SUMMER DIRECTOR STAFF GO TO TWIN LAKES

The Unit Directors, Inclusions Specialists, Assistant Directors... they're all here at Camp and are training in prepartion for the arrival of the program staff and counselors. And then before you know it - campers will be coming too! This pic was taken on our Camp Bus and they're all heading out to Twin Lakes for some trip training. What a fun group!

Speaking of fun. What is better than taking a hike to Twin Lakes with Mark (as he plays guitar) and then playing Wiffleball with DanJ once you get there? Yeah, I can't think of anything better either...

SPRING OEE COMES TO A CLOSE

Recently the Spring Outdoor Environmental Education season came to a close. Thousands of students went through our program this Spring, along with hundreds of teachers, parents, and chaperones. It was a massive success, and we're all looking forward to the Fall when the next OEE Season will begin!

Jeremiah (as thethe Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz) waves goodbye with a growl.

WHALES @ ORKILA!

Today. This afternoon. Orca Whales were at Orkila. They didn't go on the Giant Swing, nor play Ga Ga Ball. The whales simply swam by and said, "Hello." At least that's how DanJ and Pullyou interpreted the visit.

Below you can see some video of the momentous occasion. This really happened. There were many eye witnesses. Though unfortunately, the whales were so far away at this point that you might not be able to see them! But enjoy, nonetheless.

GA GA BALL COMES TO ORKILA

What's going on over there? It seems to be creating quite a buzz... quite a stir. Let's look a little closer...

It's Ga Ga Ball! What's that, you might ask? It's a new game we now have at Orkila. Following in the footsteps of our friends at YMCA Camp Colman, we just built our very own Ga Ga Ball Pit. You can see Colman's set-up here.

How do you play this crazy new game? Learn more at this eHow site about the game!

ORCAS ISLAND SKATE PARK #1

Yesterday in the Seattle Times article "Holy halfpipe: Western Washington's top 10 skateparks" by John Kinmonth you'll never guess which skatepark took top honors. That's right, Orcas Island's skatepark! The very same park that our Skateboard Camp visits on a daily basis.

You can click the links above to read the article and/or to learn more about our Skateboard Camp (or to register). Here's an excerpt from the Seattle Times story...

#1 ORCAS ISLAND
Mount Baker Road, just east of Eastsound

Ferry, paddle or swim your way to this island paradise. Perfectly designed and silky smooth, this concrete bowl — officially known as Scott Stamnes Memorial Skatepark — is everything a skateboard park should be. Built in 2002 by the collective genius of Seattle's Grindline Skateparks and Oregon's Dreamland Skateparks with the support of island advocates Warren Miller and Hobie Alter, this is the region's ultimate destination park. Pack your swim trunks and a tent. Skate, swim, repeat.

WHERE DID THE RAIN GO?

Where did the rain go? Pullyou doesn't know, but he's going to soak up the sun while he can. Working outside with a computer!

White puffy clouds.

Campers and OEE staff paddle out to explore Orkila Bay and Freeman Island.

Summer is Coming...

You can see the light beaming through the trees...

... and the sun glistening off the water. Summer is coming!

Dave's Corner

Welcome to Dave’s Corner. My name is Dave Affolter and I am the Teen Program Director at Camp Orkila. For those of you who don’t know, throughout the summer we offer a variety of kayaking, biking and sailing trips both within the San Juan and Gulf Islands…

Dave’s Corner is a column for all you outdoor enthusiasts looking for fun ways to play outside this spring. In prepartion for the upcoming summer I will share some of my favorite local spring adventures.

For a metropolitan area King County has some amazing outdoor opportunities. One of my favorite trips is in my own backyard.

Foster Island Kayak Trip

For those of you with some paddling experience, there are a number of great day paddles within the Seattle area. One of my personal favorite is a Foster Island kayak trip. A great shop for renting kayaks for this trip is Agua Verde Café and Paddle Club. From Agua Verde, head East through the Montlake Cut. As you go along, check out the murals the UW Crew team traditionally paints along the walls. After leaving the Cut, contour the shore and see the Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry. From there, keep heading East through Foster Island.

As you glide along make sure to keep an eye out for great blue herons, beavers and turtles. Depending on the water level in Lake Washington you can cruise on a beautiful water trail behind the Broadmoor Golf Course. Some spring days, falling cottonwood can mimic a warm snow flurry, leaving the water blanketed in white. Enjoy all of the nooks and crannies within the park and when you are ready, pick a new path back. On a sunny day, look South across the Lake at a Mount Rainier looming in the distance before beginning your paddle back.

After an afternoon full of kayaking around such abundant and diverse wildlife and breath taking breathtaking mountain views, I have to pinch myself to remember that I am still in the middle of a big city.

FIRST TIME CAMPER/FAMILY WEEKEND

This past weekened at Orkila we held a First Time Camper Overnight. It was for 2010 summer campers that had never been to camp before, and we let their families tag along too ;)

It was a great weekend, and we had 10 past staff volunteer as well... so they could share their passion for this marvelous place.

In the pic to the right you can see the big visiting group waiting to get off the ferry, as it pulls up to the Orcas Ferry Dock.

THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION

The ACA is an organization that supports Camps all over the country. We are proud to be partnered with them as well. Below is a video they made to show the impact of camp in some of our current public figures' lives.

MARINE BIOLOGY CAMP FILLING UP

YMCA Camp Orkila's Marine Biology Camp is quickly filling up! We have 3 sessions this Summer, and 1 of them has already closed.

Sign up today at http://www.camporkila.org.

Also, the picture on the right is from a recent Marine Biology focused story in the Seattle Times about Orca Whales. Specifically, about their love of chinook salmon from British Columbia - and their importance to the overall ecosystem of the Salish Sea. You can read the story here.

VOTE FOR ORKILA

It's that time again. Last year, in the same Evening Magazine Competition we took home the top prize as The Best Kids Camp. Here's the LINK to last year's blog post.

Now it's time to vote again. You can do so by following the link below...

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT ORKILA

OEE CAMPERS ARRIVE ON ORCAS

Camp Orkila's Outdoor Environmental Education (OEE) Program is now in full swing. In the pic you can see students and teachers walking off the ferry and to our camp buses. Hooray!

SALMON BABY UPDATE

Back in January there was a post about the Salmon Babies at Orkila. To update that story, here's a pic of how much those little fishies have grown!

Look at how big they are!
In our large saltwater tank, we have salmon that are even older. Here's a pic!

ORKILA TO OFFER SPACE CAMP

Here at Camp Orkila we think it's time for something new. And after researching our options, we've decided to start a SPACE CAMP. That's right. And while this is not a new idea, there are other Space Camps in the country - how many of them send their campers into space?

We will be the first summer camp to do exactly that. Would you like to go into space? Then get excited for this new program.

As you can see from the picture below, we've already started drafting up plans for our very own Rocket Launch Pad, which will be located up on the farm, near the Barn.

This month-long program will have two weeks of preparation at Camp Orkila, prior to spending the following two weeks in space. And while we can't make s'mores in space - we've been encouraged by NASA that fires onboard the space shuttle would be a bad idea - instead we will bring a special treat along with us: Astronaut Ice Cream!

However, just like last April 1st in 2009 - this is our little way of saying Happy April Fool's Day!