We’re so excited to be announcing our weekly themes for our 2025 summer sessions at Camp Sealth! Each week both our overnight and day camp staff will incorporate the theme into daily activities, all camp events, meals and more! Participation in the theme is always optional, however, we encourage our campers to bring any costumes or accessories they have related to their week’s theme – Camp also has many costumes to borrow!

Session 1: Space is the Place June 30 – July 5

This camp session is about to be out-of-this-world! Travel to infinity-and-beyond through the constellations all in time to make it back to planet Earth by the end of the week! Campers may dress up as aliens or astronauts, learn about astronomy, and see if you would survive an alien invasion!

Session 2: Heroes & Legends July 7 – 12

Step into the world of gods, monsters, and epic quests! Whether you’re a mighty hero like Hercules, a clever strategist like Athena, or a mischievous trickster like Hermes, this week is all about adventure. Train like a true demigod, go on mythical quests, and see if you have what it takes to join the ranks of legend. Beware of Medusa’s gaze, watch out for minotaur-filled labyrinths, and prepare for an unforgettable journey straight out of Greek mythology.

Session 3: Rainbow Rumble July 14 – 19

Get ready for a week bursting with color, competition, and camp spirit! It’s time to rally your team, show off your creativity, and dive into fun challenges in the ultimate color war. Whether you’re decked out in head-to-toe red, blue, green, or yellow, every camper will have a chance to compete in games, relays, and wacky contests—all while cheering on their squad. The energy will be high, the outfits will be bright, and the excitement will be unstoppable. Who will claim the Rainbow Rumble crown? Only one way to find out!

To help your camper bring their team spirit to life, send them with clothes that match their team’s color!

• Wrangler – Red
• Fireflies – Orange or Yellow
• Hill & Bullseye – Green
• Village & Kiwanis – Blue
• Horizon & Nocturnal – Purple

Let the Rainbow Rumble begin!

Session 4: Jurassic Adventure July 23 – 26

Get ready for a DINO-mite week at camp! Journey back to a land-before -time & party like it’s 145 million BCE! It’s dinosaur week, what more can we say?! Visit our real-live dinosaur descendants (the camp chickens!), search for fossils, share your best T-rex call. We’re traveling back in time for the adventure of the summer.

Session 5: Wild, Wild West July 28 – August 2

Howdy partner! Mount up and get ready to ride into the west of the past! Bring your cowboy hat and flannel because this week will be a rootin’ tootin’ good time. Dive into the world of horses, ranchers, and gold this week. We’ll have events and themed meals centered on the Wild, Wild West, plus a special Hoedown up at Wrangler where campers can witness life with horses firsthand!

Session 6: Enchanted August 4- 9

Whether you’re a warlock, witch, or wizard (oh my!) – join us for a magical week of camp. It’s sure to be a SPELLBINDING experience! Whether you want to dress up as a princess, cast a spell with your friends, or you’re more likely to be found at Shrek’s swamp, this week will be all things fairytales.

Session 7: Camp Stealth August 11 – 16

I spy with my little eye, an exciting week full of mystery and intrigue! The only thing that isn’t a mystery is the fun and friendship made along the way! Calling all spies and mystery enthusiasts, this week is for you! Solve a mystery with your friends, attend spy training, and see if you have what it takes to be a secret agent, Camp Sealth is counting on you! We are all on a mission to make this the best week of your summer!

Session 8: Sail the Seven Seas August 18-23

Ahoy Mateys! Mermaids, pirates, and deep-sea divers welcome. This is the perfect week to dress up as your favorite sea creature, play on the beach, or live like a pirate. This week is all about the ocean and everything in it! You might even find some buried treasure!

P.S. We’re seeking costume donations!

Do you have lightly used costumes, formal wear, or accessories that need a home where they will be a part of fashion shows, photoshoots, campfire skits, and camp events? Reach out to us at teagans@campfireseattle.org and we can coordinate a time and place for you to drop off! (please no shoes, weapons, or fragile items)

The post They’re Here! Camp Sealth’s Weekly Themes for Summer 2025! appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Natalie, whose journey to this position has been as varied as it is inspiring, brings a unique blend of creativity, curiosity, and passion for learning and community-building. With deep roots in theatre, astronomy, and the great outdoors, she is set to bring fresh perspectives and vibrant energy to our team.

