. $25.00
If you need any special services, assistance, or accommodations to participate in our programs, please email Joanna Weitzel in advance or call (803) 754-2008.
Camp Discovery offers a unique outdoor classroom to meet the individual interests, needs and goals of students, teachers, and other groups. The Discovery Days curriculum is designed to instill an appreciation of nature and support the kindergarten through 8th grade South Carolina Science Standards. Lessons are largely outdoors, incorporating nature, artifacts, activities and live animals. We provide students a positive environment in which they are motivated and learn content in creative ways. Each of the following programs are available year-round, unless otherwise marked as seasonal.
Amazing Adaptations
Animal Life Cycles
Birds of a Feather
Things That Go Bump In the Night
The Dirty Details
Field, Forest and Stream
You Are What You Eat (Food Chains)
Instincts for Survival
Habitat Haven
Wild Waters
Plant Growth
Recycling
Trails to Trees
Wetlands to Watch
Wild Wonders
Scales, Scutes and Skins
Discovery Days immerses students into nature through hands-on exploration and provides a unique opportunity for outdoor learning in a healthy,fresh air environment. With every Discovery Days visit, students will enjoy 2-3 hours of stimulating, hands-on environmental programming. Programs also address the needs and challenges facing today's youth. Activities are selected to promote teamwork, communication and respect.
Each experience begins with an introduction to our staff and the core values that guide us at Camp Discovery. The students are briefed on the day's topics, the adventures that lie ahead, and then we get moving! At the end day, we reflect on what's been done to help students internalize the experience and to instill a broader insight and appreciation of nature.
Leaders choose from a menu of Discovery Day Curriculum to best complement classroom learning and provide a well-rounded balance of learning experiences. Discovery Days can be either a half day or a full day program, and we can work with your class to develop pre- and post-trip materials to provide students with a personalized learning experience. .
About Discovery Days
• Programs consist of age-appropriate, SC Science Standards-based activities.
• Allow 2½ hours for a half-day program and 4 hours for a full day program (including lunch).
• Field trips can be scheduled for Tuesday through Friday.
• Group size is limited to 25 students per program. Students may be divided into groups in order to ensure a successful program.
• Please do not bring more than 25 students per visit unless special arrangements have been made in advance and confirmed in writing.
• One chaperon per every ten children is required.
• Being outdoors is what we're all about! We ask that you and your students to be prepared for seasonal and mild inclement weather.
• All participants should turn off cell phones and audible personal electronic devices during visit.
Arrange Your Own Discovery Days Experience
To arrange your group’s Discovery Days program, please complete a Discovery Days Request Form and send along with a $25 deposit to secure your date.
• Camp Discovery staff works closely with all individuals, schools, and groups to insure a shared and successful program. Our programs are a collaborative effort, and while Camp Discovery will lead your program, teachers are expected to co-teach during their group’s visit.
• Individuals, schools and groups who participate are responsible for supervising their constituents during their time at Camp Discovery.
“The only source of knowledge is experience.” ~ Albert Einstein
Coming to Camp Discovery this Fall! Take your students out from behind their desks and bring them into a whole new world of discovery! Camp Discovery provides a special place to awaken the senses and allow students to engage with the great outdoors.
The Discovery Days program was created to give children a supportive learning environment filled with adaptable experiential science programs in nature. We understand that students learn best when engaged in active, cooperative learning, so our goal is to connect children to the wonders of the natural world by experiencing it firsthand. From field exploration to outdoor activities to hands-on investigations, there's something here for every group, and every learning style.
Our classroom is 100 acres of forest, pastures, creeks and trails, loaded with trees, flowers, rocks and wildlife -- the ideal landscape to see and experience nature in action!
Discovery Days offers an array of environmental lessons to support teachers in meeting students’ needs in grades K-8 and enhance school curriculum. Choose from our menu of topics that incorporate nature, artifacts and even live animals for an individualized learning experience.
This page is under construction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Program Partners are an remarkable group of our most devoted supporters. Program Partners enable Camp Discovery to deliver services over and above what we can do without them. Individuals, businesses, churches, or other groups donate monthly or quarterly to send a child, or even a group of children, to Camp Discovery!
