2024 Summer Camp Recap

As summer break draws to a close, we enter a time of transition where the carefree days of camp and sunshine give way to the structured rhythm of the school year. This moment offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the achievements and growth we’ve witnessed throughout the summer.

From exploring new activities to fostering personal development, this summer has been truly remarkable. Serving 89 campers from K-8th grades, we hosted 6 weeks of full-day camps for K-4th graders and 6 weeks of specialty camps for 5-8th graders.

Here’s a look at what made this summer so special.

Trying New Things

In response to last year’s feedback, we introduced half-day camp options to better accommodate K-4 families. Camp Huckleberry embraced a theme-based approach for the first time, covering topics like Slime, STEM, and Pirate’s Sunken Treasure, and included special sessions with the Blue Heron Canoe Family, who enriched the camp experience with indigenous stories and nature games. We proudly introduced several new camps that sparked enthusiasm and creativity among our campers:
  • Songwriting Camp: Middle school campers delved into songwriting, with two campers performing their original music at the Lopez Uncovered Festival, guided by Jeff and Rocky from The Lark and The Loon.
  • Dungeons and Dragons Camp: Campers engaged in imaginative adventures, enhancing their storytelling and strategic thinking skills.
  • BuildAbility Camp: This camp, designed for youth with disabilities, provided a nurturing environment where creativity thrived. With six participants, it fostered hands-on building adventures and personal growth.

We also welcomed back beloved favorites such as Tree Climbing and Wool Week and celebrated the return of the Missoula Children’s Theatre with their performance of “Robin Hood”. Additionally, our new Ecoisland Adventures camp, in partnership with the Youth Conservation Corps, offered an immersive experience in environmental stewardship.

"The kids are absolutely in love with the camp. They are on cloud nine every day and are very vocal about this being the best camp they have ever been to."

While we did receive some very valuable feedback on ways to improve for next year, parent feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

“I thought the camp was really fun and I have made some new lifelong friendships,” said a camper from Eco Island Adventures. “This is like family,” added a camper from BuildAbility.

If your child attended summer camp this year and you have yet to share your feedback with us, we’d love to hear from you! Click here to access the anonymous survey.

Growth

This summer not only introduced new experiences but also facilitated significant personal growth among our participants:

  • Camp Huckleberry’s Expansion: The camp saw a daily attendance increase from 20 to 30 campers, reflecting its growing popularity and the rising demand from families.
  • Personal Development: A camper who was initially reserved during the After-School Program showed remarkable growth, gaining the confidence to perform on stage at the Missoula Children’s Theatre.
  • Creative Expression: Middle school campers in the Songwriting Camp exhibited growth in self-expression and confidence, culminating in live performances of their original songs.
  • Self-Esteem Boost: Feedback from BuildAbility Camp highlighted the positive impact on campers’ self-esteem and confidence. One parent wrote, “Thank you thank you thank you for having the Buildability camp this summer. Not only was it an absolute lifesaver for my family, but our child really had the best time and had a chance to really grow and be so successful which helped their self-esteem so very much.”

As we transition into the fall and continue with our enriching After-School Program activities, we bid farewell to Rose Prust, who has dedicated four years as our Camp Leader and Program Manager. We are grateful for her unwavering commitment and impact on our campers.

Our summer programming is funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant, with additional support from the Dan Thompson Grant. We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this incredible year possible—parents, children, camp staff, the Lopez Island School District, and the school staff and custodian who supported us through the summer.

We extend our thanks to our partners, ALIGN and the Youth Conservation Corps, the North Star and Sunnyfield Farm families for hosting the Missoula Art Directors, and the Lopez Thrift Shop for providing funding for over 5,000 snacks to this year’s campers. And a special thank you to our generous donors who support summer camps year after year.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this summer unforgettable.

Here’s to new experiences and continued growth!

Interested in Working with Us?

We’re excited to announce that we are hiring for a new Program Manager. To see the full job description and how to apply, click on the link below. 

I'm Interested in Applying!