Camp Killoqua

After School Day Camp

2011-10-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Our campers and summer staff members are back in classrooms and dorm rooms, exploring new places, meeting new friends, and using the skills they have learned at camp. They are probably showing off their new tie dye or lanyards, maybe making a meal but this time on a stove not a campfire, looking over pictures of new friends and staying in touch.
Here at camp we are in full swing of Outdoor Education! We have an amazing staff here spending their days teaching pond studies, leading night hikes, and of course it wouldn’t be camp without the camp songs. Each week Camp Killoqua invites a new group of 5th-6th grade students to come and learn about the environment and enjoy camp.
New this fall, camp is starting an After School Day Camp. This program is for elementary aged children and runs weekdays here at camp. Our focus is to give kids the opportunity to spend time outside all year long. All the great camp activities like boating and archery will be included in this program, plus a curriculum based off of other Camp Fire programs. For more information visit our website at campfireusasnohomish.org or give us a call at 425-258-5437.
Another exciting group that is spending time here at camp this fall is Teens in Action. We have Horizon Teens in Action for high school aged campers and Discovery Teens in Action for middle school aged campers. Both groups are for volunteer opportunities in the community and here at camp. The groups are working together for the next project which is a bake sale and fall activities at Jammin Jamboree. If you are interested the next meeting is here at camp October 23rd from 2-4pm.

It’s hard to say goodbye to sunny summer days but here at camp we embrace the new colors of fall and the chance to test our rain boots.

WoHeLo

Session 8

2011-08-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

This week at resident camp the theme is holidays! Monday we celebrated Valentine's Day, Tuesday was the 4th of July, and yesterday it was Halloween. There was a great All-Camp last night called the 12 days of Killoqua in which the cabin groups saved all the holidays from going gray. Remember to wear your green today for St. Patrick's Day!
We have a lot going on this week with our specialty camps. We have Archery camp where the archers are learning and practicing their skills everyday. Culinary Camp made Nutella Crepes and waffles this morning. They are having such a great time in the kitchen. Horse camp is going well as the horse campers learn new riding skills.
This week in day camp the theme is mission impossible! All the day campers are solving mysteries and having a great time swimming, arts and crafts, and games.

Happy Holidays! WoHeLo

Summer Session 6

2011-08-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

It's a sunny Tuesday afternoon here at Camp K by the lake. We have just started session 6 for the summer. Our theme this week is pirates! Already, there has been hidden treasure deep in the lake, eye patches, and pirate stories created by the Whulje campers.

Last night, we had a great skit night out at council fire. There were funny skits in which water was poured on different staff members (Nacho and Komodo are great sports) and of course banana/bandana. We also had a few songs (one created by the CIT 2's) with guitar's. Oh, and last night there was also a few magic tricks by Woodchuck (CIT 1).

Tomorrow, everyone here at camp is looking forward to All Camp! This week we are having All Camp down at the waterfront

Its been a while

2010-11-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

It is a dark and gray day here at camp, the kind of day that makes your heart long for the sunny days of summer and the sounds of kids as they enjoy the many wonders of Killoqua. The maple trees have lost most of their leaves and the apples are starting to fall from our ancient trees (see photo below).

Things around here have started to slow down, well as much as they ever do. Our Fall Outdoor Education season has come to an end, and those of us up at camp are spending our days planning the exciting camp year to come.

As my mind wanders back to those sunny and exciting memories of the past few seasons I thought I would post some of the highlights of the year.

This year the Tyee tent unit was remolded and this summer our Tyee boys happily lived in a new cabin (below). This cabin features two rooms with bunk beds, and a large cook-out shelter in the back. For those of you concerned about what happened to the tents, worry not, as they have found a new home out in the Hundred Acre overnight campsites.

Last September our blog featured the start of our remodel on the Trading Post, here is the end result!

Another exciting construction project this past year has been the remodel of Uncle Wigglebottoms house in Fairyland. Thanks to many volunteers, and Home Depot we are excited to share our new playhouse. Recently our high school Teens-In-Action program came out and made some decoration that will be put up soon.

(some of the folks who helped with the remodel)

(all painted and awaiting kids)

We had a very successful session of Camp Willie, a bereavement camp for kids. During that week Evening Magazine came out and did a special on the program. You can watch that clip here. Each summer our Camp Willie campers work together to create a community art project. This year they help make a really neat sculpture of a white stag. They helped with all the steps of creation, everything from melting the aluminum, creating the molds, and pouring the the metal. You have to find just the right place to stand in order to line up all the parts. The finished project is pictured below. Next time your at camp see if you can discover where this project is tucked away at.

