The sound of a morning bell rings across the grounds, drawing campers into the brisk air to sleepily walk down to the dining hall. The smell of coffee, fresh pancakes, and bacon wafts through the building and out the door. After breakfast, campers spend the rest of the day running around with newfound friends in the sun. By dinner time, their cheeks are sun-kissed and they have laughed more than ever before. That’s the magic of family camp — a place where families can spend meaningful time together, form new connections, and explore the outdoors.
According to the American Camp Association, fourteen million kids and adults attend summer camps each year. Oregon is the home of several of these summer camps, including Camp Westwind and Camp Namanu, which both host family camps in addition to camps for children and teenagers. Common camp activities include arts and crafts, archery, games, hikes, sports, swimming, and fishing. Attending camps like these allows families to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Camp Namanu is a 550-acre forested property, located right off the Sandy River. The camp offers swimming, crafts, hikes, fairy house building, archery, and other camp activities. Murna Marshall has been a member of the Camp Namanu Alumni Association for 20 years. She was a camper for seven years, then a club leader and camp host. As a club leader, she led fundraisers for visits to the Enchanted Forest, the Oregon Zoo, and the Seattle Science Center. The goal of club leaders is to see kids succeed — they often work with kids whose parents may be less involved or unable to give them the same kind of attention and experiences. Marshall says that during their time at camp, the kids learned to set goals and that they had fun while they “grew emotionally and intellectually.”
Camp Westwind is a summer and family camp located along the scenic Oregon Coast, aiming to foster a sense of belonging while encouraging discovery, resilience, and independence.
Westwind offers canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, archery, arts and crafts, and a low ropes course. Their first family session was a mother-child camp hosted in 1960. Twenty to thirty families attend the camp at one time during the three family sessions.
During family camp, Westwind has a babysitter volunteer program. High school volunteers set up and clean up for meals, supervise kids during the day, then put them to bed. “We have a lot of people who will go through our youth camp programs, into teen camp programs, and [sometimes] eventually into staff,” says Reishelle Hoeschen-Clark, the assistant camp director at Camp Westwind. Hoeschen-Clark was first a camper in 2006, part of the babysitter program, and then a counselor at Camp Westwind before becoming their assistant director. She explains that during her “magical and amazing” time at Camp Westwind as a teenager, she made friends whom she is still close to today.
Camp Gallagher is a teen and preteen summer camp along the cold and rocky Puget Sound in Lakebay, WA. Camp Gallagher launched a family camp in 2016, hosting 12 to 18 families per session. Their mission is to provide a place for discovery, adventure, and personal growth. The goal is for kids to leave with a greater sense of self-confidence, a deeper appreciation for their environment, and lifelong friendships. Popular family activities include taking sailboats, canoes, and paddle boards out on the Sound; a ropes course for older kids; crafts like candle making; and telling stories around the campfire.
Camp Kabeyun is located lakeside in Alton Bay, NH. Despite being across the country, Kabeyun aims for the same community and summer fun as camps in the Pacific Northwest. Jay Remington has spent decades at Camp Kabeyun as a camper, counselor, and family camper. He has two sons, one of whom is currently a counselor. Remington finds Kabeyun to be a trusted place for him and his family. “It’s really easy, when you have such confidence in the institution, to send your son away and know that he will be gaining confidence and independence.”
Owen Bernstein, whose family has been attending camp at Kabeyun for generations, says, “It’s definitely super special to be a part of Kabeyun. It feels like we are all family, and there is never a dull moment at camp.”
Going off to camp and being surrounded by nature provides an opportunity to unplug from real life and reset. Attending summer camp, individually or as a family, can have a significant impact on someone’s life, values, and friendships. Camps can help you learn new things about yourself and discover new hobbies you like — personally, I came back from camp with a newfound talent for fishing. From special friendships to special meteor showers, camps provide life-changing opportunities and chances to do activities outside your everyday routine.
