170 First Session campers have arrived on Johns Island, safe and sound!
By plane, by bus, and by boat they came. This morning our travel teams gathered campers at drop-off points at the airport and in North Seattle, and then everyone mustered at Skyline Marina in Anacortes for the hour-long boat ride to Camp.
At the drop-off points, parents and campers met with their unit leaders and unit mates. Meanwhile, Camp staff checked everyone in and got their luggage ready to load. Then it was all aboard the boats, and we set sail for Camp!
Parents and campers met Camp staff and unit leaders at the Anacortes Marina drop-off point.
The Ranger unit was (almost) all smiles as they prepared to board the boats to Camp.
It was a beautiful day for a boat ride, with bright blue skies, calm seas, and plenty of sunshine. Campers got a panoramic view of the San Juan Islands as we traveled through the archipelago along the Salish Sea.
Campers from the Wayfarer unit perused a San Juan Islands map as we sailed along.
Upon arriving at the Camp dock, the campers disembarked to wild applause from our gathered staff. Everyone took a turn running under our “welcome bridge” of upheld staff arms. A Nor’wester tradition, the welcome bridge encourages campers to make a quick dash under the bridge of staff arms, accompanied by the staff clapping and cheering them on. It’s a loud and joyful experience!
Camp doesn’t officially start until you run through the Nor’wester welcome bridge!
Campers then proceeded to the Lodge for health check-ins and head checks with our nursing staff. Afterwards they settled into their units, receiving their tipi assignments and getting to know their fellow campers. Everyone reconvened in the Lodge for a delicious dinner, along with staff introductions, “jumper” orientations, and our mealtime etiquette. Finally, our music staff led us in four rousing camp songs after dessert, rounding out our time together with lovely singing.
Our Camp Director Sheila was out on the dock welcoming each boat of campers as they arrived.
Now the campers are off to their units once more, where they are sorting their trunks and settling into their tipis for the night. Tomorrow is a big day of program orientations and our opening campfire, so everyone is heading to bed early tonight. We are so excited to have our First Session campers here, and we’re looking forward to all that the next four weeks have in store!