We had truly fantastic spring, summer, and fall staff members without whom we wouldn't be able to run our programs. A big thank-you to them, and to all of our campers who came out to camp this year!

These are just a few of the many exciting things that have been a part of camp this past year. We are hoping to be a bit more regular with our blog, to keep you all up-to-date with the happenings at camp.

Stay tuned!

Frosty Morning

2009-12-29T20:34:00.000-08:00

We've had some frosty days recently, and this is what the camp waterfront looks like with a little ice and a beautiful sunrise. It was 17 degrees the morning of this photo! Polars bears, anyone?

Rainy Day

2009-10-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

It's been raining a lot recently. This squirrel is taking cover with its tail ...
And this buck seemed unfazed by the rain, walking through main camp and snacking on the tasty plants.

Sunrise on Crabapple Lake

2009-09-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

We were treated to a beautiful sunrise this morning. The outdoor education campers were bringing their luggage down to the lodge, so we stopped to watch the orange glow on the lake. This photo doesn't even match how vibrant the color was, but you get the idea. A good start to the day!

Thanks, Fluke! (Goodbye, old Trading Post!)

2009-09-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

During the September 18 United Way Day of Caring, employees from Fluke Corp. "deconstructed" the Trading Post - usually stocked with camp T-shirts and other Camp K goodies. Don't worry, though! It was taken down to make room for a NEW Trading Post next spring. The new building will look much like the original, but be a little more modern.

As always, the Fluke crew did a great job with their projects around camp. This year, they also split wood and restocked wood boxes, washed windows, painted the floating dock, cleared out underbrush in the horse pasture and took apart the Tyee unit. Tyee is being rebuilt as part of the council's Capital Campaign, so the tent platforms were cut into smaller pieces and moved to the 100 Acres to be set up at the overnight sites in the spring. Lots of good changes at camp!

Here's the end of the Trading Post ...

Come visit camp next year to see the new Trading Post and Tyee unit!!

But do his feet reach the pedals?

2009-09-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

We may have discovered a new driver for the camp bus, Cecil the Diesel. Cassie's dog, Wyatt, looks ready to work for kibble!

Summer Days Are Happy Days

2009-09-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Summer camp was a blast! There were lots of warm days, and even some really hot days, but through it all we had great adventures.

Session 1 kicked off day camp and also resident camp with Camp Willie, a grief camp program. Now in operation for 10 years, Camp Willie was featured on the front page of the Everett Herald that week. Check out the article here!
Day camp and resident camp ran throughout the season. During their training week, the Day Camp Assistants made this new unit sign, which was hung on the trail to the pavilion.
We enjoyed all kinds of camp activities, including swimming, boating, crafts, archery, cook outs over the fire and camp outs, biking, games and of course songs. We're sure every parent is now familiar with at least a few songs their kids came home singing!
We had one really hot week - remember that? - but stayed cool with lots of swimming, time in the sprinklers, Otter Pops, and some meals eaten out in the meadow to keep the temps down.

Specialty camps included a culinary week - here they are working on a delicious brunch the morning of sleep-in breakfast.

Other specialties included Venture Crew (with an emphasis on outdoor skills and activities), Dance Camp (swing dance), Archery Camp (with daily time at the range) Iron-Teen (physical actvities), Babysitting Basics and Horse Camp. Wadikima, the teen trips unit, went rafting on the Wenatchee and biking in the San Juans.
And of course there were also weekly themes. From Western to Superheroes to Adventures In Flight and many more, they inspired some creative activities and costumes. Even the visiting therapy dogs got in on the costumes! (They're pirates.)We hope that every camper went home with new skills, new confidence and lots of happy memories from their time at camp.

And a big "Thank you!" to the summer 2009 Camp Killoqua staff! They're the ones who make camp so special for our campers, and we wish them well in their new adventures this fall.

See you next summer at camp!

Thank you for a fabulous spring!

2009-06-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

Above: The Spring 2009 Outdoor Education Staff model the new Camp K t-shirts.

From left to right: Teezy, Moo, Frog, Bonzai, Ptarmigan, Verde and Grizz.

