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 sending their kids to camp. 

2002 Archers sit together on the Evergreen Way

2024 Archers sit together on Evergreen Way

The Camper Voice Council suggested a picnic-style lunch party on the land rather than in the Lodge to celebrate this anniversary. This week, we gathered for that lunch, complete with cake, a “Happy 25th” card, and a game in which campers tried to identify the photos of current staff members when they were campers. 

Campers share their appreciations for Johns Island on a giant card

In celebrating 25 years on Johns, we hold close the reminder that we only call Johns Island home because it was taken from the original Coast Salish stewards of the land. We are not the first people to call Johns home. Coast Salish peoples have called these islands home since time immemorial.

Lunch included corndogs and watermelon

Early 2000s campers enjoying watermelon

Our unique location allows us to continue providing life-changing experiences for hundreds of campers and staff every summer. Nor’wester’s programming allows individual campers and staff to develop a sense of place and build relationships with the natural world. Ask the campers in your life if they have a favorite tree at Camp. What spot on Johns makes them feel the calmest? How does the rhythm of high and low tides affect their experiences?

Early 2000s staff hanging out at a picnic meal

2024 staff hanging out at a picnic meal

We are incredibly fortunate to call Johns Island home and take the duty of stewardship very seriously. Campers learn about water conservation, waste management, and low-impact outdoor living. Camp improvement projects are built into programming so that campers feel a sense of responsibility for their surroundings. Everyone is responsible for picking up trash as they move through the session. 

Trying to guess which staff member is featured in each photo from when they were campers

In the Facebook post announcing the blog about mealtimes, an alum commented that “it’s neat how timeless” the photos of campers gathering in the Lodge are. Although much has changed at Camp and beyond, the essence of the Nor’wester experience has remained the same. As we’ve approached this 25th summer on Johns, the year-round office team has enjoyed looking through photos from the last quarter century. Many photos from 25 years ago could easily have been taken today (if you can disregard the photo quality and early 2000s fashion). Thank you to everyone who has made the last 25 years possible, and here’s to another 25+ years of Camp Nor’wester magic!

Community members can join us in celebrating 25 years on Johns Island by reaching out to fellow Nor’wester alum- connect with people you haven’t spoken with in years. Share memories from your time at Camp Nor’wester with the people around you. If you want to host an alumni event in your area, contact Kelsey@norwester.org. 

You can also purchase a shirt commemorating the summer at bonfire.com/norwester. These shirts were designed by Zoe T, a Mariner this session.