When you, your business, Sunday school class, or other group becomes a Program Partner, you provide dependable support that is vital to assisting the children in most need. Your faithful giving expands the capacity to which we can serve children within our communities, children that otherwise may not have the financial resources to participate at Camp Discovery. Program Partner gifts are placed into a scholarship fund that offers individual or group assistance to those impacted by financial circumstances beyond their control. Your gifts also help the future of our programs with 10% of every Partner gift being placed in the Camp Discovery endowment fund to further ensure our future.
Becoming a Program Partner
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You determine the amount of your monthly donation. A monthly gift as little as $10.00 makes a difference in the life of a child! You can change or stop your gifts at any time.
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Your credit card is charged or your checking account is drafted around the same date each month or quarter, and you receive an email confirmation at that time.
- In January, you are sent an annual giving statement for tax purposes.
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This page is under construction. We apologize for any inconvenience.
"The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes." ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
In keeping with our mission to enrich the lives of people of all ages, Camp Discovery offers intergenerational programs for groups seeking mutual enrichment.
Participants can learn from each other through carefully designed recreational activities for both seniors and youth. Our programs allow for seniors to share life experiences with the young, while the youth further enrich the lives of the elderly.
Nature education and environmental stewardship are vital to the health and wellbeing of our communities and our world. Through outdoor activities and experiential learning, Camp Discovery offers Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts a variety of habitats to explore, including forest, pastures, and streams. Camp Discovery’s programs can fulfill many of the necessary requirements to earn merit badges in a variety of areas. Programs can be scheduled for individual scout troops on weekday, occasional weekends, or be combined with an overnight camping trip for an extended learning experience.
Depending upon the goals of the group, programs can have an environmental focus with hands-on activities designed to develop a deeper appreciation for nature, or a recreational focus, placing more emphasis on enhancing life skills such as leadership or sensitivity to the needs of others. For more details, please review Our Programs at Camp Discovery to select a program that meets your specific interest.
Eagle Scout Service Projects
Are you an Eagle Scout seeking a meaningful and fulfilling project in which to complete your service requirements? Eagle Scout Service Projects make a big difference at Camp Discovery! Camp Discovery maintains a menu of a variety of projects that Scouts can organize to help the Camp and fulfill their Eagle project requirements.
Eagle Scout Project Examples:
- Building nesting boxes (owl, blue bird, etc)
- Creating a bridge or walkway
- Collecting items for the Camp through a supply drive
All Eagle Scout Service Projects must be approved in advance by Camp Discovery. Once approved, the Scout can print and complete the Eagle Scout Service Packet and get started at a mutally agreed upon time.
If you are interested in learning more about the Camp’s needs and projects available, please email your contact information (including cell phone) and when you wish to complete your project. A representative from our office will contact you about planning, organizing, and approving your project. For other questions, please call (803) 754-2008.
“There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven … a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to grieve and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
Camp Discovery provides spiritual and service retreats for youth programs and churches of any denomination. Recreational activities can be a wonderful way to bring people together, while offering renewal and embracing spiritual development. Enjoyable activities can range from outdoor experiences to indoor exercises, incorporating learned concepts into a spiritual context.
To schedule your retreat or field trip, fill out a “Group Needs” request and mail or email to Camp Discovery. This request form and others needed for your visit can be found here in the TR Field Trip Packet.
This page is under construction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
This page is under construction. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Camp Discovery’s goal-oriented therapeutic recreation programs offer a blend of activities based upon individual and group needs. The activities used are often as varied as the participants themselves. Whether it is a hula hoop exercise to assist a preschooler in grasping the concept of personal space or a game of archery to guide a teen in setting and attaining personal goals, activities are clinically designed around identified concept areas and to provide valuable life skills.
All activity therapy programming includes a full assessment, a customized field trip based upon the overall needs of the group, and awards for participants to serve as reminders of learned concepts. Programs are typically provided within the safe, natural setting of Camp Discovery, however some activity programs can be taken to schools, children’s homes, and other community sites in certain situations.
Step 1: Group Needs Assessment Form
The leader completes and sends a “Group Needs Assessment” request to Camp Discovery to secure a field trip date. This form and others for the field trip can be found in the TR Field Trip Packet.
