summer camps of the south sound

For kids that have been cooped up most of this school year, one way to count down the days until summer is to start planning for summer camp. From hiking to canoeing to coding, summer camp offers many opportunities for adventures and for building new friendships. Programs have been adapted to ensure safe and healthy in-person learning environments this summer. Most camps are operating at a limited capacity, so plan ahead and make it a summer to remember.

DAY CAMPS

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

pdza.org Ages Vary Let’s go to the zoo! Zoo campers participate in lively lessons about animals, ecosystem exploration, creative crafts, and group games. These camps focus on fostering empathy and respect for wildlife.

Kitsap Forest Theater/ The Mountaineers Player

foresttheater.com Grades K-4 Kitsap Forest Theater, located approximately seven miles west of downtown Bremerton, is one of the oldest outdoor theaters in the United States. This year’s outdoor summer program features art, singing, drama, play, hiking, exploring the forest, wildlife and creeks — and just plain fun.

Cascade Christian Schools THRIVE Camps

cascadechristian.org Grades K-8 This summer, THRIVE campers will experience adventures as they explore the theme of time travel. In addition, THRIVE offers sports clinics and camps, enrichment camps and STEM camps.

City of Olympia

olympiawa.gov Ages 4-14 Do you want to get on the water? The City of Olympia offers beginning and advanced sailing. In addition, kids can explore multi-media art camp, yoga camp, and the annual favorite — Camp Olywahoo!

OTHER DAY CAMP OPTIONS

Annie Wright Schools

aw.org Grades 1-6

Metro Parks Tacoma: Tacoma Nature Center

metroparkstacoma.org Ages 4-12

City of Puyallup

cityofpuyallup.org Ages 5-12

Hands On Children’s Museum

hocm.org Ages 3-10

OVERNIGHT CAMP OPTIONS

For many kids, summer means attending traditional overnight camp— staying in cabins, singing around a campfire, and making friendships that can last a lifetime.

Tacoma Mountaineers

mountaineers.org Ages vary Campers will learn climbing, hiking, map and compass training, camp cooking, wilderness first aid, fire and shelter building, and learning about local geology and ecology. In addition to day camps, Tacoma Mountaineers also has two overnight camps at Mount Rainier (Tahoma).

Washington State University Extension 4-H Camps at Panhandle Lake

extension.wsu.edu Campers spend the week enjoying a myriad of activities, including swimming, hiking, arts, music, cooking, and making new friends! Awaken to birds singing and fall asleep to the stars (or exhaustion).

Camp Gallagher in Lakebay

campgallagher.org Grades 6-12 Situated on the sunny shores of Case Inlet in South Puget Sound, Camp Gallagher is a place where middle and high schoolers can embrace nature, friendship, adventure and stewardship in a truly spectacular setting.

vHILLARY RYAN

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