Visiting camp this summer?

Parent, Relative or Friend of Camper
Guidelines for Visitors

Welcome to Four Winds * Westward Ho! Ours is a community of campers, parents, alumni, staff and families that span generations. Every one of you is vital to our collective history and our continuation as a summer camp for young people. We encourage you to come and visit, but ask that you help us by following these guidelines:
  • Please plan your visit for the middle two weeks of the session so as not to disrupt the nesting or closure periods of camp. Please call camp if you need help determining the exact window.
  • Please contact the office in advance of your visit to be sure your child is in camp and not out on a trip at (360) 376-2277 or abby@fourwindscamp.org. (Note that senior campers are out of camp on trips for the approximate third week of camp - we can give you the exact dates when you call.)
  • Please sign in at the office when you arrive and get a nametag. (This helps staff and campers to know that you should be there)
  • In keeping with camp’s back-to-nature philosophy we kindly request that you leave cell phones in your car or check them at the office.  Signal around camp is not the best and a ringing cell phone takes away from the natural surroundings.  It would also help if you did not bring any personal digital assistants (PDAs) or other portable electronics to camp. 
  • We invite you to stay with your child during camp activities, have a tour of camp, meet the staff, enjoy a meal, and if you are here on Sunday....join us for our Evening Fire.
  • You are welcome to take your child out of camp, but unfortunately only your child. Also, we encourage only one visit. (It is important to note that when you take another child out of camp or visit too often, it can make the other cabin/tent mates feel left out and can lead to hurt feelings and homesickness.)
  • Please check out and in at the office when leaving from and returning to camp. Also, remember to let your child's counselor know of their departure, especially if they are going out for a meal. They will be missed!
  • Enjoy your day together, but please bring your child back to camp before the start of evening activity. We also ask that campers not bring food or candy back into camp with them as this can attract some unwanted visitors (raccoons) to cabins and tents.
  • If you are visiting a staff member, please do so during their time off.
  • Unfortunately, we are unable to provide lodging at camp during visits. However, if you call ahead, we can provide the names of many wonderful accommodations on the island. We encourage you to make reservations in advance as Orcas Island is a popular vacation destination during the summer months. You can also go to www.deerharbor.org or www.orcasislandchamber.com.
  • If you are coming by boat, you are welcome to come for the day and tie up at our guest float, but not overnight please. It would be helpful to call ahead to check out space availability. Many of our boating families love to stay at the Deer Harbor Marina: www.bellportgroup.com/deer-harbor-marina.htm
Please note that:
Visiting can be a wonderful way to get a taste of what your child is experiencing at camp. It is also a great way for your child to show-off their "other home" to you. However, as a cautionary note, it can also cause some problems for children who are struggling with homesickness. We encourage you to call us if you suspect your child may suffer from homesickness, because a visit just when they are getting their 'sea legs' can upset them for the rest of the session. Also, too many visits can disrupt their growing independence and camp experience. We have found, if children who are homesick get through that first summer successfully, camp can be life changing.

We look forward to meeting you soon!