Summer at Camp Orkila
Camp Orkila Summer Staff Info
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CAMP PROGRAMS & STAFF STRUCTURES
Camp Orkila is designed around the campers, and everything that we do is in service to them. From playing games and facilitating important conversations, to cleaning cabins and attending trainings.
Some staff will have a specific program they are working with based on their job while some staff will be supporting multiple programs or the overall camp operations.
For whichever role staff hold at camp, there are systems in place designed to support them, including their supervisors at camp and incredible teams at our main office in Seattle.
TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMP
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Traditional campers spend their days engaged in a wide variety of activities from arts & crafts to the zip line, capped off with gorgeous sunset views over the San Juan Islands at campfire with a group sing-along and time for reflection.
Most camp sessions are 7-day, 6 nights. We additionally offer 5-day and 14-day programs a few times throughout the summer.
Entering grades 3–10
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In traditional overnight camp, campers are assigned to cabins based on age and gender. Cabin counselors are responsible for the day to day experience of a cabin group of about 10 campers and there are typically 1-2 cabin counselors per cabin.
A group of 2-4 cabins form a unit. All of the Cabin Counselors in a unit work together as a team to support all campers in the unit. A Unit Director supervises and supports this team of Cabin Counselors and campers. Unit Directors are directly supervised by an Assistant Director that typically supervises 2-4 units.
Program Counselors (Arts & Earth, Adventure Team, & Aquatics) also work closely with and live with traditional camp cabin groups. Program Counselors spend some of their worktime acting as a Cabin Counselor for the cabin group but will spend the majority of their time leading specific program activities for all of the different camper groups at camp.
Day Camp Counselors will also live with traditional camp cabin group and spend evenings and weekends acting as a Cabin Counselor for their cabin group.
COUNSELOR IN TRAINING
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The Counselor in Training program focuses on team building, leadership skills, and counseling techniques. This program includes a week of training and team building, a week ‘in unit’ working directly with a traditional or specialty cabin group, a week focused on service both at camp and in the greater Orcas Island community, and a final week to celebrate and reflect.
4-week program.
Entering grades 11-12.
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For the Counselor in Training (CIT) program, a team of 4-5 Unit Directors (often called CIT Directors) work directly with youth in the program and are responsible for the day to day experience of a group of 20-30 CITs. These CIT Directors are directly supervised by an Assistant Director that supports operations for the Counselor in Training program.
ORCAS ISLAND DAY CAMP
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Day camps for kids in grades 1-6 are based on rotating weekly themes and are always a fan favorite of local residents. With many of the same awesome activities as overnight camp, it's perfect for kiddos not ready to stay the night.
Day camp sessions are held Monday-Friday from 8:45am to 4:45pm daily.
Entering grades 1-6.
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In Orcas Island Day Camp, campers are sorted into color groups based on age. Cabin Counselors assigned to Day Camp are responsible for the day to day experience of a color group of about 10 campers and there are typically 1-2 Cabin Counselors per color group.
All Cabin Counselors and campers in Day Camp are supervised and supported by 1-2 Unit Directors. Unit Directors are directly supervised by an Assistant Director that supports day camp operations and may supervise additional programs as well.
Cabin Counselors assigned to Day Camp will also live with traditional overnight camp or specialty camp cabin groups and spend evenings and weekends acting as a Cabin Counselor for their overnight cabin group.
ORKILA SUMMER INTERNSHIP
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The Orkila Summer Internship (OSI) is a unique leadership development program designed for teens ready to take on increased responsibility, gain work experience, and build meaningful connections. OSI offers a dynamic blend of hands-on training, leadership practice, and behind-the-scenes exposure to camp operations.
Participants spend two weeks working “in-unit” alongside cabin counselors, directly supporting and mentoring campers. During this time, they help lead activities, facilitate games, support camper well-being, and gain valuable insight into the daily life of a counselor. For the other two weeks, participants rotate through interdisciplinary roles, shadowing staff in areas such as the kitchen, housekeeping, arts programs, media team, and adventure activities. These experiences provide a well-rounded understanding of camp operations and introduce teens to a range of roles beyond the cabin.
~5-week program.
Entering grade 12 and under 18 for duration of program.
