Specialty Camp Highlight: Camp Chef

Introducing: Camp Chef

When:  Session 4 (July 22 - 27)

Who: Campers entering grades 7-9

What: Camp Chef is perfect for kids who love food!  Campers will get to build indoor and outdoor cooking skills, and learn about the entire process of food preparation, from grocery shopping, to kitchen safety, to trying their yummy creations.  Since camp is all about what YOU want to do, our young chefs will get to choose the meals they cook throughout the week - so they can learn to make their favorite foods and discover new ones!  Click here to learn more about Camp Chef.

Act Now!  Specialty camps are often the first to fill, so don't wait to register.

Win the Inner Battle Blog.

Parents and camp staff will want to hear know some of the latest research that shows why camp is so important to kids' character development as well as academic learning.  Mawi Asgedom was a keynote speaker at the American Camp Association National Conference in Dallas, Texas, and had some incredible information to share about social/emotional learning and the benefit of camps. Check it out:  Win the Inner Battle Blog.

It's Camp Fair Season!



ACDs Cheshire & Plaid! at the St. Thomas School fair

As families start planning for summer, those tough camp questions come up.  Is my child ready for camp?  If so, what kind of camp is right for them?  Something far away or close to home?  Overnight or day camp?  Single-gender or co-ed?  A general or a classic camp program?  Anyone who's tried a Google search of "camps in Washington" knows that all the options can be a little overwhelming, especially for first-time camp parents.

While online resources are great, we highly recommend attending a local camp fair.  Camp fairs are a great opportunity to get answers to the questions that matter to you - face to face.  You can browse at your own pace, compare and contrast similar camps, and talk to professionals who have been in the camping industry in the Northwest for years.  Best of all, many fairs are totally free, and are always child-friendly so kids can be involved in the camp selection process.

Earlier this month two of our Assistant Camp Directors kicked off the annual camp fair season at a ParentMap fair at St. Thomas school in Medina.  We had a blast meeting new campers, hearing stories from Sealth alumni, checking out the amazing selection of summer programs available to Western Washington's kids, and, of course, snacking on yummy Camp Fire mints with visitors to our booth.  Check out the links below for lists of the fairs that Sealth will be represented at, plus a great article on camp selection from ParentMap magazine.  See you at the fair!

Camp Fair Schedule
How to Find a Summer Camp Your Kids Will Love

Specialty Camp Highlight: Center Stage

This week: Center Stage

When:  Session 7 (August 12-17)

Who: Campers entering grades 7-9

What: Center Stage is a camp for kids with a passion for performance.  This week is all about drama, dance and music!  Campers will spend the week in workshops, rehearsing, and designing and creating their own sets, props, and costumes for an end of camp talent show showcasing their performance for the rest of camp.  No previous experience is required, just excitement for this chance to have fun and gain confidence!  Click here to learn more about Center Stage.

Act Now!  Specialty camps are often the first to fill, so don't wait to register.

Specialty Camp Highlight: Around the World in Four Days

This is a special edition of our Specialty Camp Highlight!  Instead of a summer specialty program, we're proud to present Winter Camp, a 4-night camp over President's Day weekend.

When: February 14 - 18 (that's right around the corner!)

Who: Campers in 2nd - 8th grade

What:  Enjoy all the fun of summer camp in the middle of winter!  Campers will try crafts from around the world, cook international cuisine, learn new games, and enjoy all the usual camp activities.  The schedule (from Thursday afternoon - Monday)  is ideal for kids with a 4-day weekend or mid-winter break, and gives parents time for date night on Valentine's Day!

Act now!  Winter camp is just six weeks away.  Register today!

Specialty Camp Highlight: Nocturnal

This Week: Nocturnal

When: - Session 3, July 15 - 20
- Session 5/6, July 31 - August 5

Who:
Campers entering 8th - 12th grade

What: 
This camp is designed for night owls!  Staying up later each night for nighttime hiking, archery, paddleboarding, and more, Nocturnal campers get to experience the magic of Sealth in the dark.  The week wraps up with a trip to the Pt. Robinson lighthouse to watch the sunrise.  Click here to learn more about Nocturnal camp!
 
