The Special Days of Camp Nor'wester

Life at Camp Nor'wester has a specific rhythm.

The days settle into a familiar flow: morning wake-up, activities, meals shared in the Lodge, evenings around the campfire or under the stars. Those days become weeks, and before anyone realizes it, an incredible month has passed. That rhythm is intentional. It creates the comfort and predictability that help campers feel safe enough to be themselves, try new things, embrace challenges, and grow.

Throughout each session, that routine is punctuated by a handful of Special Days. These traditions bring the entire community together to celebrate creativity, leadership, friendship, and the joy of camp. Each has its own traditions and history.

Island Fair Day

The first Special Day of the session is Island Fair Day.

Today's celebration combines two longtime Nor'wester traditions. During Camp's years on Lopez Island, campers and staff joined the local Fourth of July festivities. Camp also hosted its own Island Fair, described in a 1956 brochure as a "handcraft fair," where campers created booths, games, and attractions.

When Camp Nor'wester moved to Johns Island, there was no local town celebration to join. The traditions blended together, with First Session incorporating patriotic themes while Second Session focused simply on the fun of the fair. Over time, the celebration evolved once again. Rather than centering the day around the calendar, Island Fair Day became its own tradition during both sessions, one rooted in creativity and community.

The day begins with each unit preparing for the festivities. Campers work with unitmates to build carnival booths, paint signs, bake pies for the annual pie contest, and construct milk-carton boats for the regatta. It's a chance for units to collaborate, solve problems, and create something together.

Explorers paint cans for their pinecone toss booth in the Second Session Island Fair Carnival

After a special lunch and Rest Hour, everyone gathers below the office for the Fun Run.

Campers and staff can choose to participate in the Fun Run. Some participants race for the fastest time. Others walk arm-in-arm with friends, skip the whole course, attempt a three-legged race, or wear silly costumes. However they cross the finish line, they're greeted with enthusiastic cheers (and fresh watermelon). This session, Carter the Islander crossed the finish line first.

2nd Session Troubadours enjoying watermelon on Island Fair Day

The rest of the afternoon shifts is spent on the waterfront for the regatta and beach time. Younger units send two campers each to represent their unit in a canoe race. Older campers participate in a kayak race. Every unit launches their boat made out of milk cartons in a race to the shore. This session, the Pioneers won the canoe race, the Mountaineers claimed the kayak race, and the Foresters earned top honors in the milk-carton regatta.

At dinner, pie awards are announced before everyone enjoys a slice of their unit's creation. Then, as the sun begins to lower over Johns Island, campers head to Mission Point for the carnival.

The Second SEssion Vagabonds provided customers with henna designs at the Island Fair carnival

Each unit hosts its own carnival booth while taking turns visiting the creations of other campers. This year's attractions included Whack a Marimole, Nor'wester's Got Talent, CampGPT: Ask Anything, Intra-Island Court of Law, and Nor'Jeopardy, along with countless other imaginative games dreamed up by campers.

Island Fair Day celebrates one of Nor'wester's core values: campers aren't just participating in camp, they're helping create it.

Nell Day

While older campers are away on Big Trips, the younger half of camp gets a celebration of its own.

Named after the previous owner of our Johns Island property, Nell Robinson Day has its roots in the early years on Johns Island. While the older campers are away on Big Trips, the younger campers get to play! The story goes that the leadership team was looking for a fun celebration for younger campers and thus, Nell Day was formed to give younger campers an unforgettable experience while older campers explore beyond the island.

On Island Fair Day, the Foresters and Voyageurs are the oldest campers present; the day is designed to give them a chance to step up as leaders in the community. Campers are split into five teams, each led by one Voyageur and one Forester selected for their leadership and community mindset. The team colors (pink, green, yellow, purple, orange) were inspired by the highlighters sitting on the Program Director’s desk as they came up with plans for the day. 

First Session Nell Day campers representing all the colors

Campers dress up in team colors and get to sign up individually for special activities (rather than attending activities as a unit like usual). The afternoon is occupied by a team scavenger hunt across the island, collecting points along the way. At each station, the team must complete a challenge before getting the clue for the next. At their final stop, campers search for a watermelon and then race to get it back to the soccer field. 

Nell Day skits often bring hilarity

The day concludes with a campfire where each team performs a skit before the winning color team is announced.

Beyond the games, Nell Day encourages campers to form new friendships while giving older campers the opportunity to practice leadership, responsibility, and encouragement.

Olympic Games & Cascade Games

As the session draws to a close, Camp comes together for one final tradition.

During First Session, campers compete in the Olympic Games. During Second Session, they take part in the Cascade Games. While each has its own traditions, both celebrate the community that has grown throughout the month.

For the final two days, campers are divided into two camp-wide teams: Red and Blue during the Olympics, or Bears and Ravens during the Cascade Games. Team leaders are elected by peers from among the camper community for their leadership and positive example throughout the summer. Roles includes Captains, Song Leaders, Cheer Leaders, and Mascots. Campers in their final year are generally selected as captains based on their leadership and community presence.

Red Team Leadership First Session

Over two days, campers compete in challenges that combine athleticism, creativity, teamwork, and spirit. While the competitions are fierce, the comradery remains strong. Campers cheer as enthusiastically for one another as they do for their own teams.

The weekend wraps up with a Banquet in the Lodge during which team captains give heartfelt speeches about their time at camp. 

The Olympic and Cascade Games might feel chaotic to an outsider but they provide a balance between spending time with a unit and celebrating the greater camp community at the end of the session. They offer a joyful way to celebrate the community they've built before saying goodbye.

Blue Team Leadership First Session

Traditions That Last

The Special Days at Camp Nor'wester are more than memorable events on the calendar. They're intentionally designed opportunities for campers to lead, collaborate, create, encourage one another, and strengthen the community they call home each summer.

Years later, campers may not remember who won the canoe race or which color team earned the most points. They'll remember building carnival booths with friends, laughing through campfire skits, cheering one another across a finish line, and feeling like they belonged to something bigger than themselves.

Those are the traditions that stay with you long after camp is over.