FAQs

OSPREY Camp is located at Camp Solomon Schechter, just south of Olympia. Our address is 1627 73rd Ave. SE Olympia, WA 98501. With a private lake, river access, and 165-acres to explore, students thrive in our outdoor school setting.

The acronym stands for Opportunities for Stewardship Promoting Respect for the Environment and Youth. Students will learn about the natural environment and how to use natural resources responsibly while practicing respect for themselves and others. Be sure to check out our website at www.ospreycamp.org.

Our heated cabins sleep 12-16 comfortably and include fully functioning bathrooms with toilets, sinks, and showers. New friendships are formed while eating family style in our spacious dining hall. Nutritious meals are served in a kosher, pork-free, and nut-free environment. Heated buildings and covered outdoor shelters provide space for classes in case of inclement weather. However, OSPREY Camp is designed to get our students outside!

OSPREY Camp staff and Mentors are trained to teach standard-aligned curriculum with focus on exploring our natural environment. All OSPREY Camp curriculum is presented by trained Mentors, in small groups, and focuses on keeping students actively engaged with hands-on lessons. In addition to academics, we provide a variety of camp-wide activities, including; hiking, square dancing, Ga-Ga Ball, arts & crafts, campfires and an exciting skits & songs program on our last night!

During our academic sessions, students are supervised by their classroom teacher, with the assistance of our high school and college Mentors. Mentors, along with our adult OSPREY Camp staff, provide 24-hour supervision in the cabins, dining hall, and during all camp activities when their classroom teacher is not in the immediate proximity.

OSPREY Camp’s Mentors are recruited from local high schools and colleges. Students submit competitive applications, which include a recommendation from a school faculty member. If selected, Mentors attend a weekend-long training event at OSPREY Camp. This intensive training is facilitated by the OSPREY Camp Staff and our dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers. Following their training, Mentors are invited to attend a week of camp based on their evaluations from the training weekend and/or on their previous evaluation as an OSPREY Camp Mentor. Mentors continue to receive direct training and guidance from our adult OSPREY Camp staff and teachers throughout the week.

Our trained OSPREY Camp Staff and/or onsite Registered Nurse (or school district nurse) will assist students who are ill or injured. Their classroom teacher will also be directly involved. If further medical attention is necessary, you will be contacted via phone. OSPREY Camp is 911 accessible and works closely with the Tumwater Police Department.

Each school has medication distribution guidelines in accordance with their district’s medication policy. Parents/guardians will turn all medications in to their child’s teacher, along with the doctor’s orders and signature for dispensing. This includes both prescription and over the counter medications (Ex: Tylenol, Benadryl, Ibuprofen). Please talk with your child’s teacher to obtain your school’s required medication paperwork. The classroom teacher will dispense and track all medications. Specific circumstances may require a school district nurse to attend camp with your child to provide appropriate care.

Our experienced, knowledgeable and extremely sensitive OSPREY Camp Staff are trained to work with our students who experience frequent or infrequent bedwetting. Our staff will speak privately with your child on their first evening of camp to let them know they received information from their parent/guardian and they will be discreetly waking them up, several times throughout the night (including ~ 1 hour after they go to bed, before our camp staff goes to bed and when our camp staff wakes up in the morning) to ensure their success. Often, parents/guardians will send youth pull up/diaper briefs for their child to wear under their pajamas as well. Camp staff will wake your child up about 10-minutes before others, so they can spend some alone time in the restroom; removing any hygiene items and cleaning/showering if necessary. We will also replace their sleeping bag with a temporary one while washing theirs. Mentors will check for wet sleeping bags every morning once students have been dismissed to the bell and exit the cabin. Our goal is for your student to feel as comfortable as possible AND be dry and successful while at camp! There is no shame in bedwetting, it can occur at any age, and discussing our staff’s plan with your child in advance is also very helpful. If your child is a bedwetter, we will discreetly inform their mentors (for privacy and emotional support purposes) and they understand this sensitive information MUST be kept to themselves. Please Note: If your child is a bedwetter, PLEASE include this information on their PERMISSION SLIP.

Our experienced and knowledgeable OSPREY Camp Staff work frequently with sleepwalkers. Your child’s safety is our #1 priority while they are at camp! If a child is a sleepwalker, we will discreetly let their mentors know (for safety purposes) and they understand this sensitive information MUST be kept to themselves. Our camp staff checks each cabin several times throughout the night to ensure every student and mentor is safe in their bunk. Before our staff goes to bed, they will place large, tin cans on the INSIDE of the cabin (directly in front of the door). If a child or mentor were to sleepwalk, and attempt to exit the cabin, they would walk into the tower of cans causing them to crash onto the floor. This loud noise would awaken the mentors and students in the cabin. We also place our sleepwalking students on the BOTTOM bunk of our bunk beds and in a bunk FURTHEST away from the door. Please Note: If your child is a sleepwalker, PLEASE include this information on their PERMISSION SLIP.

Students should bring sturdy walking shoes (hiking boots are not necessary); no sandals or flip flops. An extra pair of shoes is also a good idea! Outdoor clothing is advisable; jeans, t-shirts, raincoat, sweatshirt, etc. Dressing in layers is recommended. Due to the plant growth in the spring, including an abundance of stinging nettles, shorts and capri pants are not allowed. No suggestive or offensive clothing is allowed. It is also highly recommended that all students bring a daypack/backpack containing a water bottle, raincoat or poncho, sunscreen, and bug repellant *lotions or wipes are preferred. Lastly, everyone should pack an appetite for adventure, a positive attitude, and respect for all in attendance. *Your child’s teacher will provide you with a complete packing list.

OSPREY Camp is an “Electronic-Free Zone” and items such as cell phones, reading/music devices, iPads, video games, etc. are not allowed. We provide the unique opportunity of “unplugging and being present,” allowing our students, teachers, and mentors to be engaged with each other throughout the week. We encourage picture taking and disposable cameras are highly recommended.

Due to the kosher and nut-free considerations of Camp Solomon Schechter, no outside food or beverages are allowed. Three well-balanced meals are provided each day as well as fresh fruits for snack if your child is hungry.

Our amazing chef and kitchen staff can accommodate most dietary restrictions and/or food allergies. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. However, students must inform their classroom teacher of their dietary needs prior to their week of camp.

OSPREY Camp is a secular program, run out of Camp Solomon Schechter, a Jewish camp facility. We welcome all students, regardless of their belief systems. The OSPREY Camp program does not have any religious affiliation. However, classes visiting from religious schools can enjoy the freedom of incorporating religious practices into their class activities.

The EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER for OSPREY Camp is (206) 403-6665 and is managed by the OSPREY Camp Director, Karra Jackson. Due to the large number of participants in camp, parents/guardians are instructed to call the emergency phone only in an emergency.