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A Typical Day at Stone Mountain School
Stone Mountain School is an exciting and enriching place for boys with ADHD and learning disabilities. Every week, students enjoy a blend of school, adventure trips and extracurricular activities.
On-Campus Schedule
Monday through Thursday students live on our sprawling campus with a lake and wide open green spaces where boys are free to be boys. They wake up in their well-appointed cabins at 6:30 a.m. to scenic views of the North Carolina woods.
The boys spend the majority of the day attending academic classes and working together on group projects. Students also are busy with music, drama and art classes as well as weekly individual and group therapy and individualized academic support from learning specialists, certified teachers and their treatment team.
Meals and snacks take place in our beautiful lodge, a gathering place for good food and good company. All meals consist of natural, fresh and organic foods, expertly prepared by our chef who knows how to make healthy meals that appeal to kids.
After school, students meet with their teachers and therapists to put closure to the school day and receive feedback on their strengths and areas to continue working on. A delicious dinner is served around 5 p.m., followed by campus chores, which help our students develop daily living skills.
In the evenings, students enjoy a few hours of “cabin time” to complete projects, do laundry, shower, read and work on their “hero’s journey” stage books. The moderate climate in North Carolina makes it possible for the boys to enjoy outdoor activities year-round, such as lacrosse matches, soccer games, and other sports and games. In the summer, students may take a dip in the lake or play on our aquatic trampoline.
Every day begins and ends with a group processing session to wrap up the day and set goals for the following day. The lights go out at 9 p.m. for a peaceful night’s sleep.
6:30 a.m. – Wake Up, Personal Hygiene, Cabin Chores and Morning Group
7:45 a.m. – Breakfast
8:30 -11:45 a.m. – Morning Academic Classes
Noon – 12:45 p.m. – Lunch
1:15 – 4:30 p.m. – Afternoon Academic Classes
4:35 - 4:50 p.m. – After School Group
4:50 – 5:30 p.m. – Dinner
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Campus Chores
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. – Cabin Time, Evening Group
9:00 p.m. – Lights Out
Off-Campus Schedule
Stone Mountain students enjoy a vigorous outdoor lifestyle that combines hands-on learning with plenty of time for fun and play. Friday through Sunday students embark on a camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing or climbing adventure trip in the lush wilderness of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests in North Carolina.
A typical weekend begins with packing up gear, going over trip plans and looking at maps on Thursday night in anticipation of Friday’s departure. Groups of students ride to their destination together, singing songs and taking in the sights and sounds of life away from campus. Throughout the trip, the students help with budgeting, calling groups, navigating maps and every aspect of daily life in the wilderness.
In the evenings, the boys gather for a nutritious dinner cooked over a camp stove and “personal reflection time,” when they relax, play games, read, and work on their stage books and assignments. As the sun goes down, another exciting day winds to a close as students fall asleep under the stars.
8:00 a.m. – Wake Up, Personal Hygiene, Pack Up Personal Gear
8:45 a.m. – Cook and Eat Breakfast on Camp Stoves, Morning Group
10:00 a.m. – Activity (hiking, canoeing, service, work project, games, sports)
Noon – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Activity (hiking, canoeing, service, work project, games, sports)
4:30 p.m. – Arrive at Campsite, Set Up Camp
5:00 p.m. – Cook and Eat Dinner on Camp Stoves
6:00 p.m. – Personal Reflection Time, Evening Group
9:00 p.m. – Bed Time
Example Adventure Trip – Black Balsam Knob Loop
The weekend begins with a 1.5-hour drive through the Appalachian Mountains and beautiful Pisgah Forest. The group arrives at the “Mountains-to-Sea” trailhead on lonely route 215. With the Middle Prong Wilderness to the east and the Shining Rock Wilderness to the west, the group hikes up a narrow, twisty trail heading for the night’s campsite near Little Sam’s Knob at 5,750 feet above sea level. Under a starry sky, the group gathers around a small fire to process the day’s experiences.
On Saturday morning, our group starts the day by breaking down camp. The boys dismantle tents, stuff sleeping bags and put their backpacks in a line to be ready for breakfast. After finishing morning group, they head out toward Black Balsam Knob. On the way, they spot deer, coyote and rabbit tracks on the trail.
At lunch, the group breaks out for personal reflection time and completes a journal assignment about their responsibility to nature. Three miles of amazing views later, the group arrives at their campsite, Black Balsam Knob, at an elevation of 6,214 feet. From here, there are no obstructions to a 360-degree view of the Pisgah National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway.
Since the weather report is clear, tonight the group will “cowboy camp” (camp under the stars without tents). As they lay in their sleeping bags gazing at the sky, students and staff point out constellations and count shooting stars. The group has earned its lofty perch through rugged hiking and persistence.
On Sunday morning, the group breaks down camp. From the Knob, the staff points out the trail that will take them winding back to the trailhead. The morning is spent enjoying the scenery and for some, anticipating a hot shower and clean clothes back at their cabin. During evening group, the staff encourages students to reflect on the weekend trip and what they learned. Students discuss difficulties and successes. With the weekend sufficiently processed, the group hits the sack for a well-deserved rest.