Step 2: Schedule Assessment Date
When the Group Needs Assessment form is received by Camp Discovery, a Certified Recreation Therapist contacts the leader to schedule a date for a full assessment of participants. Program fees and other paperwork are discussed at this time.
Step 3: Therapist Assessment
The therapist visits the group at their site to evaluate the challenges facing participants. Based upon the needs identified, the goal of the leader, and the participants’ preferences, a customized field trip is developed.
Step 4: Recreation Therapy Field Trip
The group visits Camp Discovery and enjoys a wonderful day of recreational activities designed just for them!*
*Individual or small group attention is available for those who have experienced trauma, neglect or abuse.
"By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before…" ~ Edwin Elliot
Camp Discovery's Tools for Life recreation therapy programs provide unique opportunities for children, youth and young adults to improve life skills, develop social connections, and boost independence. Camp Discovery offers a safe and accepting emotional environment where barriers and labels are removed, opening the door to discovery. Using recreation, participants unearth their own personal strengths and come to value them, while also learning to recognize the strengths of others.
Who Benefits from Recreation Therapy?
Any person can reap the many benefits derived through indoor and outdoor recreation. But groups that are the best match for customized therapeutic interventions at Camp Discovery have leaders that know the challenges of their students and have clear goals in mind. Children, youth and young adults served through our recreation programs are often identified with critical challenges stemming from
- attention, energy and impulse management
- emotional and self perception issues
- family circumstances, neighborhood/peer influences
- risky behaviors
- mental or physical challenges
- learning differences
- other life-altering events
Scheduling a Tools for Life Program
Our recreation therapy programs provide a variety of engaging activities to help improve the lives of those facing difficult circumstances beyond their control. The “Tools for Life” model we use addreses life’s challenges by building essential skills that promote independence, improve self-esteem, develop confidence in independent thinking and social skills, and enhance sensitivity to the needs of others. Activities are clinically designed to boldly interrupt, interfere with and challenge patterns of behavior or thinking which are not working, while simultaneously teaching tools for life.
Binoculars
Clipboards
Permanent Markers in Assorted Colors
Dry Erase Markers
Name Tags (NO Blue or Red)
Clorox Wipes
Lysol Spray
Hand Sanitizer
Crafts
Crayola Markers
Crayola Crayons
Michael's or Wal-Mart Gift Cards
Miscellaneous Equipment
Dyson Animal Care Vacuum
Lowes or Home Depot Gift Cards
Collecting and Using Personal Information
Welcome to Camp Discovery’s website. We appreciate your interest in us. At this time Camp Discovery does not collect any personal or web stats on our web site users. Under this Privacy Policy we describe the type(s) of information we may collect in the future and how we may use it to provide better services to our visitors. When you visit and navigate our site and when you communicate with us via our sites, we will not collect personal information about you unless you provide us that information voluntarily. Any non-public personal information that you may provide via our site will be used solely for the purpose stated on the page where it is collected.
(In some cases, and in all cases where required by law or regulation, you will be able to update the information that you provide to us either by sending us an e-mail or, where you have established personal profiles with us, by updating your profile online. Please refer to the specific pages where data is collected for more information.) Camp Discovery will not sell, license, transmit or disclose this information outside of Camp Discovery and its affiliated organizations unless (a) expressly authorized by you, (b) necessary to enable Camp Discovery contractors or agents to perform certain functions for us, or (c) required or permitted by law. In all cases, we will disclose the information consistent with applicable laws and regulations and we will require the recipient to protect the information and use it only for the purpose it was provided.
By “personal information,” we mean data that is unique to an individual, such as a name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number. Camp Discovery will not collect Social Security Numbers, or credit card information. From time to time, we may request personal information from you at our sites in order to deliver requested materials to you, respond to your questions, or deliver a product or service.
Your E-Mail
The Camp Discovery web site is a non-secure web site. We welcome your comments or questions about our websites and have provided contact boxes for that purpose. We will share your comments and questions with our staff, service representatives, board of directors, and those employees most capable of addressing your questions and concerns.
Please note that your e-mail, like most, if not all, non-encrypted Internet e-mail communications, may be accessed and viewed by other Internet users, without your knowledge and permission, while in transit to us. For that reason, to protect your privacy, please do not use e-mail to communicate information to us that you consider confidential. If you wish, you may contact us instead via non-cellular telephone at the numbers provided at various locations on our site.
