STAFF TRAINING CONTINUES

The Day Camp Staff trains in the beautiful light of the setting sun.

Before the Expedition staff went out on their training trip, they had some skill training on land.

DanJ addresses the newly arrived Counselors. What a large team!

COUNSELORS ARRIVED ON SUNDAY

Counselors and Orkila Summer Interns (OSIs) arrived on Sunday. Here you can see them running through a massive staff tunnel.

One of the first activities we did together is called Common Ground. In this team building game, the person in the middle shares something about themselves. If others share "common ground" on that subject - they must run and find a new place in the circle. So fun. Especially with over 150+ people playing!

IRON CHEF

Yesterday the Teen Expedition Staff and Unit Directors for our Traditional & Specialty Programs came together to have an Iron Chef event. Each small group were given a set number of ingredients and given the task of making something awesome (and tasty). In this pic, they enjoy the creations.

One of those creations, were these NOLS No Bake Cookies. They deviated from the original recipe a bit (we are a peanut free camp after all!)... and ended up using the following ingredients: oatmeal, hot chocolate mix, cinnamon, marshmallows, graham crackers, animal cookies, and some chili powder for zing. Yum!

STAFF UPDATES FROM AROUND CAMP

The Teen Expedition Staff does a "chow circle" prior to a recent meal. You can see Dimitri - the Camp Director - also documenting the event. He's excited about posting to the Blog this summer too!

The Adventure Team trains on one of our many Challenge Course elements. They sure are getting into the swing of things. Haha.

Dave and Allison scrub away on one of our many kayaks. Getting ready for the summer!

Beth, Lynda, and the Office Team are getting ready to make Camp go as smooth as possible!

In this pic our Unit Directors partake in a group activity. Don't worry, everyone is okay! Chris decided to lay down on the ground, Mark enlisted the help of Sean to hold him, and Ari... well... she's just hanging around!

SUMMER PREPARATIONS CONTINUE

One of the many things we do at the begin of each summer is put the floating docks back into the water. Here is some video of the maintenance crew, and Tank the summer deck hand, hard at work.

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.