Celebrating 25 Years
You may have heard that this summer marks 25 years of Camp Nor’wester being able to call Johns Island home. While many older alumni think of Johns Island as the “new” camp location, more than a quarter of Nor’wester’s almost 90-year history has been spent here. Alumni who were young staff members in the early Johns era are now parents [...]
Overnights
Walking around Johns Island last night, you would have found Camp unusually quiet; no campfires in units, no whispered conversations in tents, no outhouse doors slamming, just a blanket of bright stars and the sound of waves. Where are all the campers? They are out on overnights! What does that mean when we talk about overnights at Camp Nor’wester? A [...]
Meals at Nor’wester; A Community Affair
Despite years of working at Nor'wester and other camps, when I picture mealtime at a summer camp, I picture the sloppy joe mess hall scene in the Mary-Kate and Ashley classic "It Takes Two." While meals at Camp Nor'wester can contain a certain energy, the unbridled chaos represented in summer camp movies is not our reality. Campers set tables [...]
Welcoming New Adventures: Camper Arrival and the First Night
As the sun sets over the waters of the Puget Sound, a buzz of excitement fills the air at Camp Nor’wester. The moment our campers have been eagerly anticipating has arrived—the first night of a new session! On the morning of arrival day, the majority of campers converge at the airport or a school in Seattle before boarding buses to [...]
To First Session, With Love
As the sun set on the final night of First Session, there was a whirlwind of emotions. From the thrill of conquering challenges together to the laughter echoing through the woods, each moment has woven itself into the fabric of unforgettable memories. Those memories are cemented by the final days of camp, occupied by the Olympic Games, Salmon Bake, Art [...]
The Value of the Unit System at Camp Nor’wester: First Session Highlights
At Camp Nor'wester, the Unit System is the backbone of our programming, creating a unique environment where campers of similar age and gender live together and share their camp experience. Units spend more or less all day, every day together; they participate in activities, eat meals, and live as a group. This summer's first session has provided numerous examples of [...]