Thanks to a generous grant in 2021, Anderson Island Park & Recreation District will be launching a Youth Activities Program, offering a program for K-12 youth to attend on- and off-island youth activities exploring nature, ecology, wildlife, and arts.
This program combines old and new youth events, managed by AIPRD and our volunteers.
WHY ARE SOME EVENTS RESTRICTED?
This program is funded in large part by our SEEK Grant, which restricts use of funds to only residents of Anderson Island. Some programs may have availability for additional registrants, but island youth will have priority registration periods or exclusive access to some of the activities offered.
As we work to finalize programs and open registration, please take this first step to qualify for SEEK status. By submitting your address and eligible youth, we will approve your status and get you registered with our program platform.
Below is a list of available activities.
Join us as we continue our kayaking program for island youth entering grades 6-12. These events are for SEEK-qualified Youth only. See the Youth Kayaking Program page for more details!
Beyond these organized events, we are offering ticket packages - consisting of an event ticket, ferry tickets (youth + driver), and mileage reimbursement - for families to take their kids to events, complements of the Parks! This is available for all island youth entering K-12th grade.
You can request ticket packages for:
REGISTRATION: You may register to request tickets, but because these are summer programs, we cannot distribute tickets until June 22, so please plan accordingly.
If you would like to propose an activity for funding, please contact us to discuss the opportunity. If it meets the criteria, we'll try to arrange to cover the fees for your kiddo.
Islander and certified captain, Corey Feldon, will be offering sailing education & excursions for youth entering 2nd - 12th grades, with each excursion taking 6 youth out on an adventure.
Events will take place on Wednesdays throughout summer break, June 22 - August 31 and will be available to resident and visiting youth.
The excursions lessons will include, but are not be limited to:
All excursions depart from Oro Bay Marina, Anderson Island. The vessel is a well maintained & cared for 1979 Sloop Rigged Newport 30 MkII. All vessel surveys (hull & rigging) are current, as is the Liability Insurance through South Sound Sailing Tours. The USCG Credentialed Captain is Corey W. Feldon. Captain Corey carries an O.U.P.V. (6 pack) license and is First Aid & CPR qualified. The max limit of passengers is 6, not including the Captain & Crew.
Planned day-long (approximately 8hr) excursions include sailing to the various water accessible local state parks, such as Kopachuck SP, Jarrell Cove SP, McMicken Island SP, Joemma Beach SP, Penrose Point SP, Hope Island SP, as well as Point Defiance Marina (with guided walk along Owen Beach).
In partnering with local maritime organizations, such as the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum, we will also be able to provide in depth knowledge of our marine environment, as well as the local maritime history. Our excursion to the Foss Waterway Seaport Museum will allow participants to engage in a 90 minute program, followed by self guided museum time.
Two three-day, two-night excursions to Blake Island State Park include sailing through the Tacoma Narrows (under the bridge) and Colvos Passage to reach the island. The kids and a chaperone will camp on Blake Island, enjoy the trails and marine environment, as well as learn the local Native American history of the island. We will camp for two nights and sail back to Anderson Island on the third day. Meals are included.
REGISTRATION:
FREE for all resident youth. FREE PASSES are no longer available for visiting youth.
All classes are now full, but click here to get on the waiting list in case of cancellations.
Thanks to a generous donation by Deloit Wolfe Jr and Christine Hample, we were able to give away 14 vouchers for FREE SAILING CLASSES to youth who were not island residents! This opportunity is now closed, but we're so grateful to have been able to offer this amazing experience to island neighbors.
Kurt Sample, islander and Director of Sound View Camp in Longbranch, has created a week-long overnight camp exclusively for island kids from August 7 - 13, leaving from and returning to the island (no extra transportation necessary). This program is for SEEK-qualified youth entering 5th - 10th grades (ages 10-15), and we have 16 spots available.
WHY CREATE THIS SPECIAL EVENT?
We believe that every Island youth needs to know...
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (always adaptable)
Sunday (August 7)
Monday - Friday (August 8-12)
Saturday (August 13)
MORE ABOUT BASE CAMP
Fun Fact: Drayton Passage is named for Joseph Drayton Joseph Drayton, who was an illustrator for the United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842), and produced numerous drawings of fishes during the expedition, many of which are in the Smithsonian collection. Drayton also helped supervise the illustrations and engraving work for a number of the scientific reports which were published.
