Yes! We believe that now, as much as ever, there is a need for meaningful and fun outdoor experiences. In conjunction with public health officials, and in alignment with Washington State’s public health measures, we are working to determine how best to offer amazing summer experiences for youth and families. The health and safety of our participants, staff, and community is our top priority.

We plan to provide youth with an overnight experience at YMCA Camp Orkila and Camp Colman. In addition, at Camp Orkila we plan to offer kayaking and day camp programs.

We will adjust our programs and procedures and continue to prioritize the health of our participants, staff, and volunteers. This will likely have an impact on program offerings. Rather than free choice time where campers can choose from a variety of options each day, we will schedule cabin groups for specific activities to minimize close contact between campers. We will integrate many activities in program schedules to give youth a variety of experiences which build upon each other. That said, due to the breadth of available activities and limitations around gathering sizes, campers will not participate in all camp activities.

We will continue to create meaningful small group experiences at camp. We anticipate individual cabin groups will have 10 campers. Most programming will occur within cabin or sleeping groups and at least one other cabin group. This document will be updated with additional information on group sizes and programs throughout 2022.

From archery to art, challenge courses to campfires, campers will create lasting memories through a variety of activities. But there is much more that happens at camp on a deeper level! It is as much about exploring the outdoors as it is about self-discovery. Through expeditions, arts and crafts, marine science, kayaking, and challenge courses, kids and teens learn and grow on many different levels with the support of well-trained staff dedicated to engaging kids and creating equity in the outdoors.

Camp serves nutritious, well-balanced meals. A vegetarian option is available at every meal for vegetarian campers. Healthy snacks consisting of fruit and other items served in the afternoon. Water consumption is encouraged throughout the day. We will utilize staggered scheduled times for meals. Cabin groups will eat together. We anticipate offering outdoor seating and limited indoor seating.

We will publish updated information on our food service plan for summer 2022 by April 15.

We will publish updated information on testing, quarantines, and vaccinations for summer 2022 by April 15. 

For reference, please find our 2021 Summer Camp Policy below. 

All campers and staff must do one of the following before arriving to camp:

1. Be fully vaccinated, OR
2. Receive a negative Covid-19 test no more than three days prior to arrival and remain in quarantine between the test and start of camp. Details on quarantining can be found at the Department of Health’s website.

Anyone unable to meet one of these two conditions is not allowed to participate in camp. For the purposes of this policy, people are considered fully vaccinated for Covid-19 two or more weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or two or more weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen). Verification of the vaccination or test results is required.

Covid-19 tests are free and widely available at sites across Washington. For information on testing visit the following websites:

• King County Covid-19 Testing Locations & Information
• Washington State Covid-19 Testing Locations & Information

All campers traveling from out of state should follow CDC travel guidance.

Facial coverings are required to be worn at all times by all staff and campers, and anyone else present at camp, except for when eating, drinking, brushing teeth, or sleeping. Exceptions are allowed for specific outdoor activities such as sporting activities, outdoor recreation and water recreation. In these cases, we will follow Washington State Covid-19 requirements for the specific area.

We recommend that campers bring at least 10 clean and well-fitting facial coverings with them to camp.

We will publish updated information on facial coverings by April 15.

Camp Colman or Camp Orkila will be check-in and check-out locations. For families unable to travel to camp, we are looking into bussing options from Seattle. 

We will post updated information on check in and check out processes by April 15.

In the event bus transportation is not an option, parents or guardians will be responsible for arranging transportation for their campers to camp. When traveling to camp, we strongly encourage that only those in the same household travel together. If check in and check out at Camp Orkila or Camp Colman poses undue hardship, please contact our camp offices.

More information will be posted specific to location in the parent and camper handbook. Each check in and check out process will be structured to minimize interactions between campers, families and others. 

Parents or guardians are allowed to enter camp only in the case of medical emergencies or when needed to bring home a camper early. Visitors are not allowed at camp.

You are welcome to connect with your camper while they are attending camp through email, mail, and care packages. Prior to your camper coming to camp, specific information on where to send these communications will be provided to you.

We anticipate the implementation of program modifications, extended cleaning time, and enhanced cleaning procedures during and between sessions, and a significant focus on small group sizes. The health and safety of participants, staff, and volunteers are our top priorities.

We 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 credit their fee towards another YMCA of Greater Seattle program in 2022, donate the fee to the Y to support the scholarship program, or request a refund.

Camp Colman and Camp Orkila’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 best practices at that time, as determined by:

• Guidance from federal and local health authorities, like the CDC
• State health departments for schools, camps, guided recreation activities, and businesses 
• The types of tests, vaccinations, and other screening tools considered to be highly reliable and widely available at that time

The YMCA of Greater Seattle will comply with all Washington State mandates regarding Covid-19 vaccinations. All Y staff are required to be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious exemption for Covid-19 regardless of work location.

In addition to the programmatic steps outlined above, 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 protocols to comply with, or exceed, governmental guidelines to reduce risk of exposure. These include but are not limited to, the following:

• Extra vigilance around cabin, building and bathroom sanitation, including increased deep cleaning in high traffic areas and thorough disinfecting of cabins between sessions.
• All staff will be reminded to promote regular hand washing and good hygiene practices. Additional hand washing and hand sanitizer stations have been added.
• Program area, equipment protocols, and sanitization practices have shifted to minimize the risk of transmission of Covid-19.
• Large group gatherings will be adjusted to align with current requirement of local, state, and federal orders.
• Physical distancing practices follow the recommendations of the state and county and are in place for guests, staff, and volunteers.
• Guests, staff, and volunteers will follow mask wearing recommendations of the state and county.

