By Nathan Zabel
NSEA Education Program Coordinator

This summer, NSEA was excited to pilot a summer camp program – Camp Keystone! Named after the salmon we care so much about, which are a keystone species because of their role as a food source as well as an important nutrient source to fuel ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest.

We transformed our campus into a place where children 4-6 years old got to explore and discover the wonders of the outdoors, rooted in salmon education. 9 weeks of camp featured different ecological themes, such as “Underwater Adventure,” “Furry Friends,” and “Earth Day Everyday.” Each week featured a mix of discovery, science, and silliness!

We started each day with a salmon circle, which included a land acknowledgment, salmon yoga, and salmon songs! Campers learned through movement and music the various stages of the lifecycle and the habitats salmon rely on for survival, while thanking our Indigenous neighbors for caring for the land since time immemorial. After the salmon circle, campers spent the rest of the morning exploring the outdoors through games, arts and crafts, activities, and free play – all facilitated by NSEA’s Camp Educators.

 The week was capped off by a field trip where campers visited a property located in the forest along Tenmile Creek. There, they got to peek into a salmon-bearing creek, play hide and seek among the tall trees, look for bugs under logs, and discover ponds, marshes, and beaver dams! Camp Keystone provided young learners with a space to spark their curiosity, build important social and life skills, and foster an appreciation and connection with the natural world.

 We are thrilled that almost every week of camp was full and we were able to increase accessibility to our Whatcom County community by giving out scholarships for campers to attend. We are humbled by the importance of camp in the lives of these 4-6 year old campers and their families. One parent said “even at the young age of four, he came away with some really great learning experiences, a better understanding of how he is connected to the environment, and was able to have some friends to play with. He is new to the area, and hasn't been able to have friends to socialize with, so this was very important and special for him.” Camp Keystone provided an avenue for youth to play, grow, and explore in the outdoors, while sparking a lifelong learning and compassion for the environment and salmon, a keystone species so important in our region.

For more information about Camp Keystone, please contact Nathan Zabel at nzabel@n-sea.org or call 360-312-3094.