Other Information; “Cookies”
You should also be aware that when you visit our websites, we may collect certain information that does not identify you personally, but provides us with “usage data,” such as the number of visitors we receive or what pages are visited most often. This data helps us to analyze and improve the usefulness of the information we provide at these websites. This data is commonly referred to as “web stats.”
Like most commercial website owners, we may also use what is known as “cookie” technology. A “cookie” is an element of data that a website can send to your browser when you link to that website. It is not a computer program and has no ability to read data residing on your computer or instruct it to perform any step or function. By assigning a unique data element to each visitor, the website is able to recognize repeat users, track usage patterns and better serve you when you return to that site. The cookie does not extract other personal information about you, such as your name or address.
Linking to Other Sites
From time to time, Camp Discovery web site may provide links to other web sites, not owned or controlled by Camp Discovery, that we think might be useful or of interest to you. We cannot, however, be responsible for the privacy practices used by other website owners or the content or accuracy of those other websites. Links to various non-Camp Discovery web sites do not constitute or imply endorsement by Camp Discovery of these web sites, any products or services described on these sites, or of any other material contained in them.
Changes to This Statement
Camp Discovery at His Acres, Inc. may change this Statement from time to time; when updates are made, the Privacy Policy version date (located at the top of this Policy) will also be updated to reflect that a revision occurred. We encourage you to periodically reread this Policy to see if there have been any changes that may affect you. This Statement is not intended to and does not create any contractual or other legal rights in or on behalf of any party.
Location Map (PDF)
Camp Discovery
208 Claude Bundrick Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 754-2008
Email: info@campdiscoverysc.org
Humbling it is when a bus pulls up and children unload. Camp Discovery’s staff are standing on the shoulders of hundreds of volunteers. The recreation areas, materials the children use, and facilities are a reflection of the active caring of many hands and resources.
Camp Discovery maintains a list of top priority projects and service needs to allow volunteers easy ways to discover how to help.
Needs Lists
Camp Discovery supporters are, without a doubt, extraordinary people! Thanks to the generosity and spirit of our donors, partners and volunteers, Camp Discovery touches the lives of hundreds of children each year. While some give time, and others give resources, everyone gives with their hearts and becomes a valued partner in bringing hope and laughter to children of all abilities and backgrounds. Your tax deductible gifts allow children, families and communities to benefit from Camp Discovery’s top quality services and provide participants with memorable experiences to last a lifetime.
Donate Today – Join us in touching young lives by supporting the work of Camp Discovery! Every dollar donated makes it possible for Camp Discovery to achieve its mission by empowering youth, bringing hope and touching lives. A donation to Camp Discovery helps children reap the benefits of our programs throughout the year, regardless of their ability to pay.
Be Our Partner – Will you partner with us today in creating a better tomorrow for children? Program Partner gifts enable Camp Discovery to deliver services above and beyond what we can do without them. Individuals, businesses, churches, or other groups donate monthly or quarterly towards the cost of a field trip for a child or a group. 90% of every Program Partner donation goes to programs and 10% to the Camp Discovery endowment.
Honor a Special Person or Event – Is there a loved one that you wish to honor or a special event to celebrate? Consider making a donation to pay tribute to that special someone or to commemorate the occasion. Camp Discovery will send the person you designate an acknowledgement informing them of your kindness.
Leave A Legacy - Remembering the children at Camp Discovery in your final wishes is a wonderful way to leave a lasting legacy. Including Camp Discovery in your long-term estate planning is easy, with the most common ways being to name Camp Discovery as a beneficiary in your will, or by gifting a life insurance policy, an IRA account or other retirement plan. Consult with your professional advisor and share your completed gift plan with us, allowing us to recognize your gift during your lifetime.
Matching Gifts - Do you know that you can double the impact of your donation to Camp Discovery? Many corporations offer to match gifts ranging from $25 to $5,000. Check with your employer or human resources department to see if your company will match your donations to Camp Discovery. This simple step could significantly increase your gift and make an even greater difference in the lives of those at Camp Discovery!
