Financial Support for Camper Tuition
For information on our Indigenous Campership Award, please scroll down.
For information on Financial Aid for our Family Camp program, please contact kathleen@norwester.org.
We are fortunate to be able to offer Financial Aid Awards to make the camp experience available to a broader community of campers. On average, approximately 25-30 families receive assistance each year. We typically award partial scholarships and everyone is asked to cover their camp store deposit ($150) and an enrollment deposit ($50).
It is highly recommended that families submit their online camper application as soon as their child has decided to attend Nor’wester and application materials are available – please do not wait. One of the five tuition level choices is “Financial Aid Level,” so those families looking to apply for Financial Aid should select this level. According to the current enrollment guidelines, a spot will be held for your child upon applying just like other camper applications. Returning campers who were awarded financial aid for 2023 are given priority in enrollment over new applicants, as they can apply for enrollment earlier (along with all other returning campers from 2023).
Once a camper application is submitted, families must complete and submit the Financial Aid Follow-Up Questionnaire, available in their CampInTouch account, as soon as possible.
Financial Award Guidelines
The Financial Aid selection committee will prioritize the list of applicants based on the following guidelines:
- The actual amount of an award will be determined based on a combination of factors, including timely submission, personal merit, and financial need.
- Returning Campers – Returning financial aid recipients may reapply for funds as long as they meet the application deadlines.
- New Campers – New camper applicants must turn in all their forms on time. They will be enrolled via the Open Enrollment Lottery, which takes place after the open enrollment application window (January 8 – 22) closes. Camper applications received after the open enrollment deadline will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.
As part of the review process, someone from the Committee may contact you to arrange an interview with a representative from Camp. Once the Financial Aid Application deadline has passed and decisions have been announced, each family being offered an award will be informed by the Camp office about the steps necessary to continue ensuring their child a spot for the summer.
Awards Notification & Timeline – 2024
| Month | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | Returning Camper enrollment priority ends |
| January | 8 – 22 | Application window for Open Enrollment Lottery (for new campers) |
| January | 26 | All Financial Aid applicants will be enrolled or assigned to the waitlist |
| January -February | 22 – 9 | Financial Aid Committee review of all requests submitted by the above deadlines |
| February | 15 | Awards announced to applicant families |
| March | Throughout | Second review of additional requests coming in after the above deadlines (funds will be awarded based on the date of application, availability of funding, and availability of space) |
Note: Applicants who turn in their application and follow-up form after the deadline will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds and spaces are available.
Indigenous Campership Award
Camp Nor’wester has been fortunate to be in relationship with the Kwakwaka’wakw community since the 1950s and we have made Indigenous education a priority in our program in the decades since. We have a Kwakwaka’waka-style Big House on property, as well as art and carvings by several Indigenous artists, which are used often in our summer programs to enhance our community’s understanding of the history of the Northwest Coast region as well as to provide a foundation for cultural education and relationships. We are also excited to be building connections with other Coast Salish and First Nations individuals and groups through many continuing channels.
Established in 2018, our “Indigenous Campership” offers Indigenous youth from diverse communities and economic backgrounds the opportunity to experience Camp Nor’wester and be part of a community of cultural sharing and exchange. Our mission is to inspire independence and knowing of oneself, grow and strengthen relational skills with both peers and adults, and awaken a passion for the outdoors in an emotionally-safe and nurturing environment so that stewardship becomes a ripple effect throughout one’s life.
The Campership award details are available at the link below. Please contact the Camp office to notify us of your interest in applying for the award as soon as you decide you are interested. Returning award recipients from 2023 may apply between Nov 15 – Jan 2. New award applicants may apply between Jan 8 – 31. To apply, please submit a regular camper application and select “Indigenous Campership Award Applicant” for their tuition level choice, no later than January 31.
Once a camper application is submitted, families must complete and submit the Follow-Up Questionnaire, available in their CampInTouch account, as soon as possible, and no later than January 31.
Camper applications will be reviewed shortly after submission and applicants will be notified as soon as possible of an award being granted so the camper can be enrolled by January 31st, 2024. Any applicant not receiving an award will also be notified as soon as possible.
Note: Applicants who turn in their application and follow-up form after the deadline will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds and spaces are available.