FAQs & Policies

The first two weeks of camp (June 8–12 and June 15–19) will be online-only, and our schedule for weeks 3–8 is as follows:

• To enhance safety and keep cohorts from mixing, we will not offer Before Care, After Care or mixed group lunches. 
• To enforce social distancing, all on-campus camps will be capped at 10 students per camp so that students can remain in  cohorts with the same group of students throughout the day.

• Campers and staff will wash hands as advised by the CDC every two hours and as needed.

• Staff will strive to maintain six feet of distance between campers during activities.

• High-contact surfaces will be continually cleaned.  

• All campers and summer team members  will be asked to wear masks. Upon arrival, they will have their temperatures checked and parents surveyed before being admitted to any facilities.

• All staff will receive extensive training and practice procedures for two weeks prior to on-campus camps starting on June 22.

• All health forms and an updated COVID-19 camper waiver will need to be updated and submitted by families to be allowed to attend camp, which will be reviewed by our Health and Safety Coordinator. This is all in your Camp Brain account as required paperwork.

We will offer more than 300 camps in 2020 season! Our selections change from year to year and camps are facilitated and designed by each instructor. Some key features of DA Summer 2020 include:

• Camps and classes specifically for Early Learners (grades Pre-k through 1)
• DA Summer Institute camps — a unique opportunity for students to improve fundamental academic skills 
• Digital, fine and performing arts camps
• Athletic camps and clinics
• All-day camps
• Cav Camper flexible registration options
• Hill Learning Center partnership
• Night Cavs intermediate to advanced athletic clinics under the lights!

Create a CampBrain account to view the full listing of DA Summer 2020 programs.

There is no fee for creating an online account!

DA Summer employees are a mix of DA teachers, other professionals, college students and high school students. Generally, the leader of an activity or a camp is a professional. Most DA Summer camps are taught by DA's own in-house faculty and staff. Assistants may be college students or high school students. The mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm creates a dynamic and positive atmosphere.

Any instructors provided by third party vendors must be interviewed, background-checked and trained.

All DA Summer employees are required to complete a background check. Safety training is mandatory for all DA Summer employees. 
Training includes, but is not limited to:

• CPR/AED
• EpiPen
• DA safety procedures

Completion of training includes, but is not limited to:

• Online training videos from Safe Schools

Nov. 29 is an Early Bird Registration for Durham Academy and Hill Learning Center families.

Dec. 14 is the open registration date for all families!

Camps, classes and clinics are determined by your child's age/grade by June 8, 2020.
Early Learners: Pre-k through first grade
Lower School: second through fourth grade
Middle School: fifth through eighth grade
Upper School: ninth through twelfth grade

DA Summer camps are open to campers who turn three before DA Summer begins (campers must be three by June 8, 2020). All three-year-olds who attend our camps must be fully potty-trained, as we do not have changing tables on site. Children should be able to use the restroom with minimal assistance (our Preschool bathrooms have lowered sinks and toilets). Please plan to send an extra pair of clothes just in case an incident occurs.  

We have campuses and classes and clinics for campers of all ages — all the way up to a rising twelfth-grader!

We have exciting new partnerships to appeal to campers of all ages! Camps offered by third parties this summer include:

• Above Edge Driving for 8 weeks of drivers education!
• Anoo Tree Improv
• Barriskill Dance Theatre School
• Bouncing Bulldogs
• Chapel Hill Quest Martial Arts
• Code Moji, Dale Carnegie
• Durham Bulls
• Fitwell Training Solutions
• Flour Power Kids Cooking Studio
• Funtastic Workshop
• Girls Make Games
• Inis Cairde School of Dance
• Little Medical School
• Mad Science
• Mid-South Fencers’ Club
• Munchkin Tennis
• Patent Drive
• RDU Tennis
• SPARK
• Storytelling
• Stylist
• Techsplorers
• Triangle Rock Club
• Triangle Ultimate
• UNC Young Founders Institute
• YMCA

Absolutely! The majority of our campers do not attend Durham Academy during the school year.

