
Family Camps & Retreats FAQs
Get the answers you need to our most frequently asked questions to ensure a great camp experience!
Get the answers you need to our most frequently asked questions to ensure a great camp experience!
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions including COVID-19 safety protocols, directions to camp, and more. If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us via email or by calling our main camping office at (206) 382 5009.
Yes! We believe that now, more than ever, there is a need for meaningful, fun outdoor experiences. We are excited to provide families with a fun-filled camp experience at YMCA Camp Colman and Camp Orkila.
We have adjusted our program and procedures as we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our campers, staff, and volunteers.
We will be offering both staff and self-guided activities. You will receive a schedule of the weekend's events at Check-In
Camp Orkila and Camp Colman are committed to following the recommendations of civil authorities and public health officials. If restrictions remain in place that prevent us from operating, we will cancel programs and notify families. Impacted families will have an opportunity to receive a credit towards a future program, make a donation to the Y, or request a refund.
The work of decentralizing whiteness in the outdoors is an ongoing process, but at the Y, our commitment to inviting and supporting more kids and families from all communities, especially Black and brown communities. We want all people to feel the lifelong connection to the earth and to themselves which these expeditions offer. We have a zero-tolerance policy for racist comments or jokes, which can result in the offending individual being removed from the property or a trip. YMCA Camp Orkila and Colman also provide financial assistance which reduces the barrier for entry for families new to camping.
We continue to develop a comprehensive set of policies and procedures specific to COVID-19. Our leadership team has reviewed and will continue to update necessary camp protocols to comply with or exceed governmental guidelines to reduce risk of exposure. These include but are not limited to, the following:
We use EPA registered products to clean and disinfect our space on a regular basis.
All guests, staff and volunteers will be asked to maintain a self-observation before coming to camp. If you or a family member have been sick or in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we ask that you wait 14 days before coming to camp. We can arrange for a cancellation or change in registration.
Camp Orkila and Camp Colman’s eligibility criteria and health screening processes will be updated as needed to minimize, as far as practical, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 occurring at camp. The requirements for participants will depend on preferred practice at that time, as determined by:
We will continue to adhere to guidance from the CDC, our state department of health and local officials. Any staff that exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 will be immediately separated from our camp population or leave camp. Families would be asked to depart as soon as possible if a member of their family is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. In either case, we will work with local health authorities, should this occur.
The safety of participants is our highest concern. Camp always involves risk. The most important thing we do to mitigate risk in our programs is to be certain our instructors follow our safety policies and procedures. We have planned additional training for our full-time and seasonal staff to orient them to risks of COVID-19 and minimize exposure of themselves and others to COVID-19 – or any communicable disease or virus. This training will include, but is not limited to signs and symptoms, stringent cleaning and disinfection protocols, program changes to minimize risk, and outbreak response plans. These trainings will occur before guest arrive.
We are being guided by federal, state, and local health officials and working in regular consultation with our partners at the American Camp Association and Y-USA to ensure that we have effective protocols in place to successfully run our program
Yes, we need all groups to fill out and return meal and health and safety forms.
20016 Bay Road KPS | Longbranch, WA 98351
484 Camp Orkila Road | Eastsound, WA 98245
If you choose to drive to camp, plan to arrive at the Anacortes ferry landing at least an hour or two before sailing times listed on the WSDOT ferry schedule. Take any ferry bound for Orcas Island. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Camp Orkila will provide shuttle service from the ferry for the 3:40pm and 6:30pm ferries leaving Anacortes, and the 8:45am and 12:25pm ferries leaving Orcas for those who would prefer to park in Anacortes and walk on to the ferry. If you are flying, or arriving on a different ferry, you'll want to coordinate transport from these locations to camp by calling one of the taxi services on the island in advance of your arrival for best results:
All groups must be checked in by 6:00pm. Check-out time is 11:00 am.
Please arrive at camp no earlier than 4:30pm. Check-out time is 11:00 am.
Suggested Items:
Optional Items:
Only professional, assistive service animals are allowed at our camps. Please let us know if such an animal will accompany you.
Cell phone reception can be spotty at both Camp Colman and Camp Orkila but generally most carriers work.
Our camp staff can provide you with a phone to use for emergency calls, if necessary. Important incoming messages for participants may be left on the camp voicemail and will be relayed at meal times.
Camp Colman: (253) 884-3844
Camp Orkila: (360) 376-2678
We enjoyed the scheduled activities a lot. Those combined with just getting to enjoy camp really made for a magical weekend. I really enjoyed getting to spend time at camp with my family. Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Boys, Girls, and All Gender Outdoor Leadership (BOLD & GOLD) expeditions inspire youth ages 11 to 18 to be their most courageous and confident selves as they explore some of the most beautiful and natural places in the Pacific Northwest.
Camp Colman and Camp Orkila offer kids and teens the chance to explore their individuality, become a part of their own community, and enjoy the classic camp experience of archery, rock climbing, and s’mores over the campfire.
Offering active days spent learning new skills and making lifelong friends, Y Day Camps offers fun camp activities to engage brains, exploration rotations to encourage kids to try new things, and plenty of physical activity and games to keep bodies moving.