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For the Orkila Summer Intern (OSI) program, interns are supported and supervised by a Unit Director (often called OSI Director) that manages the operations of the Orkila Summer Intern program. OSIs, in their role as interns, live with younger campers and work side by side with paid staff. The OSI Unit Director is supervised by an Assistant Director.
LEADERSHIP & ADMIN ROLES
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The Office Assistant Director manages the Camp Orkila office by supervising the Office Aides in supporting everyone at camp, as well as the families and caregivers of past and upcoming campers. Office Aides support Unit Directors with paperwork and logistics, supervise the housekeeping, store, and laundry teams, help organize and distribute camper and staff mail, and handle an assortment of other tasks to help camp run efficiently. Office Aides will spend most of their time on office-related tasks, but will spend part of each week working directly with campers, supporting with programming and staff coverage needs. Office Aides are part of the Unit Director team.
The Office Assistant Director is part of the Assistant Director team and is directly supervised by someone on the Full-Time team.
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The Camper Support Director leads the Camper Support Program by supervising 2-3 Camper Support Coordinators, consulting with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and managing camper mental, emotional, and social health needs.
The Camper Support Director is part of the Assistant Director team and is directly supervised by a Summer Program Director.
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The Unit Director team includes traditional overnight camp Unit Directors, day camp Unit Directors, CIT Directors, program area Unit Directors, Camper Support Coordinators, and Office Aides. The Unit Director team is responsible for directly supervising their staff teams and day to day leadership for all of camp. Traditional overnight camp Unit Directors, day camp Unit Directors, CIT Directors, program area Unit Directors, and Office Aides are directly supervised by Assistant Directors. Camper Support Coordinators are directly supervised by the Camper Support Director.
The Assistant Director team includes Assistant Directors with specific areas of supervision, the Health Care Director, and the Camper Support Director. The Assistant Director team is directly supervised by Summer Program Directors and the Operations Director who are also functionally a part of the Assistant Director team.
The Operations Director is a seasonal staff member that works directly alongside the Summer Program Directors to run all of Orkila’s summer programs. The Operations Director is considered to be part of the Full-Time team.
The Full-Time team is comprised of all leadership staff that work for Camp Orkila full-time (not-seasonally). This includes the Operations Director, Program Directors, Senior Program Director, Executive Director, Facilities Supervisor, and Food Services Director. The Summer Program Directors and Operations Director work most closely with summer seasonal staff although all of the Full-Time team is responsible for supporting camp operations during the summer.
SPECIALTY CAMP
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Specialty Camps dive into skill building through specific activities including. We offer the following specialty camps:
Sports Discovery (Grades 4-6)
Art Exploration (Grades 6-8)
Boat & Swim (Grades 6-8)
Marine Biology (Grades 6-8)
High Altitude Leadership (Grades 7-9)
Outdoor Adventures (Grades 7-9)
Most camp sessions are 7-day, 6 nights. We also offer 5-day specialty camp programs a few times during the summer.
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In specialty camps, campers are assigned to cabins based on gender and specialty. Cabin Counselors are responsible for the day to day experience of a cabin group of about 10 campers and there are typically 1-2 Cabin Counselors per cabin. In specialty camp programs, some Cabin Counselors may receive additional training to lead specialty specific activities.
Because specialty programs often have lower enrollment than traditional overnight camp, multiple specialty programs will form a specialties unit. All of the Cabin Counselors in the specialties unit work together as a team to support all campers in the unit. A Unit Director supervises and supports this team of Cabin Counselors and campers. Unit Directors are directly supervised by an Assistant Director that typically supervises 2-4 units.
Program Counselors (Arts & Earth, Adventure Team, & Aquatics) also work closely with and live with specialty camp cabin groups. Program Counselors spend some of their worktime acting as a cabin counselor for the cabin group but will spend the majority of their time leading specific program activities for all of the different camper groups at camp.
Cabin Counselors assigned to Day Camp may also live with specialty camp cabin groups and spend evenings and weekends acting as a cabin counselor for their cabin group.
HOLDOVER NIGHT
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The Holdover Session is available only to campers who are registered for two or more consecutive sessions at Camp Orkila. After saying goodbye to their group on Friday afternoon, campers will join the Holdover group, meet their new counselor, and enjoy a relaxed change of pace with a variety of classic camp activities.
