EARLY BIRD: FINAL CHANCE

12/31
Tonight
11:59 pm
Pacific Standard Time
Your final chance to get the...
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

($50 off!)

Register NOW, the clock is ticking!

T-SHIRT DESIGN

For those that register by the end of the day today - you will receive a special t-shirt. We've never done this before, and we're excited about starting this new tradition. A sketch of the t-shirt design can be found below. The final design will be posted soon.

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE RAPIDLY APPROACHING!

Just a friendly reminder that the Early Bird Discount ($50 off!) ends at 11:59 pm on December 31st. Register today either by mail or the web (at http://www.camporkila.org) to get the Discount!

Also, an Orkila Newsletter should be arriving in your mailbox soon. Or maybe it has already. Either way - it can also be found here on this blog. Either by clicking this link or by the link over on the right under the heading "Orkila Newsletters."

After you've done the crossword puzzle within the newsletter, you can check your work and/or find the answers here.

IMPROVEMENTS AROUND CAMP

During the winter we take time to make improvements that you would never notice while you are here. We replaced 7 culverts in November and December to improve storm water runoff systems.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Hope you are having a happy holiday season!

OTTERS!

The next time you are at camp (which we hope is soon!) you may notice something new. An otter skeleton exhibit!

Affectionately named "Olivia the River Otter" - the skeleton display is now proudly housed within our very own Marine Center at Camp.

Marine display extraordinaire, Albert Shepard, prepared this exhibit with the help of Camp and the Sea Doc Society. Thanks Albert!

Check out the pictures below.

WELCOME WINTER

The winter is here. Regardless of where you live (as long as you are in the Northern Hemisphere), it's now officially wintertime.

In fact, today Monday the 21st of December, is the Winter Solstice. T'was the shortest day of the year. Every day gets longer from here on out. At least until June 21st, 2010. And by that time, Summer Camp will be just around the corner!

Not Orkila-Related, BUT COOL ANYWAY!

Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus

Who knew Octopuses were so smart!? Oh those amazing marine invertebrates.

BANQUETS AT ORKILA

During this time of year, the Larry Norman Lodge is transformed for many banquets for the local Orcas community. From historical socieities to yacht clubs, the lodge glistens in a different way. We don't however, request them to partake in "KP" nor do we ask for each table to have a "gopher" :)

NOW ACCEPTING CIT AND OSI APPLICATIONS

Hooray! Jump for joy!

The Counselor in Training (CIT) and Orkila Summer Intern (OSI) applications are now available. Surf on over to this site for more info...

Orkila Leadership Website

THE COLD WEATHER BRINGS CLARITY

The view from Keiter Field as the sun dips below the treeline. With the cold crisp air, the waning light takes on a profound serenity.

THE CLAUS' COME TO ORCAS

Mr. & Mrs. Claus made a visit to Orcas Island over the weekend for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

DIMITRI PLAYS THE TUBA!

Dimitri Stankevich (Camp Director) recently joined The Olga Symphony on stage.

He was a special guest for the band's annual "Olga Symphony and Friends" holiday concert. In addition to playing with the band on If I Only Had A Brain from The Wizard of Oz, he also performed on two songs from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

He played the tuba on the song Linus and Lucy and sang (just like one of the Peanuts!) on Christmas Time Is Here.

Hopefully Dimitri will play his tuba for us this summer too!

Holiday Time on Orcas!

Waiting for the ferry last night on Orcas Island, Pullyou felt inspired to snap a shot of the recently lit holiday lights around the ferry landing. You can see the ferry too, in the distance - docked at Shaw Island!

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving!

Post-Camp Updates!

Dave

After assisting in planning and supporting dozens of kayak trips all summer for 2009 Teen Expedition groups, I got to plan and embark on my own trip. My mom, dad and I set off on a six day circumnavigation of Lopez and Orcas Island. Above is a photo of my dad and I packing camp before setting off on a glassy morning paddle from Clark Island to Camp. It was a magical September week on the water -- yet another great reminder of how much I love what I do!

DanJay

There on the streets of Bordeaux (in France) Danjay found a familiar language and it convinced him that he just had to have a drink. What a cool idea for a city to have public drinking areas for dogs!

Pullyou

After summer camp every year - my dad (who can be seen in the background) and I visit one of our country's great and majestic National Parks. In the past we have travelled to Bryce Canyon, Glacier, and Yellowstone NPs. This year we went to Yosemite. As you can tell in the pic - we hiked to the very top of the famous Half Dome, along the treacherous (yet very safe) cables!

Rhythym Village

DanJ, Dave, & Pullyou recently went to a music workshop led by "Rhythym Village." Lucky DanJ... he gets to play the donkey jaw!

Apple Picking

Kaitlyn, Emily, Katrina, Jenny and Taylor pick apples from the Orkila orchard for cider pressing.

Handwashing is Important!

Hand Washing Video - 2009 from Camp Orkila on Vimeo.

Session 8 Slideshow is up!

Our slideshow from Session 8. We'll see you next year, campers!

Session 8 Slideshow - 2009 from Camp Orkila on Vimeo.

The summer comes to a close

We said goodbye to our final campers last week. See you next year, everybody!

Waving to the last busloads of campers

All Camp Event, Session 8

As our final session winds down, here are a few final pictures from our all-camp event this week.

Parachute!

Pillow joust

We'll miss you, Session 8!

Beating the heat in Session 8

Yesterday was a bit hot, so we found lots of ways to stay cool here at Orkila!

Sponged!

Horsemasters take a dip

Session 8 continues

We're having a fantastic final summer session here at Camp Orkila. Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy.

Archery!

Fun during open rec

Giant swing!

Session 8 going strong!

Session 8 is halfway done already! We're having a fantastic time so far.

Fun on a dock jump

Wreckage training

British Day!

Throughout "British Day" campers could receive replica (oversized) British Currency for correctly answering trivia questions.

Our British Staff that made British Day a reality...


... along with the help of our amazing Kitchen Staff. English muffins, fish and chips, tea, bangers and mash! Yippee!

The Queen watches over the meal proceedings :)

Katie from out Kitchen Staff is "knighted" as a way of saying thank you for all of their hard work. Thanks Kitchen Staff!

Session 8 continues

Session 8 has started well. We're really enjoying having our campers here!

Marine Bio on the beach

Playing in the grass

Session 8 is go!

Our final session of the summer has started! Here is a picture from our opening campfire.

Session 7 Winds Down

Our Session 7 campers leave tomorrow. It's hard to believe how quickly the week went! Here are a few more photos from the past few days.

At the skate park

High Ropes

Recent Orkila sunset =D

Session 7 Slideshow is up!

Our slideshow from Session 7 of 2009 here at YMCA Camp Orkila has been posted. See you next year, campers!

Session 7 Slideshow - 2009 from Camp Orkila on Vimeo.

Session 7 Going Strong!

It's a great week here at Orkila! Here are a few recent pictures.

Orchard tag

Belay on the high ropes