Prepare for a successful experience
PARI camps allow visitors to explore their passions, discover new interests, and expand academic boundaries while embarking on exciting adventures in the spectacular Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Mountain region.
See the places a camper may visit, and the fun things we do on campus
Whether you drive, fly, or get beamed by a transporter, here is how to find our coordinates
Later to bed and later to rise gives us more time under dark skies
As a campus dedicated to astronomy we make sure campers see the sky every chance they get. That means we stay up a little later and get up a little later so our schedule is shifted towards the evening. We won't be pulling any all-nighters, but we'll often be out after dark.
Field trips, weather, and special events might alter a few days, but the normal schedule is like this:
* Especially for the more academically intensive camps, classroom and lecture time will be heavier during the beginning few days of the camp session, but taper off and be replaced with more activity, project, and research time as the camp progresses. This allows us to provide the knowledge and training necessary to use scientific instruments and data safely and successfully!
Blue Ridge Mountains, Pisgah National Forest, Land of Waterfalls
PARI's home is in one of the must beautiful parts of the country. There is a reason so many summer camps are in this region. Whether it's competitions and experiments with rockets and robots, or journeys to waterfalls, your time at camp will be full of memories!
Did you know that PARI is also in the Appalachian Temperate Rainforest? Read about it!
Safety is our top priority at PARI. Our counselors and staff are carefully screened and trained in first aid and CPR. Campers are supervised at all times. Camper orientation and safety guidelines are communicated on arrival day. Here are topics we cover:
The wildlife section also contains some interesting and unique creatures only found in our region!
Campers are expected to be respectful and courteous to one another, to camp staff, to people who visit us, and people at places we visit.
They are expected to treat the campus facilities and equipment with care and respect, at PARI, and anywhere we visit. They should observe the rules and act in a way to preserve the safety of themselves, others, and the spaces around them.
Campers should be prepared to participate fully in the camp program during both academic and recreational portions of the camp. They should have curiosity and a willingness to learn and experiment, experience new things, and support their teammates.
They must keep in mind that in science, experiments don't always yield the result that was sought, but results are still valuable. In the same way, in other camp activities, you may not know the value of your participation until you get in and try.
PARI believes that while the clock is an important tool to guide our day, it is not more important than the experiences, engagement, and inspiration we can provide.
Camp schedules are intended to provide a general idea of the schedule to be followed during the camp session. Activities may shift due to weather, guest speaker availability, or unique astronomical events.
Campers must act with honesty and integrity in all aspects of camp. This includes both personally and academically.
Campers must give appropriate acknowledgement or citation to any materials or resources used in the course of their studies an accurately represent what is their own work. Copyright, and terms & licenses for use must be honored. PARI provides guidance and assistance in maintaining integrity in all the work that is conducted during camp.
It is important for camper health, especially when residing closely in a space shared with others, to follow a regular hygiene schedule. Campers will be required to take a shower, using soap, each day.
Laundry facilities are available at PARI and their use will be scheduled to allow campers to wash their clothes when necessary. During camps that last longer than one week, campers will be required to wash their bed sheets once per week. Campers must bring their own detergent.
Hygiene is a top priority and time will be allocated each day to ensure ample opportunity to conduct all necessary personal hygiene tasks.
Campers who do not follow these expectations may be required to leave camp. A camper may not behave in a way that negatively impacts the safety of themselves or others. A camper may not behave in a way that causes harm or removes the ability to have a positive experience at camp, either through words or actions. This includes speech that is hateful, derogatory, or intentionally offensive.
Technology is a great help in studying the universe. PARI is proud to be able to provide all the tools and software necessary to do this. Our computer lab is fully equipped to allow campers to do research, work with data, and present their findings.
Other times the best way to learn about the universe is hands-on experiments and projects that can be done without a computer or electronics of any kind. Whether its building a model rocket, creating a landing craft, or observing the night sky, we set technology aside when our hands and brains will get the job done.
The use of personal cell phones, smart phones, or related devices will be restricted while at camp. There are no camp activities or challenges that require them. We find that their presence serves as a strong distraction from learning and building friendships between campers.
The following rules will be in place for all phones and other devices capable of connecting to the internet, data networks, or communication networks that are brought to camp:
PARI has land-line phones that can be used by campers to stay in touch outside of the designated times, and in case of an emergency. We recommend that campers make note of numbers they may need to call with land lines if they need to make a call outside of times when personal phones are available. Camper families may also call PARI's landline phones to get in touch with campers.