This mini-session includes a cookout, fun group games, and a night sleeping outside the cabin—generally at Camp Orkila’s Enchanted Forest campsite. It’s a great way to recharge, make new connections, and get ready for the next week of camp!
TEEN EXPEDITION & LEADERSHIP
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Teen expedition and leadership programs build confidence and teach skills for teens to become leaders and role models at camp, in school and throughout their community. Teens are drawn to YMCA expeditions & leadership programs, not just to explore new places, but for the thrill of personal accomplishment and team connection.
Our expedition-based programs cover a lot more than terrain and water — they are journeys that tap into the very best that each teen has to offer, for themselves and the well-being and growth of the group. One to four-week programs available.
Teen Expeditions include 3 sea kayaking programs:
San Juan Kayaking (1-week) (grades 8-10)
San Juan Kayaking 2.0 (2-weeks) (grades 8-10)
Teen Leadership programs focus on developing personal leadership and communication styles while working with youth and serving the community.
Teen Leadership includes kayaking, climbing:
Leadership Development Institute with Kayaking (2-weeks) (grades 9-11)
High Altitude Leadership 2.0 (2-weeks) (grades 9-11)
Leadership Development Institute 2.0 with Kayaking (3-weeks) (grades 10-12)
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In the Teen Expedition & Leadership programs Teen Trip Leaders work directly with youth, typically in pairs, and are responsible for the day to day experience of a group of 5-10 participants in the following programs:
San Juan Kayaking
San Juan Kayaking 2.0
Leadership Development Institute w/ Kayaking
Leadership Development Institute 2.0 w/ Kayaking
High Altitude Leadership 2.0
Teen Trip Leaders are directly supervised by 1-2 Assistant Directors that supports Teen Expedition & Leadership program operations.
Outtrip Coordinators also work closely with and live with teen expedition & leadership groups. Outtrip Coordinators spend some of their worktime supporting a group of teen participants and their teen trip leaders but will spend the majority of their time managing food and gear logistics for all of camps off-site programs. Outtrip Coordinators are directly supervised by an Assistant Director that supports outtrip operations.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
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Community Programs are offered throughout the summer for the Orcas Island community. These community programs include community zipline, community BMX, community swim, and swim lessons. Kids may take swim lessons as a part of their day camp experience or as stand-alone lessons.
PROGRAM ROLES
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The Program Areas Assistant Director directly supervises the Aquatics Unit Director, Arts & Earth Unit Director, and Adventure Team (A-Team) Unit Director and manages the operations of these specific program areas. Each of these program area Unit Directors supervise Program Counselors and are responsible for the day to day supervision of their program area.
Program Counselors work closely with and live with camper cabin groups. Program Counselors spend some of their worktime acting as a cabin counselor for the cabin group but will spend the majority of their time leading specific program activities for all of the different camper groups at camp.
The program area Unit Directors are part of the Unit Director team.
The Program Areas Assistant Director is part of the Assistant Director team and is supervised by a Summer Program Director or the Operations Director.
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The Boat Captain supervises the Deckhand and any volunteer captains to operate Camp Orkila’s motorized boats. Their primary job is to ferry groups to and from Satellite Island, but will also support teen expedition programs by delivering food and gear resupplies, bringing support teams to off-site groups, or bringing campers and staff back to camp as needed.
The Deckhand lives in cabins with campers.
The Boat Captain is supervised by someone on the Full-Time team and works closely with the Facilities Director.
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The Outtrip Assistant Director supervises Outtrip Coordinators to manage all food and gear logistics for all of Camp Orkila’s off-site programs. Outtrip Coordinators work closely with and live with teen expedition & leadership groups. Outtrip Coordinators spend some of their worktime supporting a group of teen participants and their teen trip leaders but will spend the majority of their time working in outtrip.
The Outtrip Assistant Director is part of the Assistant Director team and is directly supervised by a Summer Program Director or the Operations Director.
SUPPORT ROLES
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The Health Care Director leads the health team at the Health Hut by supervising 2-3 Health Aides, coordinating with volunteer Nurses and Doctors, and managing the Health Hut and medical situations including medical emergencies.
The Health Care Director is part of the Assistant Director team and is directly supervised by a Summer Program Director.
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The Media Team works together as photographers and videographers to produce weekly content after capturing awesome camp moments throughout each week. The Media Team update's camp's media sites including Smugmug, Instagram, and Facebook. 2-3 Media Coordinators are directly supervised by the Media Director. The Media Director is supervised and supported by an Assistant Director or Summer Program Director.