Natalie’s first love—and career—was theatre. After earning a BFA in Musical Theatre from Central Washington University, she became an active participant in Seattle’s fringe theatre scene, with a special focus on shows exploring science history themes. This passion for blending the arts and sciences has been a hallmark of her career.

For nearly a decade, Natalie served as an Educator at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, specializing in outreach, astronomy, museum theatre, and the wonder of planetarium shows. Her enthusiasm for the stars and the stories they inspire led to earning a Postgraduate Certificate in Cultural Astronomy from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, with plans to complete a Master’s in the future. Through Natalie’s personal brand, The Sky Connection, she organizes workshops and events that help people reconnect with the night sky, often in wilderness settings.

Growing up on Snoqualmie land, she has always felt a strong connection to the Cascade foothills. This connection deepened through her work with the Wilderness Awareness School, where she served as an apprentice, instructor, and coordinator of summer and adult programs. Natalie’s roles often centered on youth rites of passage, staff training, and organizing meaningful summer camp experiences.

When not inspiring others through programs and events, Natalie can be found hiking, backpacking, practicing bushcraft, painting plein air watercolors, or marveling at the colors of a sunset. Her camp name, Rabbit, reflects a love for lagomorphs and a deep appreciation for nature’s intricate beauty.

As Camp Sealth’s new Events and Community Outreach Director, Natalie is most excited about helping campers experience the transformative power of nature for the first time, as well as welcoming alumni and families back to create new memories. She’s eager to weave together meaningful experiences that celebrate connection—with nature, ourselves, and each other—on our beautiful stretch of island wilderness.

“I am especially looking forward to participating in Nocturnal Camp this summer” — an opportunity perfectly aligned with her passion for the night sky and connecting people to its wonders.

We can’t wait to see Natalie’s creativity and vision come to life in the events and programs she’ll bring to Camp Sealth.

Welcome to the Camp Sealth community, Natalie!

The post Introducing Natalie: Our New Events and Community Outreach Director appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

One of the most profound learnings for me was witnessing our inclusive practices in action. The sense of community here is second to none, and it’s heartwarming to see everyone embraced for who they are. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the rich traditions that define Camp Sealth. From cherished rituals to spontaneous campfire moments, every experience added to the unique tapestry of our camp life.

A highlight of the summer was undoubtedly Uncle Wigglebottom’s triumph in becoming the Unofficial Vashon Mayor! This quirky and delightful achievement brought a lot of joy to our camp community. Looking ahead, Uncle Wigglebottom will represent us at various events throughout Vashon, helping to strengthen our ties with the local community. We are excited about the opportunities this role will bring to enhance our influence on the island!

On a personal note, my family and I have settled in wonderfully at Camp Sealth. My wife has found a fulfilling role as the Executive Director of the Vashon Heritage Museum, and our daughter, now two and a half, has started attending Montessori school. We are all relishing the natural beauty and vibrant community of Vashon Island. It truly feels like home, and we couldn’t be happier to be part of this incredible place.

As we move into the Outdoor Education season, I am filled with anticipation for the exciting plans we have in store. 



Thank you to everyone who made this summer unforgettable. Stay tuned for more adventures and growth in the year ahead!

Omar Malik

Director of Camping

The post Camp Sealth appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

I cannot believe that another summer has already flown by!  I am so grateful to Camp Fire’s hundreds of trained, caring adult staff members and volunteers.  I firmly believe that children need people in their lives who encourage growth, provide support, share power and expand their realm of possibilities. Thanks to our incredible team, over 3,000 kids received that and so much more at our summer overnight and day camps!   

Our work with Domokur Architects is progressing well and I anticipate having the first draft of our new Camp Sealth Master Plan by the end of the year.  I am looking forward to sharing it and receiving your input and feedback as the support of our community is going to be paramount to its success.   

It will also be a vital tool that will help us in our mission of creating an organization where all young people thrive and have equitable opportunities for self-discovery, community connections, and engagement with nature.   

Lastly, I am thrilled to share that thanks to our donors we were able to give nearly $110,000 in financial aid this year! This is the most that we have ever been able to grant and it has had an incredible impact on so many families.   

One of the recipients shared with us, “We received financial assistance so our daughter could attend Camp Sealth this summer and that opportunity made it possible for her to start the best thing she’s ever been a part of!” 

