What clients say about YMCA Camp Orkila in Eastsound (WA)
I stayed with my middle school classmates at Camp Orkila in 1996 in 6th grade while attending Tyee Middle School in Bellevue! We were all assigned to random groups. Each group were lead by a 10th or 11th grader from Newport Highschool. My group stayed at Cabin Kalakala, which my group called the Kalakala Talkalot because we did talk a lot! Looking back 30 years ago, it was the best time of my life! Each cabin did not have windows or doors so we were freezing at night and had to bring sleeping bags from home to keep ourselves cozy. The camp had a lot of fun activities, including dancing and rope, climbing and fire pits and camp food. Best fun for an 11 year-old me. I have some photos from 1996 which I have to retrieve but will post them here once I find them.
The camp is more interested in following policies than in children’s health and welfare.
My daughter gets horrific cold sore outbreaks occasionally that result in sores all over her face. I’m divorced from her father and she’s in multiple households. We no longer have the original packaging for her anti viral pills, but they’re easy to look up, they’re not an abused drug and, if taken early enough, they prevent the outbreaks completely.
After 2 frustrating hours on the phone, Taylor informed me that they would not make an exception to their rule of only administering drugs in their original packaging. This policy fails to recognize that other pills could also be put in original packaging. The camp is willing to make my daughter wait 30 hours for the pharmacy to open and refill her meds. So, my amazing husband will spend the next 9 hours driving and taking 2 ferries so she can take her meds.
Yes, you understood that correctly, they have my daughter’s meds at the camp and are withholding her medication that can prevent a painful and embarrassing cold sore outbreak.
Common sense is apparently not one of the characteristics embodied or demonstrated by anyone at this camp.
My sixth grade class spent a week here years and years ago. It was amazing. We had a blast. If your kids have the chance to visit, please let them. They won’t forget the experience.
When I was a kid (46+ years ago!) I couldn't wait until summer, because I would get to go to Camp Orkila for a month or more every summer! It was a magical place with so much to do and us kids had the freedom to run around and just be wild. I loved it! The counselors were awesome. Good times! ?
This is by far the best camp I have ever gone to throughout my entire life. I have now been coming here for 9 years and have never not had a fun time at camp. All counselors are great with kids and are very inclusive to everybody. The food might not be the best but what can you expect from a overnight camp, at least for me the food is very sufficient and gives me all my nutrients for the day. If you're thinking about sending your child to an overnight camp, this is the one to send them to. It is very fun and has many amazing activities like a zipline and a high ropes course. Overall, love this camp.
Camp Orkila is simply amazing. Friendly, fun counselors and staff. Oceanfront property with beautiful forested grounds. Swimming pool, Gaga ball, giant swing, environmental center, zip line, and rock climbing wall. It’s kid heaven. It’s one of the best island sunset spots. The tower is my kids favorite. My Tazzy was finally old enough to ride the zip line. He’s been waiting his whole life for this moment!
It was on the water, on Orcas island. The cabins have not bumming water or electricity only the bathrooms and main lodge do. The rules were pretty strict, but not too bad. You get to go to an island in the middle of the week of sleeping there and it’s super fun!
It's been a very long time but my 6th grade class was the first class to go to camp Orkila as a graduate class trip and I still remember everything about that place one of my best memories staying in the cabin Spiden castaways what a great place thank you for a memories of a life time 21 years later still ❤️ that place
I've been in this camp 15 years ago and I still can't forget the way the staff treated me. They harrased me in the shower and they taught kids how to be rude! That really ruined my mental health for the rest of my life! They made me feel like a lonely loser and other kids are "cool"!
Our family went there for 3 generations. Most of my best childhood/teenage memories. Taking the greyhound buses from Northgate Mall, the ferry ride, campfire skits and music, archery/rifle range (back when we used 22s), wood and ceramics, later on the ropes course, canoeing through the islands as a voyager, climbing Mt. Constitution, cliff diving at Twin Lakes trying to catch salamanders in the water. Friends for a day and friends for a lifetime. Ragger ceremonies—pledging each year to work on a personal facet that will make you a better person. I bet much has changed (the cabins appear to have doors and windows!), but the feeling never will.
the bathrooms were packed, the food was so repulsive, and at night, you would see the boys shirtless. the guys were also showering together. dont come here???
Employees were rude, disorganized and an all around terrible trip. We had to split up our group of 97 because they only sent one bus to the ferry and it continued downhill from there. Food choices were inappropriate for 10 year Olds.
This place was transformative for me as a young woman. I owe so much to the many staff and campers who taught me courage, empathy, humility, and more about friendship and fun than anyone anywhere else. I was a camper from 1996-2000 and was on staff from 2001-2006 plus 2010. I use camp lessons daily in my work as a University Student Advocate.
I have gone for 5 years now and it is one of the best experiences I have had. I love the people there and have made life long friends, the consolers are grate. I 100% recommend going if you want a fun time.
It's been about 20 years now, but I still totally remember Camp Orkila. Went with my elementary school 6th grade trip, and is easily some of my favourite childhood memories. Besides it being probably one of the best camps to visit, I seriously remember the food... Literally so much for all you can eat and it was bomb af...Good times. "Edmonds Elementary 6th grade class of 2000-2001"✌
I went to this camp every summer growing up and it has provided me so many great memories and Im sure parents loved the opportunity to have a small vacation as well.
I had a Wonderful time there. My Uncle Stan was a councilor and I got to go for 2 weeks when the boys were there. So much fun doing crafts and boating out to the remote islands. The following year I went when it was all girls. Had a super great time! Great memories!
I went to this camp 3years in a row and it was definitely the best time of my childhood life lol. It was so much fun everyday was fun. So much fun i dont remember ever crying to go home lol. I'd like my kids to go
Camp Orkila is a great camp to visit. They have amazing counselors/staff that kids will enjoy and decent food. This camp is different for many reasons. It has unique activities that other summer camps do not have like the giant swing, the high ropes and not to mention the 1000 ft. Zip line. I definitely recommend Camp Orkila to anyone who is looking for a fun day camp or overnight camp!
My son started going to Camp Orkila 3 summers ago. We are from NY but have family who live in Seattle; Charlie flew out for the one week program in the summer of 2011. He came off the plane a week later saying, "Please, Mom -- I GOTTA go for two weeks next summer!" I said "yes" on the spot! The stories told it all - from ziplining to sunrise hikes to the dock jumps and camp fires -- this is a kid's haven and heaven. It's a keeper!
During the summer of 2012, he did the LDI (Leadership Development Institute) and kayaked through the islands. He came home just so much more seasoned, mature, and just -- grown up. It was an incredible experience for him, and he talked about it for one solid year. The staff, activities, organization, support folks -- EVERYone is in it for the kids. And they feel it.
This summer he is there for a month -- as a CIT. I couldn't be more proud of him. The back story is that Charlie has endured the difficult divorce of his parents, and Camp Orkila is a place and organization for which I will be forever grateful. He made it through a tough time in his life, and he learned tools at the camp that helped him to raise above the challenges, to set great goals, to take healthy risks, to make friends, travel, explore, grow -- and make incredible memories. I cannot recommend Camp Orkila more strongly. I've been teaching for 26 years, and this is the finest youth program I have ever seen.
During one activity, the counselors had the kids make a flag that revealed something about themselves. Charlie's still hangs in his room. In bright blue paints, with birds painted all around, he wrote "Free as a Bird." It was poignant at the time, and now it serves as a quiet reminder of fantastic childhood memories at the awesome place he calls "Camp."
Cheers to all who work and run this incredible organization. I thank you!
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