Camp Nor’wester’s Mission and Philosophy

Our Mission

Camp Nor'wester provides a unique outdoor living experience where a diverse group of young people is challenged to develop skills that increase self-confidence and encourage respect, responsibility, and compassion for themselves, their community, and the environment.

The Nor’wester Philosophy

Camp Nor’wester is an outdoor overnight camp for campers ages 9-16 where children gain significant skills and insights in a caring and supportive atmosphere, taking advantage of the Pacific Northwest’s coastal character, through a program that is characterized by a commitment to:

  • Develop a child’s maturity and a positive self-image.

  • Provide programming that holds the physical and emotional safety of the child as a paramount concern.

  • Teach children skills and values about responsibility for one’s self, others, and the environment.

  • Provide a community where diversity, tolerance, and compassion are valued, respected, and promoted.

  • Provide a positive outdoor group living experience that helps children develop the skills necessary for productive group and interpersonal interaction.

  • Provide an experience for children that is challenging, rewarding, memorable, and fun.

Equity and Inclusion at Camp

Three campers holding hands and dancing on grass with tall trees and a clear blue sky.

Camp Nor’wester strives to be an open and inclusive community for all people. It is our intention to provide an equitable experience for all campers who enroll at Camp Nor’wester.

A group of people standing on a dock, forming an arch with their arms, with a young camper in the center running through the arch. The scene is outdoors near water, with trees and boats in the background.

Camp Nor’wester seeks to be intentional in its pursuit of recognizing bias, as well as creating a courageous space for all to engage in the work of dismantling racism and ethnic oppression.

Group of people standing in shallow water by the beach, with kayaks on the sand, during a sunny day near a forested coastline, smiling and wearing life jackets.
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