Connecting Kids to Fun Around the Sound

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.

Some events will allow open registration for ALL youth - residents and visitors.
Others will be designated as "SEEK Only" events and will be exclusive to those youth who are permanent residents of Anderson Island, offering admission/ tuition and ferry-fee coverage for island youth to attend events held by partner organizations in the area.

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.

Island Families, Get Pre-Approved for Free Programs

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.

Fill out the form now

Available Youth Activities

We are still in the planning phases of this program, working with local organizations to build our 2022 summer offering. Below is a list of available activities, though we are still actively in talks with many other organizations, so we expect to add more to this events list.

AI Children's Nature Camp (Day Camp)- FULL - WAITLIST ONLY

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:

Registration is full.
To get on the waitlist, register at this link Waitlist

See our Camp page for all the details!

AI Youth Sailing Program with South Sound Sailing Tours

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:

“Rules of The Road”
“Safety on the Water” (Instruction & Demonstration)
“Sailing” (Instruction & Demonstration)
“Local Maritime History”
“Marine Mammal Education”
“Stewards of the Sea Education”
“Vessel Maintenance & Repair”
and more!

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.

June 22: Jarrell’s Cove State Park (COMPLETE)
June 29: Through the Tacoma Narrows (FULL) - Get on the Waitlist
July 6: Foss Waterway Seaport Museum – Register now!
July 13: Through the Tacoma Narrows - Register Now!
July 20: Jarrell’s Cove State Park (FULL) - Get on the Waitlist
August 3: Through the Tacoma Narrows – Register now!
August 10: Hope Island State Park – Register now!
August 17-19: Blake Island Camping Trip (FULL) - Get on the Waitlist
August 24: Penrose State Park (FULL) - Get on the Waitlist
August 31: Foss Waterway Seaport Museum (FULL) - Get on the Waitlist

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.

AI Youth Basketball Camp

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!

AI Youth Kayaking Program - SEEK only

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!

The Drayton Expedition (Week-long Overnight Camp) - SEEK only

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...

How to paddle a canoe/kayak Solo Or with a friend
How to read a nautical chart
How to read a tide table
How to use a marine radio
How to use a compass
How to use a pocket knife
How to tie basic knots
How to light and tend a campfire
How to cook outdoors
How to safely rescue a person and right a capsized boat
How to recognize the flora and fauna of Puget Sound
How to care for our fragile planet, starting with Drayton Passage, Puget Sound
How to pitch a tent and set up a campsite
How to be safe and responsible around the water
How to “unplug” and enjoy life outdoors with new and old friends
How to value friendships

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (always adaptable)

Sunday (August 7)

4:00 - a fleet of canoes and kayaks will meet families in Amsterdam Bay. Campers will travel to Sound View Camp by water. Parents with private boats are welcome to help.

Monday - Friday (August 8-12)

When the tide is high - campers will be exploring all the corners of Drayton Passage by boat. From the Devil’s Head to Filuchy Bay; from Treble Point to Eagle Island.
When the tide is low - campers will be learning important nautical “stuff” plus having fun with landlubber activities such as archery, the high ropes course, and outdoor cooking.

Saturday (August 13)

Campers will canoe back to Amsterdam Bay first thing in the morning to stay ahead of the crazy low tide. Parents will be informed when and where to pick up their campers.

MORE ABOUT BASE CAMP

Sound View Camp (soundviewcamp.com) will serve as the base for the Drayton Expedition. Trained staff will provide an exceptional experience for all of the participants.
Campers will have home cabins to safely keep their belongings and grab a shower.
Nutritious, healthy and hearty food is served in the dining hall or is provided to the campers when they are cooking out or on an adventure.
A nurse is on staff.
Sound View is accredited by the American Camp Association.
The Sound View director, Kurt Sample, is a resident of Anderson Island.
Sound View Camp is located directly across from Amsterdam Bay.
Sound View Camp is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). However, the Drayton Expedition will not be run as a Christian camping program. Sound View’s programs are open to all.

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: August 7-13 – Register now!

Theater Camps at Lakewood Institute of Theater - SEEK Only

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:

We'll gather your registration info in our system, then be in touch to get additional info to register you with LIT. At that point, you'll engage with their camp director about details. Register now!

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)

Early Stars (1 week) – Tuition: $100 - June 20th -24th - 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Presentation during the last 20 minutes of class, June 24th

For Grades 1-3

Intro to Theatre (Acting Technique, 1 week) – Tuition: $75 - Dates: July 11th -15th - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Presentation during the last 20 minutes of class, July 15th
Puppetry (Production Performance, 1 week) – Tuition: $200 - July 11th -15th - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Performance, July 15th at 3:30p.m.