DA Summer 2020 will now offer half-day, full-day and flex camp options! Our menu is quite robust with great offerings.

The typical DA Summer schedule offers a morning camp from 9 a.m. to noon and an afternoon camp from 1-4 p.m. Before camp care and after camp care are available. Campers enrolled for both sessions have a supervised lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Week 8 (July 27–31) will be a special full-day camp.

Daily Schedule

• Before Care 7:30–9 a.m.
• All-camp morning meeting on Mondays and Fridays 9-9:15 a.m.
• Morning (A.M.) camp 9-11:45 a.m.
• Recess and snack
• Morning camp pick up at noon
• Lunch supervision from noon–1 p.m.
• Afternoon (P.M.) camps 1–3:30 p.m.
• Recess and snack
• All-camp showcase Mondays and Fridays 3:35-3:50 p.m.
• Afternoon camp pick up at 4 p.m.
• After Care 4–6 p.m.

*Wednesdays include a special treat for campers
*Fridays include a fun theme/dress-up day

We recommend that you take advantage of the Cav Camper as a flexible, affordable option for all sessions with a discounted rate. Parents pay a discounted rate of $175 for a.m. or p.m. options or both, and DA Summer works with the campers the old-fashioned way to find the best fit! 

This year DA Summer will have two primary campuses:

• DA Preschool/Lower School (3501 Ridge Rd.) 
• DA Upper School (3601 Ridge Rd.)

The Preschool/Lower School and Upper School campuses are connected.

Rising Pre-k through fourth-grade camps will be held in DA's Preschool/Lower School building and campers will use the main entrance. Middle School camps will be held in the Upper School's Hock Center and Learning Commons. Upper School camps will all be held in our state-of-the-art STEM & Humanities Center. Both Middle and Upper School campers will also use the Upper School's fine arts facilities. 

We will not be using the Middle School campus located on 3116 Academy Rd, Durham, NC 27707.  

NOTE: If a class or clinic runs off campus or takes field trips off campus, it will be stated in the camp description. All transportation is provided through DA Summer-approved buses. 

To enhance safety and keep cohorts from mixing, we will not offer Before Care, After Care or mixed group lunches in Summer 2020 due to COVID-19.

Preschool/Lower School Camps: Dropoff and pickup for all camps will be in the car line in the front of the Preschool/Lower School (3501 Ridge Rd.) As you pull into the Preschool/Lower School entrance, simply drive straight and go around our carpool loop until you reach the front of the building. DA Summer staff will greet you, help your child out of the car and will either direct them to their camp or escort a group to transition them in to camp depending on their age and comfort level.   

Middle and Upper School Camps: Pick-up and drop-off occurs easily at the Upper School entrance (3601 Ridge Rd.) Simply pull into the Upper School entrance. Middle School camps will be held in the Upper School's Hock Building and Learning Commons. Upper School camps will all be held in our state-of-the-art STEM & Humanities Center. Both Upper School and Middle School camps will also use our fine arts facilities. 

Lead Instructors will be present to supervise all carline transitions and welcome campers.  See the map below to help you smoothly navigate our two car lines. 

Drop Off/Pick Up Schedule

• Drop off for Before Care begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Lower School gym

• Drop off for A.M. camps begins at 8:45 a.m. 

• Drop off for P.M. camps begins at 12:45 p.m..

• Pick up from A.M. camps begins at noon.

• Pick up from P.M. camps begins at 4 p.m..

• Pick up from After Care is by 6 p.m. in the Lower School gym

All children should come dressed appropriately for the camp, class or clinic they are attending.

Arts and crafts camps might require old clothing that can be stained. Athletics clinics will require closed-toed shoes. Preschoolers and kindergartners are advised to bring one change of clothes. Depending on the camp, class or clinic the camper attends, you will receive additional information from their instructor.

All campers should have sunscreen applied prior to arriving at camp and bring a water bottle, snacks and lunch (or an ordered hot lunch) if staying for the full day. 