Campers should not bring personal electronics such as laptop computers, tablets, gaming consoles, e-readers, etc. to PARI. A computer lab with all necessary equipment and software to complete the camp program is provided and available to all campers.
Devices that are solely capable of playing audio through headphones and do not have the capability to connect to the internet or any other form of communications network may be allowed during certain times.
Cameras that do not have the capability to connect to the internet or any other form of communications network are allowed during appropriate times. Camera use is prohibited within lodging buildings for camper privacy.
A large portion of PARI's campus, including classroom areas, are covered by WiFi or have wired access. Campers will have access to the internet through PARI's network on designated devices. Internet use may be restricted in the types of sites that can be accessed and its use may be logged and monitored. WiFi access points may be turned off after lights out at night or during certain activities.
PARI does not permit the use of software or other resources, digital or otherwise, in any way that violates license or use agreements. Any software that is necessary for a camper to participate in camp will be available on PARI owned equipment.
Violation of license and use agreements, or any pirating of software or digital media or resources, will not be tolerated and may result in loss of access to technology.
Campers will be trained on the proper and safe use of any scientific instruments and equipment they use. This may include:
PARI has dormitory style lodging. Campers are assigned lodging based on gender and age and the facilities used are dependent on the proportions of campers registered for each camp.
Rooms have up to four sets of bunk beds. Shared desks and dressers are in each room. Counselors are housed in the same buildings as campers. Restroom facilities are present in all lodging buildings and are shared by other campers of the same gender and age range and with counselors assigned to that building.
All lodging buildings have common areas where campers in that building can mingle, collaborate, or work. Campers may not enter a bedroom that they are not assigned to or a lodging building in which they do not reside.
Laundry facilities are present on site. Their use will be scheduled to allow fair opportunity to all campers. Campers must bring their own detergent.
PARI provides three meals a day and snacks. Indoor and outdoor dining areas are available.
Camp breakfasts include a vareity of choices. Every day the breakfast bar will contain cereal, oatmeal, grits, fruit, yogurt, a bread such as bagels or english muffins, juice, and milk. On some days alternating hot options will be available such as waffles, pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns, etc.
Lunch and Dinner have a full salad bar and entree bar. The salad bar contains greens, vegetables, proteins, and toppings. The entree bar will have different options each day. Some camp favorites that almost always make an appearance at some point are pizza, mac & cheese and chicken fingers, hamburgers and hotdogs, lasagna, chicken alfredo, stir fry, and chicken sandwiches. Sides and vegetables are always available. Occasionally lunches are brown-bag style with sandwiches, fruit, and sides, like on field trip day.
PARI can accommodate most dietary restrictions so long as they are communicated during the camper registration process or with sufficient advance notice. We may not be able to accommodate any dietary changes that are made after camper arrival.
Snacks are providied, however, campers may bring their own snacks so long as they remain stored in a sealed plastic container. Campers may not store food at any time that is not sealed. Food is not allowed to be stored in the lodging buildings. Designated areas will be provided in other camp buildings. Access to snacks will be provided at designated times throughout the day, typically between lunch and dinner and between dinner and bed time.
PARI is a peanut free campus. If any food is bought that contains peanuts it will be stored in an building that is not used by campers and can be retrieved at the end of camp. If campers with other food allergies that are of a severity that requires additional food restrictions, these will be communicated before camper arrival. Additional snacks beyond those provided may be available for sale in the gift shop.
The arrival window on the first day of camp will be communicated in the registration confirmation email you receive when you register for a specific camp session.
Families needing to make arrangements to arrive outside of these windows should contact us as soon as possible.
We pick up on the first day of camp and drop off on the last day of camp from the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) within specified time periods free of charge. The airport pick up and drop off times are specified during the registration process for each camp. Airport trips outside of those times may be possible for a moderate fee.
Campers flying alone who are minors must make appropriate arrangements with their airlines to fly as an unaccompanied minor. This is usually done at the time of ticket purchase.
1 PARI Drive
Rosman, NC 28772
📲The PARI site has controlled access. The entrance gate may be closed when you arrive.
Use the call button in the silver box to the left of the gate to buzz in.
📶Many cell phones do not get signal near PARI, but you may use our WiFi once you arrive. Please
plan accordingly for your drive.
Campers can receive packages addressed to them at:
1 PARI Drive
Rosman, NC 28772
* Some camps may have adjusted or additional items that should be packed. A packing list specific to your camp will be sent after registration if needs differ from this list. If extra snacks are brought they must be packed and remain stored in a container with a sealable lid. No snacks with peanuts are allowed.
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