TheBestCamps.com > Best Washington Camps > Camp Nor'wester
Camp Nor'wester
Johns Island, Washington
Visit Our Camp Nor'wester Website
(425) 670-1935
norwester[AT]rockisland.com
Johns Island, Washington 98250
WINTER (OFF-SEASON) OFFICE ADDRESS:
PO Box 1055 Edmonds, WA 98020
CAMPER AGES: 9-16
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight/Sleepaway.
CAMPER GENDER(S): Coed Campers.
BRIEF CAMP DESCRIPTION: Camp Nor'wester offers a unique, outdoor summer camp experience for boys and girls ages 9-16 in the San Juan Islands of Washington. Sessions run for four weeks to provide our campers opportunities to meet new friends, form a strong, cohesive unit together and learn about themselves through engaging in activities including waterfront, challenge course, music, nature, archery, drama and arts and crafts activities as well as overnight and outcamp trips. More information is available on our website Our Camp Website Link: www.norwester.org or by calling the camp office.
CAMP INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED:
Dance, Theater, Music/Band, Fine Arts/Crafts, Soccer, Waterfront/Aquatics, Sailing, Adventure, Travel, Wilderness/Nature, and more. Archery, Ropes/Challenge Course, Nature, Kayaking, Canoeing, Overnight Camping, & Multi-day Outcamp Trips. Recreational Activities Include Soccer, Frisbee, Gaga Ball, Volleyball, Basketball, Capture The Flag & Other Field Games.
CAMP LOCATION: We are located on Johns Island, a small island just north of San Juan Island, in the northern part of Puget Sound. Our 135-acre property offers open meadows, a pond and marsh, intimate coves and beaches and old-growth forests. Please visit our website for photos and descriptions of our site and program areas.
CAMP FACILITIES: Campers and Staff live in canvas tipis, in units of 6-8 tipis, with three people per tipi. Third and fourth graders live in platform tents, with four people per tent. We have an open-air lodge for dining and all-camp events, and two shower houses, one for each side of camp. The bulk of our activities take place outdoors - on the Waterfront, in the Challenge Course, the Archery range, Craft Shop porch or out in the woods exploring our property.
CAMP PROGRAM INFO: Our program is based on creating a community living and learning situation for camper units of the same age or grade. Campers learn to cooperate with and support other members of their peer group, while moving through our program areas as a unit. While we have several free-choice opportunities throughout the session, our campers learn and grow as individuals while working through activities and challenges as a unit.
All of our staff go through a two-week staff training together, preparing program areas, practicing safety procedures, working with equipment and attending important sessions covering topics from working with children to bullying and child-abuse prevention.
Each camper unit has two unit leaders who attend all activities with that unit and provide support for each camper while facilitating team building and group bonding. These unit leaders are in addition to our program teaching staff, allowing our staff:camper ratio to be at least 1:5. Units are schedule to participate in activities week by week, including drama, archery, nature, adobe oven, garden, high and low ropes course elements, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and an endless amount crafts activities.
In addition to our daily programs, all camper units go on overnight camping trips once per week, and beginning at age 13 participate in multi-day outcamp trips. These excursions include hiking, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and biking. There are many opportunities for campers of different ages to interact with each other, including all-camp activities in the evenings such as square dances, and special events days.
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Financial Aid applicants submit a camper application and scholarship forms by Dec 31st of each year for the next summer. Awards are announced by March 1st. Approximately 20-25 families receive financial aid each year. Most awards cover a portion of tuition, and our focus for awards is geared towards families with an income of $50,000 or less. For more information please visit: Our Camp Website Link: norwester.org
FAMILY CAMP SESSION(S): Explore Nor'wester (Family Camp) - Four-day program for families with at least one camper aged 6 and up. An introduction to our program for families to get a feel for what our full program is like. More info at: Our Camp Website Link: norwester.org
CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Please visit our website for this season's rates and dates at: Our Camp Website Link: norwester.org
SUMMER CAMP JOBS:
We hire 85-90 staff seasonally including Unit Counselor and Program area positions to support all of our activities. Each unit of campers will have two unit staff and at least four program staff living with them in their unit. The Nor'wester staff experience can be as unique and rewarding as the camper experience. Interested staff applicants may find more information on our website at Our Camp Website Link: www.norwester.org .
Washington Summer Camps Offer Wide Range of Programs & Summer Activities
Be sure to check each camp listing under INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED for the range of Special Interest Activities and Programs provided by each Washington Summer Camp or Summer Recreation Program.
Many Washington Day and Sleepaway Camps offer professional level instruction in a wide-range of activities, from Horseback Riding, to Computers & Technology, to Performing Arts, to Leadership.
For a complete List of Washington Special Interest Summer Camps & Summer Recreation Programs scroll down to the big black bar at the very bottom of this page.
You can go directly to any of our 2026-27 Special Interest Camp Directories from the list in the black bar at the bottom of this page.
HOME | SUBMIT YOUR CAMP | FIND A CAMP | 2026-27 CAMP GUIDE
Top Ten Reasons to Attend Summer Camp
Search Our
Best Summer Camps Website
Enter Keywords, Activities, Phrases, or Camp Names in space above to Search Entire Site
