ARDEN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A family entertainment center in southern Buncombe County is expanding its summer camp offerings as demand for child care and outdoor activities continues to grow.
Lakeview Putt and Play will add a sixth week to its Lakeview Putt and Play Summer Camp this year, citing high demand for its limited enrollment spots. The camp serves children ages 7 to 12 and runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with limited after-hours care available until 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee.
The cost is $300 per week, with a $25 deposit due at application.
Owner Leslie Blaylock founded Lakeview Putt and Play as an inclusive space where families and friends of all ages could gather. In 2019, Blaylock launched the summer camp to introduce the facility to more families while helping address a growing need for summer child care in the area.
Working with manager Dusty West, Blaylock developed a curriculum focused on experiential learning and active play. Unlike many indoor camps, Lakeview emphasizes its three-acre, lakefront property, incorporating outdoor activities such as miniature golf, laser tag and Gellyball.
Campers also participate in team-building exercises, gross motor play and new games designed to support physical and social development. Indoor activities include virtual reality gaming, gem mining, arts and crafts and science projects.
Daily instruction in miniature golf techniques is a core part of the program, with campers eligible for awards such as most improved, lowest score and most holes-in-one. Organizers encourage participants to compete in the junior division of the facility’s annual fall Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Some former campers have gone on to play golf for their middle and high school teams, organizers said.
One unique feature of the camp is its partnership with Sweet Abode Artisanal Soap, which provides an educational soap-making class. During the session, children create their own themed soap bars through guided storytelling led by the shop’s owner.
Organizers describe the end of each summer as bittersweet, saying the work can be demanding but rewarding as campers form friendships, develop new skills and often return year after year.
