Community Focus
Nor’wester’s Unit System provides a strong foundation for growth and success.
Rustic Living in Nature
Our outdoor, technology-free living promotes healthy connections and relationship-building in a safe environment.
Outstanding Program
Time-tested activities and experiences that build skills and engage young people.
Countdown to Camp
A Place to Live Easy and Happy
Camp Nor’wester is located on a secluded outer island of the San Juans in Washington State.
Latest Blog Posts
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 [...]
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 [...]
What People Say about Nor’wester
When I attended the camp over many summers, I realized this was the community of people I wanted to put myself in. The atmosphere of the camp always brings a smile to my face, and happy thoughts to my mind. Working long hours with people you love being around, laughing and singing isn’t work in my eyes, it’s an experience that you can’t find anywhere else.
Camp Nor’wester is the best place that I have ever worked. This isn’t because of the job (although that was fun, too) but because of the openness, support, and just general kindness/respect given to you by the staff team.
Spending three months outside, sleeping in a tipi and sharing what I love most with others is worth little pay and long hours. There are so many in our world today who don’t understand what being outdoors can do to a person. Outdoors we are our most real and authentic selves. From this place of honesty there can be so much change and growth.