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Support Staff work behind the scenes to help camp run. Support staff areas include:
Kitchen: cooking, preparing, and serving food, as well as cleaning dishes. Kitchen staff are supervised by the Food Services Director and supported by lead staff.
Housekeeping: ensuring that all of camp is clean by cleaning bathrooms and the lodge, emptying garbage and recycling around camp, and supporting with groundskeeping. Housekeeping staff are supervised by an Assistant Director and supported by a Housekeeping Lead.
Laundry: completing staff and camper laundry service, organizing and cleaning lost and found items. Laundry staff are supervised by an Assistant Director and supported by a Housekeeping Lead.
Store: maintaining the camp store inventory and organization, selling merchandise, handing out ice-cream, managing camper and staff mail. Store staff are supervised by an Assistant Director and supported by Office Aides.
2027 Camp Session Dates
Camper programs vary in length, but most programs are one week long, with campers arriving on Saturday and leaving the following Friday. Some programs are as short as five days, while others are as long as four weeks. Day camp programs typically run Monday through Friday. Orkila Summer Intern program dates may vary slightly from the rest of camper program dates.
Session 1: July 5 - July 9
Session 2: July 10 - July 16
Session 3: July 17 - July 23
Session 4: July 24 - 30
Session 5: July 31 - August 6
Session 6: August 7 - August 13
Session 7: August 8 - August 20
Session 8: August 21 - August 27
2027 DATES of employment
Start dates
All employment begins with staff training. Trainings are paid and will take place at YMCA Camp Orkila. Training dates may be flexible or subject to change.
All training begins at 9AM, and staff are welcome to arrive one day prior to their first day of work.
*We offer midsummer start dates for a variety of positions.
Operations Director: Flexible Spring Start, latest May 25
Health Director: Flexible Spring Start, latest June 5
Camper Support Director: June 5
Assistant Director: June 6 for Authorized Drivers, June 7 for non-driver
Unit Director, Media Director, Office Aide, Camper Support Coordinator, Boat Captain: June 15
Housekeeping, Laundry, and Kitchen Support Staff: Flexible Spring Start, June 15
Adventure Team & Aquatics Program Counselor: June 17
Arts and Earth Program Counselor, Health Aide, Teen Trip Leader, Outtrip Coordinator: June 21
J-1 International Cabin Counselor, Store Support Staff: June 24
Domestic Cabin Counselor, Deckhand, Media Coordinator: June 26
Midsummer Start dates: July and August, TBD
END DATES
We are able to offer flexible end dates for a variety of positions. At the latest, most staff will finish summer employment on August 27th or September 7th, 2027. We prioritize applicants that are able to work longer contracts.
Background Check:
All staff must pass a pre-employment background check performed by the YMCA of Greater Seattle or a partnering J-1 Visa sponsor agency.
Drug Test:
For specific positions, which will be operating Y vehicles, we do pre-employment drug testing. Deckhand and Boat Captains are subject to drug testing per Coast Guard regulations.
The Y does hold the ability to do suspicion of use testing, if a staff member shows signs of being impaired at work, they may be tested based on suspicion. If they did not pass that test their employment with the Y would be terminated.
We test for both legal and illegal substances.
Employment Eligibility
Daily Schedule
Most programs other than our teen expedition and teen leadership programs are 1 week long sessions. Summer camp 2027 begins on July 5th with 8 camper sessions throughout the summer. Session 1 is a short week and campers arrive on Monday and leave on Friday. For sessions 2-8, campers arrive on Saturday and leave on Friday. Day Camp runs Monday through Friday for most of the summer.
This is an example of what a daily schedule might look like for overnight campers. Day Camp campers follow a similar schedule that starts at 8:45am and ends at 4:45pm. The times may vary, and your schedule might look different depending on your role at camp.
Staff Schedule & Time Off
For most positions, staff work a 6-day work week with one 24-hour period off during the week (scheduled with your supervisor). Each day we aim for staff to get at least 2-hours off. For all other times, including overnight you are expected to be doing your job or being with campers.
If you are working a multi-week program your day off schedule might look different. For teen trips this may mean working all days in the expedition and having multiple days off in between programs.
