Carkeek Park Camps
Carkeek Earthkeepers Day Camps
Carkeek Park is a 216–acre natural area park in the Broadview neighborhood of Seattle. It is the fourth largest park in Seattle with six miles of trails, 15 acres of tidelands and 1/5 of the park being wetlands. Visitors can explore lush forests, expansive meadows, creeks and beaches formed by the magical processes of water and time or touch time at the historic Piper’s Orchard.
Carkeek Park's EarthKeepers is a special summer day camp for exploring, learning and playing outdoors. We offer activities to foster friendship, learning, creativity and leadership. On any given day a camp participant may explore the beach, hike through the forest, play in a field, learn about nature or create art. Each week has different themes. These are described below.
All camps are for 6 to 12 year olds. Each week camp runs 9am – 4pm. Limited scholarships are available.
Download the Earthkeepers Handbook
Week 1 - Eyes to the Sky 6/26/17 - 6/30/17
This first week of summer will be spent expanding our senses while interpreting the daytime sky. Campers will learn common bird species found in Seattle, about weather patterns, and creatures who happily venture off the ground in Carkeek Park!
Week 2 – Wild Creativity 7/3/17 - 7/7/17
Want to spend summer days observing the natural world through color and creation? There are no limits to what may be discovered! Using unique field journals and natural space as canvas, we will explore this colorful park. No camp July 4th
Week 3 – Tidepool Explorations 7/10/17 – 7/14/17
Love the beach? This week of exploration takes campers who love the ocean to a deeper level. A week full of great low tides, we will venture down daily to uncover treasures as the water is pulled out.
Week 4 – Nature Detective 7/17/17 – 7/21/17
This week we dig deep to understand the mysteries of science and nature. Through inquiry and investigation, we will uncover methods of the natural world! Activities will be based on campers own questions and hypothesis.
Includes a field trip to the Zoo.
Week 5 - Passport to the Puget Sound 7/24/17 - /28/17
Campers will spend time on the beach each day, investigating the wonders of the Puget Sound. Observing shoreline species with daily low tides, and exploring what lives in the depths of our water’s. Includes a trip to the Seattle Aquarium.
Week 6 – Carkeek Surviv0r 7/31/17 – 8/4/17
Do you want to learn how to survive in our forests? This week we will practice outdoor skills including packing for an adventure, navigation, use and identification of native plants and how to make fire by friction.
Week 7 – Micro Worlds 8/7/17 – 8/11/17
Do tiny critters fascinate you? Campers will collect and study insects from multiple habitats and learn about their role in different ecosystems. We will create bug-related art, learn about insect transformation and why even humans depend on pollinator pathways.
Week 8 – Pacific Northwest Time Travel 8/14/17 – 8/18/17
Campers will discover why Carkeek and the Pacific Northwest are so special to learn and grow in. Activities include safe identification of plants and traditional uses, learning how the Puget Sound and nearby mountains were formed, and Native American storytelling.
WEEK 9 - Ultimate Outdoor Expedition 8/21- 8/25
Join us as we follow the courageous young Sam Gribbley on his year-long adventure of surviving in the forest. Inspired by the classic chapter book, My Side of the Mountain, activities include building a shelter, fire preparation, and orienteering.
Camp handbook coming soon!
Scholarships are available based on need. View the income eligibility guidelines and download an application here. For more information, please contact Masha Shtern at masha.shtern@seattle.gov or call 206-684-0877.
You can register online through SPARC or by calling Masha at 206-684-0877.