No, we do not provide lunch; however, we do have a vendor partnership with My Hot Lunchbox that will provide lunch for your child for a fee if they are an all-day camper. This lunch service requires you sign up order and pay through their own websites. My Hot Lunchbox will start to accept orders two weeks prior to DA Summer's first week of camp. 

Yes, we do partner programming so your child can attend both to make a really stimulating and productive day! We provide transportation from Hill Learning Center to Durham Academy (either on a minibus or a supervised walk) for students joining our camps from Hill.

We also include free lunch supervision to help ease the transition. Please pack a lunch and snacks for your child or take advantage of ordering lunch from our third party vendor, My Hot LunchBox. 

No. These camps are intended to help students remain academically engaged over the summer, not as course credit. The only exception is the Wellness course offered only for Durham Academy students.

Durham Academy has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished camp for innovation, leadership and excellence. Campers will explore the use of various drawing tools in their illustrations. DA facilities are equipped with iMac computers. Campers also use a variety of programs that teach pre-keyboarding, keyboarding, general computer readiness, digital citizenship and digital literacy. 

Families interested in athletic camps have several options for their children based on their level of skill and interest.

Beginner camps

Many of our athletic camps have beginner options that help campers develop their skills and most importantly develop a love of the game! These programs are led by our flagship coaches and partners. 

Intermediate to advanced camps

Rising fifth-graders through early high school campers have options where they can experience more advanced instruction and use those developed skills in our premiere athletic facilities. These programs are led by our flagship coaches and partners. 

Night Cavs

Night Cavs campers participate in a combination of intermediate to advanced clinics and specialized skill instruction led by DA varsity coaches and their teams. Campers then scrimmage under the lights to showcase local athletic talent! It's fun for the whole family on a magical summer night — with concessions and food for purchase as an easy dinner option, while watching great play at night. For rising fifth- through ninth-graders.

Nov. 29 is an Early Bird Registration for Durham Academy and Hill Learning Center families.

Dec. 14 is the open registration date for all families!

DA Summer Open Registration for Durham Academy and Hill Learning Center families

• Nov. 29

DA Summer Open House: Durham Academy Lower School

• Dec. 7, 2–4 p.m.
• Feb. 1, 2–4 p.m.

DA Summer Open Registration for All Families

• Dec. 14

DA Summer Open House: Durham Academy Upper School

• April 4, 2–4 p.m.

DA Summer Bubble and Bounce Open House for Summer: Durham Academy Lower School

• May 2, 2–4 p.m.

DA Summer Open House: Durham Academy Lower School

• Dec. 7, 2–4 p.m. in the Lower School gym
• Feb. 1, 2–4 p.m. in the Lower School gym

DA Summer Open House: Durham Academy Upper School

• April 4, 2–4 p.m. in the Upper School Kirby Gym

DA Summer Bubble and Bounce Open House for Summer: Durham Academy Lower School

• May 2, 2–4 p.m. in the Lower School gym

Feel free to email us at summer@da.org or call us at 919-489-3400 with any questions! We're here to help!

A one-time-per-year/per-camper, non-refundable $20 registration fee is charged to cover fees and use of our camp system.

Our classes and clinics base their prices per half-day session: 

• Cav Camper half-day $175, full-day $350

• Preschool/Lower School A.M. or P.M. camp $200, full-day $400

• Middle School A.M. or P.M. camp $210, full-day $420 

• Upper School A.M. or P.M. camp $220, full-day $440

All-day campers enrolled in A.M. and P.M. will receive lunch supervision and a fun activity for no charge.

DA Summer also has a discounted flex option! Cav Campers receive a discounted rate of $175 per program for enrolling as a general student in DA Summer. Then they have the option to mix and match, picking which camp they would like to attend to increase camp enrollment. DA Summer staff works with the camper personally on Monday morning, partnering with families to find a fit with our incredible offerings. We feel that empowering a camper to be adventurous is a great thing for both campers and adults! 

