Session 4 is here!

Excited campers exited DaBoata to singing and dancing counselors as Session 4 began at Camp Sealth. We're at full capacity this week -- there are over 250 kids here on the shores of Vashon Island, enjoying the gorgeous weather and camp environment. Today on the agenda: Fairy Tale theme lunch, archery, arts and crafts, and Picnic Dinner. Sounds like a blast!

Final full day of Session 3

It's Sunday now, which means that tomorrow our beloved Session 3 campers will be heading home on DaBoata and DaBussa. It's been a fun-filled week with lots of all-camp events -- notably a life-sized board game extravaganza, a talent show, and a Counselor-In-Training-produced Gold Rush game! We're exhausted here at camp ... in a good way of course. There are smiles on the faces of each and every camper.

heme Lunches, photo shoots, and all-camp events -- oh my!

From funyaking to friendship bracelets, all-camp talent shows to a Greek mythology-themed lunch, Session 3 is shaping up. Today we have a life-sized board games event in the afternoon, followed by more overnight campouts this evening. Kids are having a great time thus far!

Session 3 is flying by!

Hard to believe it, but Session 3 is already halfway over! Here at camp, we haven't had a still moment all week -- not even enough to make a quick update here on eCamp.

Sealth is busy this week despite the slightly gloomy weather. Campers have been enjoying overnight cookouts, where they cook their own campfire food with the help of counselors. Harry Potter-themed day camp has broadened the entire community's magical sense -- we've all been waving our wands and shouting out spells! Nocturnal camp is here this week as well, staying up late and going to bed as the sun rises. In addition, cabins have been joining together for enormous games of capture the flag and prisonball. And the brand-new Gaga pit is high on everyone's list of things to do.

We're having a great session so far!

Great fun at camp!

We're having a blast here at camp! Campers have enjoyed cooking pie-iron pizzas and s'mores on their overnight campouts, a Fourth of July talent show, and all sorts of fun camp activities. The Gaga Pit is a hit for kids who like to play sports, and I've seen more friendship-bracelets-in-progress than I can count! Safe to say the kids are having a great time and will be sad to leave when DaBoata comes tomorrow.

Session 2: We're here!

Seen in the photo here, campers exited DaBoata yesterday to almost 100 cheering staff. Things are busy here at camp -- Teen Leadership is dominating camp right now, with 30 interns and 13 Counselors-In-Training. Also of interest are Archery Camp in Village, and our first sessions of Horse Camp and Outback/Tripping for the summer. Things are great here at camp -- the days are heating up, but we're trying to stay cool!

Session 1: Swim Checks and Wail Lunch

Check out this great photo of campers and staff dressed for the traditional Wail Lunch this afternoon. On the last full day of each session, one unit hosts a themed luncheon that's always a rousing good time -- complete with cheers, songs, and dancing. Today's Wail Lunch was "Ninja vs. Pirates" themed ... obviously these campers took a little leeway with the theme! A good time was had by all.


The Puget Sound is chilly this time of year, but campers braved the freezing waters for swim checks. Everyone who passed gets an "I survived swim checks!" patch and waterfront privileges. Brrrr!

Session 1: days one and two

Great news from Camp Sealth! We're two days into our first session and loving every minute of it.

There are almost 100 children here, in first through eighth grades. So far, kids have enjoyed games in the Orchard, shooting arrows at archery, and various crafts including tie-dye and candle-making.

Here is a picture of some intrepid campers enjoying the First Night Fun skit on -- you guessed it! -- the first night. Check back throughout the session for more great photos and stories of our adventures!

Program Team Training

We're getting in the swing of things here at camp. Program Team, which is comprised of summer staff in leadership and supervisory positions, arrived at camp on Friday for training. We spent several days learning about logistics, practicing leadership techniques, and bonding as a team. Here are a few photos of our activities on the challenge course!



Today, June 15, the rest of our very large staff arrives! It's starting to feel like campers are just around the corner! Look for more updates on staff training soon.

Gaga is here!

No, not Lady Gaga!

Visitors to camp have been greeted by this sign recently:

Which has now been transformed into our very own Gaga pit!

Thanks to a lot of hard work by a lot of amazing people, Camp Sealth has a functioning Gaga pit for the upcoming summer season. If you're like most people, you're probably thinking, "What is a Gaga pit, exactly?" Most of us here at camp don't know the answer to that yet -- we haven't had a chance to play -- but there are several staff members well acquainted with the game. More prevalent on the East coast, Gaga is an adaptation of dodgeball played inside octagonal walls (hence, the pit!). Here is a link to its Wikipedia page if you are interested reading more details.

Turbo, one of our Assistant Camp Directors, brought the idea for the Gaga Pit with him from Philadelphia this spring. Having worked at camps where Gaga was all the rage, he decided to build a playing field here in the hopes that Sealth campers would also enjoy the game.

With the hard work of Turbo, our early spring NCCC team (Gold One), as well as our facilities managers, Pipeline and Egon, the Gaga pit is complete and ready for play! Not a moment too soon, either -- staff training starts on Friday, and campers will be here soon. Here is a shot of one of the foundation posts of the Gaga pit: in tribute to NCCC's hard work. Thanks to everyone who helped get this project off the ground!

Program Preview: Getting Excited for Summer!

Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner -- it's almost time to come to camp! We're running around like crazy trying to get everything ready for campers. There are a lot of exciting things in store for campers this summer. S0me are new, some are old, but all are awesome! Read on for a few things you can get excited about.

• The Camp Store is returning for the first time in many years. You can find more information on this blog as well as on the web site. We'll be offering great products kids can take home to remember their time at camp, including stuffed animals, water bottles, coffee mugs and more. There will also be camp essentials like postcards ans sunscreen. It's all financed by a camper account, so no cash changes hands.
  
• It's never been a more exciting time to be a teen at Camp Sealth! We have a lot of great programs going on this year. Our Teen Leadership program is growing, with record numbers of High School Interns volunteering this year. We still have a few spots left for CIT's! Click on the link above to find out more.
• Our Outback/Tripping Program, intended for middle and high schoolers, is headed to the mountains! With brand new trips headed out to the Cascades and the Olympics this summer, there are more options than ever before. We have an awesome crew of counselors, including Flash, who will be the Coordinator this year. Get ready for some adventure!
• Another exciting camp for teens is Construction Camp, offered August 10 - 22. If you're the kind of kid who's been taking things apart and putting them back together as long as you've been walking, this camp is for you. We'll work on improving structures at camp and learning the foundations of construction (no pun intended!).
• Windsurf and Sail camp is back with a vengeance! This year we have a staff member entirely dedicated to windsurf and sail instruction, and we think it will be the best year yet. If you're excited to get creative with your water sports, this is the camp for you.

And don't forget your favorite counselors from years past! Some of your most awesome staff members will be back for a second, fifth, or even eighth year. Below are a few we thought campers would be excited to see.

McGyver is returning as the Waterfront Coordinator/Kiwanis Unit Leader. Kiwanis camps and waterfront activities will be great this summer under her leadership!
Big Bird will be back again as a Unit Leader for Village. Look forward to dance parties, story telling, and rapping (pictured below)!
Ra will be a Teen Leadership counselor this year. She's looking forward to trying something new and getting to know the CITs and Interns.Crash is a Waterfront Specialist this summer, so watch for him guarding lives at the waterfront!
With all this going on at Camp Sealth, you can't blame us for being excited. Summer is coming so soon -- the first session starts on June 26! -- but there's still time to register! Click here to find all the information you'll need about resident camp. We can't wait to see you at Sealth this summer. For any questions or clarification, email campstaff[at]campfire-usa[dot]org.