We will work with two outfitters near Bryson City, North Carolina: the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Wildwater Nantahala. The NOC and Wildwater have been industry leaders since 1971, providing guided outdoor adventures to visitors from around the globe. We plan to hike the local trails, scale a climbing tower, complete a zipline canopy tour, take a dip in Lake Fontana, and of course raft the famous Nantahala River. All trips will be guided by NOC and Wildwater professionals, with assistance from Certified Teachers for the Visually Impaired.
Setting — the Nantahala Gorge and Blue Ridge Mountains
The rivers, ridges, and trails of the Blue Ridge Mountains serve as our base camp. The Nantahala Gorge is about an hour from Asheville, outside of Bryson City, NC.
Bravo Nantahala Adventure Camp is a four-night, five-day outdoor adventure camp for blind youth in the Nantahala Gorge, near Bryson City, North Carolina. We plan to hike, raft, climb, swim, and zip in and around the Nantahala Gorge in Western North Carolina. 2026 is our eleventh year hosting an outdoor adventure camp for the blind.
Jay Hardwig (Executive Director) is a certified teacher for the visually impaired who has worked with children with blindness and low vision for more than twenty years. He has directed summer camps for children with vision loss for over 15 years. Nita Smith (Lead Teacher) is a certified teacher for the visually impaired who has worked in the field for more than 30 years. She has worked in camps for kids with blindness and low vision since 1992. In addition to Jay and Nita, BRAVO hires experienced teachers for the visually impaired, orientation and mobility specialists, and blind and visually impaired adults with outdoor experience to staff our summer camps. Our teachers have worked with us for many years, and bring a wealth of experience to our camps.
We do it for all the usual reasons: to build confidence and competence, to encourage teamwork, to improve problem-solving skills. Essential traits for all children, but perhaps more critical for the blind and visually impaired. Our campers grow up in a world that is skeptical of their skill. They hear too many messages of blindness as a disability, and live in a world of overabundant caution, with too many can'ts in the places of cans. In hitting the trail, we hope to fight this impulse: to expand possibility, reward curiosity, and nurture the spirit of adventure that beats in every heart.
Tuition for Bravo Adventure Camp ranges from $0–$1,500, depending on ability to pay. No camper will be turned away due to lack of funds. We can also work with your state Division of Services for the Blind to cover part or all of the cost of camp.
While we will provide 24-hour supervision and emergency care as needed, we are not able to provide 24-hour nursing care to campers with significant medical needs.
Sleeping arrangements — bunkhouse at Wildwater Nantahala
We'll have bunkhouse lodging at Wildwater Nantahala, with separate rooms for boys and girls. Camp counselors will sleep in the bunkhouses to provide 24-hour supervision.
Asheville is the hub for travel in and out of Western North Carolina. The Nantahala Gorge is about an hour from Asheville, outside of Bryson City, NC. We ask families to meet us at camp if possible; if not, give me a ring and we'll see what we can work out.