The summer is quickly sneaking up on us here at camp, and the spring Outdoor Education season ends this Friday. We wanted to take the time to thank our wonderful spring staff for a terrific season! They spent the past 14 weeks this spring working with over 1200 students in the 3rd through 6th grade. Here's to Teezy, Moo, Bonzai, Ptarmigan, Verde and Grizz! Thank you all very much for the thousands of silly songs you sang, the games of camouflage, the many canoe trips across the lake. Thank you for belaying your 100th child up the climbing wall, for finally perfecting king and queen and of course the banana bandanna skit. Thank you for always knowing that there are cool things to be found in the pond, for knowing where to find the best trees, for your love of all things tie-dye, and for never ever showing how tired you were really feeling. This spring has been a lot of fun, we will miss you all!

~Frog, Zebra, Daisy and Drizzle

Signs that summer is almost here

2009-06-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

As we say goodbye to a very fun and successful spring season, we look not too far ahead to summer! Here are some ways you can tell that summer camp is coming soon ...

The unit signs are all out!

The hay has arrived, and the horses will be here on June 17th.

The Zoo has transformed back into a library, complete with a turtle and other animals.

The witch's castle has a fresh coat of paint. It looks like Harry Potter is visiting ... maybe he thinks it's Hogwarts?

The fairies have returned to Fairyland, and are again leaving stars ... look closely!

We're definitely looking forward to all the new adventures to come. See you at camp!

Updates around camp

2009-06-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Spring projects have led to some great changes around the site. Capital campaign funds renovated the bathrooms in A-Frame (shown here), CIT, Staff House and Pioneer. More buildings got new roofs, such as CIT. And Boeing volunteers at the spring work party chopped wood, filled firewood boxes (like the new one at Salishan), put up the summer tent units, made a new fire ring for the horse area (concrete ring coming soon!), chipped wood and more. Thanks for taking the time to help - you make a big difference at Killoqua!

Spring Events

2009-06-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Spring was busy and lots of fun. Here are some pics from some spring events ...

The Earth Day celebration had activities going around camp, including decorating seed planters. Participants also visited the star dome, checked out what lives in the pond and explored the forest.

The annual Dad/Youth weekend featured a fishing derby - what a great morning on the lake!

The following weekend, the Mom/Youth event also got participants out on the lake, and included a camp fire, games and songs.

A sanding we will go...

2009-02-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

Things at camp are starting to get a little busier, as we have lots of projects going on. For the past few weeks Laurie, Pearl, Cassie and Chuck have been working in the kitchen. They have been sanding off layers of paint from the dishroom cupboards so that they can be stained. This is going to help preserve the cupboards and they will look like new! We will upload a photo when the project is complete.

Laurie is using an electric sander to help speed up the paint removal process!

Pearl has gone for a more old fashioned hand and arm-powered sanding method!

The work so far!

Keep checking back for more updates on the winter project around camp! We have new roofs going on many buildings and lots of bathroom remodels too!

Weekend Visitors

2009-01-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

Camp had enthusiastic visitors this weekend, when we were joined by last summer's CIT1s and Horizon Teens In Action. Sure, it was a little cold out, but some of the CITs went up on the high ropes course.

Joanna and Pearl helped out.

We warmed up inside by making sugar cookies. Yum! They were tasty and very colorful after being decorated.

Later that day, we got going on the Teens In Action quilting overnight. TIA is a service group, and participants do all kinds of projects. Once a year, they stay up late making quilts to donate to Project Linus and other causes. This year, they switched it up and made quilted pillowcases for ConkerrCancer, to send to kids fighting cancer. The pillowcases turned out great - and we made 70!

Dava the super-friendly cat also stopped by ... watch out, Cassie - that's Dava's tail you're about to sew!

Here's most of the group the next morning, showing off the quilts and trying to stay awake.

Capital Campaign Updates

2009-01-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

The council's capital campaign has passed the $2 million mark and is headed toward a final goal of $2.7 million. The latest improvements at camp are updates to the bathrooms in Pioneer, CIT, A-Frame, Staff House, and a touch-up to the lower lodge boys' room. Here are a couple of shots from CIT underway. Check back for new photos when the interiors are done in the next month or so!

Time to go boating!