You can feel confident that your support is truly making a difference in the lives of others as Camp Discovery was recognized by the Secretary of State with the Angel Award in for being one of “the most efficient and effective charities soliciting in South Carolina.”
At Camp Discovery, we believe that everyone can benefit from time in nature and understand that learning can be “at the moment” or “lifelong”. Guided by our mission, Camp Discovery programs are designed to improve the wellbeing of individuals at any age by providing significant tools for life through recreation and experiential learning.
Schools Community Programs Youth Groups
Camp Discovery provides a safe and wholesome place for children of all ages and abilities to learn, heal and grow in a natural setting. Our focus is on meeting the needs and interests of participants through enjoyable, innovative programs and carefully designed activities delivered in a supportive, nurturing atmosphere. Programs can be specifically designed for civic clubs, scouting groups, religious organizations of all denominations, youth groups, senior citizens, and all public and private schools.
Tools for Life therapeutic recreation programs
offer specialized recreational activities that focus
on identified concept areas to benefit the overall
needs of the group.
Discovery Days programs provide a menu of
environmental topics to complement classroom
learning through exciting hands-on experiences
and outdoor exploration.
You select the program that works best for your group! Programs
• include recreational, educational & social activities
• can be half-day or full-day
• are designed to meet the individual needs and interests of groups
• are guided by a professional, educated and experienced staff member
• feature more than one hundred acres of classroom
Download a pdf of the Camp Discovery Program Brochure here.
About Camp Discovery
Camp Discovery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing therapeutic recreation and experiential learning in a natural setting. Camp Discovery provides a special place where it is okay to make a mistake and everyone, regardless of abilities or background, is valued for being just who they are!
Camp Discovery offers a more traditional way of experiencing nature, something that is quickly vanishing from the lives of children today. Our day programs are designed to equip children with essential social, emotional and other skills necessary for building positive self-concepts and effective tools for living.
Our History
What started as a dream about bringing together young people of diverse backgrounds in a special place of “discovery” became a reality when therapist Donna Johnson founded what is now known today as Camp Discovery. The original plan was to utilize Camp Discovery for clinical therapeutic interventions, as it still does today, but that plan is growing by leaps and bounds. With the expansion of our therapeutic recreation program offsite, the introduction of a new experiential learning program, and the additions of an outdoor amphitheater and the new Discovery Room opening later this year, we are excited to further our reach and serve those needing it most within our communities.
Our Future
Close to thirty years later, Camp Discovery has become a respected leader in recreation therapy programming touching the lives of over 10,000 children from throughout South Carolina and serving hundreds more each year. As we look ahead, Camp Discovery remains dedicated to meeting the needs and interests of participants of all ages and abilities through innovative programming and carefully designed field trips delivered in a supportive, nurturing atmosphere.
Meet Our Staff
Executive Director- Steve Reynolds
stever@campdiscoverysc.org
Associate Director- Joanna Weitzel
joannaw@campdiscoverysc.org
Program Director- Donna Johnson
donnaj@campdiscoverysc.org
Director of Development- Henry Chastain
hchast1@aol.com
Camp Discovery Board of Trustees
Board Chair- Cindy Nord, PhD
Meadowridge
Owner
Vice Chairman- Kyle Evans
CF Evans Construction
Partner
Trustee- Sindia Rondon
G. Werber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital
Recreation Therapist
Trustee- Lynn Blaylock
TD Bank
Assistant Vice President
Trustee- Dawn Croop
Meadowridge
Kennel Director
Trustee- Stuart Andrews
Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough
Attorney and Shareholder
Trustee- Susan Anderson
Attorney (retired)
Trustee- Ephraim Ulmer
"Living and Learning Through Discovery"
Camp Discovery provides a special place for participants of all ages and abilities to learn, heal and grow through recreation and experiential learning.
Situated among 100 acres of trails, woodlands, pastures, and creeks in Blythewood, SC, our day programs take full advantage of this beautiful landscape and offer the excitement of a natural setting in an emotionally safe, accepting environment. At Camp Discovery, children gain more insight into themselves through enriching, goal-oriented activities and learn essential lifeskills as they discover the great outdoors!
Camp Discovery is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.
Stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings at Camp Discovery!
