Located in the heart of Raleigh, NC, the Poe Center’s fully-immersive summer camp is where health is “the heart” of the experience. Each week focuses on a different aspect of healthy living: nutrition, gardening, physical activity, mental health, body science, and community health. At Camp PlayWELL, kids don’t just hear about healthy habits, they experience and practice them.
Each week will incorporate unique physical activities and games, hands-on activities that explain how body systems function and connect, and nutrition themes that support healthy lifestyles. Campers will also explore how food travels from farm to table and learn about the organizations that support food systems.
Proceeds from Camp PlayWELL support the Poe Center’s non-profit mission to help North Carolinians lead healthier lives. When you send your child to a week of Camp PlayWELL, you are supporting the health-education of children across the state.
General Information
Dates: June 22 – August 14, 2026 (8 weeks total) including the week of July 4, 2026
Schedule: Weekly themed sessions, Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with extended care options
Ages: Rising 1st–5th grade (grouped by age)
Location: 224 Sunnybrook Rd. Raleigh, NC 27610
Camp activities will be conducted inside the Poe Center and outside at PlayWELL Park.
Lunch will be provided at NO COST to all campers, courtesy of WCPSS Child Nutrition Services.
Cost: Starting at $350 per camper per week. Cooking- and garden-themed week rates are $380.
Scholarships are now available. Contact Camp Director Alaina Hart for information and eligibility.
Deposit due at registration: $175 per camper + tax. Deposits are non-refundable and will be applied to the final balance. A final balance invoice will be sent to you in April. The final balance is due by May 15, 2026.
Extended care: Extended care may be arranged for an additional fee. Space is limited to a maximum of 15 campers.
- Morning extended care is between 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.: $20/ week.
- Afternoon extended care is between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.: $30/ week.
- Both morning and afternoon extended care: $50.
Camp PlayWELL’s expertly-crafted, hands-on learning experiences are specifically designed so that kids will learn by doing. Example activities include learning to cook their own foods, discovering the meaning of farm-to-table, learning how to grow produce, exploring body systems, emphasizing the importance of staying active, and more!
Morning
Interactive health-education lessons + hands-on projects
Cooking weeks: Snack creation activity in the CookWELL Kitchen
Garden weeks: Garden craft outdoors in the GrowWELL Garden
Midday
Lunch and outdoor play at the Poe Center’s very own PlayWELL Park
Lunch will be provided at NO COST to all campers, courtesy of WCPSS Child Nutrition Services.
Afternoon
Creative arts and crafts projects, physical activity, reflection, and take-home activities
Cooking weeks: Cooking activities in the CookWELL Kitchen
Garden weeks: Outdoors, hands-in-the-dirt activities in the GrowWELL Garden
Providing campers and staff with a safe, positive learning environment is our top priority. Please review Camp PlayWELL policies and behavior expectations.
Cost: Starting at $350 per camper per week. Cooking- and garden-themed weeks rates are $380.
Lunch will be provided at NO COST to all campers, courtesy of WCPSS Child Nutrition Services.
Deposit due at registration: $175 per camper + tax. Deposit will be applied to the final balance. A final balance invoice will be sent to you in April. The final balance is due by May 15, 2026.
Cancellation Policy: A refund on the balance will be granted to individuals who withdraw a minimum of 14 days before the start date of the selected camp week. Deposits are non-refundable.
Refunds may not be granted for no-shows or withdrawals within one week of the start of the selected camp week.
Extended care: Extended care may be arranged for an additional fee. Space is limited to a maximum of 15 campers.
- Morning extended care is between 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. $20/ week
- Afternoon extended care is between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. $30/ week
- Both morning and afternoon extended care: $50
Camp PlayWELL rates start at $350 per week per child. Special cooking and gardening-themed weeks are available at $380 per week per child.
Lunch will be provided AT NO COST to all campers, courtesy of WCPSS Child Nutrition Services.
A non-refundable deposit of $175.00 per camper is due at the time of registration and will be applied to the total cost of camp based on the number of registered weeks.
Final payment is due May 15, 2026. The Poe Center will issue invoices in April for the total balance due for each camper.
The Poe Center is a non-profit organization that provides health-education programs and resources to classrooms and communities around the state. Read more about our mission here.
When you send your child to a week of Camp PlayWELL, you are helping five more children attend a health-education program with the Poe Center.
224 Sunnybrook Rd. Raleigh, NC 27610
Camp activities will be conducted throughout the Poe Center, including the Atrium, CookWELL Kitchen, GrowWELL Garden, Dental Theater, and PlayWELL Park.
Camp PlayWELL rates apply to each week for each child. There are no discounts.
Any changes to registrations must be submitted in writing to the camp director and will be accommodated based on availability.
Cancellations must be submitted in writing to the camp director at least two weeks before the program start date and are eligible for a refund minus the $175 deposit.
Cancellations made within two weeks of the program start date are not eligible for a refund or credit.
Camp hours are 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Pick up is carpool-style and runs from 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. A photo ID of the authorized pick-up person(s) is required.
A late fee per minute is assessed for those picked up after 4:30 p.m.
If a camper is picked up after 4:30 p.m., there is a $5 late fee accessed for the first minute and a $1 fee for each minute after.
Please read our complete drop-off and pick-up policy here.
Limited spots are available for extended care registrations and may be added at the time of registration.
Morning (7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.) = $20 per week per camper.
Afternoon (4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.) = $30 per week per camper.
Both morning and afternoon extended care = $50.
