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Exciting Camps and Activities for Summer 2022

Your guide to the Seattle area’s coolest programs and options for every special kid

Published on: February 14, 2022

Exciting Camps and Activities for Summer 2022

A young camper sits beside a fire on the shores of a lake

Grand adventures in the great outdoors

Outdoor experiences are powerful and empowering for kids in so many ways. These programs pack in all of the classic camp activities and adventures kids love — and maybe introduce them to experiences they’ve never even dreamed of.

Camp Nor’wester (Johns Island)

Located on the outer banks of one of the San Juan islands, Camp Nor’wester has offered a unique four-week-long camp experience since 1935. Kids learn to collaborate and thrive in a group setting as they explore the outdoors and participate in traditional camp activities. During their stay, campers also take overnight trips to various locations, where they practice outdoor survival skills.

Dates: June 26–July 23, July 27–Aug. 23

Ages: 9–16

Cost: $6,450 (financial aid available)

Avid4 Adventure (Bellevue)

Day camps Kids entering grades K–7 can enjoy a two-week-long day camp experience with Avid4 Adventure that invites them to try out biking, hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and more. Camps run Monday–Friday, with early drop-off and extended-care options available.

Dates: June 22–Aug. 19

Grades: K–7

Cost: $1,160

Overnight camps

During the Multi-Sport Adventure Camp sessions, participants engage in a variety of outdoor sports, including whitewater rafting, rock climbing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, biking and hiking — while camping in tents! In the Expedition Backpacking program, campers learn how to set up camp, cook outdoors and other outdoor skills.

Dates: TBA

Grades: 5–11

Cost: $1,205–$1,595

Wolf Camp (Puyallup, Lake Sammamish)

Wolf Camp offers a wide range of nature and survival camps with an average student-teacher ratio of six-to-one. Day camps held in Puyallup and at Lake Sammamish offer a variety of themes, from wild cooking and herbology to animal search and rescue.

Day camps

Dates: July 16–Aug. 26 (Lake Sammamish), July 11–15 (Puyallup)

Ages: 7–13

Cost: $395–$595 (financial aid is available)

Overnight camp

One overnight camp, located near Mount Rainier, will be offered for Wolf College alumni.

Dates: July 17–23

Ages: 11–16

Cost: $975

Wilderness Awareness School (multiple locations)

Nature Adventure Day Camp is offered at the Saint Edward State Park, Cougar Mountain Park, Seward Park and Tolt MacDonald Park locations. Camp offers new adventures each week. Kids learn about edible plants, animal tracking and the outdoors in a hands-on environment while enjoying songs, storytelling and imaginative play. Additional day camps are focused on ranger skills, knife and knot skills, survival skills and fishing skills.

Dates: June 27–Aug. 26

Ages: 5–13

Cost: $465–$485

Overnight camps

Campers can choose from Castaway Survival, Wilderness Survival, Bowcraft and Ranger Adventure programs.

Dates: June 26–Aug. 19 (check the website for details on individual camps)

Ages: 11–14

Cost: $965–$995 (includes T-shirt)

Expedition camps

Expedition camps include Wolf Tracking, Salish Sea Coast and Survival Trek.

Dates: July 3–Aug. 6

Ages: 14–18

Cost: $965–$1,195

Camp Gallagher (Lakebay)

Middle schoolers and high schoolers can enjoy nature’s bounty of experiences at this camp on the shore of Case Inlet in south Puget Sound. Each camp has a theme and affords a variety of activities, among them: canoeing, sailing, swimming, games, crafts, camp songs and overnight options. Sessions range in length.

Dates: July 3–Aug. 20

Grades: 7–12

Cost: $710–$1,183

Alpengirl (various locations)

Alpengirl has been leading teen girls on life-changing outdoor adventure trips for more than 20 years. Campers form friendships with peers who share their interests, try new adventures and gain confidence. No prior experience is needed — just the willingness to try new things! In three different camps, participants backpack, explore tidepools, try rock climbing, kayak, hike and more.

Dates: June 21–Aug. 7

Ages: 11–16

Cost: $1,545–$3,445

Camp Sealth (Vashon Island)

Camp Sealth offers a variety of overnight adventure camps for kids in grades 7–10. Campers enjoy riding horses, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, backpacking, hiking and other traditional camp activities. Sessions embrace multiple age requirements, spans and activities.

Dates: July 6–Aug. 27

Grades: 7–10

Cost: $935–$1,135 (financial aid available)

The Mountaineers

Day camp Day camp runs 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and includes rock climbing, swimming, camp songs, crafts, plus a weekly field trip.

Dates: June 20–Aug. 29

Ages: 6–12

Cost: $425–$535

Overnight adventure camps

Overnight camps range from two to five days in length and consist of hiking, climbing and camping in western Washington. All transportation, food and gear costs are included in the tuition cost.

Dates: June 27–Aug. 19

Ages: 10–14

Cost: $410–$865

Teen overnight adventure camp

Campers develop climbing and belaying skills or learn backcountry skills.

Dates: July 18–22, Aug. 2–5

Ages: 14–17

Cost: $575–$625

South Sound Nature School (Burien)

South Sound Nature School day camps will be held at Seahurst Park in Burien, where campers will explore and connect with nature every day, learning survival basics such as building a shelter and animal tracking as well as doing fun art projects. Add your camper’s name to the waiting list on the website.

Dates: Additional dates TBA

Ages: 6–10

Cost: TBA

BOLD, GOLD and All-Gender YMCA camps

Boys Outdoor Leadership Development (BOLD) and Girls Outdoor Leadership Development (GOLD) programs are joined in 2022 by All-Gender Outdoor Development opportunities. In these teen leadership programs, campers will learn new skills, make lifelong friends and challenge themselves to embrace adventure in the Pacific Northwest.

Dates: July 3–Sept. 2

Ages: 11–18

Cost: Varies by program

Adventure Treks (various Pacific Northwest destinations)

Pacific Northwest Explorer/Adventure (Washington and Oregon) Campers spend 16–20 days exulting in all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer: Summit Mount Saint Helens, hike in North Cascades National Park, canoe Ross Lake, rock-climb in Icicle Creek Canyon and raft the Wenatchee River.

Dates: June 24–Aug. 10, July 22–Aug. 10, July 23–Aug. 7

Grades: 7–9

Cost: $4,195–$4,795

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