Program Areas at Nor’wester

Our program is designed to provide enriching and fun activities for units that will allow for group and individual growth. Campers experience the program as a group so that different campers can have the opportunity to be leaders amongst their unit-mates at different times. You might see some campers take the lead during a sailing session on the Waterfront while others speak up as the group tries an element on the Ropes Course.

Our Program Staff and Unit Leaders are there to facilitate and encourage their campers to take the opportunity to lead, or remind them to step back when another camper is leading. The unit system allows campers to learn all kinds of different roles and how to be supportive of others taking on a role that is new to them. Check-out the descriptions of all of our wonderful program areas below to learn more about what kinds of activities happen at camp!

Music

Music is an important part of everyday life at Nor’wester. Folk songs and ballads from many countries, reflecting different times and ways of life, are sung after meals in the dining hall, at campfires, in the shower and on the trails.

Music is one of the larger aspects of cross-generational connection amongst our community. Some songs from the original Henderson Camps songbook from the 1930s are still sung in our lodge today. New campers learn lyrics quickly and within the first days of each session the lodge is bursting with songs and excitement.

In addition to community singing, campers also participate in traditional folk and square dancing as part of our evening activity programs.

Waterfront: Canoeing, Kayaking and Sailing

Our waterfront program capitalizes on the camp’s location, the magnificent San Juan Islands of Washington State! Our beach provides a great space for new and exciting challenges on the water. Campers participate as a unit, all canoeing, kayaking or sailing together under the supervision of dedicated staff.

Sailing instruction in 12’ Picos is geared to the experience of each camper, with opportunities available for special activities and multi-day trips in our 19’ Lightnings.

Older campers can enjoy our two-person kayaks, exploring surrounding shorelines and learning different paddling techniques.

Canoeing is also popular with every age group. Our fleet of classic 2-person canoes are used by campers to work on teamwork and steering while navigating the local waters.

Nor’wester’s two 22 foot “Hunt” Nuu-chah-nulth style canoes are fiberglass molds of a dugout canoe carved by Calvin Hunt. They provide a unique opportunity for Unit’s to work together and explore further away from the shores of Johns Island.

All of our boats are also an integral part of our Outcamp Program. Groups will use the different vessel to travel to other islands for overnight or multi-day trips.

Arts & Crafts

Our craft instructors are on-hand to teach a variety of skills. Campers are taught to conceptualize, develop and produce their individual projects, without the use of kits or prepared projects.

Our large craft center is well equipped for wood working and carving, ceramics, embroidery, weaving, spinning, dyeing, printmaking, book binding, silk screening, batiking, painting and drawing, jewelry making, calligraphy, leather work, and other crafts depending on expressed interests and the experience of our instructors.

We also have an Artist-in-Residence program, where past alumni can come back to camp and teach a new craft to current campers.

Most recently, we’ve had stone caring, cardboard sculpture, printmaking, cyanotype photography and natural dye techniques shared by alumni artists.

Climbing Wall

New in 2017, our Climbing wall provides opportunities for campers of all ages to learn rock climbing skills at camp! The introduction of this program stems from the existence of a climbing program on our former property on Lopez Island. Since relocating to Johns, the camp has been planning for a climbing program and finally we have our own 28′ wall in place!

Campers will participate as units during the week and will also have a chance to sign-up during open activities. All campers are taught team-belay techniques, and can work up to learning individual belay skills as well. We also started slack-line activities to build strength and balancing skills. We anticipate this program area growing to include bouldering rocks and possibly an additional pinnacle or tower structure in the future.

Challenge Course

The Ropes Course builds self-confidence as each camper attempts the many different levels that make up the course. The challenge component emphasizes group participation and problem-solving skills through activities that develop an appreciation for teamwork and cooperation.

Challenge activities and low elements are available to all campers, and middle and older units can work up to a high course element, building communication skills and learning how to support one another along the way.

Cultural Community Connections Activities

Located on a site with clear and longstanding evidence of native occupation, we strive to acknowledge that the property is located on traditional Salish land (see Property Location & Region information). Nor’wester also has a unique tradition of Northwest Coastal art and culture.