REGISTRATION: As we prepare for kayak training, registration is now closed.
AIPRD and its volunteers, in cooperation with Young Life, will offer 4 field trips for youth entering grades K-4th grade, leaving from the island in a 12-person van. Each excursion will have 9 youth and 3 adults, and cover the cost of admission, ferry ticket, and food.
Two field trips will be to NW Trek and two will be to Point Defiance Zoo.
DATES:
We are partnering with the Lakewood Playhouse in the Lakewood Towne Center to send island kids to theater camps!
All camps for kids K-12 are eligible for free tuition for SEEK-approved youth. Here's a summary of their program:
LIT's focus is on nurturing students of all ages regardless of experience or individual needs by providing quality theatre education at an affordable price. At LIT our focal point is not just on producing high quality camp and class experiences, but equally to empower life skills for our students through the experience that theatre provides. These experiences included developing empathy, sense of self, confidence, teamwork, problem solving, effective communication and accountability.
Assistance with ferry ticket costs is available upon request. Email programs@andersonislandparks.org for more info.
REGISTRATION:
Registration is now closed.
Go to their website to see full descriptions (but register with us): https://www.lakewoodinstituteoftheatre.org/summer-2022-classes-and-camps.html
Here is a quick listing of all the offerings:
For Ages 3-6 yrs. (must be potty trained)
For Grades 1-3
For Grades 4-6
For Grades 1-8
For Grades 4-12
For Grades 6-12
For Grades 7-12
For Grades 9-12 and 18+
Multi-Generational (Ages 7-90)
We're so excited to announce that we'll have a 5-week basketball camp again this summer! Youth ages 8-12 of all skill levels are encouraged to join the fun every Monday & Wednesday morning from 9:30-10:30, starting June 20th. This event is open to both island and visiting youth.
See the Youth Basketball page for all the details!
An island favorite is back in 2022! Camp will be held on the island July 11-13 (M-W) for youth entering 1st-6th grades, with 30 spots available.
REGISTRATION:
See our Camp page for all the details!
Camp Sealth has been a local favorite of many island youth through the years, some returning to become counselors as they got older. This camp is on Vashon Island, and involves kids in planning their experience as soon as they arrive at camp. Due to extensive waitlists space is very limited but the Director of Camp Sealth is offering SEEK-qualified youth 6 spots in this year's Classic Camp program, for youth entering 1st-12th grades.
You can read details by age group and see activities lists at their website: https://campfireseattle.org/camp-sealth-overnight-camp/camp-descriptions/classic-camp/
Transportation will not be provided as part of this program.
REGISTRATION:
The lottery is complete and 6 lucky island kids are headed to camp this summer!
Nisqually Reach Nature Center is a long-time partner for the Parks, with its Director volunteering as one of our science instructors for AIPRD's Kids Nature Camp every year.
Science Adventure Camp is their flagship camp for rising 8th-10th graders. It is focused on having fun and learning about environmental and marine science within the Nisqually Watershed. This year includes 3 nights of camping in La Wis Wis Campground and day hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park.
Camp dates are August 1-5, with all pick-up and drop-off at the Nisqually Reach Nature Center. We are offering SEEK-qualified youth 2 spots in this year's Science Adventure Camp, for youth entering 8-10th grades.
Assistance with ferry ticket costs is available upon request. Email programs@andersonislandparks.org for more info.
You can read details, including their 5-day agenda at their website:
http://nisquallyestuary.org/education/summer-camps/science-adventure-camp/
REGISTRATION:
Two island kids are headed to this amazing camp this summer!
STEP 1 - QUALIFY FOR SEEK STATUS or REGISTER ON OMNIFY
If you are an island family with youth who are permanent residents of Anderson Island, your first step is to register with us to receive SEEK status. Once you are confirmed, you will receive an email welcome to our event registration platform (Omnify) and a coupon code you can use to get free registration for any event the Youth Activities Program offers this summer. So please get registered here as soon as possible!
If you aren't enrolled in SEEK, you can go directly to the registration platform. When you register, you can register YOURSELF so we have your waiver and info, and you can manage your families activities from one account. See step 2 to add your kiddos!
