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Kiwanis is all about the water! Kiwanis campers join a long tradition of boating on the Puget Sound and living in this unique unit. Spend your days on the water, evenings in front of a fire in Kiwanis Lodge, and nights sleeping in our new hammock unit! A highlight of the Kiwanis program is spending a full day learning sailing from certified instructors with the Quartermaster Yacht Club.
What to Expect
Most of the week will be spent on the water – learning new skills in water sports and enjoying the sparkling Puget Sound. The schedule is flexible, allowing for campers to have maximum input on which activities they’ll be doing.
Activity instruction is at a beginner level, so kids who have limited boating experience will be comfortable. There will also be opportunities to learn more advanced skills and earn waterfront progression emblems.
A good portion of every day will be spent on the water. Specific water activities include:
- Canoeing
- Paddle boarding
- Windsurfing
- Sailing
- Kayaking or funyaking
- A day or overnight canoe trip – either to the “Big Rock” at the end of our property or to a nearby park
During the one-week programs, campers will spend a day at Quartermaster Yacht Club on Vashon, learning basic sailing from certified instructors.
What to Bring
In addition to the regular Camp Sealth packing list, Kiwanis campers should bring:
- Sunglasses
- Extra swimsuit and towel – swimsuits should be appropriate for being active in/on the water and participating in water sports
- Optional: Wet suit (Only if you have one – please do not buy one just for this camp. Sealth has wet suits for kids to borrow.)
Kiwanis campers sleep in our new hammock unit, which can get cold at night – a warm sleeping bag and extra blanket are recommended.
Requirements & Safety
Since so much time will be spent in and on the water, Kiwanis campers need to be good swimmers. Kids should be able to swim 50 yards without a life jacket and tread water.
Water activities are supervised by staff certified in life guarding and trained in boating safety. Sailing is led by instructors with US Sailing Level 1 or higher certification. Life jackets are always worn in boats. Please note: All water activities take place in the Puget Sound, which is quite cold. Staff will take steps to avoid hypothermia.