Some support staff positions work a shift schedule.
All staff schedules may vary depending on camper enrollment, business needs, your position, and your dates of availability. This means, there may be weeks that staff are taking additional days off in the week or not working for the duration of the week. If you are a staff member that is contracted to working all 8 camper sessions, you can expect to have 1 to 2 sessions in which you will be taking additional days off or not working for the week. Staff working fewer than 8 camper sessions, may also have weeks without work.
All staff will go through training before working with youth in our programs.
While on your day off or time off housing and meals will still be provided but you are free to leave camp if you want.
Paid Time Off (PTO)
In addition to the typical 1 day off per week, all staff will also have access to rapidly accruing Paid Time Off. PTO can be used as a sick day, or an additional day off in the week like a vacation or holiday. PTO must be requested and approved. We do everything we can to approve PTO requests but are not always able to.
Health and Wellness at Camp
Healthy staff make happy campers! Our goal is for staff to stay healthy while they are at camp, and provide support for staff to get well should they fall ill, but each staff member must take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing while at Camp.
The Health Hut is camp’s health center, which is staffed by Health Aides and the Health Care Director. Each week, we have a team of volunteer nurses and doctors to provide medical care.
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The health team at camp may be able to provide basic health care for staff and may be able to recommend when to see a provider or specialist outside of camp. The health team at camp may be able to help get staff to the local clinic, pharmacy, or ferry to go to Friday Harbor or Anacortes for advanced medical care.
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To ensure camper safety, most medications, including birth control, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications, must be stored at the Health Hut. Staff must turn in their medications, which will be stored in discrete envelopes and are available to staff when needed at the Health Hut or at mealtimes. Emergency medications such as rescue inhalers, Epi-pens, etc. are able to be carried by staff. Camp is able to provide limited amounts of over-the-counter medications to staff, but staff are expected to purchase their own medications for extended use.
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Staff will have access to three meals per day at our dining facilities during the entirety of their stay at Camp Orkila. Our dining services strive to accommodate various dietary preferences and restrictions, most commonly Vegan, Vegetarian or Gluten-Free options. We may be able to accommodate other medically documented dietary needs when feasible, depending on impact to business operations. Dietary information will be collected at start of employment. We strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all staff. However, please be advised that we cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contamination with common food allergens, including but not limited to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, gluten, soy, shellfish, and eggs. If a staff member has severe food allergies or dietary restrictions, they should take appropriate precautions, and consult with your healthcare provider. Safety is our priority, and we encourage open communication about any concerns one may have. For information on additional accommodations please contact loa@seattleymca.org.
In addition to the main meal that is served, cereal and oatmeal are available at Breakfast, and a salad bar is available at Lunch and Dinner. Bread, sunflower seed butter, jelly, and fruit are available 24/7. Staff with dietary restrictions will be able to store small amounts of food at Camp. Most staff do not have regular access to cooking equipment.
Camp does not serve peanuts or treenuts, and we ask that staff do not bring peanut or treenut products to camp.
View an example menu here.
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Staff’s mental health is of upmost importance, and we are able to support staff who are receiving mental health care. We will do our best to accommodate requests for a private space for telehealth appointments or personal calls, and as a part of emplyoment with the YMCA of Greater Seattle, staff have access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes 3 free counseling sessions. The leadership staff at camp can support staff through difficult or stressful times, but Camp Orkila does not employee a licensed mental health professional at Camp to provide care for staff.
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The local Sherriff’s Office and Fire and Rescue department are located just down the road from Camp Orkila, and Orcas Island has a rapid emergency response time. However, there is not a hospital located on Orcas Island. Serious medical emergencies may require rapid transport to definitive care to a hospital in a nearby city, such as Bellingham, Anacortes, or Seattle via medical air ambulance at the patient’s expense. Staff should make an informed decision on if they would like to purchase a membership to a medical partner. More information can be found on the Orcas Fire and Rescue website, here.
Getting to camp orkila
Camp Orkila is located on Orcas Island, part of the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington state. Staff are responsible for their own transportation to Orcas Island, unless coming on the J-1 international program. The staff Slack channel is an additional resource for you to connect with one another on carpooling/coordinating travel plans.
Most positions start at 9am on the contracted start date. We recommend that you arrive the day prior. Accommodations will be available the night before training begins.
