2026 Camp Details

Camp Quest NorthWest will host one in-person camp sessions in 2026 at Camp Kirby (Samish Island, WA) from August 15-23, 2026.

Volunteers start one day before campers arrive and will typically stay for a day after campers depart. This is reflected in the dates listed above.

2026 Staffing Levels & Waitlist

You may encounter a waitlist when you register to be on staff this year. Please don’t let this deter you from signing up! We are going to be closely monitoring registration levels to ensure that we are adequately staffed to meet our legal and logistical needs while ensuring the long term financial sustainability of the organization. As more campers register, we will be opening up more staffing positions and moving people off of the waitlist. Ultimately there is an upper limit on the number of volunteers who can attend, so we encourage you to register as soon as you reasonably can.

Qualifications

You must be 18 or older by the first day of camp. There is no upper age limit.

You must have a desire and ability to work with campers age 8-17, to ensure their health and safety, to observe and manage their behavior, enforce safety regulations and emergency procedures, and lead or assist in leading group activities.

You must physically be able to move yourself through camp, participate in camp activities, and assist in emergency situations. If you have physical limitations then we can discuss how to work within those limitations to find a fulfilling role at camp.

You must be willing and able to work with other adults, to accept guidance and supervision, and to follow the staff policies and guidelines as they are presented to you.

Spring Retreat

Our annual Spring Retreat will be held at Lewis and Clark State Park the weekend of April 3-5, 2026. There is no cost for volunteers to attend. Information about the 2026 event will be made available early next year.

LT campers will be in attendance at the Spring Retreat, so a background check is required to attend.

Radio Weekend

Camp Quest counselors who have their HAM radio license, or who are interested in getting their license, are invited to attend the Radio Weekend event at the Radio Club of Tacoma January 16 to 19, 2026. There is no cost to attend, but there may be costs associated with sitting for the exam and/or obtaining your radio license.

Staff Grants

Staff who have a financial need can apply for a grant to cover airfare or other costs of travel, or a stipend for other financial assistance. Contact the Staffing Coordinator for details on how to apply.

General Staff Travel Grant. Brings in staff from out of the area to volunteer at a CQNW camp session.

Staff Ambassador Travel Grant. To send CQNW staff members to other Camp Quest affiliates to foster informational exchanges and goodwill.

Leadership Summit Travel Grant. To send CQNW staff members to the annual Camp Quest Leadership Summit.

Staff Assistance Stipend. To provide financial assistance to volunteers who would otherwise not be able to attend a camp session due to financial obligations.

Come to a Board Meeting

Our Board of Directors meets every month to discuss camp planning and related topics. Meetings are always open to the public. Volunteers, parents and other interested parties are always welcomed to attend! You can always find the time and place of our next board meeting in the most recent Meeting Minutes.

Join a Committee

We have several committee groups that meet regularly to plan camp and handle other camp operations. Contact us for more information about these and other committees.

The Staffing Committee processes volunteer applications, conducts interviews and background checks, and does outreach to prospective volunteers.

The Programming Committee puts together the camp program. This is where we come up with the camp theme, plan our morning programs and all camp events, and put together our lists of supplies and materials. This is the fun stuff!