Yes! We have tried to make payment options as flexible as possible. DA Summer has partnered with a new platform (CampBrain) to offer the option of either paying the full camp fee up front, or reserving a camp via a non-refundable $50 deposit for each week of camp. There is also an option to spread out camp payments through June 1. 

A minimum $20 cancellation fee per camp will be applied to all camp withdrawals. This would not apply if a camp is canceled by DA Summer due to low enrollment. If that occurs, we will work with families to transfer their camper to another program. See the Refund Policy FAQ for more details. 

Yes, we require all families to submit a minimum deposit for the programs they are interested in. If you are interested in financial assistance, please use this link to apply.

Financial assistance is awarded by April 15. If you do not receive the level of financial assistance needed, DA Summer will refund your deposit at no cost. 

Some camps have additional costs that might occur when a camp uses additional resources, supply kits or field trips. Several of our camps run by third parties might charge an additional fee.

Fees for Before Care and After Care: 

• Early Drop Off (7:30–9 a.m.): $50

• After Care (4–6 p.m.): $60

• Drop-in for Before Care or After Care: $20/day

Camps Registered for on May 18 or Later

• For camps registered for on May 18 or later, no refunds will be issued.

Camps Registered for Prior to May 18

• If your camp was affected by the change in our schedule due to COVID-19, you will see a cancellation notification and credit for that camp in your Camp Brain account. By early June, we will provide a refund to the credit card on file. 

• Camp withdrawals made with more than two weeks notice prior to the camp beginning are subject to a $20/camp cancellation fee.

• Withdrawals made within 1–2 weeks notice before the start of camp are subject to a $50/camp cancellation fee.

• Withdrawals made within the week before camp begins, or once camp begins are not eligible for a refund.

• Credit card refunds will be automatically refunded to the credit card on file, but please allow 24 hours for the refund to appear in your account.

• Those seeking financial assistance will have their deposit refunded if the award does not meet their needs. 

DA Summer requires a minimum enrollment of 10 campers for most camps. Registered families will be notified at least one week prior to the camp starting date in the event of a cancellation. Program fees are fully refundable when a camp is cancelled by DA Summer and we will assist you in transferring your camper into another offering.

We use Bambora to process all credit cards and debit cards. We will no longer except e-checks or personal checks for our 2020 season due to the untimely nature of refunding them for families. Bambora provides us with our online payment processing. We hope your payment experience is seamless and always reach out to us if you need any help! Bambora also provides different payment plans for camps. 

Please contact summer@da.org if you have any questions.  

Not in 2020, but we hope to offer shuttle and/or bus service for DA Summer 2021.

Yes. Please indicate all authorized pick-up persons during online registration. We do allow campers to carpool with other camp families, but we ask that you update your online account to reflect approved drivers. The DA Summer Office must be given notice prior to a drop-off or pick-up change involving a person who is not among the list of approved drivers or caregivers. It is essential that we receive this information. If there is a change, or someone new will be picking up your child, please send the name(s) in writing to summer@da.org before this person picks up your child.

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Our goal is to make sure campers are safe and secure in every way, especially in their transitions. Uber and Lyft programs are becoming popular and their policies are ever-changing and unclear as a suitable option for camper transportation. Uber and Lyft both have stated policies that will not authorize any student under the age of 18 to use these services. 

Uber’s policy: https://www.uber.com/legal/community-guidelines/us-can-en/

You must be 18 years or older to have an Uber account. This means that you must be at least 18 years old to ride on a bike or scooter or unaccompanied in a car. Adults cannot request a ride for someone under the age of 18 or allow children to ride alone—they must be accompanied by an adult. When ordering food, children are also not allowed to use an adult’s Uber Eats account by themselves.

Lyft’s policy: https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012923127-Safety-policies#age

Unaccompanied minors are prohibited from traveling with most carriers, including TNCs. A passenger must be 18 to sign up for a Lyft account, but if a driver believes a passenger might be underage, the driver may ask the passenger to confirm their age. The driver may also let a passenger know that the driver will have to cancel the trip if the passenger is indeed under 18.