STEP 2 - FILL OUT YOUR FAMILY PROFILE
Your next step will be to log into our registration platform and fill in your family profile, adding each child as a family member to your account. Each of your youth will appear as Family Members, and there will be safety, administrative and medical details that will need to be filled out for each of them. We know that for families, these details are often the same for each child, but you'll need to enter them in each profile...we apologize in advance for the extra effort. Technology is not always as cooperative as we'd like!
STEP 3 - REQUEST REGISTRATION FOR EVENTS
Regardless of the event, your first step will be to request registration. Because we don't have an automated system in place, a volunteer will be reviewing each request, checking availability, and then contacting you to either confirm your registration or discuss the process or options.
Please begin by registering for ONE date of any given type of activity, offering other families a chance to register as well. If your child enjoys the activity and wants to return for more, you are welcome to schedule a second activity if it's available.
For those who are not SEEK-qualified and are registering for open events, you will fill out your family profile as part of the Request Registration process.
You will find links to register for each activity in both the list of Available Activities above, as well as on the home page of our Youth Activities Program Registration Platform (link coming soon).
STEP 4 - FOLLOW-UP
Once your registration is confirmed with AIPRD, you will be contacted with further instructions. In most cases, AIPRD or our partner organizations will contact you about the event, times, preparation, and other details. In some cases, the partner organization may ask you to continue the registration process with their system to complete your registration.
Because we know that ferry and travel costs add up, we contacted our SEEK grant representative to see if we could reimburse travel. After hearing about our unique situation, he took our request to the grant decision-makers and got approval.
If you are a full-time island resident and are enrolled in our SEEK program, your travel costs will be covered for:
PROCESS TO GET TRAVEL EXPENSES COVERED
Ferry tickets
Ferry tickets will be distributed directly by AIPRD directly no more than 2 days prior to the event. Parents/guardians will be contacted by AIPRD by phone/email to confirm ticket needs and arrange digital or physical receipt of requested tickets.
Mileage Reimbursement
Based on the reimbursement table below:
You can read the full policy here.
QUESTIONS? Ask away! Email programs@andersonislandparks.org
Once an event is complete, guardians of SEEK-qualified youth may fill out this form to request reimbursement.
We can't do this without you! We've already had many wonderful members of our community step up to help us plan this amazing summer for our island kids, but we still need more help. Here's a starting list of volunteer opportunities, with more coming as we pin down our needs.
With so many events coming, we really need someone to just help us keep track of who wants to give us a hand, where best they may fit, and make it easy for them to get involved. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that doesn't involve actually working with kids or attending activities, this may be your chance to help us!
Captain Corey will need a volunteer to assist on each Wednesday sailing trip. You don't need to know how to sail, but comfort on the water and in a sailboat is a must. This volunteer role is primarily acting as an assistant with the youth on board, ensuring they have a go-to person when Captain Corey has the sailboat underway.
This will be our 12th annual Nature Camp, and we would love for you to join us in fostering a safe and enjoyable learning experience for our campers. We prefer to keep the Group Leaders consistent, so we're asking for 3 days of commitment. Many islanders have raved about the joy of giving to their community in this way, so contact our Camp Director, Bridgid Nelson, to learn what this role entails and if you can lend a hand!
For each of the 4 field trips to NW Trek or Point. Defiance Zoo, we will need 1-2 chaperones to help monitor and guide 9 youth through the activities. Want to spend a fun day at some of our favorite wildlife destinations?
We love getting our youth out on the waters of Puget Sound. Would you like to join our volunteers who either teach or supervise kayak outings? Chat with Chuck about the opportunities coming up this summer!
In fall 2021, Anderson Island Park & Recreation District applied for a second grant made possible by Washington Recreation and Park Association (WRPA), and the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), administered on behalf of the Office of the Superintendent for Public Schools (OSPI).
The federal COVID-19 relief funds are being provided to OSPI to enable local parks and recreation agencies throughout our state to expand summer outdoor education programs offered to school-aged kids!
The purpose of the SEEK (Summer Experiences & Enrichment for Kids) Program is to increase access to quality outdoor summer programming for youth and communities who have historically been underserved and who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We were notified on January 28th, 2022 that we were being awarded the full amount, $35,200 to fund this program and offer free access to activities in our area.
This program is still very much in the works, but if you have a specific question we haven't answered yet, drop us a line!
High-quality single kayaks for Youth Kayak Program
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