CAN's GRANDS CAMP
Grandparents and Grandkids Day Camp
1 Day Camp from 9:30AM to 3:00PM
Dates for the next camp coming soon.
Scholarships are available. If you are interested, contact Lia Miller at 336-303-9963.
Check out the WFMY story on our first camp by clicking the image below
All camps include a Farm to Table Lunch incorporating vegetables from our garden.
Made possible with a grant from
Meet the Team
As Camp Director, Environmental Educator, Permaculture Designer and Artist, Sheppard Byles has spent his career working with the land, people, and art. He draws inspiration from years working in plant nurseries, conducting soil analyses, and working as an environmental educator. Sheppard Graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a BA in Sustainability. He Is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the State of North Carolina and a Certified Permaculture Designer. Shep is leading the efforts to develop the Creative Aging Network’s 10+ acre Campus to provide space for Gardening, Pollinators, Walking Trails and reflective space. He will be teaching about gardening, pollinators, and piedmont flora and fauna. In addition to his work with CAN-NC, Shep also works with an urban farm network in High Point, and a sheep farm in Snow Camp NC.
Nich Rivers has a background as a professional yodeler, garden educator, and art raconteur. He received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Experiential & Outdoor Education. “My grandma started me as her garden helper, and the love for outdoors blossomed from there,” says Nich. He is working as the farm to table coordinator, co-planner, and educator for CAN’s Grands. Wanting to rely on less toxic artistic ingredients led him to explore making natural dyes, pigments, and art through various organic processes.
Alexandra Rivers is an artist and educator originally from New Jersey. She has a B.A. in philosophy with a minor in environmental studies from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. “I moved to the Greensboro area in 2022 to work at Haw River State Park as an outdoor and environmental educator and I have been here ever since,” says Alexandra. At CAN’s Grands she will be teaching freeform kudzu basket weaving. “I learned this style of basketry from Wendy Davis who learned it from renowned indigenous basket-weaver, Nancy Basket. It is through Nancy Basket’s teachings that I have learned to understand the kudzu vine as pervasive, rather than the negative connotation of ‘invasive’ and how to work with it. I am excited to talk about kudzu and weave with everyone!”
Ray Silva is a well-known artist in the area who is an enrolled member of the Laguna-Pueblo Tribe from New Mexico. He is a traditional Pow Wow Dancer & Singer, a traditional flute player and a traditional visual artist (leather work such as concho belts, dream catchers, mandalas, and medicine wheels). Ray has lived in Greensboro for more than 20 years with his wife and fellow artist, Brenda.
Haliwa-Saponi Artist Brenda Silva started dancing and beadwork at the age of 12 and has been creating customized beadwork for Native dancers and other individuals across the US and Canada for 40 years. She also teaches, sings, dances and has participated in special performances both nationally and internationally and has danced in competitions across the US and Canada, winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in Fancy Shawl and Jingle.
Ashley Jones
A sculpture and ceramics artist from Lexington, NC, Ashley incorporates wild clay that she gathers throughout North Carolina into her work to explore the relationship between medium and art. Gathering and processing wild clay has made her more connected to the pieces she creates. Each piece is made with intention and respect for the material and source of clay. She is currently working towards a BFA in Sculpture and Ceramics from UNC Greensboro. Ashley views art as a journey to learn and grow through. She hopes to integrate her artistic practice into my teaching practice, in order to empower students to explore their own creativity.
Get In Touch
Location: 2400 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405
Telephone: 336-303-9963
Email: info@can-nc.org
Hours: M-F: 9am – 5pm
Meet our Staff
Board of Directors