Camp activities and supervision are provided by the Poe Center’s professional health educators. Professional staff are CPR/AED and First-Aid trained.
Trained high-school and college-aged volunteers serve as camp counselors.
A maximum of 35 campers may attend each week of Camp PlayWELL. Campers are grouped according to age with an average of one counselor for every eight campers (1:8).
Lower Elementary: rising 1st and 2nd grades
Middle Elementary: rising 3rd through 4th grades
Upper Elementary: rising 4th and 5th grades
We are able to accommodate most food allergies with advance notice. The Poe Center is committed to the safety and health of all participants. Necessary precautions will be taken when accommodating children with food allergies and intolerances.
However, the Poe Center cannot guarantee a completely risk-free zone. If your child has a serious food allergy please contact us directly to discuss if appropriate accommodations can be made.
Parents are asked to submit in writing, at the time of registration, of any special circumstances which may affect the child’s ability to participate fully and within the guidelines of acceptable behavior, including but not limited to any serious behavioral problems or special circumstances regarding psychological, emotional, medical or physical conditions.
The camp director may request a conference to discuss the child’s needs and any implications for participation in Camp PlayWELL. The Poe Center’s staff and volunteers are not trained to provide the care needed for children with certain physical or mental health special needs.
The Poe Center does not normally administer any medication and will do so only when directed in writing by the child’s parent or guardian. Medication(s) must be labeled with instructions and placed in a plastic zip-loc bag marked with the child’s name.
In the event of an emergency in which the parent cannot be contacted, emergency medical staff and the Poe Center may take appropriate action in the best interest of the child.
Lunch will be provided for all campers thanks to our partnership with Wake County Public School System Child Nutrition Services.
Alternatively, campers may bring a bagged lunch if they wish. All campers should bring a resusable bottle for water and a daily healthy snack.
- A snack and bottle for water
- Any necessary medication(s) with instructions, labeled in a plastic bag
- Light sweater or jacket
- Sunscreen
- Closed-toe shoes or tennis shoes that are appropriate for physical activity
- A blanket, and pillow for flex time
Please leave electronic devices and toys at home. Weapons of any kind (play or real) are strictly prohibited.
Camp will take place both indoors and outdoors. The indoor facility spaces will primarily be used throughout the day. Outdoor spaces and PlayWELL Park will be used for lunch and free-play activities.
Camp Activities
Spend a summer building self-confidence by participating on hands-on activities taught by the Poe Center’s expert health educators. Campers will also have exclusive access to our newly-renovated PlayWELL Park.
Example camp activities include:
- Cooking and trying new foods.
- Growing produce in the garden.
- Exploring body systems.
- Building social and emotional skills.
- Staying active in fun and creative ways.
Weekly Themed Sessions
Each week focuses on a different aspect of healthy living. Our interactive lessons will empower your child to make healthy choices that will last a lifetime.
This week is an introduction to the Poe Center. Campers will explore the Poe Center’s seven health-education theaters.
Throughout the week, campers will sample CookWELL programs, dig in the GrowWELL Garden, break a sweat in the Nutrition and Physical Activity theater, and explore their feelings and emotions in the MindWELL theater.
$350
This week is dedicated to learning about the human body and all of it’s amazing capabilities. After learning about the various body systems, campers will act as secret agents on a mission to defeat potential health threats by answering health-education questions and making smart health-related decisions.
Other activities include exploring the traffic safety course, playing a life-size “Operation” game, and interacting with the Poe Center’s Cranium Connection.
$350
This week campers will become “junior chefs” as they learn kitchen skills, explore colorful new foods, and make healthy snacks.
Each session features recipes and ingredients from cultures around the world. Campers will leave knowing how to follow a recipe, general kitchen safety, and how to cook nutritious foods.
$380
This week campers will dig into garden life by planting seeds, observing pollinators, and investigating “garden mysteries.”
Campers will have the opportunity to harvest ready-to-eat vegetables and create a simple snack or meal with their fresh produce.
As “Food Detectives,” campers will explore how food systems and community health connect through interactions with local food-pantry / food-bank partners and completing mini health-related service projects.
$380
This week campers will become “junior chefs” as they learn kitchen skills, explore colorful new foods, and make healthy snacks.
Each session features recipes and ingredients from cultures around the world. Campers will leave knowing how to follow a recipe, general kitchen safety, and how to cook nutritious foods.
$380
This week is dedicated to learning about the human body and all of it’s amazing capabilities. After learning about the various body systems, campers will act as secret agents on a mission to defeat potential health threats by answering health-education questions and making smart health-related decisions.
Other activities include exploring the traffic safety course, playing a life-size “Operation” game, and interacting with the Poe Center’s Cranium Connection.
$350
This week campers will dig into garden life by planting seeds, observing pollinators, and investigating “garden mysteries.”
Campers will have the opportunity to harvest ready-to-eat vegetables and create a simple snack or meal with their fresh produce.
As “Food Detectives,” campers will explore how food systems and community health connect through interactions with local food-pantry / food-bank partners and completing mini health-related service projects.
$380
CANCELLED
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Poe Center is no longer able to offer this week of Camp PlayWELL. We apologize for the inconvenience.
This week centers on healthy friendships, self-awareness, mindfulness, and physical activity. Through interactive games, art, and reflection, campers will build a “mindful masterpiece” of team-building and communication skills to enhance their social-emotional capabilities. These new-found abilities can be utilized throughout their lifetime.
$350