Best Traditional Summer Camps Near Portland, Oregon

Parenting involves many choices; one of those choices is where to send the kids to camp! There are many camps to choose from: sports camps, computer camps, music camps and more, but what about traditional summer camps? Here are some of the best in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Camp Arrowhead, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington

A traditional Girl Scout resident camp for girls ages 7-17, Camp Arrowhead is located in the Columbia River Gorge near Stevenson, Washington. The traditional summer camp program for all girls includes activities like hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, nature activities, outdoor cooking and campfires. Additional options include canoeing, archery, drama, mountain biking and whitewater rafting. Camp Arrowhead has been in operation since 1948, and is so well-loved that former campers and staff successfully lobbied, fundraised and volunteered in 2008 to keep the camp from being sold by the Girl Scout council.

YMCA Camp Collins

Camp Collins is located near Oxbow Regional Park on the Sandy River, just outside of Portland, Oregon. Traditional summer camp programs are available for boys and girls entering grades 2-9, and leadership programs for teens in grades 10-12. Program emphasis is on teamwork, new friendships, and personal growth. Activities may include swimming, games, crafts, horseback riding, challenge course activities, and more. Camp Collins has been operating since 1926, and brings campers back year after year.

Camp Namanu, Portland Area Council of Camp Fire

This camp, located about one hour east of Portland, Oregon, has been operating since 1924, and many of the original buildings are still in use. Campers participate in traditional summer camp activities like singing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts and games, plus more contemporary activities like rock climbing, challenge courses and whitewater rafting. Former staffer Linnaea ("Licorice") Schall says that Namanu "does a really good job of getting kids to want to come back the next summer," by offering them special (and progressively advanced) activities for each age level.

YWCA Camp Westwind

Located on the Oregon Coast, just north of Lincoln City, Camp Westwind offers traditional summer camp programs for boys and girls entering grades 1-12. In traditional youth camp sessions, activities may include hiking, ocean dipping, stargazing, arts and crafts, games, challenge courses, disc golf, archery and kayaking. Campers ages 10 and up can sign up for Ranch Camp, where they ride and take care of horses on a daily basis, and there are also adventure and leadership sessions for teens. As part of the YWCA, Camp Westwind also has a special focus on diversity and addressing racism and discrimination.

CYO Camp Howard

Camp Howard is a Catholic Youth Organization, open to boys and girls of any faith background. It is located about 45 minutes east of Portland, Oregon. The camp's goals include building Christian values and developing independence and social skills. Campers are grouped by age, and most sessions are one week long, with a few mini-sessions. Some specialty camps are available, but most sessions include the traditional summer camp program, with hiking, swimming, crafts, archery, canoeing, etc. Camp Howard's website notes that 20 percent of their staff have previously been campers at Camp Howard, which is a sign of a good program.