DA Summer understands that transportation can be a challenge over the summer. We want to support our summer families every way we can. We are proud to partner with Precious Cargo Child Transportation Services to help children get to and from camp. 

All DA Summer drivers are over the age of 25 and trained to operate our school vehicles. 

The North Carolina car seat law states that a child less than 8 years of age and less than 80 pounds in weight must be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system. This means that parents of children covered by this requirement must send a car seat when their children are participating in a camp that involves trips.   

Instructors will provide parents in advance with trip information. 

Campers should pack a lunch and a couple of snacks for the day. We include free lunch supervision with activities and group campers based on their ages. Some of the best times are had during our lunch bunch. 

Please provide your child with a sturdy lunch container. Lunch box refrigeration is not available, so please keep this in mind when planning menus. We ask that soda and candy be excluded from camp lunches. For morning campers, please include a designated item for a mid-morning snack. It is helpful when your child’s snack is packed separately from their lunch. 

DA Summer is also partnering with My Hot Lunchbox to provide lunch for your child for a fee if they are an all-day camper. This lunch service requires you sign up order and pay through their own websites. My Hot Lunchbox will start to accept orders two weeks prior to DA Summer's first week of camp. 

My Hot Lunchbox

• Ordering closes at noon on the day prior to the delivery day. This allows vendors adequate time to prepare food as well as gives the parent time to order. Vendors will receive final orders at noon day before delivery. This means any cancellations need to be made by this time as well.
• My Hot Lunchbox offer credits, not refunds, within their ordering system if a meal is cancelled before the deadline. If there is an issue with a meal or it is missing, their Customer Service Team will need to be contacted in order to issue a credit.
• Once you have created an account, you can view the daily menus on the Lunch Calendar page by clicking on the day of the week. You can also select the“YourOrders” tab to the left of the calendar to view any pending or paid orders as well as transaction history.
• They work with local, high-quality restaurants that are pre-approved. They are expected to be prompt and deliver hot, fresh meals to camp.
• They accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and debit cards.

Lunch supervision and programming is free for campers attending both an A.M. and P.M. camps during a given week. Campers enrolled all day will enjoy lunch in either a social communal space with games and activities or the camper can opt for a quiet area to read and recharge. Camp staff will assist all campers to and from A.M. and P.M. classes and clinics. 

New for our 2020 season: campers will be organized by similar grade levels for lunch. We do feel that this social setting at lunch is best with similar ages grouped together to facilitate new friendships.

Ages three to rising kindergarten will eat together with a very high adult-to-camper ratio to ensure healthy and safe eating. Older camper lunch groupings will include first- and second-graders, rising third- and fourth-graders, Middle School campers and Upper School campers. If your camper wants to see their sibling during lunch, there is a short recess period during this time with mixed age groups. 

Due to the growing need to protect all campers from dietary restrictions and allergies, we will not provide snacks for our A.M. or P.M. campers for the 2020 season. There will be a snack break during camp, so please be sure to pack a healthy snack that best fits your child’s needs. We will provide snacks for campers in After Care, and please know that campers are always welcome to buy snacks from our DA Summer Camp Store.

No, our programs and campuses are not nut free. Please contact DA Summer with any questions or concerns at summer@da.org.

During online registration, you are asked to indicate your child’s food allergies so that our team members will be aware of them. If your child’s allergies are airborne or otherwise severe, we can provide a separate lunch table that we will wipe down before and after lunch. Please know that we are not a nut-free facility. If your child experiences medical changes after you have completed online registration, please provide updates by email. This year we are limiting our snacks to After Care to help address allergy concerns. 

Parents should bring EpiPens directly to the DA Summer Health and Safety Coordinator prior to the start of camp. All medication should be in a labeled bag, and must be in the original container labeled with the child’s name and the prescriber’s instructions. 

All mandatory medical information is captured through the online application.

