Four Winds Westward Ho Camp

Four Winds * Westward Ho is a coed overnight summer camp on Orcas Island in Washington's San Juan Islands, founded in 1927 and operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its hundred-acre property of woods, fields and waterfront lies about two hours north of Seattle, and the camp maintains a 61-foot yawl, the Carlyn, for its sailing program. Traditions include vintage uniforms, music and poetry, evening fires and a deliberate break from technology. The camp now runs two four-week sessions for campers ages 9 to 15 entering grades 4 through 10; those entering 9th or 10th grade take a six-day canoeing, sailing, kayaking or backpacking trip away from camp, and accepted Counselor-in-Training applicants pay half the session tuition. The previously offered Junior Session has been discontinued. Because it is nonprofit, the camp reserves about 20 percent of camper spots for families receiving financial aid, and families sending three or more siblings receive a 10 percent tuition discount.

Both month-long sessions serve ages 9-15, entering grades 4 through 10. Campers entering 9th or 10th grade take a six-day canoeing, sailing, kayaking or backpacking trip out of camp. Counselor-In-Training tuition is half the session cost. The Junior Session is no longer offered.