By Nathan Zabel
NSEA Education Programs Manager.
This summer, NSEA welcomed back 4-6 year old campers, and our campus was once again filled with laughter and excitement. Camp Keystone celebrated its second year and saw the familiar faces of returning campers while also meeting campers and families new to NSEA. We enjoyed another summer of celebrating salmon, a keystone species so important to our region.
Camp Keystone ran for 9 weeks from June through August and featured 7 different ecological themes, all rooted in salmon education and place-based outdoor learning. “Underwater Adventure” showcased salmon and other animals that swim with them while “Whatcom Watersheds” brought campers from the top of Mt. Baker to the depths of Bellingham Bay. 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. They left each week being able to use their hands to identify all 5 species of Pacific salmon.
Each week featured a field trip where campers visited a property located in the forest along Tenmile Creek. There, they got to look for salmon fry in the moving water of the creek, roll over logs in search of bugs, listen to the sounds of the birds, and play hide and seek among the tall trees. 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 happy to hear how meaningful Camp Keystone was for these campers and their families. One parent said, “We love Camp Keystone! I love that it is science-based, nature-focused, and about being good stewards of the land. The staff is warm and welcoming and make it such a joyful experience for kids.” 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.
Registration for next summer will open on February 1st – look for more information at n-sea.org/camp-keystone or contact Nathan Zabel at nzabel@n-sea.org.