Thanks to you, Camp Fire continues to make an incredible impact in the lives of thousands of kids in our community each year!   

Yours in Gratitude, 

Rick Taylor 
Executive Director  

The post Another Summer of Impact…Thanks to You! appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Camp Sealth’s Wrangler horse program consistently sells out year after year. The demand has only continued to increase since the pandemic as it’s one of just a few remaining across the state.

At Wrangler, campers find a close-knit community within the greater community that is Camp Sealth. Campers get to experience the benefits of a unique partnership and bond with their horse throughout the week. Riding and ground lessons help teach our campers communication, responsibility, confidence, and empathy through their time hands-on at the barn.

“There is a great community at Wrangler and I feel more self-confident after my week at camp. The horses make me happy and I learned so much about them and the outdoors!”

Emmaline, Wrangler Camper 2023

In order to meet this ever-growing need, we excitedly launched the Wrangler Improvement Fund earlier this year. Kicking off our efforts, we hosted a homecoming event at Camp Sealth in the spring that welcomed many Wrangler alums and families back to camp. We followed that up with an online auction connecting with alums and supporters across the country.

We have been thrilled with the response from our community as we have raised $42,750 so far! These funds will buy new tack for our herd as well as improve the health & safety of our horses. We hope to raise an additional $60,000 in order to build a new barn with unit space and bathrooms as well as a dedicated stall for horse care and a permanent covered hay barn. We also plan to build new cabins onsite in order to expand our camper capacity.

Join our herd of supporters!

The post Donors Saddle Up in Support of Wrangler appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

We can’t wait for July to arrive with sunshine, long days, and campers back at summer camp. We hope that you’re ready to start planning for summer alongside us, as registration for the 2024 Camp Sealth Overnight & Day Camps is open!

Registration Changes for 2024

One Overnight Session per Camper

This year, we are limiting each camper to one session of overnight camp as registration opens. We hope that limiting each camper to one session at first (rather than two in 2023) will allow more families to secure a space in their program of choice.

New Payment Options

The option to pay just the deposit for a program is no longer available. Instead, payment options at the time of registration include:

• Pay in full
• Pay the deposit and create a payment plan
• Apply for financial assistance

All sessions must be paid in full by May 1.

We will be adding a 2% service charge to payments made by credit card to cover the cost of credit card processing fees. You may elect to pay by ACH, debit card, or mailed check to avoid this fee. Thank you for your understanding.

Registration Opens November 16th at 12:00 a.m.

The registration open date/time will be November 16 at 12:00 a.m. (That’s the late evening of the 15^th into the morning of the 16th). After asking some of our families for feedback, we found that there is no consensus on the best time to open registration. However, by opening at midnight we hope that families who are unable to take time away from work or other responsibilities during the day will be able to register at midnight or in the morning hours.

Financial Assistance Applications Open with Registration

Applications will be accepted for financial assistance as soon as registration opens. 

• January 31 – Early application deadline (notification by February 28)
• March 31 – Final application deadline (notification by April 30)

Camp Sealth programs fill quickly and financial assistance is limited. We strongly recommend applying by the January 31 deadline as we cannot guarantee that funds will be available after that point.

Ready for Summer 2024!?

Check out our 2024 summer camp offerings at Camp Sealth!

Questions?

Summer Camp Co-Directors  

Avari Tawater-Tiedemann (Honeybee) She/Her Pronouns
avarit@campfireseattle.org 

A. Berti (Shazam) She/They Pronouns
aberti@campfireseattle.org 

Office Manager- Registration 

Kim Roeser (Bizzy) She/Her Pronouns
kimr@campfireseattle.org 

The post Camp Sealth Summer in 2024 appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Our Board of Directors and Staff Team are in the midst of developing a new three-year strategic plan that will see us through 2025.

At the center of this plan is expanding our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts holistically throughout the organization. Specifically, centering the needs of our current staff and volunteers of color and continuing to increase the diversity of our staff team and board of directors.

I am excited to also share that we are partnering with Domokur Architects, a national architecture firm that specializes in camping. They are going to lead us through a master planning process that will help us protect and preserve Camp Sealth, which is now over 100 years old. Their team will be spending a week at camp to examine the site, meet with our staff team, board of directors and other key stakeholders to develop a plan to prioritize and guide the critical capital improvements needed at camp to ensure its sustainability for our next quarter century.

