Under beautiful spring sunshine, Camp Orkila welcomed Memorial Day Family Campers for a fun filled weekend. Over 370 people arrived at Orkila Friday afternoon to begin a weekend’s worth of wonderful adventure.

We put smiles on campers faces all weekend long with our many different activities. Campers challenged themselves on our zip line, giant swing, circuit, and double N traverses. We had face painting in our Marine Salmon Center as well as kids getting to use our touch tank to better explore marine invertebrates. Beyond the M.S.C. campers got to experience the lowest tides of the year at -3 feet! Our beach was filled various kinds of marine life for campers to explore in their natural habitat. Campers got their creativity on in pottery and arts and crafts, and had smiles as wide as the blue sky this weekend doing all these different things.

This was one of the weekends where we did some other things for the first time this season. We had campers under the age of 3 so we got to do some really fun Pre K. arts and crafts! After roasting s’mores at our camp fire, Campers got to set sail their wish boats! These were boats made from anything found in nature, so as to not litter or hurt the environment, and then finished with a wish. After the campfire we set the boats to sail out into the Salish Sea! Since the weather was so beautiful and the floating dock is in, we got to do our first Dock Jump of the year too! We were happy to provide these unique activities for or family campers this weekend.

Overall, it was a weekend filled with laughter, smiles, challenges, sunshine, and lots of walking. We thank everyone for coming out. We are looking forward to providing all of this next year for our annual Memorial Day Family Camp!

The beautiful weather elated Camp Orkila this weekend. Sunshine, smiles, and fun times were had for the Happytalk Adventure Guide Expedition.  Over ninety father-daughter pairs ranging from kindergarten through 3^rd grade participated in a camp extravaganza. They supported each other through challenges of heights and persistence, such as rock wall climbing; and dared to conquer the giant swing together. Fathers empowered their daughters at archery with the skill of Katniss herself. However, daughters became the teachers during arts and crafts. Overall, the weekend was filled with discovery, fun, and lovely, sunny weather.

   Mother's Day- a day we celebrate women who do everything for us. This weekend, we celebrated families and mothers of all kinds! The highlight of the weekend for many was the final night's campfire. Many acts performed for the group with highlights of family musicians, Moana karaoke, and a cellist. Other activities for this weekend included massages, kayaking, and camp favorite activities such as giant swing and the zipline. There was a competition for who could pick up the most micro-trash, and one of our entrepreneurial campers gathered a whole team together, named Litter Matters More, and with gloves and bags scoured camp to help keep us looking great.
     Thanks all for coming out, and Happy Mother's Day!

           

Over the last two weekends, Camp Orkila was honored to have the Adventure Guides! The Mercer Island Princesses, Snoqualmie, At-Sar-Kal, and Talk-A-Lot enjoyed all the sun and fun Camp had to offer! While everyone is having fun at the Zipline, Giant Swing, Row Boats and other great activities, the Camp Orkila staff were looking for participants that exemplified the YMCA’s four core values. Individuals and group circles that demonstrated excellence in being respectful, responsible, honest and caring were nominated throughout their time at camp and given awards of recognition at their culminating campfires. It is great to see so many wonderful participants living up to the values of the YMCA!