2009-01-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

Boating is always a popular activity at Camp Killoqua, but there's a new twist on it this week. Due to the recent snow and rain, Crabapple Lake is especially high right now. In fact, it's flowed all the way down the meadow and covered the swim docks, the base of the poplar tree and the "Outpost" cookout site. No firebuilding there for a while! It's especially easy to launch canoes, however, since the water is just a couple of feet from their racks. Luckily, camp buildings are out of reach and the water doesn't harm the meadow. Cassie, Pearl, Joanna and Juneau the puppy took the boats out to explore our expanded lakefront property!

2008-12-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

It is a beautiful day at Camp! We have close to 8 inches of snow, and it just keeps falling! The evergreen trees and bright white snow create great backdrops for our resident photographers. The snow has also given us the opportunity to see what kind of animals have been roaming around camp. Today we spotted coyote, deer, and mouse tracks in the snow, as well as some Geronimo (cat) and Wyatt (dog) tracks in the mix! Check out our picture slide show and see what camp looks like in the winter!

2008-10-22T18:26:00.000-07:00

The fall season is flying by! We have had six great weeks of outdoor education so far, and have only 2 schools left. Even on these cold, windy days we still have kids outside learning about the natural environment around them. Our outdoor ed program is an interdisciplinary program combing different ecology lessons with outdoor recreation, with participants from many local and area schools.

Here we have a photo montage of a day spent at the climbing wall.

(Top left) Harnesses and helmets sit on a bench, patiently waiting for a participant to put them on and climb. (Top right) This is Suzanne, our newest team member, she's great! (Mid left) Dana, who is always wearing a smile, belays a climber. (mid right) Here we have Jimmy and Melissa sporting our climbing safety gear. ( Bottom Left ) A student from Jackson Elementary climbs the wall.

2008-10-07T11:48:00.001-07:00

It officially feels like fall here at camp. The warm summer breezes have been replaced with the cool, crisp, gusts of autumn. We have had some rain over the past few days, but today it is sunny once again. The rain has left everything looking clean and fresh! The trees are still very green, but soon they will change, and camp will be covered in a blanket of golden yellow leaves. Here are some photos of this beautiful October day!

This is a photo of the big leaf maple tree near the lodge, pretty soon these leaves will change and fall to the ground.

Here is the meadow, you can see where our site manager Chuck and many volunteers have started to reclaim the edge meadow, and to clear away the invasive blackberry plants. You can, once again, walk along the stream!

As the wind whispers through its branches, the poplar tree's serenity is never marred. It seems to say "All is well, all is well."

Crabapple Lake is very calm, you can see the brilliant blue sky reflected on the surface next to the swimming dock.

Welcome, Fall OE Staff!

2008-09-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Killoqua's fall activities include outdoor education programs for local schools. Through the end of October, we'll welcome busloads of kids, teachers and parents here for single- and multi-day experiences. Our fall staff leads the activities and has a blast with the students. This season's crew includes Melissa, Jimmy, Dana, Jesse and Becky. They're pictured here with Joanna, Cassie, Pearl and Juneau the puppy (look closely - she blends in!).

OE programs have a mix of field studies - covering forest, wetlands, wildlife, etc. - and actvities such as group teambuilding, the climbing wall, archery, canoeing, night hikes, singing, camp fires and skit nights. As the leaves change color and the night air becomes crisper, we'll be out exploring camp's 185 acres and learning about the plants, animals and ecosystems we find here!

Thanks for the Support!

2008-09-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

Many community groups assist Killoqua throughout the year. This month, we'd like to thank Fluke Corporation and REI!

On September 12, dozens of Fluke volunteers came to camp for the annual United Way Day of Caring. The Fluke crew worked hard and got a lot done. Projects this year included taking down tents from summer camp units, rebuilding and restocking firewood boxes, washing windows, and clearing brush along the meadow to reclaim the volleyball court. We're looking forward to using the new court when it's completed in 2009!

REI also assisted with a generous donation of gear to use throughout the year. September's donation included bikes, helmets and supplies; climbing ropes, helmets and hardware; compasses; ice cream-making balls (add ingredients and ice and roll around); and PFDs (life jackets) and canoe paddles. Pearl, Joanna and Cassie model the new arrivals. You'll see all the items in use around camp soon.

We appreciate Fluke, REI and all the other organizations that contribute to Killoqua throughout the year!