For Grades 4-6

Preparing the Actor I (Acting Technique, 1 week) – Tuition: $75 - July 18th-22nd / 25th – 29th - 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Presentation during the last 20 minutes of class, July 29th
Youth Play – Title TBA (Production Play, 1 week) - Tuition: $200 - July 18th-22nd / 25th – 29th - 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Performances July 29th at 4:00 p.m. & 30th at 11:00 a.m.

For Grades 1-8

Annie Jr. (Musical, 2 weeks) – Tuition: $450 - June 27th-July 1st / 5th-8th (No class July 4th) - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Performances July 8th at 7:00 p.m., July 9th at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

For Grades 4-12

Radio Play – Title TBA (Radio Show, 1 week) – Tuition: $250 - August 1st - 5th - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Performances August 5th at 4:00 p.m. & August 6th at 11:00 a.m.
Music Theatre Revue (Musical, 1 week) – Tuition: $250 - August 15th-19th - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Performances August 19th at 4:00 p.m. & August 20th at 11:00 a.m.

For Grades 6-12

Macbeth (Production Play, 2 weeks) – Tuition: $325 - July 11th -15th / 18th-22nd - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Performances July 22nd at 7:00 p.m., July 23rd at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

For Grades 7-12

Preparing the Actor II (Acting Technique, 3 Days) – Tuition: $200 - June 27th – 30th - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Presentation during the last hour of class, June 30th

For Grades 9-12 and 18+

Stage Management Workshop - (Theatre Administration, 1 week) – Tuition: $200 - June 20th – July 24th - 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Multi-Generational (Ages 7-90)

Pinocchio (Production Play, 3 weeks) – Tuition: $375 - June 27th-July 1st / 5th-8th / 11th-15th - 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Performances July 15th at 7:00 p.m., July 16th at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Supervised Field Trips - SEEK Only

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:

Tuesday, June 28th - Point Defiance Zoo - Register Now!
Friday, July 22nd - NW Trek - Register Now!
Friday, August 12th - Point Defiance Zoo - Register Now!
Tuesday, August 30 - NW Trek - Register Now!

More details coming soon!

Individual Youth Ticket Packages - SEEK Only

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:

Northwest Trek - Request tickets
Point Defiance Zoo - Request tickets

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.

Camp Sealth on Vashon Island (Week-long Overnight) - SEEK only (Registration Closed)

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!

NRNC Science Adventure Camp (5-Day Camp w/3 nights camping) - SEEK Only (Registration Closed)

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!

HOW WILL IT WORK?

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.

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS

The Goal: No Cost Should Be A Barrier

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:

Ferry tickets for driver and youth(s) on the AI-Steilacoom Ferry - Tickets will be distributed to all participants ahead of the event(s)
Ferry tickets for driver and youth(s) on the Vashon Ferry - For youth going to Camp Sealth, tickets will be distributed to all participants ahead of the event(s)
Mileage Reimbursements - Based on the location of the event, parents/guardians will be given a fixed amount to cover mileage, based on the IRS .585 cents per mile and the distance traveled for each event.

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:

After completion of an event, parent/guardians will be contacted and asked to fill out a Mileage Reimbursement Attestation, indicating that they drove the participant to the event. This attestation will be used as part of our audit paperwork and serve as your official request to receive reimbursement.
Monthly during the first week of July / August / September, reimbursement checks will be mailed to all individuals who filled out an attestation following an event. If you have multiple requests, they will be processed together in one batch.

You can read the full policy here.

QUESTIONS? Ask away! Email programs@andersonislandparks.org

Mileage Reimbursement Attestation

Once an event is complete, guardians of SEEK-qualified youth may fill out this form to request reimbursement.

FILL OUT THE FORM

Want to Volunteer?

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.

Volunteer Coordinator

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!

Sailing Assistant

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.

Nature Camp Group Leader

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!

Field Trip Chaperone

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?

Youth Kayak Instructor or Chaperone

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!

Funded by 2021 Grant

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.

Anderson Island Park & Recreation District

Connecting Kids to Fun Around the Sound

Island Families, Get Pre-Approved for Free Programs

Jump to:

Available Youth Activities

HOW WILL IT WORK?

EVENTS AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING

Registration Status as of 6/22

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS

The Goal: No Cost Should Be A Barrier

Mileage Reimbursement Attestation

Want to Volunteer?

Volunteer Coordinator

Sailing Assistant

Nature Camp Group Leader

Field Trip Chaperone

Youth Kayak Instructor or Chaperone

Funded by 2021 Grant

Still Have Questions?

Equipment Purchased with SEEK Funds