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Experience the presence of God through wind and water, story and song, and friendships that last a lifetime. Don Lee Center has offered Christian camping experiences to all ages for more than 70 years.
Nestled on the north shore of the Neuse River near Oriental, North Carolina, Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center is an ideal setting to learn sailing, explore God’s creation and grow in faith.
Don Lee Summer Camps offer a nationally recognized program of excellence in sailing and coastal adventures centered around small group Christian living. The primary goal of the many summer programs offered is to teach campers what it means to work as a team and help them develop their faith all while having fun participating in amazing activities.
Don Lee Center offers ideal programs for children and youth through the [Common Ground](https://donleecenter.org/school-programs/common-ground/) school program looking for cooperation and team building skills. [Coastal Communities](https://donleecenter.org/school-programs/coastal-communities/), a school program that takes a closer look at the coastal and river ecosystems, helps nurture over 6000 students each year.
Don Lee Center also serves as a [Retreat Center](https://donleecenter.org/retreats/) offering a place for groups of all sizes and backgrounds to come together and bond through fellowship during meals and activities. We have hosted various groups ranging from families to church groups to college organizations.
Don Lee Center seeks to nurture persons to become spiritually mature who, motivated by God’s love, will live and practice lifestyles of care for the common good.
Don Lee Camp & Retreat Center is affiliated by faith with The North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and is operated by NC United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries, Inc.
Best place to send your children during the summer. Hands down for decades.
Wonderful camp with great amenities! Miss Mo and kitchen staff cooked up yummy food for each meal…like no other “camp” food I’ve ever had. I ate better at Don Lee than I ever would at home 😂 10/10 recommend!
I have brought a group of campers here for the last three years, and every time I am blown away by the professionalism of the staff, the cleanliness of the camp, and the care all of the counselors take with the students. The sailing staff really knows what they are doing, and they make sure the students are not only safe but have a great time. The food was great! The leaders accommodated the tricky food allergies in our group, and were wonderful to work with at every turn. I highly recommend Camp Don Lee!
I have attended this summer camp for 8 years I loved everything about it as a kid. This past year 2023 was by far the worst experience I’ve had at CDL, Kat and the younger lady with tattoos all over made a lady very special to cry. The lady cried because of how the group of children and teenagers they bring to this camp every year for many many years now were being mistreated. The kids they bring to this summer camp all have either hemophilia, cancer or sickle cell, the way they made these kids feel that year for a week was disgusting. The staff counselors for CDL were rude and disrespectful especially Michael (white guy pretty smile) the counselors had a problem with some of the kids not wanting to get in the pool this is were the lady with tattoos made my special lady cry. The kids who didn’t want to participate in the pool activity were the campers with sickle cell, the kids explained to the counselor what sickle cell was and how it affects their body. The counselor still wanted everyone in the pool they didn’t listen of course, it was not warm enough for a person with sickle cell to be in water that day they explained to the lady with tattoos who already reported the campers numerous times for petty things. This lady called my lady to tell her the campers are being disrespectful and everyone should participate my lady kindly told her what this pool issue was for the campers. I’m not sure what was said after that I walked away because that tattoo lady wasn’t trying to be understanding but turning around seeing my special lady crying took me all the way there. I said what I said to kat and the tattoo lady packed my bags and left that night I will no longer be returning to this camp yes I do believe it was a racial thing going on that year we have never had problems at this summer camp with kat or anyone else until the tattoo lady was present. Ps I would not send my kids here it’s supposed to be a Christian camp but as a volunteer there and not a camper I have noticed it is more sexual activities going on than praying.