End of Summer

2008-09-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

Summer wrapped up in late August with mini camp, a shorter week for new overnight campers, and the last week of day camp. We had a good time that week ... day campers ventured into the star lab from the Museum of Flight and did activities for the "Spies Like Us" theme. Overnight campers learned new songs (the banana song was one of many popular ones), had a skit night, went swimming and boating, and did lots more, including cookouts on Tuesday night.

We'd also like to thank the whole summer staff of 2008. They dedicated their time to being here at Killoqua, working with hundreds of kids and having a great time with them. We have a beautiful site for our summer programs, but it's the people who truly make it a special experience - and they did! Thanks, everyone, and good luck as you head back to college and other jobs. Looking forward to summer 2009!

Session 7

2008-08-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Last week was our 7th session of the summer. The theme was Adventure/Safari. At the Monday night camp fire, a special guest arrived to help us sing one of the most popular songs this summer: "Have you ever seen a penguin drinking tea?" Here they are singing and turning around.

Venture Crew was also in camp session 7. Campers in this specialty program get to focus on lots of outdoor activities - cookouts, campouts, shelter building, camouflage and more. We had full groups of both boys and girls; this photo is the boys heading out for their two-night overnight.

In day camp, campers did lots of tie dye, swimming and were out playing games all over camp. They also enjoyed an exhibition show by a group of visiting agility dogs. And one cabin group participated in the "Service to Killoqua" program by washing Uncle Wigglebottom's cabin on a hot day.

The weather was pretty warm thoughout the week. On Friday, we all had popsicles - prizes for helping with the litter pick-up service project. Yum. Friday night concluded with Council Fire. In addition to unit contributions and other recognition, the CITs presented Charlie with her 10-Year ceremony, recognizing her 10 summers at Camp K.

And now we're in session 8! Check back next week for more details as summer camp wraps up ...

August at Camp Killoqua

2008-08-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it's already August! Session 7 is underway, with the theme of "Adventure" and "Safari." Resident campers are having fun, too, enjoying warm weather and sunny days at Crabapple Lake.

The last few weeks have been great fun, with lots of activities all over camp. Session 5 was Pirate week, always a favorite. Wednesday included a pirate scavenger hunt, and later in the week, campers visited a pirate boat out on the lake, finding special loot aboard.

Last week, in session 6, we welcomed the new "first-year" CITs (Counselors-In-Training). These 12 energetic leadership campers will be here through the end of the summer. Horse camp also included special sessions for English (riding English-style and using the matching tack) and Advanced riders. The Advanced campers visited with a vet and challenged themselves with a riding drill performed for other campers - it was great!

Session 6 had a sports theme, and the all-camp event was our annual "Biffer Games." Campers try to steer clear of being biffed by someone with a sock filled with a bit of flour and take part in activities around the edge of the field. It's a lot of fun.

We also woke up Tuesday morning to find all the dining tables in the meadow, and someone camping on the floating dock. It was a treat to eat outside in the sun that morning!

We're out taking more photos this session. Check back for updates next week!

2008-07-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Session 4 was a high-flying and festive week here at camp. It was holiday week in resident camp, and adventures in flight for day camp.

We celebrated many different holidays, including Camp Killoqua's 67th birthday. Presents, valentines, and spooky costumes could be seen everywhere.

The Museum of Flight came out and helped the day campers build and launch rockets. They used water, air, and alka seltzer to make their rockets fly!

Session 5 is underway! You'll be sure to see an eye patch or two if you walk around the meadow this week. It is Pirates of Killoqua week for both day and resident camp. Check the blog for more pictures and updates of this pirate extravaganza!

Summer has begun!

2008-07-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

We are in full swing here at camp! It is hard to believe that three sessions have already come and gone. Zebra, Daisy, Frog and Drizzle can not believe how fast the summer is moving!

Session 1 was the tenth summer of Camp Willie, a camp designed for campers who have experienced the death of a loved one. This year, the campers made mosaic stepping stones out of tiles that they painted, and then broke. The stepping stones are beautiful, showing great care and creative expression, they will soon join the other Camp Willie art projects on the hill near the Gypsy bridge.

Session 2 brought a new activity to camp. It was our very first Dance Camp week. Two professional dance instructors from Seattle came and taught swing dancing lessons everyday to campers who were interested in learning these dance moves! Dance camp will make an encore during session 6. Also during session 2, our Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program began for our six second-year CITs they have been busy working with campers, and are beginning their live-ins. They will shadow camp staff, live in cabins with kids, and act as the co-counselors.