We are being guided by federal, state, and local health officials and working in regular consultation with our partners at the American Camp Association (ACA) and Y-USA to ensure that we have effective protocols in place to successfully run our programs.

During this pandemic, we want to remind everyone that a person’s ethnicity, language, or association with a country or region does not mean they carry the virus. Anyone can transmit or become infected. Let’s continue to support one another and avoid the spread of stigma, discrimination, and fear. Learn more here.

General recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health:

• Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• If you are sick and wondering what to do, call your healthcare provider before you go to a clinic or emergency room.
• Show compassion and support for individuals and communities most closely impacted and anyone who might be sick. 
• Learn and be prepared: Visit the Washington State Department of Health resource page.

Additional resources:

• Washington State Covid-19 website
• City of Seattle Community Resource Page
• King County Department of Public Health webpage (for tips and daily updates)
• Handwashing guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Anti-stigma resources unique for Covid-19
• Covid-19 test locations in King County
• Covid-19 test locations in Pierce County
• Covid-19 test locations in Washington State

You can make a maximum of one cabinmate request. Cabinmate requests must be mutual.

Open spots will be released to participants on the waitlist in the order they signed up. Once a spot has been released, the first participant on the waitlist will receive an email with a link to register. The link will be active for five days before moving on to the next participant in the waitlist queue. Once summer sessions begin, the response time will be adjusted to 24-48 hours for waitlist response time.

Deposits are non-refundable. To receive a refund, you must notify us by June 1 if your camper is unable to attend camp. Please allow two weeks for processing refunds. Any cancellations or refund requests received after June 1, 2022, will be at the discretion of the Y.

We recognize families have different abilities to pay and offer two different fee structures to best meet each family’s needs. This is completely confidential and does not impact your participant’s experience in any way.

• Full Cost reflects the full cost of sending a camper to the program selected. If your family is able to pay this amount, please do.
• Subsidized Price is a partially-subsidized rate to help families who are unable to afford the full cost of the camp program. Choose this rate if your family needs it.

If the subsidized price still presents a barrier, financial assistance is available through an application process, which requires annual household income documentation.

Camp Orkila’s and Camp Colman’s staff are the heart of our camp. All program staff who run camp activities have individual areas of expertise to share with campers. Cabin counselors are selected for their experience working with children, judgment, maturity, and caring attitude.

We recruit staff who serve as role models for campers by demonstrating strong leadership skills that reflect the mission, commitment to equity and justice, and the core values of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. Through role modeling and by creating challenges that foster individual and group development, we provide campers with the opportunity to leave camp with a better understanding in the values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring.

Staff must complete the application and interview process as outlined by the YMCA of Greater Seattle. Staff must have current First Aid and CPR certifications and pass a national background check. An instructor on expedition courses has a wilderness first aid certification or higher.

Interviews are conducted with at least two references. Cabin counselors generally complete eight days of training, and directors and trip leaders complete an eight-day director’s training in addition to all-staff training. Training topics include: cultural humility and restorative justice, child behavior management, positive discipline techniques, games, age-appropriate programming, emergency procedures, values-based programs, bullying & child abuse prevention, and health and safety management.

At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, we are committed to becoming an anti-racist and inclusive gathering space where people of all colors, religions, genders, and backgrounds are welcomed and have the opportunity to succeed, be healthy, and thrive. For us, that means closely examining what we do – our systems, hiring practices, partners, contracting, and all of our processes, programs, and locations – to ensure we are learning, adapting, and doing all that we can to build a more equitable, healthy, and just community in the future.

Restorative Justice Practices at Camp

To limit instances of bias at camp and to respond in a way which aligns with our organizational values, camp is focused on implementing restorative justice practices into the curriculum, daily routine, and culture. Our staff teams will be trained to add social and emotional learning aspects into all programs, create community, and facilitate conflict resolution. These practices will be introduced to and practiced by campers throughout their camp experience through intentional community building activities like teambuilding and values sessions. We are committed to building strong communities within our camps and assisting campers in dealing with conflict in a healthy and productive manner. We aim to address the root of behavioral issues and conflicts at camp by finding solutions which use restorative practices as the foundation for overcoming conflict and addressing bias.

From the moment campers arrive at camp, staff work to build an inclusive space with clear expectations. Additionally, we partner with parents and guardians on strategies for working with camper's individual behaviors. Should behavioral support be needed, camp staff will make every effort to call the family starting with the primary contact, then the emergency contact.

We know that certain behaviors can cause lasting harm. We do not tolerate bullying: aggressive behavior that is intentional, is repeated over time, and involves an imbalance of power or strength, and bigotry: making derogatory comments, including making fun of the individual or individual family's national origin, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender; threatening bodily harm to the individual or individual’s family/friends.

When the welfare of the camper, other campers, or camp property/equipment is jeopardized, the parent(s) or guardian(s) may be notified to pick up their camper at their own expense. Travel arrangements will always be made in advance with the parent or guardian. Program fees will be forfeited. In the case of a serious incident, the campers involved will not be invited back to camp for future experiences.