The most common way to get to Orcas Island is by taking a ferry from Anacortes, north of Seattle. You can also fly directly to the island.
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If you are arriving by plane, you are most likely flying into Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), which is about a 20 minute drive from Seattle.
From the airport, you can take a shuttle to Anacortes (see below for more information).
The Central Link light rail provides service from the airport to Seattle in 35 minutes.
Another common way to arrive to Seattle is by bus or train, for which you are most likely arriving to King Street Station.
You can take a shuttle to Anacortes from the Seattle Convention Center, which is a 25 minute walk, or a 15 minute bus/taxi ride from the train station.
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You may drive yourself, get a ride with someone else, or take public transportation.
The Airporter Shuttle will take you to Anacortes, with one transfer along the way. You can board at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport or at the Seattle Convention Center in downtown Seattle. The Airporter Shuttle is also available from Bellingham to Anacortes.
To carpool, please use the staff Slack group to connect with others who may have an extra seat in their car.
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Walking onto the Ferry
If you are getting dropped off at the ferry landing in Anacortes or arriving via the Airporter Shuttle, then you can walk onto the ferry, and we will pick you up once you arrive at Orcas Island. Look for a Y vehicle or bus as you walk off the ferry.We can only guarantee transportation for the afternoon ferry departing Anacortes the day before training starts. If you must arrive on a different boat, we may be able to pick you up if you contact us in advance.
We encourage carpooling and connecting with other staff to both save money and make friends!
There is the Orcas Island Taxi in case a ride is unavailable.
To walk on to the ferry, you will need to buy a ticket when you arrive at the ferry landing but reservations are not available for walk on passengers.
It is also possible to bike onto the ferry. Please let us know in advance if you are bringing a bike.
The ferry may stop at more than one island. Be sure to take the correct ferry and do not disembark on the wrong island.
The Eastsound airport is just down the road from Camp Orkila.
Kenmore Air charters flights there on small planes, or sea planes. It costs more, but it's a lot faster (40 minutes from Seattle!) and offers beautiful views.
If you choose to fly, we may be able to provide a ride from the airport to camp if you coordinate in advance.
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Driving to Camp Orkila
The most common way to get to Orcas by car is by driving to Anacortes, WA and then taking a ferry to Orcas.Anacortes is about a 1.5 - 2 hour drive from Seattle, and the ferry ride to Orcas is about 1 hour.
If you are driving onto the ferry, be sure to make a reservation for your ferry, and arrive at least 30 minutes before the sailing time.
To learn about the reservation system and to make a reservation please visit: Washington State Ferries Reservations.
When you drive off the ferry, take a left after the boarding ramp (most vehicles will be going this way)
Follow this road, Orcas Road, for about 11 miles (18 km) until you come to Mt. Baker Road.
Make a left on Mt Baker Road and follow it all the way to Camp Orkila.
Look for a large sign on the left near the end of that road!
Parking for the summer will be available. There will be signs and probably people directing you
Living at Camp
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Most staff live in cabins with approximately 10 campers and 2-3 staff members. Only a few cabins have electricity, but all restrooms have electricity. All staff will move during staff training, and you should expect to move throughout the summer. International Support Staff and some leadership positions may live in staff housing.
The Assistant Director Team has shared housing in one of Orkila’s indoor cabins in our Dederer Conference Center. The house has four bedrooms – shared by two or three staff members – two bathrooms and a kitchen and living space. Internet and laundry can be found in the house.
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Most bathrooms at camp are set up as either a communal bath/shower house or as single-occupancy bathrooms. Bathrooms have electricity, hot water, and outlets for hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, etc. Most bathrooms are used by both campers and staff, and there are a few bathrooms at camp that are staff only. In addition to bathrooms, there are outhouses in some areas of camp and on other islands you may visit on overnight trips.
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We aim to provide campers with a low technology experience at camp. Campers are not allowed to have technology at camp. We aim for campers not to see any cellphones, laptops, headphones, or other electronics while at camp.
There may be times when you need to use your phone for work purposes, and we require staff to be discrete. This may include playing music or other programming with campers.
Phones should not be your only way to keep time or set alarms at camp and we recommend all staff have a watch or other timekeeper.
Wi-Fi is available in most places around camp. You may have times when you connect to Canada’s cellphone network, so we recommend contacting your cell phone provider to let them know to avoid roaming charges.