Session 3 came to a close today. This week was Western-themed; we had a rodeo and saw many great Old West costumes and accessories. We also had our first Wadikima trip of the summer! These seven teenagers and their two counselors biked around the San Juan islands, having many crazy and memorable adventures! We also had our middle school archery camp. Campers spent two hours or more a day at the archery range practicing shooting techniques and playing games. They also tried out field archery, and even got to do some nocturnal archery! Don't worry, they used glow in the dark paint to mark targets and arrows!

In other news, the new outdoor pavilion is just about finished, we are hoping to have kids using it later this week! We are very excited to be able to update the blog once again, and hope to update it weekly. Keep checking back for more adventures from Camp K!

Summer is Coming!

2008-06-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Zebe and Utah can no longer contain their excitement about the start of summer. Watch them dance their hearts out!

Meet Our New Food Service Manager

2008-05-01T12:57:00.001-07:00

Meet Laurie Wesp, Camp Killoqua's very first food service manager. Laurie will be living and cooking at camp full time. She was most recently assistant cook at Camp Stevens near San Diego and is excited to take on the responsibility of managing the Killoqua kitchen. Laurie loves to bake bread and plans to make most of camp's bread herself. She also brings her famous banana cake to Killoqua. Mmmm...good!

The Spring Season Has Begun!

2008-04-02T10:03:00.001-07:00

Our spring season is underway. We had our first outdoor education program last week when Lucille Umbarger joined us for a day program and Beverly Elementary stayed 3 days. The rest of the season is packed with school groups. Weekend programs have also started. We have had a Teens in Action planning retreat and outdoor progression weekend. Check out the picture of a group of sixith-graders trying to get their group over the 10 foot wall.

New Shirt Design For 2008!

2008-03-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a preview of the 2008 t-shirt and sweatshirt design. Shirts will have "Camp Killoqua" across the chest and the camp's founding date "1941" on the cuff of the sleeve. Shirts will be available in navy blue with yellow writing or cardinal red with silver writing. Hooded sweat-shirts are royal blue with white writing and will have the date on the back. Shirts are $10 and sweatshirts are $28. If you don't want to wait until summer you can purchase one at the camp office after April 1st.

Camp Fire Website Gets A Makeover

2008-03-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Camp Fire USA Snohomish website has a fresh new look. Click on the above Camp Fire USA logo to check it out. We hope to add more pictures and possibly even videos from camp in the near future!

Lodge Improvements Complete!

2008-03-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

Our lodge improvements are complete! During the last few months the Killoqua lodge has received some needed updates. The kitchen got a new walk-in refrigerator, new double convection ovens and a new hood and fire safety system. The rest of the lodge received new electrical wiring and light fixtures. The new lights are very energy efficient providing twice the light and using half the electricity of the old ones. The lodge is now a little brighter and a little "greener."

A big thank you to the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound for their generous donation that made these kitchen improvements possible.

For Don and Bev...

2008-02-29T14:59:00.000-08:00

Last March our long time camp caretakers Don and Bev Wagner retired and moved to Eastern Washington to be closer to family. Before moving, Bev asked us to replace the old plum tree that came down in a snow storm with a crabapple tree. Camp Killoqua was an apple orchard prior to becoming a Camp Fire camp and of course its on Crabapple Lake so a crabapple tree seemed fitting. We chose a Whitney Crabapple which should produce a large quantity of the best eating crabapples. Andy and Joanna dug out the old stump and planted the sappling using compost created from our dining room. We wish Don and Bev the best.

Update from Tolaga

2008-02-06T11:14:00.001-08:00

Greetings from the camp office. The last few months have been busy around Camp K. The sounds of birds singing and children playing have been replaced by power saws and hammering. Construction is moving along. See the progress here on the blog. Joanna has been busy getting ready for summer camp, hiring staff and recruiting campers. Next week she will be heading to the American Camp Association conference in Nashville to meet with other camp professionals. She plans a side trip to Graceland in Memphis before heading home. If she is not in the office you can probably find her running the trails training for a half-marathon. Kate has been getting ready for spring events and promoting our leadership programs. She has also been busy applying for graduate school. She recently visited the University of Kentucky to see their facilities and meet professors. She plans to visit the University of Michigan later this month. Andy is hiring staff and visiting schools that will be here for Outdoor Ed this spring. Our first school is next month! Between working and graduate school courses at Seattle University he has been keeping busy. He did manage to take off a few days recently to do a little skiing in Taos, New Mexico. Carol has been busy overseeing construction around camp in addition to keeping camp running smoothly. She was able to squeeze in a little time off for herself recently with a trip to sunny Mexico. Watch for her cruising around camp (silently) in her new electric-hybrid.

