The Magic Of Family Camp

Tune out the rest of the world and tune in to what really matters.

- Crystal O’Gorman

Family camp is the getaway that brings families closer together. Forget about chores and the schedule of events. Bring your attention and imagination. Immerse yourself into adventure and play. Huddle up and get cozy by the campfire. Family camp gives parents the opportunity to fully engage with their children without having to compete with digital devices, the never-ending to-do list or daily routines.

FAMILY-OWNED FAMILY CAMP

Anne Trufant, co-owner of Camp Kahdalea for girls and Camp Chosatonga for boys holds passionate beliefs about how family camping experiences have improved the lives of her family and other families she has worked with.

“It’s been a profound experience, not only to bring up our children here, but there have been thousands of folks to come up here,” she says of the camps, both located in Brevard. “We are about impacting lives and helping families come together. We want to create a space where they can come and just be together.”

Anne and her husband, David, purchased Camp Kahdalea and Camp Chosatonga 30 years ago. The two share a love for summer camp spawned from their younger years as campers, and their mission is to pass that on to the next generation.

As a mother of seven children, Trufant says it was life changing to move from Louisiana to the Blue Ridge Mountains and create “something of great value” for children and parents. She continues to share her passion for camp with her son, Jeffrey, who works as program director of the camps; and with her grandchildren, whom attend camp now.

Family camp takes place at Camp Kahdalea — also known for its all-girls summer camp — over one long weekend each August. Located near Pisgah National Forest, the camp spreads over 180 acres of wooded land offering hiking trails, streams and Lake Kahdalea.