If your child requires medication or has allergy concerns, please provide these details in advance on DA Summer health forms so we may inform instructors and form a team approach to support your camper. The Summer Health and Safety Coordinator will require a written note or email explaining medical concerns prior to the first day of the class or clinic your camper is attending. You can contact us at summer@da.org (attention Summer Health and Safety Coordinator.) 

Our staff cannot dispense medication to any camper unless parents bring their child's medication to to the Summer Health and Safety Coordinator in the original container with written permission and directions for administering the medications. 

If your child is sensitive to sun exposure, please send them to camp with sunscreen already applied and provide additional sunscreen in their backpack. Due to potential allergies, camp staff will not apply sunscreen for campers unless you provide permission for sunscreen application through a medical form. 

It is essential that each camper brings a water bottle to camp. Water stations will be provided at recess and during play.

A hat may be useful during outdoor activities.

On days of extreme heat and/or humidity, our Summer Health and Safety Coordinator will determine the appropriate amount of time spent outside to ensure the safety of all campers.

All serious injuries or health concerns are directed immediately to the Summer Health and Safety Coordinator, who is on duty from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If necessary, the Summer Health and Safety Coordinator will arrange for emergency transportation, and parents (or emergency contacts) will be notified as soon as possible using the contact information on file.

Our Before Care and After Care directors are first aid and CPR trained. Instructors of camp programs that travel off campus, as well as many of our other assistant instructors are trained in CPR and first aid. Instructors taking campers off-campus, are also trained in the use of EpiPens. Please note that if your child may require an EpiPen, you must supply the medication to the Summer Health and Safety Coordinator. 

If a child develops a fever or presents with an illness during camp hours, parents or guardians will be contacted and asked to pick up the camper as soon as possible. Children need to be fever-free or illness-free for 24 hours before returning to camp.

Head lice may be spread anywhere there are children. They do not represent a disease or infection and can be readily treated, but, if not treated, head lice can have a strong impact in the camp setting. Since lice are transmittable, any child the camp suspects of having head lice will be sent home for treatment right away. If lice or nits are found, parents will be asked to hold the child out of camp for 24 hours so that treatment can be properly administered. Students with active lice or nits will not be allowed on any Durham Academy campus. This policy applies to all camp activities as well. Students with active lice or nits will not be permitted to participate in camp activities until 24 hours after the treatment has been applied. Should there be cause to suspect an emerging problem, Durham Academy will enlist the help of the Summer Health and Safety Coordinator or another professional to perform head lice checks on children at camp.  

In the event of camp closing or schedule change due to inclement weather or a camp emergency, Durham Academy will communicate this information to families in a number of ways. 

• An email and text message will be sent to all Instructors, staff and parents or guardians based on information listed in the Camp Brain database. Please make sure the contact information in your profile is current and correct.

• A pop-up announcement will be posted to the homepage of the Durham Academy website (www.da.org).

• Camp closings or changes will also be announced on the camp’s primary social media accounts (Twitter @summeratDA and Instagram @summeratDA)

• For delayed openings, camp directors will follow the initial delay announcement with an email further outlining arrival/dismissal times, the day’s schedule and any After Care cancellations.

• You may call or email the DA Summer office (summer@da.org or 919-489-3400) and choose the appropriate extension with any questions. We will try to reply as soon as possible. 

DA Summer camps draw from a large geographical area. In the event of an early dismissal due to inclement weather, DA Summer staff will keep campers safe and secure and remain in close communication with parents or guardians. 

Just as we nurture and encourage campers’ academic and physical growth, we also strive to support our campers’ character growth. We promote and model kind and respectful treatment of children and adults, and we value the acceptance, appreciation and inclusion of others. 

Campers whose actions and/or statements demonstrate a pattern of disrespect or indifference to the school’s mission, values and program may be considered out of sympathy with Durham Academy and separated from the community.

After a class or clinic has begun, if DA Summer staff becomes aware of specific medical, behavioral or emotional needs that cannot be accommodated by our staff, or if the camper is uncooperative with instructors or is a detriment to other students, DA Summer reserves the right to remove the camper from any current or future camp, class or clinic that they may be registered to attend without refund.
 