All of these steps will help us in our mission of creating an organization where all young people thrive and have equitable opportunities for self-discovery, community connections, and engagement with nature.

I want to encourage you to join our efforts! We are looking for volunteers on our Board of Directors, to expand Camp Fire Groups with new leaders and to help at our community Day Camps this summer.

Yours in gratitude,

Rick Taylor (he/him)
Executive Director

Get Involved!

Learn More about Volunteering with Camp Fire 

Support our Efforts  & Make a Gift Today

The post Envisioning & Planning for our Future appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

As I reflect back on this past summer, my first as the new Summer Camp Director, I feel such joy and gratitude that I led a team that made such an incredible difference.

To so many of our campers and staff, camp this summer represented another step towards normalcy and healing.

Thanks to our careful mitigation of COVID, we were able to resume longstanding specialty programs including our sailing camps and our trip and travel excursions.  We also brought the iconic Da Boata back cruising campers to their island home away from home.  Along with these happy returns of the familiar and beloved came new and exciting additions to Camp Sealth.

Equity Action Fund donors sponsored over 40 campers of color on full scholarships – kids who might never have experienced overnight camp were able to stay in cabins, create their own tie-dye, ride horses, and sail. Nearly 90 campers throughout these 8 weeks were able to participate in fully gender-inclusive cabins, including our first LGBTQIA2S+ affinity camp: Proud 2 Be Me, where 24 campers got to spend the week in community with others of shared identities and experiences.

We led restorative justice training and provided mental health support for both campers and staff. We saw incredible growth too in the representation of our staff – different cultures, nationalities, races, and identities – all of who poured themselves into the young people we served. All these changes are vital to our values of inclusion and community and to welcoming people of all backgrounds.

Most of all, for me this summer brought out how truly our camp community mirrors our Puget Sound shores. While the sands and shoreline may shift – weathering waves, storms, and change – I am proud that Camp Sealth is still a safe space for our campers to learn about themselves and others and be shaped by their experiences in the natural world.

with Work, Health, and Love,

Meaghan “Burro” Baumgartner (she/her)
Summer Camp Director

The post Our 102nd Summer Brought Healing, Hope & Change appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

Founded less than a year ago thanks to Food Service Director Chantel Jackson’s vision to bring more children and families of color to camp, the Equity Action Fund has recently been awarded a grant from King County Parks.  In partnership with the King County Play Equity Coalition,  this funding is dedicated to increasing equity of youth access to sports and recreation.

Camp Fire was one of just 45 nonprofits chosen to receive funding across the county.  The $67,000 grant will be dedicated towards providing camp scholarships to children and families of color.

Disparities in access to physical activity and health outcomes are evident by race, place, and income.  By investing in organizations like Camp Fire serving low-income youth and youth of color, King County Parks is working to increase youth access to and participation in physical activity.  Learn more about the grant including the full list of recipients.

Equity in Action

The Equity Action Fund has already made a huge impact on our programming and our ability to serve more campers of color. More than 40 kids in need attended Camp Sealth this summer on full scholarships to our Classic Camps. We are also excited to welcome more than 100 attendees to our inaugural S’mores Diversity Family Camp in October. This weekend retreat at Camp Sealth will give families a chance to connect with each other and experience all that camp has to offer. A range of outdoor and family-friendly activities will be offered. The event is already at capacity with an extensive waitlist.

Thanks to King County’s support of our mission to increase equity at Camp Sealth, we are able to offer more scholarship assistance to families of color in need when registration opens this fall.

Learn more about the Equity Action Fund

Give Today to Advance Equity at Camp Fire! 
Please add “Equity Action Fund” in the notes field. 

The post Equity Action Fund Keeps Growing! appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.

This fun- and singing-filled cruise on Lake Union will bring together camp alumni who remember riding to camp aboard VIRGINIA V in the 50s, 60s and early 70s. Light snacks and beverages will be available for purchase aboard the ship. Spaces are limited so book early!

Itinerary:

• Boarding at 1:00 PM
• Departure at 1:30 PM
• Return at 3:30 PM\

Tickets:

$40 per person

Register Now!

The post Camp Sealth Alumni Cruise Aboard VIRGINIA V appeared first on Camp Fire Central Puget Sound.