Frequently Asked Questions by Staff
What makes Nor’wester different from other camps?
Any great camp will provide campers and staff alike with a positive and memorable experience. Our goal is to provide a safe and beautiful setting where campers can learn more about themselves, their strengths and talents. But how we accomplish this is a bit different than many camps today.
We strive to minimize the distractions often found in the “real world” and maximize everyone's exposure to a more basic way of living. While not primitive, we are rustic—we use outhouses vs. flush toilets, build wood fires to heat water for our showers, live in tipis and tents, learn how to build tarp shelters, dig pit latrines, start one-match fires, give up electronic gadgets, email, and the internet. Basically, we “unplug” for the summer and learn to live without some modern day conveniences and without many distractions of our oftentimes hectic modern life.
Under our Unit System campers are grouped according to grade level and they participate in the majority of their activities as a unit. This structure promotes an intensive group living experience. While campers try new activities or improve their skills in familiar areas they are also learning to live together. A good portion of our work is focused on giving support and guidance to our campers through the conflicts and issues that naturally arise out of such an environment. This requires compassionate and competent leadership.
While not unusual on the east coast, our 4-week session is considered long by west coast standards. For us it supports our focus on group living and community. Group development follows a natural progression which can only be fully realized with an extended stay program.
Where exactly is Camp Nor’wester?
We are located in the San Juan Archipelago in Washington State. The islands are approximately 70 miles north of Seattle. Johns Island is a small non-ferry served island on the western edge of the Archipelago, just east of Stuart Island and north of Spieden Island.
How do I get to camp?
There are a number of ways to get to camp. We will help guide you along the way. Coming from out of state, without a car, most staff fly into Seattle/Tacoma Airport. From there we hook you up with shuttles or car pools with other staff. You can also fly directly to the San Juans or take a hydrofoil from downtown Seattle. Once you are hired we will send you a plethora of information including travel options, plane, boat and bus schedules and maps. We recommend that you access an internet mapping site such as Expedia Google Maps. Enter “Roche Harbor, Washington”. Scroll in and out to see where the San Juan Islands are located in relation to Seattle. Johns Island is 3.5 miles north of Roche Harbor, next to Stuart Island.
Where do your campers come from?
About 60% come from Washington State, 15% from Oregon, 10% from California with the remainder coming from across the United States and internationally.
Where do your staff members come from?
Staff members are more diverse geographically. Basically we hire staff from all over the country and have a growing number coming from overseas.
What types of positions are available?
We have two types of positions. Unit Leaders are the “parents” for a group of boys or girls. There are two Unit Leaders per group and they attend to the basic health and happiness of their campers. They also participate in activities with their group. Department Staff instruct in their particular area of expertise, like kayaking or archery. They will work will all the units and are responsible for maintaining safety within their departments. Departments vary in size from one staff member to nine. Within the Department Staff category are our Support staff like Kitchen, Camp Store, Camp Operations and Administration.
All staff are responsible for creating a wholesome and supportive community and maintaining a safe environment.
How much training do I get before the campers arrive?
We have a 14 day Staff Training prior to campers arriving. A large part of the time is spent in seminars and practice sessions, where staff members receive information on camp policies and practices as well as get practical training in emergency response and conflict resolution. Department staff will be evaluated on their respective skills and Unit Staff will receive in-depth training on group management. In addition the time is used to set up camp, getting departments ready, and taking supplies and equipment out of storage. Community development within the staff is also a focus, so we are all on the same page before the campers arrive.
What is a typical day like?
In general the day begins at around 7:30am and ends around 10:30pm. Everyone comes to breakfast at 8:00am and morning activities start at 9:30am. There are two one-hour activity periods in the morning, lunch at noon, a rest period from 1:00ish to 2:30, followed by either 3 one-hour, or 2 ninety minute activity periods. Dinner is at 6:00pm and evening activities begin around 7:30pm.
Unit Leaders attend daytime activities with their unit, while Department Staff provide instruction to the various units coming to their department. All staff help with supervision at meal times, and evening activities are supervised by a combination of Unit and Department Staff, as assigned by the Head Counselors.
What about time off?
All staff will have 2.75 days off each session and two days off between sessions. In addition, you will have at least two unscheduled evenings off per week. Since we are on a remote island, these 'evenings off' are taken on property. Your other time off can be taken on or off property, depending on what you want to do. Scheduling is a complicated affair, largely because we allow staff to sign up for their own time-off rather than assigning them specific days. There are numerous variables affecting when you can take time off, depending on your position, and we work closely with each staff member to help ensure that everyone gets their time away. There is no time off during our Staff Training period.
What can I do on time off?
There are a couple of options. Typically staff leave the island to explore San Juan Island, which is great for sight seeing, camping, eating and just relaxing. There are a few public campgrounds and we have information on some affordable motel type lodging. If you don't have a car there is some public transportation but most staff end up offering rides to others. There are also some neighboring islands that are worth exploring and with some careful planning you could see a great deal of the San Juans.
You can also just go off for the day and return to camp, still on time off, and enjoy time to yourself away from campers in the Staff yurt. It is comfortably outfitted with couches, chairs, tables and magazines. It is also where staff can charge their cell phones. (Cell phones are not used in the presence of campers!)
Where will I live?
We group our campers by grade, into groups we call Units. The campers live in either platform tents or tipis. Staff are assigned to a specific unit and will live in a tipi with 2 other staff members. The Staff tipis are clustered in among the camper tipi/tents of that unit.
What about laundry?
There is a staff laundry facility where you have access to washers and dryers, free of charge. It's best to bring clothes that can be co-mingled and washed in cold water. That way you don't have to baby sit your own laundry. Everyone works together and if you swing by the facility you just put in the next bag waiting to be washed, maybe move clothes from washer to dryer, and if you're seeking good karma you'll fold someone's laundry when it comes out of the dryer. The key is that we're all expected to help 'push it through'. We provide a no-phosphate detergent. Additional laundry treatments, like fabric softener, are not provided.