Orkila's "Partners with Youth" local program enters final week

Contributed by Lynda Sanders, Camp Orkila Staff

What makes Camp Orkila so magical?

Orcas kids enjoy summer day camp at the island's YMCA Camp Orkila

Amazing sunsets, giant swings, the ragger program, horses, Satellite Island, polar bear, campfires, life and death in the forest, challenge by choice, deer, beach walks, international staff, cinnamon rolls, the Orkila Orkila song, new/old friendships, dork dances, get wet, get dirty, the climbing wall, boat trips on the Kwahnice and so much more…

Every year YMCA Camp Orkila, with the help of 20 dedicated islanders, embarks on a mission to “GET KIDS TO CAMP”!

We are mid-way through our 2009 Partners With Youth Campaign and we are off to a fantastic start.

Orcas Kids get down and dirty in the Great Outdoors, thanks to the YMCA Camp Orkila's Partners With Youth campaign

This year our goal is to raise $45,000 to send local kids, who could not otherwise afford it, to our summer residence camps, outdoor environmental education programs, day camp and swim lessons.

As of Feb. 4, we are over half way to that goal. Even in this tough economic climate, Orcas Islanders continue their generous support of children.

We have seen very little reduction in previous giving and continue to see new supporters filling any gaps, as well as many of our current supporters increasing their giving in response to and concern over the current economic crisis.

In 2008 Camp Orkila served over 16,000 campers. Over 400 kids — Orcas Island kids and summer visitors — attended the summer day camp. Thirty-four weeks of swimming lessons and 178 camper weeks could not have happened without the generous support of the Orcas community.

Another $300,000 will be raised through our Seattle Camping Services office to send kids to camp.

Here is a powerful story from Kaitlyn Richards, Site Director of Outdoor Environmental Education about one of those kids:

I want to share an amazing story of the Giant Swing at Orkila that came out of our Fall season of OEE programming. I was lucky enough to be part of team that got Kayla, a 7th-grade student born without either leg and only one, slightly underdeveloped arm, into a harness and onto the Giant Swing safely.

Through the addition of some creative webbing to her harness, the help of Kayla’s mom, our fabulous 4:1 pulley system, and Kayla’s never-ending supply of determination and jokes, we were able to hook Kayla up to the swing with one of the teachers from her school.

Before getting into the harness, Kayla declared that they would be only going half way to the top. Once in the harness, they were going all of the way. Once attached to the swing, it was back to half way.

Kayla went all the way to the top and never stopped talking throughout their swing, repeating over and over again, “We have to come back here next year.”

Although all of our challenge elements provide valuable and individually-unique experiences for participants, this reminds me of what a transformative experience the Giant Swing can be.

Please join me in supporting Camp Orkila with a generous contribution to the 2009 Partners With Youth Campaign. Absolutely EVERY donation counts! You are making a difference in the lives of lots of happy campers

!