Act now!  Nocturnal Camp is one of our most popular programs, so don't wait to register!

Specialty Camp Highlight: Splish Splash

This Week: Splish Splash

When: Session 7, August 12-17

Who: Campers entering 4th - 6th grade

What:  Does you have a camper who wants to spend as much time as possible in and on the water, but isn't quite ready for Kiwanis?  This is the camp for them!  Splish Splash campers have time every day for boating, fishing, and swimming on the beautiful Camp Sealth waterfront, as well as a special field trip to the Vashon Pool.  Get wet and stay cool, with plenty of time left over for traditional camp activities.  Click here to learn more about Splish Splash camp!
 
Act now!  Specialty camps are often the first to fill.  Register during the month of December and get a special customized certificate to give to your camper as a holiday gift!

Specialty Camp Highlight: Wacky Science

Registration for Camp Sealth's summer programs opened on Saturday!  To celebrate, we'll be featuring a different one of our specialty camps in our blog for the next several weeks.  In addition to our beloved Wrangler (horse camp), Bullseye! (archery camp), and Kiwanis (boating camp), we have lots of new specialty camps, so stay tuned to see what's in store this summer.

This week:  Wacky Science

When: Session 3, July 15-20

Who: Campers entering 3rd - 5th grade

What:  If your camper loves science experiments and learning by doing, this camp is a perfect fit.  Campers choose the projects they are interested in at the beginning of the week, and every day brings a new opportunity - ooblek, pop bottle rockets, giant bubbles, sun prints, and more - the possibilities are endless!  Learn a lot in a fun environment that won't feel like school, with plenty of time left over for traditional camp activities.  Click here to learn more about Wacky Science camp!
 
Act now!  Specialty camps are often the first to fill.  Register today!

Halloween on Vashon Island

Here at Sealth, we take dressing in costume pretty seriously, so it's no surprise that Halloween is one of our favorite holidays!  We think there's no better way to celebrate than participating in the trick-or-treating fun in the town of Vashon.  Every year, a few blocks of the main street are closed to cars, and instead filled with ghosts, ghouls, princesses, and pirates on the hunt for candy.

Left-right:  Things 1 & 2, Cat in the Hat, Brown Barbaloot, Fox in Socks, The Lorax, The Grinch, and Green Eggs & Ham.
What creative staff we have!

This year, Sealth staff decided on a Dr. Seuss theme for our costumes and decorations.  We dressed as characters from Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, and more, and visitors to our candy table approached through a Truffula forest.
It was a great chance to connect with our neighbors in this wonderful island community, and much fun was had by all!

Camp's horses are ready for the rainy weather!

Camp Sealth would like to give out a heartfelt thank you to one of our community donors.

Island Hardware and Lumber

Thanks to Island Hardware and Lumber, the 5 horses in our Fall/Spring herd now have their very own Weatherbeeta blankets to keep them cozy and dry from the elements, and after last night's downpour, they have been rain-tested and horse approved!

Ozone (left) and Little Red (right) successfully show-off their new waterproof wear.

This upcoming Sunday is our last horse workshop for the season!

We'll be looking forward to the return of your favorites:

Hampton, Benny, Little Red, Becky, and Ozone in the Spring of 2013!

If you're looking for a way to stay involved with horses, or support out programs, we are still looking for care lease homes for two of our horses, Ozone and Little Red. Care leasing is a great opportunity for anyone considering horse ownership, but looking for a trial period or test-run. Our horses are kid-tested and our staff can offer support through the process. Interested in learning more? Click here.

More information on our horse workshops, horse program, and Camp Sealth can be found at www.campsealth.org 

Ready to Ride!

The sun still shines as summer transitions to fall and our horse workshop participants couldn't be happier. This Sunday brought the first horse workshop of the fall 2012 season and we had a blast! 5 girls joined us for a day of riding, learning, sun and fun!

On Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, Camp Sealth is once again offering the full-day workshops to those kids either wanting their first taste of being around horses or those beginner and intermediate riders looking to progress their skills with a schedule that works for them. The cost is $75 for the day of care and horse time, and includes transportation to and from the ferry.

