Julia Knight
For over 13 years, The Mountaineers has brought the spirit of outdoor adventure to Seattle youth through Day Camp programs that now engage over 600 campers each summer. We know that demand for camp is high, and we’re committed to a registration process that feels fair and accessible.
The lottery system allows us to reduce stress, support equity, and give all families an equal chance to participate in the summer experiences they value. The lottery for Seattle Day Camps opens on January 5, 2026!
This season, we are eager to announce that our two Wind and Waves Weeks will include a full day of sailing in partnership with our friends at Sail Sand Point. Stay tuned for more updates about all the new updates to camp this year!
The Lottery System
Our ultimate goal in using a lottery is to create a system that is family-friendly, equitable, easy-to-execute, and meets the needs of returning families. All campers, new and returning, are invited to enroll through our lottery system this January. Families planning on using scholarships are encouraged to apply for a scholarship in early January, in advance of entering the lottery.
Campers can use the lottery to enroll in one week of camp. Individual campers are not limited to one week of enrollment for the whole summer, but will be capped at one week through the lottery process. Please remember that entering the lottery does not guarantee a camper a spot in summer camp.
How it works
- Individual lottery applications will be available on the Seattle Summer Camp page for the first two weeks of January (Jan 5-19, 2026). Each camper may enter the lottery once, ranking each camp week in the application to indicate their most desired week to attend.
- The lottery closes at 5pm on January 19.
- Campers will be notified between January 26-28 via email of the registering parent if they have been selected. Campers have until February 2 to register for their offered week of camp.
- All remaining camp spots will open for registration on February 6.
- The lottery is for Seattle Day Camp registration only. (Lodge camps open for enrollment on January 27.)
Rules of the system
- The lottery is only for Seattle Day Camp. All overnight camps and camps in different locations will open for enrollment separately.
- Campers must have a profile on The Mountaineers website to be registered. Please ensure your camper’s Youth Information form and Youth Program form (found in their profile) are updated and complete before entering the lottery.
- Incomplete submissions (anything without a camper’s name, email, and link to their website profile) will not be accepted.
- Please submit only one entry per camper. We understand accidents happen. In the event that two submissions are made, the most recent submission will be entered into the lottery.
- If you're entering campers who are family members in the system and would like them to register for the same week of camp, please enter them in the lottery on the same entry form. If each camper would like to attend different weeks of camp, please enter them in the lottery separately.
- We are unable to accept friend requests through the lottery. Once your camper is enrolled in camp, you may update their friend request.
- If all of your camper’s preferred camp weeks are full by the time their application is processed, they will be added to the waitlist of their first choice week.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email summercamp@mountaineers.org or Associate Day Camp Manager Julia Knight.
Looking for year-round outdoor adventures?
Mountaineers Year-Round Youth Clubs have space available! These programs build on skills throughout the school year and are a great option for participants looking to grow in the outdoors. Youth Clubs are grouped by ages, including Mini Mountaineers (2-5), Pathfinders (6-9), Explorers (10-11), Jr. MAC (12-13), and MAC (14-18).