There are limited lockable locations around camp and limited charging places as well. The Larry Norman Lodge, the staff lounge (Great Blue Heron), and the camp store have outlets available. Our staff lounge has a TV and Wi-Fi.
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The weather on Orcas Island in the summer is mild and mostly sunny. Temperatures are likely to be as low as 50°F (11°C) overnight and in the mid-70's (55° C) during the day, though it may get as hot as 90°F (32°C). We recommend bringing a warm jacket for the cooler times, and warm socks and hats particularly for overnight trips. The Camp Orkila Store has t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants available for purchase and Eastsound has some clothing stores as well.
It will likely rain a few days throughout the summer, so a raincoat and shoes that can get wet are recommended.
If you are arriving in May or early June or staying after August, it will be cooler, so warm clothes are even more recommended
PACKING FOR Camp
During staff training and in between camp sessions, we will stay in a few different cabins. With one of camp's luggage carts, we should be able to carry our belongings from Point A to Point B. Try to balance packing light with being prepared and comfortable. Keep in mind that you may be jumping in the cold ocean and rolling around in mud pits, and you can sweat in the sun and then walk into the shade and feel cold. Nights also get chilly, especially toward the end of the summer.
Laundry services and clothes detergent are provided for all staff.
*Label belongings with your name, especially electronics and other valuable items. Due to the number of things lost every summer, we cannot stress this enough!
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Please do not bring clothing that relates to or promotes the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, weapons, violence or profanity.
Please do bring:
T-shirts
Shorts
Jeans/Trousers
Sweaters/Jumpers
Warm Jacket (Fleece)
Rain Jacket
Hat/Baseball Cap (one for sun one for cold!)
Socks
Underwear
Close-Toed Shoes and Comfortable Shoes (Sneakers, etc.)
Sandals (something that can go in the water)
Sleepwear
Swimsuit
*Close-toed shoes and long pants are required for our challenge course elements and for biking.
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Bring whatever you would like to sleep in all summer. This could be a sleeping bag. It could be your down comforter from home. Maybe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sheets. Maybe you put sheets on your twin sized mattress AND use a sleeping bag. It's really up to you! Keep in mind that sand and dirt are easily tracked into our cabins.
Most groups at camp do an overnight trip on a different island or in our Enchanted Forest. We recommend a sleeping bag and sleeping pad for these overnights.
If you are a J-1 staff member, bedding and towels are provided.
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Sunscreen
Chapstick
Soap
Shampoo/Conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Towels and Washcloth
Insect Repellant
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Flashlight / Torch (Headlamps are especially useful)
Watch (cell phones are not acceptable time telling devices around campers)
Battery-operated alarm clock
Sunglasses
Water bottle
Backpack, Day Pack, or Bum Bag
Notebook
Personal medication
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Musical Instruments (highly encouraged)
Games and recreational equipment (eg: cards, board games, frisbee)
Camera
Laptop (cannot be used in front of campers)
Mobile Phone (cannot be used in front of campers)
Travel mug
Self-Care related items (eg: books, journal, face masks, art supplies, anything you need for fitness, your favorite pillow)
Expedition Specific Items
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For clothing, synthetics and wool are warmer, more comfortable and highly recommended. Cotton clothing holds water, dries slowly, and will not provide insulation when wet.
Baselayer: Long underwear, top and bottom, (wool, capilene or polypropylene)
Midlayer: At least 2 pairs of long pants (1 pair noncotton, synthetic, quick-drying)
Midlayer: Long-sleeved synthetic/wool top
Top layer: Warm fleece, sweater or jacket (wool or synthetic)
Rain pants (no ponchos)
Socks (wool or synthetic preferred)
Underwear (synthetic recommended)
1 pair of warm, lightweight gloves
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Personal toiletries (in small containers)
Sunglasses with a retainer strap (Chums, Croakies)
Sleeping pad (foam or inflatable)
Sleeping bag (an easily packable, synthetic bag is preferred)
If you are a trip leader for a kayaking program, we have additional packing recommendations.
**We strive to make Camp a completely safe place. However, with so many people coming through, we encourage everyone to be conservative in what they bring to camp, particularly when it comes to electronics and anything valuable. Please label all items and avoid leaving things in public spaces.
