Camp Kirby Enjoys Big Changes

Youth Organization Uses Raised Funds, Rentals to Upgrade Popular Summer Retreat

For a lot of people, most of them young girls and boys, the western tip of Samish Island offers a little bit of outdoorsy heaven every spring and summer. That’s where Camp Kirby lies, operated by the Camp Fire USA Samish Council.

Children, counselors, teachers and others gather here at various times of the year, but mainly in the warm-weather months, to participate in Camp Fire activities and programs. Day and resident camps are open to members and nonmembers alike, grades kindergarten through high school.

Executive Director Sara Sky tells of capital improvements to the 79-year-old, 47-acre camp and new programs, such as one on environmental education run by an AmeriCorps member.

“We teach shoreline, tidal and forest ecology and the cultural history of the area and team-building exercises,” Sky states. “Our goal is to grow it to be six to seven weeks every spring and fall. We serve youth from private, public and home schools in third through seventh grades from Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties. Our program can be adapted to be one to five days long, the average being three days.”

The popular Camp Fire summer program also is expanding, Sky continues, with one- or two-week programs operating for seven weeks, as well as leadership training programs of three weeks’ length. Among the many activities offered are out-of-camp trips kayaking, biking and white-water rafting.

The Brand Club, one of the traditional organizations that rent from Camp Fire USA during the off season, raised the funds required to complete renovations to Herman’s Hut, one of the camp’s three lodges. “It’s now insulated and has a kitchen and heat for year-round use,” Sky explains. The club has used it for hunting in January for three generations.

“We rent to other nonprofit groups year around,” Sky adds.

“Other site improvements include Tayito Lodge, which when complete will have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and large recreation room and gas heat,” she notes. It’s used mostly by camp counselors and teachers involved in the Environmental Education Program.

“Another huge project for us is the renovation of our commercial kitchen in the Main Lodge,” she continues, pointing out the nearly 50-year-old kitchen was in bad need of repair. “When done, it’ll be white and stainless steel and have an automatic dishwasher, convection ovens, a new stove and fire-suppressant hood.”

The wish list includes a climbing wall and new docks, if funds can be raised.

“All capital projects at the camp are done by private donations, grants and volunteer labor whenever possible,” Sky says. For more information, visit the Web site at campkirby.org, or e-mail Sky at sara@campfiresamishcouncil.org.

— Michael Barrett