A typical horse workshop day runs from about 9:45 to 4:15. This Sunday our five girls groomed and saddled up then spent their morning in a two hour riding lesson, progressing from the basics of stopping, starting, and steering, to learning to trot and beginning control at a trot. Following a break for lunch, then it was time for a lesson in what it takes to train and desensitize a horse. Each of the girls worked with one of the horses, learning about the need for trust in a relationship at horses as they guided it over a tarp and exposed it to new and 'scary' objects, such as a hula hoop. The day ended with a grooming competition and tail braiding, along with doing barn chores and feeding their new four-legged friends.

If interested in attending or learning more about the workshops, the Junior Riding Staff program, opportunities for group riding, and more information on our horse program, visit campsealth.org/horseworkshops or contact Meaghan Luchau at meaghanl@campfire-usa.org (206) 463-3174 ext. 44

Harry Potter Theme Week Takes Camp Sealth By Storm

It's Harry Potter week at Sealth, and magic is in the air!  Campers have been busy making potions and learning spells.  There have been rumors of a troll seen in the Orchard - maybe it has something to do with tomorrow's Tri-Wizard Tournament!

Our specialty camps are going on some very special journeys this session.  The Kiwanis unit took an overnight canoe trip to a campsite a couple miles north of Sealth, and some Wrangler campers will be riding horses to their overnight sites this evening.

And speaking of overnights, Nocturnal camp 2012 has begun!  You can always identify these brave campers by the sunglasses they wear 'til sundown to protect their night vision.

The session's more than half over, but with two All-Camp Events, Wail Lunch, and Picnic Dinner still to come, who knows what else is in store for Session 3 at the Sealth School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

Summer Camp Themes!

The 2012 season is underway - the 100 staff that will be our counselors, activity leaders and support staff are in the middle of an intense 10-day training to learn all about their summer jobs.

This week, the staff picked the themes for the eight weeks of camp this summer.  The themes will be incorporated in both overnight and day camp. They brainstormed tons of ideas to make the themes come alive!

This year's summer themes are listed below. Keep in mind that not all campers will get to do every listed activity, but the themes are integrated throughout the camp experience.  Campers are encouraged to bring costumes to help get into the camp spirit!

Wild (Wild) West
Session 1
Experience the days of the Wild West - yeehaw!  Go camping out on the range and learn survival skills, try your hand at roping "cattle" and take part in a Gold Rush or Oregon Trail game.  Bring yer boots and cowboy hat!

Time Warp (Decades)
Session 2
Travel back in time and experience the music and culture from past (or future) decades - go to a sock hop or disco, make tie-dye and build a time machine to get back to the present day.  Dress up in clothes from your favorite decade:  50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or now.

Harry Potter Theme Week
Session 3
Spend a week as a wizard - go to "classes" like Potions and Herbology, be sorted into houses and compete for house points, and participate in a Quidditch match.

Camp Jurassic
Session 4
Go back to the time of dinosaurs - learn primitive survival skills, hunt for dinosaur eggs and create your own dinosaur.

Olympics
Session 5
Celebrate the London 2012 Olympics - camp style. We'll host our own camp Olympic games, representing and learning about different countries from around the world.  This is your chance to go for the gold!

Sealth Strikes Back (Jedi Theme Week)
Session 6
"Try not.  Do or do not.  There is no try."  Learn to use the Force and practice Jedi skills in this Star Wars themed week:  try out pod-racing, Jedi mind tricks and more.  Light sabers are optional.

Animation Nation
Session 7
This week revolves around the characters and stories from classic animated and children's movies, with lots of opportunities for dress-up, scavenger hunts and much more! Campers can bring costumes from their favorite movie.

Superheroes
Session 8
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's - YOU! Create your own superhero and work with your cabinmates to save the day.  Make costumes, capes and masks (or bring your own) and discover your own super-powers.

New Tractor!

If you've been at Sealth in the last couple days, you may have noticed our newest addition to our vehicle fleet!  Thanks to a generous gift from the Boeing Employees Community Fund, Camp Sealth has a new Kubota tractor.  It will come in handy for all of our hauling, loading, and backhoeing needs!

Assistant Camp Director Plaid! couldn't wait to take the tractor for a spin.