Oak Grove Retreat is opening its beautiful and historic lands to help bring mindfulness and peace to our wonderful youth and generations to come. This summer we are excited to now offer a 4 day “mindful packed” youth camp, to explore profound ways to help us all be more mindful and present in our growing lives.
Mindfulness- What does it mean?
Mindfulness is simply... noticing what is happening right now.
Mindfulness is about taking notice of the present moment and all of your senses.
Mindfulness is also noticing what your mind is doing and feeling. When you start to notice what is happening around you, it can help you to calm down when you’re sad, angry or frustrated.
Mindfulness helps you deal with tough emotions, and can also make you happy and feel good.
This youth day camp (4 days) will be centered around mindfulness and being in the present moment. Helping to bring fun and interactive ways to integrate more peace and calm into our children's lives (as well as our own).
Activities Include:
Mindful Breathing- Mindful breathing is a staple when it comes to practicing mindfulness and the foundation of many other exercises. This activity is a great way to bring calm to our minds, bodies, and environments. As well as a fun way to explore our imaginations, as we guide the group through a visual breathing meditation. Instructing to imagine a sailboat that rises and falls as they breathe; with each inhale and exhale, the boat moves gently on top of the water. They also get an opportunity to visualize their breath with a color and focus on the experience of their breath moving through their nostrils. Then imagining that they are now a fish in the ocean. Paying attention to how it would feel to breathe through their lungs for the first time!
Sensory Scavenger Hunt- This activity is a fun and interactive way to spend time in nature, as well as, utilize all 5 senses. What sounds do we hear? What smells? Textures? While also teaching children to pause and fully experience each discovery using their senses mindfully (rather than rushing to complete the hunt). On this fun adventure, we will document our findings in a nature journal using drawings and simple descriptions.
Bird Watching and Mindful Movement- This activity creates bird-inspired movements that combine observation with gentle exercise. We will start by watching local birds, noting their specific movements.
Encourage kids to spread their arms like wings moving slowly while taking deep breaths. While also practicing different bird walks like the penguin waddle or flamingo balance. Including moments of stillness where children stand on one leg like a heron focusing on balance and breathing. While also matching breathing patterns to bird movements: quick breaths for hummingbirds and slow breaths for soaring eagles.
Nature Art- There are so many wonderful and calming ways to incorporate Art and Nature! Some of our favorites include: Animal nature silhouettes, mandala rock paintings, tree “still-life” portraits, and even
collage painting with leaves! Which fun and mindful masterpiece will your child bring home?
Cloud Watching Meditation- (if weather permits)- This is a great activity to transform ordinary cloud watching into a calming mindfulness practice. Encouraging to notice cloud shape patterns & movements without judgment. Inviting each child to breathe slowly while imagining their thoughts floating by like clouds. While incorporating simple prompts like “What animal shapes do you see?” or “How fast are the clouds moving?” to help maintain engagement. This practice helps develop focused patience & creativity while connecting with nature’s ever-changing patterns.
"Be a Tree" grounding exercise- Where we simply pretend to be tall, strong trees. Watching our roots grow deep into the earth, while helping us whenever we need to feel grounded and balanced.
And so many more mindful activities!
Activities will be guided by our very own Kelly Rye and our lovely Oak Grove staff. Kelly has 9+years in youth and early childhoodcdevelopment. Which includes her experiences working as an elementary school art teacher (grades ranging K-5th) and a youth camp art counselor in Greenville, NC.
Now with a holistic approach, she continues her passion of combining art and mindfulness, in hopes that we find the potential to create positive change—offering a roadmap for navigating the challenges of our time. Learning to embrace the present moment, we can lay the foundation for a mindful future—one where conscious choices become the norm, and the well-being of the planet is safeguarded for ourselves, our communities, and the generations yet to come.
“Mindful children, become mindful youth, become mindful adolescents, who become mindful adults”. - Unknown
Mindful Group Options: The 2025 Mindful Youth Camp is a daily drop off camp program (9am-4pm), with no overnight options. Each camp is 4 Days - 9am-4pm - no overnight (single day options available, if your child cannot attend the full 4 day camp week).
Children will be separated into 2 mindful Groups, dependent on age. Both groups will be catered around activities to introduce young children to all areas of mindfulness, including breathing, sensing, calmness, and more! We ask that all children enrolling in the program camps be potty trained. Space limited (20 maximum per group).
Young Seekers: Ages 5-9
Growing Explores: Ages 10-14
Volunteer Option: Ages 15 and up (We are seeking ambitious and dedicated youth and adults, to assist with our youth
educational programs. Volunteers will help staff with a variety of tasks, as well as serving as assistants to camp staff and
instructors. To apply, please email:
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Camp Dates & Details:
June: 9th - 12th (Monday - Thursday)
July: 14th - 17th (Monday - Thursday)
August: 4th - 7th (Monday - Thursday)
4 Days -$222 per child & per camp dates
$566 for all 3 week sessions.
Contact us about individual days or partial week pricing
Membership Discount: If you are not a member of Oak Grove Retreat join today and enjoy the benefits of membership.
Memberships begin at $120 for the year and offer many discounts and perks to all of our Oak Grove events and
programming, including a 20% discount on this and future events. Membership ensures you will receive discounts on classes for an entire year!
To get more information on our membership packages please visit: www.oakgrove-retreat.com/plans-pricing
Sibling Discount: The sibling discount will give $10 off each camp registration, after the first child. The discount is available for siblings enrolling in camps during a single transaction. It CANNOT be transferred or back dated. There are no limits on how many times it can be applied as long as these requirements are met.
Scholarship Discount: A limited number of full and partial scholarships will be available. Scholarships are based on financial need. For more information, to receive a scholarship application, or to donate to our scholarship fund please contact Kevin Wilson, Programs Director at Oak Grove Retreat, via email
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Additional Details:
● During camp we will have a scheduled snack time (9:45am) and lunch break (12:45). Due to diet restrictions and
allergies, Oak Grove Retreat will not provide a snack or lunch. Parents/guardians are responsible for packing
snacks, lunch, and water for their camper.
● We encourage you to dress your children for mess and outdoor fun. Our daily activities will be both indoor and
outdoor, so please have your child dressed comfy yet active (with proper walking shoes). Indoor activities will be
inside our well air-conditioned St. Annes Chapel. Outdoor activities will be safely guided by staff in surrounding
grass areas, as well as our nearby zen nature trail, and labyrinth.
For more information or questions, please contact: Kelly Rye at
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