Here’s our annual list of regional summer camps and nature-based schools to help #OutThereKids live their full-potential during this COVID-era summer.
Bogus Basin Mountain Discovery Camps
Day camp for ages 9-12 and teen overnight camp, ages 12-16, at Bogus Basin Mountain, in collaboration with Boise Parks & Rec. Bogusbasin.org
Camp Ashwell Day Camp – Girl Scouts
The regional program center for Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho, located near downtown Spokane, hosts themed day camp sessions for all girls entering grades K-8 (troop membership not required). Activities include STEM experiences, arts and crafts, swimming, and other hands-on, experiential, skill-building fun. Snacks and lunch provided. Gsewni.org
Camp Easton – Boy Scouts
This Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Inland Northwest Council property on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene, near Harrison, Idaho, offers an advanced aquatics program, shooting sports, scout crafts, and nature and recreation activities, including sailing, canoeing, snorkeling, scuba-diving, and zipline. The local council also allows BSA, non-BSA, and wedding party groups to rent its facilities, year-round, including campsites, RV pads, and cabins when camps aren’t in session (more details at Campreservation.com.) Nwscouts.org
Camp Four Echoes – Girl Scouts
Located along 2 miles of Lake Coeur d’Alene shoreline near Worley, Idaho, girls sleep in whimsically named camping units, like Teepees in Sky Meadows and Treehouses in Smugglers Cove. Girls Scouts also offers a variety of themed, overnight camps for girls in grades 1-12 (troop membership not required to attend). Activities include waterfront recreation (kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and windsurfing); nature exploration, hiking, biking, and outdoor skill-building; STEM activities; and adventure-based sessions for those in 7th-10th grades. Facility rentals are also available Sept.-May. Gsewni.org
Camp Grizzly – Boy Scouts
Regional camp property along the Palouse River, near Potlatch, Idaho, offers mountain biking, all-terrain vehicles, survival, blacksmithing, animal science, and other recreation and skill-building. The local council allows BSA, non-BSA, and wedding party groups to rent its facilities year-round, including campsites, RV pads, and cabins when camps aren’t in session (info at Campreservation.com.) Nwscouts.org
Camp MiVoden
Located on the northern shore of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Camp MiVoden offers overnight camps for age 8-16. The camp is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Mivoden.com
Camp Spalding
Located near Newport, Wash., along Davis Lake, there are overnight camps for grades 1-12 plus a family camp. Activities include canoeing, horseback riding, rappelling, and more. Founded by Presbyterian churches. Campspalding.org
Camp Sweyolakan – Camp Fire Inland Northwest
Run by Camp Fire Inland Northwest, Camp Sweyolakan (Swe-o-la-kan) on Lake Coeur d’Alene has overnight camps for boys and girls ages 6-18. Campfireinc.org
Camp Zanika – Camp Fire North Central Washington
Located along the shore of Lake Wenatchee, camp includes overnight sessions for grades 1-12. Activities include fishing, hiking, kayaking, and backpacking, with optional add-ons, such as river rafting and horseback riding. Campfirencw.org
Dart-Lo Day Camp – Camp Fire Inland Northwest
Located along the Little Spokane River, children age 3-18 enjoy outdoor activities like games, swimming, and a low ropes course. Campfireinc.org
Lutherhaven
A variety of programs are offered among its three properties in North Idaho: a main camp at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Shoshone Creek Ranch Camp, and Shoshone Mountain Retreat. Lutherhaven.com
Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures – Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp
Children grades K-12 learn leadership, teamwork, and outdoor skills along with self-confidence and appreciation for the natural world through activities like hiking, biking, rafting, climbing, canoeing, overnight camping, and more. Parents are welcome to join excursions. Missoulaoutdoors.com
Montana Natural History Center – Outdoor Discovery Day Camps
Program in Missoula, Mont., are for children ages 4 through 5th grade. Themes include learning about rocks and fossils; fish and stream ecology and fishing techniques; camping, survival, and wayfinding skills; and more. Montananaturalist.org
Northwest Outward Bound School
Wilderness courses and other programs for middle and high school-aged youth, and LGBT+ youth. Destinations in the Pacific Northwest include the North Cascades, San Juan Island, Mt. Rainier, and the Salmon River among others. Recreation activities include backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, rafting, mountaineering, and more. Outwardbound.org
Peak 7 Adventures
With offices in Spokane and Portland, Peak 7 offers adventures and courses for backpacking, mountaineering, rafting, and rock climbing. Peak7.org
S.O.L.E. – Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education
Based in Sandpoint, Idaho, S.O.L.E. aims to “ReWild your child” this summer with their Junior Naturalist Experiences program (ages 4-9) and adventure-based outdoor leadership camps for ages 10-12 and 13-17. Soleexperiences.org
Spokane Parks & Recreation – Youth Outdoor Programs
Day camps (ages 8-18) are organized according to recreation focus, including disc golf, horseback riding, outdoor adventure, and wilderness survival. My.spokanecity.org/recreation/outdoor
Twin Eagles Wilderness School
Specializing in helping children connect with the natural world and develop self-awareness through nature-based activities, Twin Eagles summer day and overnight camps provide wilderness and adventure challenges, and survival skill-building, such as foraging, wildlife tracking, and fire and natural shelter-building. Twineagles.org
University of Montana Youth Camps
Day camp sessions in Missoula for grades K-5 with various recreational activities, including indoor climbing skills, rafting, hiking, soccer, and other team sports. Umt.edu/crec/YouthCamps
Wild Walls Indoor Climbing Clubs
Located in downtown Spokane, the Beginner Club (ages 7-10) is for learning basic skills for belay certification. For youth ready to advance their skills and technique, there’s Climbing Club (ages 7-14). Clubs meet once a week and include one-month membership with rental gear. Wildwalls.com
Wenatchee Valley Museum – Super Summer Adventure Camps
Day camps for kids grades K-6 with science and nature themes. Wenatcheevalleymuseum.org
WSU Cougar Kids Camp
Day camps for grades K-7 at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, hosted by the University Recreation department. Urec.wsu.edu
Washington Trails Association (WTA) – Youth Volunteer Vacation
Week-long trail work crew projects for youth, ages 14-18, to develop outdoor and leadership skills while building and maintaining hiking trails as a team. Locations this summer include the Cascades, Mt. Rainier, Olympic Peninsula, and Puget Sound. Wta.org
YMCA Camp Reed
Located at Fan Lake, north of Spokane, YMCA of the Inland Northwest offers overnight camps, and family camp, that include swimming, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, ropes course, and climbing wall. Ymcainw.org
Y Day Camps – Spokane
Weekday program for children entering grades K-8. Ymcainw.org