Spring Events 2008

2008-02-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

We have several spring events planned at Killoqua including Earth Day, Mom/Youth, Dad/Youth, Club camping and summer camp open house. Click on the link to learn more about an event or to register. www.campfireusasnohomish.org/signup

Teens In Action Annual Quilt Making

2008-01-29T14:22:00.001-08:00

Camp Fire's Teens In Action club recently gathered at Camp Killoqua for their annual quilt making weekend. Several teens spent the night at camp hanging out with their friends while sewing some pretty incredible quilts to donate to various charities. Keep up the good work TIA's!

Snow Falls At Camp Killoqua!

2008-01-28T08:58:00.001-08:00

New Hill Mini Ain't So Mini Anymore!

2008-01-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

After months of rain, we have finally had a decent break in the weather which has allowed the construction workers to make serious progress. Check out the photo to view the progress that has been made in the span of two weeks. Construction will slow down once roof is finished and the workers begin the finishing work. We hope to have construction completed and surrounding area graded and cleaned up by the beginning of our Outdoor Education season in mid-March. Be sure to check the blog often to see more pictures as the construction progresses.

Our New Open Air Kitchen!

2008-01-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

Just kidding! An open air kitchen would be great on the beach in Hawaii but not here in rainy Washington. This is actually the first step of our mini kitchen makeover. Workers have removed a portion of the kitchen's back wall to replace the walk-in refrigerator. After the new fridge goes in and a little structural support is added the wall will be replaced.

SPRING OUTDOOR ED STAFF WANTED!

2008-01-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Do you have a passion for teaching youth about the outdoors? Well, Camp Killoqua may have the perfect job for you! We are still seeking a few spring (April 14-June 13) Outdoor Ed Instructors to work with 3rd-6th grade students teaching ecology, team building and outdoor recreation. Follow the link to view a complete job description on our website: www.campfireusasnohomish.org

REI Supports Camp Killoqua

2008-01-08T14:01:00.000-08:00

Carol and Joanna recently made a trip to the REI store in Seattle to receive a generous check and go on a shopping spree. With REI's donation we were able to purchase several new Novara mountain bikes, 2 Coleman camp stoves, compasses, belay gloves, climbing helmets, and more. A big thank you to REI for their support. Andy took one of the bikes for a spin around camp and commented that they are a "sweet ride". We will be recycling a few of our older bikes to Sharing Wheels in Everett where they will be refreshed and given to people in need.

Site Manager Office

2008-01-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

Chuck, Killoqua's site manager, put the finishing touches on his new office today. Rumors circulating camp that his new office is actually a recording studio where he will launch his pop singing career as false, it's just an office--a place for Chuck to set up his desk, store his files, and take an iced tea break. A big thank you to all the people who helped with construction.

I Tie Dye With A Little Help From My Friends

2008-01-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

The tie dye bungalow may look the same on the outside, but inside its a whole new world. The Fluke Corporation of Everett remodeled the interior; removing old stalls and shower heads, painting the inside, building a new work station and drying racks. Check out the picture of Utah as she takes in the view. Tie dying, rinsing and washing can now be done in the same place. Who will be the lucky person to use it first--come to camp 1st session and it may be you!

Gypsy Mini Comes Crashing Down

2008-01-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

As anyone who has ever used the Gypsy mini knows, it was in need of a little TLC. Well, this fall as part of our capital campaign the mini was torn down in front of a cheering crowd with the help of a giant yellow claw. Construction of a new larger mini has begun and will be finished this spring. We will post more pictures as the construction progresses.

Summer 2008 Brochure Now Online!

2008-01-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Camp Killoqua's 2008 summer camp brochure is now available online on our website. Be one of the first to see it. Click on the photo of campers to view the brochure as a pdf file and learn more about the new speciality sessions this coming summer or to see if your photo made the brochure.

Welcome

2008-01-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! We are developing a blog to keep you aware of all the happenings at camp. Stay tuned, as we plan to have our blog up and running soon.