You know when people say that Disneyland is their favorite place on earth? Well, screw Disneyland…read morebecause this is my happiest place on earth! I attended Canoe Island as a kid for 7 straight summers. Those were the happiest times of my life. I was able to go back as an adult for a Yoga Weekend two years ago and the magic has not been lost. If you love the outdoors, fresh air, and a true unique experience, then you must experience Canoe Island! Sigh...I wish I was there right now! Send your kids there or spend an adult weekend enjoying yoga or cooking tasty cuisine. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

My daughter is in her 4th year here, having started going to a 2 week session in the 5th Grade…read more She love Canoe and everything about it. Wonderful counselors, great sessions, amazing food ( and french cooking lessons), gorgeous setting, and all the while effortlessly (so it seems) improving her french. Thanks Canoe!

If you are looking for a performance soccer camp to send your kids to this summer; This is the…read morecamp! The coaches are seasoned and clearly love working with kids. The best part is the discipline of the camp. The camp is super organized and the day is scheduled to keep the kids learning all day. Oh and the Mercer Island camp has the best view of Seattle! I know the kids could care less, but when you are a mom waiting to pick up your kids..well you know what I am talking about. Love this camp!

Our family has participated in several Camp Fire programs around the Pacific Northwest, and we…read moreattended the Camp Kirby day camp in July 2025. While my daughter seemed to enjoy herself and spoke positively about the experience, the overall setup left me uneasy as a parent. Camp Kirby is located on a small island about 35 minutes from Bellingham. The setting is rustic and remote, and you have to drive very slowly down a long road to reach it. It's an unusual place, quiet and tucked away, but also far removed from anything else. The biggest issue for me was the lack of transparency and connection with the camp itself. Drop-off and pickup were tightly controlled: you wait in a long car line, staff approach your window, and then you're expected to drive off. There was no opportunity to meet the counselors, interact with other parents, or even glimpse the facilities. I asked nicely twice during the week if I could just see where my daughter was spending her day, and was told both times to email the director due to camper privacy. I understand wanting to protect kids, but other Camp Fire locations I've attended have found ways to balance privacy with openness. Here, I left every day with no idea what the camp looked like or what was going on inside. Communication was also minimal. Other camps send daily updates with photos and summaries. At Kirby we received one brief email and a photo album with a single blurry side photo of my daughter. I strongly recommend that Camp Kirby improve transparency by posting photos or videos of the grounds and facilities online. Even a virtual tour would go a long way toward helping parents understand where their kids will be all week. As it stands, I still have no idea what the space looks like. They offer one open house in the spring, but unless you live nearby, that's not realistic. The counselors seemed kind, though a little overwhelmed. And while my daughter's experience may have been positive, I genuinely don't know, because parents are kept completely at arm's length. I wouldn't recommend this camp unless you live nearby or already know someone with firsthand experience. They need to build more trust with parents and provide a clearer window into what's actually happening during the week.

Great,naturalistic camp for kids. One of the few remaining open-water / salt-water summer camps…read moreleft. Our kids love going there year after year. They have waterfront & camp craft programs, tee pees, tree houses and cabins for ages 5 - 14. Would recommend.

Our son has been in Quiet Heart for coming up on 2 years now - He loves it and we love what it is…read moreteaching him. This is something he looks forward to every week, happily will walk away from video games to attend, and the confidence/skills he has acquired are amazing! The leadership pushes and encourages kids to grow, challenge themselves, learn and refine their skills, etc. We do both cub scouts and this - I have to say that Quiet Heart really hits the mark with all the outdoor learning my son is seeking and goes well beyond what our pack has been able to do. Highly recommend Quiet Heart to any parent who's kids love outdoors, survival, etc. It's one of our favorite activities our son is involved in.

Two of our kids have been with quiet heart doing a homeschool class for a few years now. These…read moreteachers have played a major role in their lives and I know my kids love these guys and we are better people because of them. It's clear to see the teachers love for teaching, children and the outdoors and if you get a chance to have your kiddo in their classes~ take it!

I like the fun and welcoming atmosphere at YMCA Camp Seymour. From the moment we arrived, the staff…read moremade us feel right at home. The counselors are enthusiastic, supportive, and clearly care about creating a safe and memorable experience for every camper. My child came home each day full of stories about the outdoor adventures, new friends, and exciting activities like archery, canoeing, and campfire songs. One of the things I appreciate most is how the camp helps kids grow in independence. Away from their usual routines and screens, campers learn to make decisions for themselves--whether it's choosing a new activity to try, solving small challenges, or managing their time during the day. That sense of ownership builds confidence and resilience. Camp Seymour also does a great job of encouraging goal setting. Each camper is guided to set personal goals--big or small--and work toward achieving them. It might be something like trying the climbing wall for the first time or learning how to paddle a canoe. These goals help kids feel accomplished and proud of what they can do, especially when they step out of their comfort zones and succeed. The camp's values of community, respect, and personal growth really shine through in everything they do. It's a place where kids can be themselves, try new things, and build skills that stick with them long after camp is over. We're already looking forward to next summer!

