Established in 1935, Camp Nor'wester is a co-ed residential summer camp for girls and boys ages 9-16. The camp's activities, outlined in the Program section of this website, are designed to teach traditional camping and outdoor skills, waterfront skills including sailing, canoeing and kayaking, as well as biking, archery, arts and crafts, singing and drama. All aspects of the program are supported by a strong ethic of stewardship with an emphasis on community living. 
What makes Camp Nor'wester unique?
Any great camp will provide campers and staff alike with a positive and memorable experience. Our goal is to provide a safe and beautiful setting where campers can learn more about themselves, their strengths and talents. But how we accomplish this is a bit different than many camps today.
We strive to minimize the distractions often found in the 'real-world' and maximize everyone's exposure to a more basic way of living. While not primitive, we are rustic - we use out houses vs. flush toilets, build wood fires to heat water for our showers, live in tipis and tents, learn how to build tarp shelters, dig pit latrines, start one-match fires, give up electronic gadgets, email and the internet. Basically, we 'unplug' for the summer and learn to live without some modern day conveniences and without many distractions of our often times hectic modern life.
Under our Unit System campers are grouped according to grade level and they participate in the majority of their activities as a unit. This structure promotes an intensive group living experience. While campers try new activities or improve their skills in familiar areas they are also learning to live together. A good portion of our work is focused on giving support and guidance to our campers through the conflicts and issues that naturally arise out of such an environment. This requires compassionate and competent leadership.
While not unusual on the east coast, our 4-week session is considered long by west coast standards. For us it supports our focus on group living and community. Group development follows a natural progression which can only be fully realized with an extended stay program.
Camp Nor'wester provides a unique outdoor living experience where a diverse group of young people is challenged to develop skills that increase self-confidence and encourage respect, responsibility and compassion for themselves, their community and the environment.
Camp Nor'wester's founders, Frank and Lucile Henderson, believed that a camp community, under the proper leadership, could provide an ideal setting for children to learn more about themselves and the world in which they lived. Seventy five years later that belief remains the cornerstone of the Nor'wester program. Located on beautiful Johns Island Washington, Camp Nor'wester is a camp where girls and boys ages 9-16 can enjoy a summer full of amazing experiences and great new friends. Campers from all over the United States and overseas come together to spend time in the outdoors, learn new skills and discover new talents.
Camp Nor'wester Philosophy
Camp Nor'wester is an outdoor residential camp where children gain significant skills and insights 
in a caring and supportive atmosphere, taking advantage of the Pacific Northwest's coastal character, through a program that is characterized by a committment to:
- Develop a child's maturity and a positive self image.
- Provide programming that holds the physical and emotional safety of the child as a paramount concern.
- Teach children skills and values about responsibility for one's self, others, and the environment.
- Provide a community where diversity, tolerance, and compassion are valued, respected, and promoted.
- Provide a positive outdoor group living experience that helps children develop the skills necessary for productive group and interpersonal interaction.
- Provide an experience for children that is challenging, rewarding, memorable, and fun.
Interested in hearing more about Norwester?
This profile contains most of the information you may need but specific questions do come up and are always welcome. A brochure summarizing the 2007 program and applications are available through the camp office.
Families wishing more information about Norwester are encouraged to contact us.
Camp Nor'wester
P.O. Box 668
Lopez, Washington 98261
phone: 360-468-2225
fax: 360-468-2472
norwester@rockisland.com