Tacoma Summer Camp

Join us at the Tacoma Branch for a week filled with climbing, wilderness skills, fun, and adventure!

2024 kids' day camps Schedule

June 24–28 | Rock & Ropes 1: A fun-filled week focused on building basic rock climbing skills! Students will learn to rock climb, belay, tie climbing knots, rappel, prusik, and will enjoy an outdoor climbing session on real cliffs in North Bend.

July 1–5 | Climbing Rock Stars 1: This week encourages campers to dive deeper into rock climbing skills! Kids will have the chance to learn more advanced climbing techniques and moves, build anchors, learn to lead on bolted climbs, climbing knots and rescue techniques, rappelling, prusiking, belaying, and more! We'll also have plenty of games and supplementary outdoor skills to keep our minds fresh and energized. Field trips include climbing outdoors in North Bend.

July 8-12 | Wilderness Week: An exciting week filled with tons of outdoor activities, including climbing, hiking, map and compass training, camp cooking, wilderness first aid, fire and shelter building, and learning about our local geology and ecology. Students will take a one-day field trip to hike in the Cascades.

July 15–19 | Survival Skills Week: This week will be all about building skills to survive in the wilderness! In addition to our normal curriculum, we will take a one-day field trip to our property on the Carbon River to put our skills into practice with an orienteering course, foraging for edible plants, building shelters from materials we find in the woods, and learning to build fire.

July 22-26 | Water Week: Campers will have the chance to go on a kayaking field trip during this fun new week of camp! We'll also learn about tides and currents, water-based safety and first aid, and local marine life, in addition to general outdoor skill building and a bit of rock climbing as well.

July 29-Aug 2 | Rock & Ropes II: A fun-filled week focused on building basic rock climbing skills! Students will learn to rock climb, belay, tie climbing knots, rappel, prusik, and will enjoy an outdoor climbing session on real cliffs in North Bend.

Aug 5-9 | Nature Arts & Crafts Week: Creative adventurers, join us for this all-new week at Tacoma Camp! Campers will learn outdoor skills and safety, and then tap into their creative side for art projects and crafts that accompany their outdoor experiences. This week's field trip consists of an easy hike with a focus on nature and adventure photography.

Aug 12–Aug 16 | Climbing Rock Stars II: This week encourages campers to dive deeper into rock climbing skills! Kids will have the chances to learn more advanced climbing techniques and moves, build anchors, learn to lead on bolted climbs, climbing knots and rescue techniques, rappelling, prusiking, belaying, and more! We'll also have plenty of games, songs, and supplementary outdoor skills to keep our minds fresh and energized. Field trips include climbing outdoors in North Bend.

overnight kids' camps

July 22–26 | Rainier Week 1: This week includes 3 nights of overnight camping at our Irish Cabin Property near the NW corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. On Monday, we will meet at the Tacoma Program Center, learn outdoor skills, get to know each other, and prepare for our trip. Then Tuesday, we're off to the mountains! We'll be spending our days hiking in the Carbon River and Mowich areas, and our evenings around the campfire enjoying songs, games, and hearty meals!

Aug 5–9 | Rainier Week 2: Our second week at Rainier will be similar to the first, except that it will be a full 5 days and 4 nights at our overnight camp. Monday drop-off and Friday pick-up will be at the Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center.

Teen adventure camps

July 1–4 | Teen Adventures: Intro Backpacking: Teens age 13-17 have the chance to learn outdoor skills and enjoy a wilderness adventure! We will spend Monday at our Tacoma Program Center on team building, learning to use backpacking gear, and wilderness survival skills such as first aid and navigation. On Tuesday morning, we will embark on a 3-day, 2-night backpacking adventure, returning Thursday afternoon. This week is geared toward teens who are new to backpacking or those who prefer a somewhat less strenuous trail.

Jul 16-19 | Teen Adventures: Rock Climbing: Teens age 13-17 have the chance to learn and hone rock climbing skills and put them to use on real rock! We will spend Tuesday at our Tacoma Program Center practicing climbing basics, such as belaying, top-roping, knots, anchor building, etc. On Wednesday morning, we will pack up and will head out to the crags for outdoor climbing! This camp includes 2 nights (Wed and Thu night) of overnight camping at a campground near the climbing area. Group meals and transportation will be provided. We will return to Tacoma on Friday afternoon. This camp is open to both new and experienced rock climbers.

Jul 30-Aug 2 | Teen Adventures: Advanced Backpacking: Teens age 13-17 have the chance to learn outdoor skills and enjoy a wilderness adventure! We will spend Tuesday at our Tacoma Program Center on team building, using backpacking gear, learning wilderness survival skills such as first aid and navigation. On Wednesday morning, will embark on a 3-day, 2-night backpacking adventure, returning Friday afternoon. This week is geared toward teens who have some previous backpacking experience or those who prefer to push themselves on a more strenuous trail.

Have a question? Take a look at our camp FAQs or view our online registration instructions. When you register, you'll fill out youth paperwork online. This can be done through your child's account or when registering for camp.