Camp Rules and Expectations

Each camp is governed by a lead instructor and an assistant instructor with rules and expectations. While there are minor differences from camp to camp, each instructor emphasizes the same values: making good choices and treating others and their belongings with respect.

While we actively promote the positive behaviors we value, there are behaviors that we actively discourage. Instructors and administrators seek to intervene effectively in instances where misbehavior has occurred, poor choices have been made, or students have been unkind or unhelpful to each other.

We have identified several behaviors that have a particularly high potential to harm others and are specifically disallowed.:

• Punching, kicking or jabbing

• Spitting, biting, pushing, shoving or slapping

• Name-calling based on personal or family characteristics (disability, race or ethnicity, religion, income, ability, appearance, gender, etc.)

• Threatening physical harm or violence

• Threatening others with words or actions

Campers who display these behaviors will be subject to discipline, and the incident will be reported to the camp office. Consequences will be determined based on the nature of the offense and the camper’s age/history, and parents or guardians will be informed.

Consequences may include the following:

• Verbal warnings or explanations

• Acts of apology

• Written reflections

• Parent phone calls and/or meetings

• Conversations with administrators

• Temporary removal from the camp setting

• Removal for the summer 

Fighting cannot and will not be tolerated. 

Students may not possess—on or near camp property, on a camp trip or during a camp related  activity—any weapon, including but not limited to: knives, weapons or explosives, or any facsimile of a firearm. The possession of juuling/vaping paraphernalia, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or illegal substances is strictly forbidden. No one is permitted to carry any kind of firearm on Durham Academy's campus unless they are licensed and working within their jurisdiction. North Carolina law prohibits weapons of any kind, even firearms that are registered and licensed, on DA or other school campuses, unless they are carried by a security officer qualified to carry a weapon under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 and applicable state law.

In keeping with North Carolina state law, the camp reserves the right to search a student’s property including car, locker or person if there is reasonable suspicion that the student is in possession of any item that violates camp policy. Anything found that is in violation of the rules of the camp, poses a danger to the community or breaks the law will be confiscated, and that student will be subject to the camp’s disciplinary procedures and will be asked to leave the campus.

All members of the Durham Academy community have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. Sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment violate DA’s fundamental commitment to according each member of the camp community the fullest measure of dignity and respect to which they are entitled as a human being. Diverse religious, socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations and different learning styles are represented within the campers  and instructors. The camp values the healthy and dynamic environment this diversity provides. 


Durham Academy believes in providing an atmosphere conducive to personal, social, intellectual and academic growth. DA believes there is no justification for, and will not tolerate, bullying, harassment or intimidation on any grounds whatsoever, including but not limited to sexual orientation, gender, religious belief, race, ethnic or cultural heritage or learning style. DA faculty, staff and campers  are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe on the rights or dignity of others. Acts of sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment occurring among DA faculty, staff and campers are not tolerated by Durham Academy, whether they occur on or off campus.

Any camper who believes they have been the target of bullying or harassment from any member of the camp community should contact an instructor, DA Summer Health and Safety Coordinator, camp coordinator or the Director of DA Summer. 

Lead instructors are the recommended first contact for parents. Parents may contact them directly at any time. These instructors have all provided their email in their course description and are happy to answer any questions before, during or after camp. Lead instructors are also expected to send a welcome email to campers and their parents or guardians with details for the upcoming camp. Lead instructors will also update families via email during the week and will welcome parents to demonstrations at the end of camp sessions if those are offered.

Contact DA Summer:

• Katie Kantz, Director of DA Summer: 919-489-3400 (ext. 6114)
• Whitney Sandor, Director of DA Summer Business and Enrollment: 919-489-3400 (ext. 6357)
• William Edwards, Director of DA Summer Athletic Programs: 919-489-3400 (ext. 6313)
• Summer Main Office: 919-489-3400 (option 8) 
• Email: summer@da.org
• Follow us on Twitter @summeratDA, and on Instagram @summeratDA