Dates & Rates
- Last Day to Register: Know the Night (Fall)September 23
- Know the Night (Fall)October 24 Camp Sealth$10
Explore the power and mystery of the night! The Know the Night experience at Camp Sealth invites you to explore your relationship with darkness and light by slowing down and connecting with nature in the wild woods of Vashon after sunset.
This experience is offered twice annually. Upcoming dates include October 24, 2026. Check back soon for 2027 dates!
Event Details
Why the night?
It’s more difficult than ever to find true darkness, with cars, streets, porches, cities, and our lifestyles keep us well-lit. As a result, we are less familiar with the dark and more easily frightened by it. Our fear of the dark is innate and can be reawakened at any time, but especially when we don’t allow ourselves to experience it. Thankfully, a night in the forest can help us reset our system, and gently working through challenges together can help us build resiliency and compassion for the dark. Know the Night is a chance to gather with other curious minds to meet the darkness, gradually ease into it, and challenge ourselves if we choose.
Schedule
This program is about 3 hours long with an optional overnight. In a typical event:
- Guests will arrive just before sunset and enjoy s’mores and songs around the fire while we introduce ourselves and establish safety protocols.
- Next, we’ll enjoy a variety of activities in the twilight to help us adjust our senses to the darkness, such as sensory games or a sit spot.
- We’ll end the night in the dark with a walk, stargazing, more games, or challenge-by-choice activities.
- Add an optional overnight cabin rental to experience more of the night, disregard evening ferry schedules, or walk along the beach in the morning.
This program moves around camp to allow repeat participants to experience the night in new parts of our campus. This spring, Know the Night will take place in upper camp at our Wrangler Retreat Center.
Recommended Ages
This material is designed for adults and mature teens and may not be suitable for all youth participants. This camp requires that all participants be able to understand and follow directions, as well as monitor and advocate for their own physical and emotional safety in the dark. Younger campers are welcome to practice these skills with a chaperone who is responsible for their safety and well-being. If you plan to register a child under the age of 12, please contact the event organizer for additional guidance on preparing your child for the event.
Recommended Gear
Our activities will involve sitting outside, walking in the woods, and being in the brush. It will be dark and likely cold—it may even be wet. Please bring the gear you need to be comfortable, as our aim is to provide a place for you to become more comfortable in the dark woods.
- Clothing: We recommend synthetic base and mid-layers, heavier outer layers to add as the night cools, waterproof outer layers, a hat, mitts or gloves, and a change of socks/gloves.
- Comfort: You may also want to bring a water bottle, thermos of hot liquid, snack, outdoor blanket, hand-warmers/toe-warmers, sit pad, or folding chair.
- Light: We try to do most activities without flashlights or headlamps, but it’s a good idea to carry one for your own safety, even if you don’t use it. We highly recommend devices with a red light setting, as this helps to preserve everyone’s night vision. If your device doesn’t have a red light setting, we will provide red gel filters.
Facilities
Meals
There will be no meals provided at this event, although there will be an opportunity to make a s’more dessert. There is no food allowed in cabins, so if you plan to stay overnight, please prepare to store food in your car.
Lodging
Camp Sealth’s facilities are rustic but comfortable. Our all-season cabins have heat and electricity, as well as twin beds with foam mattresses. If you choose to add an overnight cabin rental, you will need to bring your own bedding, including sleeping bags, pillows, and/or sheets/blankets. Depending on which cabins are used, bathrooms and showers are either located in separate buildings in each cabin area or in individual cabins. Limited Wi-Fi is available in some camp areas but not in most cabins. A limited number of accessible cabins are available. See photos of our cabins here.
For Family Camps, each family is assigned their own room, although they may share a building with another family. If you are attending with friends or family on separate registrations, you may request to stay in the same cabin or nearby.
Location
Camp Sealth is located on Vashon Island, Washington, with 360 acres of pristine forest and over a mile of private beach along Colvos Passage. To reach Vashon Island, you will need to take a ferry from Tacoma, West Seattle, or Port Orchard. Please check the WSDOT website for ferry schedules and ticket prices.
Registration
Fall Registration Open: July 24 – October 23 or until full. Cabin rentals close October 10.
Fall Event Date: October 24, 2026. Arrival from 5-6pm, activities 6-9pm.
Spring Registration Open: TBD
Spring Event Date: TBD
Eligibility: This event is open to all ages, but children under age 18 must attend with an adult, and parents with children under age 12 should review the “Recommended Ages” section above.
Cost:
- Evening Only: Free (registration required)
- Cabin Rental: $20 per person per night
Contact
If you have any questions about registration or have signed up for both Know the Night and Kanga Day of Service and need your entry fee waived, please contact Kim Roeser (Office Manager, Camp Sealth) at kimr@campfireseattle.org.
If you have any questions about the event or activities, please contact Natalie Copeland (Director of Events and Community Outreach, Camp Sealth) at nataliec@campfireseattle.org.