This was my daughter's first year at Camp Seymour. She is 9-years-old. She had THE BEST time ever!…read moreI have genuinely never seen her so happy coming back from something. She was excited when we signed up, but a little apprehensive when I dropped her off. I was nervous that she was a bit too young, but this was definitely not the case. She came home wanting to go right back, already talking about next summer, and how she wants to work with her when she is older. The staff are wonderful, they have great food, including a vegetarian option for her (so important), and it's a beautiful place. Definitely recommend!

Can we amend the "Great" summary of our five star rating to "spectacular"?…read more Beach Camp has been the highlight of my son's summer for the last three years. He is already looking forward to next year, and to someday being a CIT and a counselor himself. This is an incredible place, with fantastic counselors, and a plethora of fun activities. The place isn't incredible because it's a five-star, fancy establishment. In fact, some parts are downright rustic or rough around the edges. But it's the opportunities the place presents to the lucky kids who get to go there. The chance to enjoy this magical environment where we live, to get to know nature and get to try lots of moderns ways to take play in it. Imagine spending a week exploring indoor activities (ninja gym, soccer and hockey, climbing walls, a skate park, marine biology lessons, a movie room) and outdoor adventures (swimming docks, a zip line into the water, snorkeling, skimboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking, zodiacs, creek walks, field games, campfires, beach combing, getting up close with wildlife (crabs, fish, bioluminescent aquatic creatures, sea lions), a trapeze into the water, a rock climbing wall over the water, high dives, low dives....and wetsuits to enjoy it all in the cool Puget Sound water). The people are a huge part of making it such a special and an amazing experience. Every one of them that we've interacted with--from the newest CITs to the camp director--really care about the kids having a memorable experience. They are fun and kind and a great mix of serious/ensuring safety (from multiple lifeguards to lifejacket use to an overnight dock watch just in case any campers decide to sneak out for a midnight swim) and silly/letting kids escape for a growth week at camp. My son has such a fantastic time hanging out with these great kids, and he really looks up to them and hopes his favorites return each year. I read the review about the young camper being thrown off the mats and pulled by her lifejacket off the paddleboard. I don't know what happened there, but her experience is different than that of the eight kids I know personally and well who have gone over the last two years, four of whom were repeat campers in 2021. In fact, when you ask, "What was your favorite part of camp?" At least half reply, "The green docks," which is code for the games that they play where counselors AND kids throw each other off the docks in the "Ocean Fun Zone." I don't get why that's more fun than zodiac rides, but they love it. And they assure me that no one is forced to play that game--there are "safe zones" on and near the green docks that are sacred, and you don't even have to go out there if you don't want to be part of that game. We are grateful for the memories already made at beach camp, and excited for more fun in the years ahead.

My son went to this camp the first day he arrived a girl from a different cabin got a concussion in…read moreaddition many other children were put on a very small dock and were told to rock back and forth until everyone fell off many children even got stuck underneath the dock

My daughter goes here every year for multiple weeks and loves it. Comes back tired and dirty like a…read morekid at camp should, and can't wait to go back. Not sure how people miss this is a Christian camp. It's right on their website and brochure.

5th grade camp was a hit! From the moment of bus drop offs to bus pick ups, Cedar Springs had every…read moreminute accounted for and planned out. Their system of organization and scheduling of daily events was impressive. Staff was incredibly gracious, especially while containing a hundred 10 year old boys and girls. Daily routine began with reveille at 0700 hours and ended at 10p with lights out. Survival classes were informative and included sessions like fire building, archery, stream studies, rock climbing, and forestry to name a few. Breakfast, lunch, and dinners were definitely elevated from a 'camp' menu with dishes like pork tenderloin, brisket, hot breakfasts, 24/7 coffee and tea for chaperones, side salads and dessert with every meal. I. Was. Im. PRESSED. They flip schools midweek, so if you're there from Wed-Fri, the previous school will be wrapping up lunch as you arrive and they depart. Schools never crossed paths and the transition was seamless. The cabins were 4 groups of 3 bunks with extra cots if needed. Working heaters and windows on every wall to air out during the day (highly recommended). It def got humid at night in the fall. Bathroom rotations were 10 mins per cabin which sounded like an impossible amount of time but worked out well. There were 11 showers in the main restroom with one being ADA accessible. 3 separate showers in the shared chaperone and employee restroom (which only had one working toilet). I preferred the main restroom but used it after lights out for my showers. No problems running out of stalls or showers. The bunks were rough for chaperone bones... wish I had brought extra padding to ease the sleepless nights after long days of trail walking, back to back events from 7a-9p, and dealing with a ton of 5th graders for 3 days straight! The bottomless coffee and tea helped keep us all upright! Overall, impressive meals, even more impressive staff, and impeccable scheduling!