This tradition, inherited from the Henderson Camps, is based on a relationship that started in the 1950s between members of the camp community and members of the Kwagiutl community from Tsax̱is (known as Fort Rupert). This relationship is reflected in the camp’s totems, canoes, and a Kwakwaka’wakw-style Bighouse. It influences much of the artwork produced at camp, and is the basis for a gift exchange which takes place at season’s end. All campers and staff learn about the Northwest Coastal tribes including the Kwagiutl, other groups of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation, and increasingly the Coast Salish groups that inhabit the region where camp is located.

All Units attend an “orientation” to the culture and art, and can also sign-up for activities such as a traditional pit-fire cook, native games and storytelling, songs and drumming, or learn about traditional uses of native plants or dance regalia. We cherish the unique relationship we have with our friends from up north – many of whom come to camp to share their culture with us during the summer. Although the focus is often centered on Kwakwaka’wakw culture because of the relationship Camp has with members of the Kwagiutl community, art of several Northwest Coast styles can be found around the property, and Nor’wester continues to build relationships with indigenous educators and artists of many backgrounds through outreach and our Visiting Artist/Educator program. As we increase our collective understanding of the history and current experiences of coast Salish people in the region, and recognize that Nor’wester exists on coast Salish land, we strive to bring more understanding of the coast Salish people, language, and culture to our campers.

For information on our Indigenous Campership Award, please visit our Financial Aid Opportunities page, and scroll down.

Archery

Under the guidelines of USA Archery, campers are instructed in safe and fun shooting.

The reward for faithful practice is the satisfaction of mastering a skill and the opportunity to earn awards at the end of the session. Although generally an individual activity, our instructors have also created games and group challenges to support unit-building on the range.

Garden

Our 1000+ square foot garden provides a great space for cultivating and learning. Campers participate in all aspects of care for the garden: clearing, watering, weeding, and harvesting!

Hands-on activities are designed to teach campers about the food-cycle and compost systems, while collaborations with our Adobe Oven program provide opportunities to move food at camp from earth to table!

Some meals in the lodge are even supplemented by fruits and veggies from the garden, adding to the experiential learning potential for campers.

Outdoor Cooking & Food Skills

Campers have an opportunity to try their hand at baking bread, cinnamon rolls, pizza, cookies, pies and many other tasty creations in our wood-fired oven.

Basic food skills and safety lessons are covered through experiential culinary efforts.

Best of all they get to eat their results fresh from the oven! Fresh ingredients from our garden often make their way into adobe treats, and sometimes a unit can “eat out” of the lodge for a meal they’ve prepared themselves.

Nature

Our Naturalist teaches campers about the local ecology and general Biosystems on Johns and in the Puget Sound region.

Our unique natural campsite with its many forests, meadows, beaches, tide pools, wetland and coves invites exploration.

Some units may also visit the Whale Museum and Lime Kiln Park on San Juan Island. Collaborations with several other departments are frequent, combining learning about the natural world with creative benefits to taste and enjoy!

Drama

The drama program provides campers with an opportunity to express themselves creatively, to learn to speak in front of groups and to learn to work with others to create entertainment.

Units develop and host campfire skits, inviting other units to perform and designing a plot that encompasses all acts.

Individual campers can also participate in Opry House, a presentation produced by the drama department at the end of each session including snippets of monologues, comedic skits and longer theatrical pieces.

Weekly Community Building

Once a week, we observe an “anchor day” where the whole community participates in larger activities together, allowing for sharing, reflection and appreciation. Weekly Reflection, called Chapel, is a gathering hosted by a different Unit each week. The Unit chooses a topic, like friendship, communication, honesty, or respect, and presents it to the entire camp community.

Songs, readings, skits or small group activities help to guide our discussion and exploration of the chosen topic. We then eat “dinner” as the noon-time meal, a slightly more formal meal to gather and celebrate the week.

Later in the afternoon, Musicale is an opportunity for individuals and small groups to perform for the entire camp. We get to witness some first-time performances right along with experienced musicians, singers, dancers, poets, comedians and even a yo-yoer from time to time. All talents are welcome and encouraged!

Camp Improvement Activities

Contributing to the care of our environment is an essential part of our program both philosophically and practically. Each unit reserves one or two periods during the week for maintenance and improvement projects.

Typical jobs are hauling fire wood for the shower houses, cutting and skinning tipi poles, graveling tipi floors, or clearing trails.
Our Camp Operations crew lead these tasks while incorporating education about the environment and our natural resources.

It’s important for each individual in our community to understand the impact they have and the role they can play to be a steward of the property – which we hope translates into care and concern for their local environment when they return home from camp.