summer fun in scottsville
ubuntu - I am because we are—
A nature and arts camp
Early bird special: $375/week
after April 30: $400/week
Camp Ubuntu is a four-week summer program that invites children ages six (6) to ten (10) to explore nature, creativity and community through visual and performance arts with outdoor adventures.
Campers will start at the SCAN Land (455 Hardware Street) hike to Victory Hall Theater (401 Valley Street) and visit the Gallery on Valley (460 Valley Street).
Each week offers a playful mix of imagination and self-expression. The campers will participate in taking a book and making it into their own play. They will make their costumes and assist in building the set. Each Thursday afternoon, they will produce and perform in their own creation!
what 2025 parents said:
“Please keep offering this. Twins just loved it! It was great.”
“Please offer more weeks! My child loved every minute of it!”
“I would like to see it grow and I know it will with this great team. Also, the performance was rated "10"
The team
Nicki Peasley, Camp Director
Nicki Peasley brings 25 years of experience teaching and working with children. Above all, she believes in the power of nature to inspire, to heal, and to awaken us to joy. Nicki has an extensive background in social-emotional learning and nature-based expressive arts facilitation. A writer, storyteller and actress, Nicki loves bringing stories to life on stage. And she is thrilled to offer children the opportunity to explore their creativity and express their unique brilliance. Nicki’s heroes are Henry David Thoreau and Lucille Ball. Camp Ubuntu is the union of their amazing spirits!
Mary best bova
Expressive arts facilitator
MARY BEST BOVA is a 40+ year theatre professional. She served for over a decade as Resident Director for Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA, where she created the educational wing and directed Mill Mountain’s youth programs and summer theatre camps. Mary was the artistic director for three PEACE CHILD the Musical, international tours with teens from the USA and the former Soviet Union. The cast from PEACE CHILD tours culminated in a presentation at the United Nations in NYC. While serving as resident director at MMT, she directed many of the winners of the Norfork Southern Festival of New Works as well as seasoned scripts such as The Glass Menagerie, True West, and Road to Mecca. Mary served as Associate director and founding member of The Roanoke Children’s Theatre. Honk!, The Boxcar Children, and Pinkalicious The Musical are a few of her productions with RCT. Mary was seen on stage as Mag in The Beauty Queen of Leeane for the Henley Street Theatre/ Richmond Shakespeare. Recently she was seen as Grace in Victory Hall Players production of Tom Ziegler’s play Grace and Glorie.
Mary holds an MFA from VCU and a post graduate acting degree from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London, England.
Maggie Allen, camp intern
Maggie Allen will graduate magna cum laude from James Madison University this spring with a degree in psychology. Her capstone project has deepened her interest in motivating and engaging children both inside and outside the classroom. With a passion for nature and creative expression, Maggie is excited to bring her academic background to life—sharing her love of the arts and the outdoors while inspiring children to learn, explore, and grow.