Summer 2023 camps
Registration to open on February 1st
Don’t peek! We’re behind the scenes redesigning our best summer yet. Stay tuned & mark your calendars - Summer 2023 Camp Registration opens February 1st!
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SUMMER CAMPS
We’re looking forward to another outstanding summer with your kids!
About our Day Camps
The Vashon Wilderness Program’s summer day camps are a place for children to make real and deep connections with nature, while having a great time learning about the mystery and magic of the local ecology. VWP’s incredible nature connection mentors spark kids’ curiosity and unveil the secrets they need to: discover the tracks and trails of local mammals; forage safely for food and medicine from the forest; stay found while traveling in totally unknown territory; build shelters; decode the language of the birds; and so much more. Beyond these lessons learned, kids awaken to their own aliveness that comes from being truly immersed and engaged in the natural world. Come have a blast, learn and grow with VWP this summer!
ABOUT OUR TEEN ADVENTURE CAMP
Our mentoring model engages students’ natural intelligence and awakens their innate abilities to perceive and connect with the world around them. As teens expand this awareness and pay attention to their inner voice, they can connect more deeply to their intuition, and their heart’s desire. They develop an understanding of the natural flow of things that puts them in better balance with themselves and the world around them. As their confidence grows, they find themselves more firmly on the path towards developing into physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually centered people.
Our Teen Paddle & Camp Adventure empowers teens to push physical and mental edges, awaken a wonder and skill-set for connecting deeply with nature, express their authentic selves, and source their inner resilience as they build true community with their peers and mentors.
Our mentors
Our camps are led by our awesome Coyote Mentors and highly skilled teen Young Mentors. All adult mentors maintain CPR/First Aid certification, and many also maintain addition certification in Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder. Our summer camp staff are typically the same seasoned staff that work in the field all school-year. The Summer 2022 crew all have months of Covid safety training and experience under their belts.
GROUP SIZES
We maintain small groups called pods: 1 adult + 1 teen per 6 campers ages 4-6 years; and 1 adult + 1 teen per 8 campers ages 7-13. Our teen paddle & camp adventure will include 14 teens: 3 adult staff. We follow all WADOH and King County Health guidelines for maintaining small group sizes.
Location
All camps take place on beautiful Vashon Island, just s short ferry ride from Seattle or Tacoma. Our summer day camps are held at Island Center Forest, a 370-acre working forest and nature preserve featuring various forest stands, meadows, the Mukai Pond and Meadowlake Pond wetlands, and home to the headwaters of Judd Creek. Field trips are held at Camp Sealth, 400 acres of woodland, wetland, and beach.
Thank you to King County Parks & Recreation, Vashon Adventures and Camp Sealth for helping us get more kids outside and connected with nature, community, and themselves!
OUR SUMMER GUARANTEE
COVID-19 REFUNDS
Families are eligible for a full 100% refund of all payments for a summer program if:
Vashon Wilderness Program cancels any summer program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *
Families are adversely impacted by COVID-19 (job loss, illness, caring for sick family members, etc.) and have to cancel their registration.**
*This applies in full up to the start of the program and will be prorated after that for days attended.
REGULAR CANCELLATION POLICY
If you need to cancel your registration for any other reason, normal cancellation fees apply:
30 days or more prior to the camp start date: full refund minus a $50 admin fee
16-29 days prior to the camp start date: 50% refund
15 days or less prior to the camp start date and once the course has begun: no refund